Where to go next

[BMartin]

Looking to upgrade early next year, and would like some guidance. (I know, very early, but want to consider all my options before looking at products too much)

Ok some background:

First new, and powerful(ish) laptop was a 2010 white macbook, I've had this laptop for nearly 6 years. (due to upgrading the ram, it still runs, and the battery is still good). I've really liked the laptop (except for gaming), but I want the gaming options that come with windows, I'm also getting tired of Mac as a company. Also, I'm not overly gentle on electronics (getting better, but about a year in, i dropped my macbook and it survived - I need durability). I'm not intentionally abusive or anything but I am clumsy. I also like to tinker with electronics.

So my hope is that I can get something that will last, at least five years. (doesn't have to play triple a games at full power in five years, but I'd like to get my money's worth out of it)

I like portability as we go see family a lot and I like to have my pc with me, but I also want gaming performance and a bit of future proofing (five years is an eternity in tech). I've thought about maybe a combo laptop/desktop, and using steam streaming to play games on the laptop.

Another note, I'm a console gamer typically, and have a ps4/ps2/wii, but like the idea of emulators, so I can have a more all-in-one solution (I've heard there is a ps3 emulator and would want to use it to play ps3 games)

I'm just not sure what the best move would be. I don't always play games on pc, but when I do I would like something that performs, but gaming laptops are bulky, prone to overheating and aren't as durable (or so I've gathered). A gaming desktop would allow me gaming and future-proofing, but it's locked down location, combined with having a small apartment make me question the viability of going that route. 

Is there something that could work, or am I trying to have my cake and eat it too?

 

Also, my wife will be upgrading to a mac pro and estimates I'll have around 2500 (Canadian  ) to throw around.

 

Sorry, this is my first post, and it's kind of ramling, just trying to get some input.

[BMartin]

Thank you to the mod who moved this, I'm new to the forum. 

[KnightSirius]

So you are very specific with your use case.  You want it to be "future proofed" ( Quotes cause this a term a lot of us hate here because it's really impossible to achieve, but we get what you mean when you say it ! ) You also want it to be portable and be able to game!

 

First I'd like to address the emulator deal. PS3/XBOX 360 emu's I'm not experienced with but the raw horsepower to be able to run those games is not available on a laptop unless you go with those insanely heavy laptops that have desktop components and huge power bricks just a huge PITA.
If you want the ability to do this well, then you need to get a desktop. I use Dolphin (GameCube emu) and that is decently difficult to run especially at nice resolution with graphics hacks and that system is nearing 15 years old.

 

So with those limitations you have very few options which you're aware...

 

1) You're be looking at a expensive and difficult to achieve market. Something akin to the Razer Blade's top model would be close with those nearing like 3 grand I think.

 

I do not recommend this route.

http://www.razerzone.com/store/razer-blade-pro

 

2) Another option however I would recommend from Razer is the Razer Blade Stealth and the external Graphics unit (Razer Core). Amazing laptop and the external GPU adds the power you are looking for. However this means you can't really game on the go, unless it is games like HearthStone, Minecraft, League of Legends, things of that nature.

 

Note: The Razer Core isn't actually available yet but you're not buying anything yet so probably not an issue.

 

http://www.razerzone.com/store/razer-blade-stealth

http://www.razerzone.com/store/razer-core

 

3) Another option is to get a compact pre-built desktop. (Pricey!) but something like the MSI Vortex. But then you'd have to bring a monitor + peripherals to use it somewhere else but it is slightly more portable.

 

I don't think this is what you're looking for however.

https://www.msi.com/product/vortex/Vortex-G65-6QF-SLI.html#hero-overview

 

4? ) Last Option I can think of would be interesting and honestly I don't know enough about the technology to make a good opinion but you may be able to get the Razer Blade Stealth, the external Graphics Card unit, and have a desktop PC that can utilize that unit as well. You'd be able to take the unit with your laptop if you were going on a trip for example. but if you were just at home you can plug it into the laptop or just use it with the PC ...

 

Just assume this doesn't work unless maybe somebody else can chime in on that idea who knows how it works!

 

[BMartin]

Hey thanks for the input! Yeah I figured future proofing is kind of one of those buzz words. 

I LOVE the idea behind the stealth and core combo, and am considering it. Most of my time away I don't do heavy gaming, and at home to game I can easily plug it in. But I'm leary of the inability to upgrade ram... 

Still, I will consider it for now and see what happens. 

Perhaps a desktop (wouldn't mind doing the build myself, cause I like to tinker, and the Dell inspiron 15 gaming.

Your ideas about the laptop-core-desktop is interesting but probably overkill as the core negates a need for a desktop build. 

Would be awesome if they could somehow work it that you can add ram to the core to improve overall system ram for the device. Not sure if that would be feasible over thunderbolt, but would really improve the "upgradeability" . 

Now the core is going to be open to other systems so we will see

 

[KnightSirius]

19 hours ago, BMartin said:

Hey thanks for the input! Yeah I figured future proofing is kind of one of those buzz words. 

I LOVE the idea behind the stealth and core combo, and am considering it. Most of my time away I don't do heavy gaming, and at home to game I can easily plug it in. But I'm leary of the inability to upgrade ram... 

Still, I will consider it for now and see what happens. 

Perhaps a desktop (wouldn't mind doing the build myself, cause I like to tinker, and the Dell inspiron 15 gaming.

Your ideas about the laptop-core-desktop is interesting but probably overkill as the core negates a need for a desktop build. 

Would be awesome if they could somehow work it that you can add ram to the core to improve overall system ram for the device. Not sure if that would be feasible over thunderbolt, but would really improve the "upgradeability" . 

Now the core is going to be open to other systems so we will see

 

No problem!

 

Yeah the RAM on the Stealth being soldered I can definitely see being an issue, but I believe that's also a way they keep the price down so tough decisions on both the consumer and the producers side.

 

Also the reason i brought up the desktop utilizing it would be because the desktop could have a nice i7 chip and much more RAM, so if you wanted heavy gaming you can plug the core into the desktop and utilize the desktop's heavyweight CPU rather than the mobile CPU.

As for it being compatible with thunderbolt it is. My concern is if the Core is compatible with any PC with a thunderbolt port (probably is)! but mostly how buggy would that be etc... if they are the only ones currently with something like that it'll likely be a rocky road until it becomes more mainstream.

 

I definitely 1-Up the idea of getting a desktop and an ultrabook. Be it the Inspiron 15, the Stealth or any other good ultrabook.