Suggestions for new computer and internet service for gamersFollow

So, I've two questions for the more technical folks out there and would greatly appreciate any help or advice.

1. Computer - I'm switching over to a PC from a Mac and have researched two configurations. Problem is, it's been very difficult to find hands-on advice about the two systems. There are a good amount of reviews of machines with similar configurations but not exactly of the ones I'm looking at specifically.

Low end - Intel i3 2330m, GeForce GT 525m 1.0 GB vRam (linky)

Better - Intel i7 2630qm, GeForce GT 560m 1.5 GB vRam (linky)

There's a $500 difference between the two. The lower end one would run most games in medium detail (WoW probably at medium with some on high) at decent framerates but I worry that I'll want to upgrade sooner rather than later. The better system will run WoW and others at high settings at great framerates and should have a slightly longer lifespan but, hey, it's $500 more. That's a lot of pizza and beer.

Is the $500 worth it?

2. Internet Connection - So, I'm also moving next week and have the opportunity to change my interwebs provider. I have 1.5 mBps up / 12.0 mBps down service and a 2.0 mBps up / 25 mBps down service available (cable provider). Is it really all that big a deal to pay for the upgrade which is roughly $200 more over a year? Both are actually upgrades from my current service. I just don't want to lock into a year long contract with service that is too slow or overpriced if I can help it =)

Thanks so much for any help or advice. Cheers!


Note: I'm posting this on the WoW general just in case others might find the information useful. Hope that's cool.

Why are you getting a laptop?

I recently built a new desktop for 540 bucks plays WoW in DX11 full ultra easily. AMD X4 Phenom Black 3.4Ghz, 8 gigs of ram, 500 gig HDD and a Geforce 460 SE. Probably a lot cheaper then those laptops.One way to consider.

I found your problem right there.



Edited, Oct 8th 2011 9:40pm by Horsemouth

Does anyone actually believe this anymore? I thought that was a fad or perhaps even some giant inside joke like a few years ago.

What's been true for a decade now is that all Macs run on PC hardware anyways.

The i7 is faster.

However, some other things should be considered. Since it is a laptop, money might well be spent on extended warranty against accidents. Coffee can be spilled on the keyboard. A dog or you can catch on the cord, pulling the laptop down on the floor and into a dozen pieces.

Luckily when it happened to me, it was a company laptop. My accident happened within a week of bringing it home. All my personal pc are desktops, but if I had the need for an expensive gaming laptop, I'd check out the best warranty I could get.

Not to mention there is no such thing as a low budget Mac. =x

All the statements/comments about Mac and PC in this thread are pretty much wrong.

But let's not turn this thread into a mac vs pc. That's not what it's for.

Back on topic then there's only one reason to get a laptop, and that's portability. Otherwise you're much better off getting a desktop for various reasons; easier to upgrade, cheaper with the same specs, etc..

A lot of people claim they need portability but then they just use it in the same area where they could have gotten a dekstop.


Edited, Oct 9th 2011 7:35pm by MentalFrog

Just get a Desktop.

I find that when I use my laptop to play wow, that I have to have it plugged into a wall or my frame rate will just plummet into the molten core of Firelands. Also that the Graphics Card sucks the life out of the battery like crazy, which in the end stuffs up your general battery life due to constant charging.

If you must get a laptop, you might want to think about getting a battery pack extender and hope that it can hold the load of the graphics card.

Then why do people still boot camp Macs? Apple has done improvements on the compatibility lately, but they still offer support on boot camping to Windows 7 on their official website, so obviously it's not a closed chapter.

Edit: Therion, get the cheap laptop for work and gaming on the go, and save the cash for when you want to buy yourself a desktop PC. I think the first laptop is something similar to the one I have and it plays WoW just fine.

Edited, Oct 11th 2011 1:38am by Mazra

Because they CAN? It clearly speaks FOR versatility if a Mac can boot Windows, because it's something that doesn't work the other way around if you don't count less than a handful exoctic Wintel chipsets and hacked kernels.

Besides, PC and Mac have never been quite as far apart in the US as it is the case in Europe. It was normal to be selling through chains like CompUSA while in Europe we had like a handfull of licensed dealers maintaining insanely high prices.
I remember walking into a CompUSA in likle '98 and getting to actually see all the fancy Apple stuff, while in Europe I wouldn't even have known where to buy such a darn thing if I had wanted. Really hasn't been all that long since you can finally buy Apple computers from the large electronics stores here.

Just saying... People outside Europe have had an actual choice for quite some time now.

And hey, if you're still not sure about spending a tad bit more money on an Apple than a Wintel, just remember how freaking cool they are while the voices in your head tell you about "Zero percent financing and no payments until whenever". A couple hundred dollars difference aren't such a big deal anymore if you're thinking in 48+ monthly payments anyway.

Different worlds...

Who in their right mind would finance a computer for 4 years (or more)?

Those who have their 15+% APR credit cards maxed out already.