So many of these threads have members speaking highly of the Asus ROG units, so I'd give them a look.

Myself, I'm going to be checking out MSI, Sager, and Clevo next time around, in addition to the other major names.

I still like the Dell / Alienware units for one particular reason: the factory service manuals are available to the owner, via the website.

i recommend this MSI GT80 -> it wont be the cheapest option but it will be good in the long run

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SB7HYU8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00SB7HYU8&linkCode=as2&tag=buildg-20&linkId=HWTBEI7LZXRXXRK5

bump

Hmm, I didn't know that. Having had a battery that went kaput on my previous unit, I'd prefer to be able to swap if necessary. Granted, I'm almost always plugged-in...

The thing that takes me away from some "gaming" laptops is that they put them in gaudy cases. Since mine is business first and gaming second, I need something with a shape that travels well and also looks a bit more professional. Fortunately that still leaves plenty of options.


Lester - I didn't see that you posted a budget. Is cost a big factor? You mentioned a 13" unit, so how much does size factor into it? Are you looking for a 1080 or 1200 screen, or will something lower work?

bump

And it's a very good point. My main desktop PC will soon turn 7 and I don't want to throw it away. Yet it takes quite a lot of space ( large tower with plenty of HDD slots). Plus the i7 870 coupled to 16 gb of ram still runs many things more than nicely. (Actually, Attila was the first game I tried where I had to reduce my expectations ) . Buying yet another tower would cause problems. Buying a gaming laptop doesn't.

Still, a laptop is always less durable than a desktop. And gaming laptops withy their powerful GPUs tend to be more fragile, due to heat dissipation problems. My worst experience was with an ASUS ROG that had cost me quite a sum and soon started to develop issues.
Like Timppu said, ASUS has some nice models, even if I happen to have had one bad experience with that range, I tend to think it's a pretty good choice nowadays

Alienware I found overrated. Too expensive for what you get. Some integrators will sell bareabone based laptops that will allow you to get what you want "à la carte" but it's also a pretty expensive solutiuon.

What about MSI then. I haven't kept an eye on them as of late and they tend to have a cyclical record. Sometime quire durable and rather pleasant, sometimes not so pleasant.

Thanks! Bookmarked them.

Thanks to all other users for their input!

Ahm... would now be the time to admit I was only kidding? I have no idea if those will meet the criteria you laid out in your post, but if I had to guess I'd guess that they don't in regards to your desire of getting older things to play nicely. I was just kidding with those two as I don't think I could ever purchase either one even if I were rich. If I wanted that kind of capability I'd get a desktop instead of spending that kind of money on a laptop when laptops just don't last as long as desktops. I'm told that's likely because laptops endure more heat over their lifetime due to the crammed in space and thus, don't last as long. I couldn't justify in my mind spending $5K on a laptop no matter what capabilities it had given how my experience to date has been they usually don't last longer than 5 years. I've got an old Dell desktop from 1996 that still runs great (running Windows 95). LOL

XD

No worries. Besides, this has also gotten me interested in gaming desktops, so either way, your post is the solution :D

What do you suggest for really good gaming desktops?