What type of laptop should I get for my projector setup

[DonTadow]

I'll be building my projector setup soon
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?p=3074726#post3074726

and wanted to know waht type of laptop to get. I am overwhlemed by the choices and prices and a decision has been difficult this month. Here's what I"ll be doing.

1. the client and DM versions of a tabletop software (such as fantasy ground) simultaneiously
2. running dmgenie
3. running rpgsoundmixer
4. a webbrowser
5. maybe NWN 2 dm or design client

I would like to get away with 700 bucks for one that will do this at a reasponable speed though I"m willing to go as high as 9. I understand core duo 2 is all the rage but do i really need that much power (and for that price). Can I get away with an amd 64 or step up to a 64x2.

What are you guys suggestions? seen any good deals?

I'm considering this one heavily
http://www.buy.com/prod/Acer_Aspire...L_34_1_8GHz_1024MB/q/loc/58978/202831948.html
700 bucks and id' get a 2 year warrenty

 

[Redrobes]

5. maybe NWN 2 dm or design client
I'm considering this one heavily
http://www.buy.com/prod/Acer_Aspire...L_34_1_8GHz_1024MB/q/loc/58978/202831948.html
700 bucks and id' get a 2 year warrenty

That laptop will positively suck at graphics and will stand no chance of running NWN or any other game that uses 3D.

The laptop question has come up before and I will say again, you need to get a laptop that has a graphics processor in it that has its own memory and does not share its video ram with the general cpu ram. You need to get one with at least 64Mb of graphics memory and preferably get one with an NVidia or ATI type processor instead of the SiS one that the Acer has.

You can get this graphics capability at not much extra cost. If your doing Word documents or whatever then it does not matter - if your going to run games then you need graphics capability. Your cpu speed is important but without graphics horsepower your not going to see any kind of performance when you hit graphics intensive programs.

I write ViewingDale as you can see from my sig. On that site is a test app that you are welcome to download and run and get an idea of its 3D or video card performance. If you get less than 100 frames per second then its considered real slow and I would expect that laptop to get about 20 or so dispite it having an ok cpu. There are many other performance apps out there. I kinda like CrystalMark as its real easy to use and see at a glance how its doing. Thats also free - click on middle image on this link :-

http://crystalmark.info/download/index-e.html

Take it from me, you will totally regret getting that Acer laptop.

 

[Rackhir]

Why do you want a laptop to run a projector setup? I've not read the entire thread, but I would guess that it isn't terribly mobile, so there wouldn't be an advantage to the mobility of the laptop. Do you just want a laptop and are going to use it for this? You will get substantially more bang for your buck out of a desktop computer and they do sell slim line cases/computers that could be moved if you still wanted a portable one.

They're not exactly inexpensive, but this gives a good idea for what a higher end Small form factor computer would be like.

http://sys.us.shuttle.com/Buy.aspx

 

[DonTadow]

Why do you want a laptop to run a projector setup? I've not read the entire thread, but I would guess that it isn't terribly mobile, so there wouldn't be an advantage to the mobility of the laptop. Do you just want a laptop and are going to use it for this? You will get substantially more bang for your buck out of a desktop computer and they do sell slim line cases/computers that could be moved if you still wanted a portable one.

They're not exactly inexpensive, but this gives a good idea for what a higher end Small form factor computer would be like.

http://sys.us.shuttle.com/Buy.aspx

I explored several option, the girlfriend nixed throwing another desktop in that room, though using a mobile car computer is not out of the question. The laptop though will allow for traveling and be a better investment in the long run. There are a couple of posts on the projector setup too that shows how to build a mobile projector out of a boommike (which is what i'm attempting.).

 

[DonTadow]

Why do you want a laptop to run a projector setup? I've not read the entire thread, but I would guess that it isn't terribly mobile, so there wouldn't be an advantage to the mobility of the laptop. Do you just want a laptop and are going to use it for this? You will get substantially more bang for your buck out of a desktop computer and they do sell slim line cases/computers that could be moved if you still wanted a portable one.

They're not exactly inexpensive, but this gives a good idea for what a higher end Small form factor computer would be like.

http://sys.us.shuttle.com/Buy.aspx

this option had me do a bit more thinking. I think I"m going to reroute my thinking on this. I wanted a laptop because I had one before but it currently needs a motherboard. I could come out a lot cheaper getting the motherboard replaced on this one, and then building a desktop for the main room.

 

[Rackhir]

Just remember to look for a minimum graphics card of either a radeon x1600 or nvidia 7600.

 

[DonTadow]

Just remember to look for a minimum graphics card of either a radeon x1600 or nvidia 7600.

I have a 7600 sitting unused under my bed. I just havn't bought an agp motherboard in a while. This should be pretty sweet. Doing the calcuations i can get my motherboard fixed on the old laptop and still build a pretty decent machine.

The only thing I really need the laptop to do is run the auratoolset from neverwinter nights, not the game, so minimum is fine.