I know that a laptop is not the best platform for games... but I don't really want a big ole desktop pc in the flat.

I have a Toshiba 1405-S151. 1.2gig 256ram

What are my options if I want to make this computer better for running games? Can I buy a 3d graphics card and if so which one is the best? Does the card fit internally or use a PCMCIA (or whatever) slot?

thanks guys....Tom H

you might get some pointers from the laptop spec that Alienware sell - check out their website http://www.alienware.co.uk/

Thanks for the starter.... Tom

Houlbt
I have just gone down the same route. I could not find any games/graphics cards for laptops that could be retrofitted.

Best to buy a laptop with the card built in. ATI 9000 or 7500 should fit the bill or GForce 4 to go. Make sure that you have atleast 32MB of RAM. I got a GForce 4 to go with 64MB and it plays anything.

e.g. RTCW/Medal of Honour/Return to Nakatami Plaza/Quake 3/Unreal Tournament to name a few.

I ended up with a Dell Inspiron 8200 30GB uprated screen/CD Rewriter DVD drive etc.

I also tried a Sony Vaio that was I was told by the supplier would play games with an ATI rage mobility card of 16MB. Didnt run any games I wanted to run and I sent it back. Moral is spec the graphics card high and you wont be dissapointed.

Operating system is XP Home if you are interested.

Beastie

Why not buy a slimline PC with a TFT monitor? put the PC under the desk and the monitor/keyboard will take just a little room as a laptop.

my vaio has a 32meg ATi radeon 7500 and it's fine for games! scores 5000 on 3D mark 2002, which is pretty respectable.

If you want a decent machine to play games then I would recommend you don't get a laptop but get one of these instead :

http://us.shuttle.com/specs2.asp?pro_id=163

Stick an Athlon 2700 and Radion 9700 Pro in it and you will have virtually the fastest games machine currently available.

Add a TFT screen and you can do this :

http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20020815/index.html



[Edited by JoeyDeacon - 1/22/2003 4:14:56 PM]

Beastie, where did you get your PC fromas the only 64 meg card I've seen was at PC World on a Microstar machine for £1099 and hey completely sold out in under a week.............

:D

[Edited by Beastie - 1/23/2003 9:48:45 AM]

Ferrarinutter
I ordered it from DELL and upgraded the card to 64MB (from 32MB)on ordering.

Its a Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop with 1.7Ghz P4mobile processor and Gforce 4 440 64MB graphics card. I have had it now about 5 months.

see http://www.euro.dell.com/countries/u..._notebooks.htm

They seem to be doing the ATI9000 64MB now instead.

Does everything, I am very impressed and I have a MESH 2.2GHZ with ATI7500 to compare it with.

Beastie

[Edited by Beastie - 1/23/2003 9:49:12 AM]

Thanks for your help with this guys..... The micro PC thing is pretty cool.

The Alienware PC....WOW!! Want one, say no more.... but then I really want a Motec for my M3....hmmm decisions.