Gaming Laptop / Docking Station Dumb Question
Discussion
No.
The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
TedMaul said:
Bullett said:
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
Is that like an external uprated graphics card? One of those + dock might be worth looking in to?Bullett said:
No.
The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
Not true.....The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
check out the Alienware M11x.
I guess the fundamental problem is that proper dedicated gaming laptops and portability don't go hand in hand. As Bullet said they tend to be power hungry and I don't think your going to get much more than a hour on battery from a gaming laptop.
That said gaming laptops are getting a bit better. There are a few 15 inch gaming laptops on the market which could be semi-portable.
But if your after just beefing up your graphics card a bit then there are a few options. As long as you realize that all your doing is improving the graphics power a bit, its never going to be a complete solution that will measure up to any of the dedicated gaming laptops.
The few external gfx cards for laptops on the market that I know of are
Asus XG station
Vidock 2
Ati XGP
The vidock is probably the most popular and is basically an external desktop gfx. It runs through the express card slot. Not cheap think it runs at about 300 and thats not including the gfx card. Also it has some limitations, won't work on macs, on vista the gfx cards have to be the same brand and think it has problems if your running more than 3gb ram.
HTH
edit: found link http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2009/8/11/vid...
That said gaming laptops are getting a bit better. There are a few 15 inch gaming laptops on the market which could be semi-portable.
But if your after just beefing up your graphics card a bit then there are a few options. As long as you realize that all your doing is improving the graphics power a bit, its never going to be a complete solution that will measure up to any of the dedicated gaming laptops.
The few external gfx cards for laptops on the market that I know of are
Asus XG station
Vidock 2
Ati XGP
The vidock is probably the most popular and is basically an external desktop gfx. It runs through the express card slot. Not cheap think it runs at about 300 and thats not including the gfx card. Also it has some limitations, won't work on macs, on vista the gfx cards have to be the same brand and think it has problems if your running more than 3gb ram.
HTH
edit: found link http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2009/8/11/vid...
Edited by twinturboz on Monday 22 March 16:46
968 said:
Bullett said:
No.
The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
Not true.....The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
check out the Alienware M11x.
TedMaul said:
968 said:
Bullett said:
No.
The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
Not true.....The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
check out the Alienware M11x.
968 said:
TedMaul said:
968 said:
Bullett said:
No.
The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
Not true.....The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
check out the Alienware M11x.
TedMaul said:
968 said:
Bullett said:
No.
The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
Not true.....The docking station doesn't have a graphics card just a passthough type connector to the monitor from the onboard card. 'Gaming' laptops are big, heavy and power hungry normally although they are getting better. If it's always going to be docked then get a desktop. If it must be portable as well then it's a pay off between performance and size.
Although an outboard gpu for gaming is a pretty good idea.
check out the Alienware M11x.
I have a Dell XPS 1710 which has twin 8800 GTX 512mb gfx cards running in SLI. Was the best you could get when I bought it and handles every game I have thrown at it. Yep its heavy, but I am not that heavy and yes you really need to plug it in, but for gaming it is portable enough.
TedMaul you dont need a dock to use a monitor with a laptop, just plug it in the back.
Docking stations arent cheap either and tend to me brand and model specific.
Sounds like unless you are going to spend a fair bit (which doesnt sound like you want to) you will be better of just buying a desktop for half the price of a gaming laptop yet with more gaming power.
I cant remember, did you say why you needed a laptop rather than a desktop?
Docking stations arent cheap either and tend to me brand and model specific.
Sounds like unless you are going to spend a fair bit (which doesnt sound like you want to) you will be better of just buying a desktop for half the price of a gaming laptop yet with more gaming power.
I cant remember, did you say why you needed a laptop rather than a desktop?
I stand (somewhat) corrected. It is possible to get what you want but at a price.
Why does it need to be a laptop if you want it to be docked with a big screen to play games? (and racing games at that - steering wheel?)
A cheap laptop (£300ish) for portability and a fair gaming desktop (£600) would come in cheaper than the M11 in a decent spec.
Why does it need to be a laptop if you want it to be docked with a big screen to play games? (and racing games at that - steering wheel?)
A cheap laptop (£300ish) for portability and a fair gaming desktop (£600) would come in cheaper than the M11 in a decent spec.
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