Laptop or Desktop?

[APrettyCoolWalrus]

Before you spam "Desktop" I want to say a few things: My friend is considering getting a $1000 laptop over a $1000 desktop. He doesn't do anything extreme and he seems to be more worried about the LAN party aspect. The most demanding game he has in his library is Skyrim and he wants to play DayZ, but he usually plays easy platformers and TF2.

[xnoobftw]

what is the specs of the lappy he is getting?

[themaniac]

well he can make a micro atx or itx desktop for lan parties

[APrettyCoolWalrus]

what is the specs of the lappy he is getting?

He attempted getting a G550JK with an i7 and a 850m, expect something like an 860m.

[RevoltTrain]

Desktop.

[Fulgrim]

DayZ runs like shite on most rigs, even i7's.

 

Also, he could get a decent micro atx case which he can take along to a LAN. 

[Smooth Bunz]

Build a mini itx build will be the best bet 

[Clyne]

You could build a m-itx build instead of a laptop, but if you want a laptop then a y50 should be enough http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834317890

[Oshino Shinobu]

If it's just for LAN parties that he's considering laptop, he may as well go with an mATX or mITX build with a good LAN case. Laptops are only (IMO) replacement for desktops if you need the portability for things like college and work. 

[GloriousPain]

If it's just for LAN parties that he's considering laptop, he may as well go with an mATX or mITX build with a good LAN case. Laptops are only (IMO) replacement for desktops if you need the portability for things like college and work. 

Wouldn't LAN parties need portability?

Also personally I say desktop but that's due to bad experience with laptops in the past

[APrettyCoolWalrus]

Wouldn't LAN parties need portability?

Please keep arguing, I need options

[wng_kingsley7]

Before you spam "Desktop" I want to say a few things: My friend is considering getting a $1000 laptop over a $1000 desktop. He doesn't do anything extreme and he seems to be more worried about the LAN party aspect. The most demanding game he has in his library is Skyrim and he wants to play DayZ, but he usually plays easy platformers and TF2.

Laptop hardware tends to degrade quite more faster over desktops. I'd say he & you could buy quite decent components and build a cute & portable MITX build for around the same price although you got both hands full of cables, monitor + the machine itself.

I'd definitely see what's currently out of the market in-terms of laptops that fit into the $1000 budget then find it at a local store play around with it for about 10-20 minutes then find an mini itx/matx case. From there you could compare between portable functionality & compute performance per cubic metre.

[Oshino Shinobu]

Wouldn't LAN parties need portability?

Also personally I say desktop but that's due to bad experience with laptops in the past

But you don't go to LAN parties 5 days a week and maybe go by train or a long commute... Or maybe his friend does, I don't know. 

 

Basically, LAN parties are not an everyday thing, unlike college and work. It's more convenient to have a laptop to carry, sure, but I don't think it's worth the compromise of power and features. 

[GloriousPain]

Please keep arguing, I need options

lol but try and suggest he builds something in say a CM Elite 110, or Bitfenix Prodigy(possibly M for M ATX support) with a 1 Grand budget he could probably get something along the lines of a 290x with a decent cooler or 780(possibly ti with the way they've been going on great sales lately) and if he went with Prodigy M latter could always throw in a second card or a wifi/networking card ect maybe watercool who knows...

[xnoobftw]

He attempted getting a G550JK with an i7 and a 850m, expect something like an 860m.

It can run BF4 on medium settings.... Hmmnmm does your friend have his own car?

[Guest]

Lapdesk. Deskface? I'm not sure.

[Swndlr]

Laptop hardware tends to degrade quite more faster over desktops. I'd say he & you could buy quite decent components and build a cute & portable MITX build for around the same price although you got both hands full of cables, monitor + the machine itself.

I'd definitely see what's currently out of the market in-terms of laptops that fit into the $1000 budget then find it at a local store play around with it for about 10-20 minutes then find an mini itx/matx case. From there you could compare between portable functionality & compute performance per cubic metre.

"cute"

 

i love the way you look at it

[STRMfrmXMN]

Is he goes to LAN parties by car than a Mini-ITX case like the Bitfenix Prodigy will be pretty good. If the LAN party requires using an backpack, then get a laptop. Simple enough to me.

[SMOKEYDUHBAER]

I was looking into this a year ago. I really wanted to portability of a laptop, but the more I did my research, I just could not get over how much better performance I would get from building a desktop over buying a laptop. My wife's laptop was about 1000 dollars and it has a 750m in it and I have been pretty unimpressed with its performance. It holds up and you can turn the settings down, but desktop is the way to go for more bang for your buck. There are plenty of cases out now that would allow you to build a small, portable, powerful rig for that kind of money. It is a bit more complicated to transport a monitor and keyboard and all of that of course, but I think what you end up with is a significantly better gaming experience. My wife's laptop also gets uncomfortably warm and is very similar to the one you are looking at. That being said, it would be difficult for me to invest in a desktop if I did not already have a laptop because my laptop is portable with me every day for a lot of different things besides gaming. I am happy having a great desktop for the occasional lan or for a less temporary set up, but I loving having my crappy old laptop available to me to use on the couch, a buddies place, or anywhere else where I will not primarily be gaming. Good luck. 

[evinta]

1) does he have a car?

2) how often are these LAN parties?

3) game play wise what is he expecting? Does he mind not having great graphics and potentially overheating issues or is game graphics his thing? 

4) how easy is it to change his mind if hes already decided on a laptop

[holy-sock]

Despite all the ifs ands or buts, a desktop is (almost) always better than a laptop

[ConsolesSuck]

Go for a Desktop and get a Chromebook for doing stuff when you are not at home. If Lan partys are really important to you/your friend get a decent laptop.

[APrettyCoolWalrus]

Go for a Desktop and get a Chromebook for doing stuff when you are not at home. If Lan partys are really important to you/your friend get a decent laptop.

Thanks for responding, but you're a month late. He's opted for a laptop.

[PaulKolby]

laptop  good recomendation is lenovo y50 with 860m has got power and not bad price

[NoctHorn]

A laptop is a possibility but this m-itx case looks like a good candidate for LAN Parties:

 

 

It even has a handle on it (and yes, it comes in colors other than yellow)!