Build A New Box Or Get Gaming Laptop?

Howdy all! Been a while since I've been on the Forum. Kids, day job, and guitar are taking up most of my time lately. My super old desktop build finally coughed up a lung after 8+ years, so it's time to figure out what's next. I'm torn between building a new desktop, or just purchasing a higher end laptop. I don't have a ton of time for games, but have always had a system that would handle most games decently so I can't seem to let idea that go.

Have just started looking at Alienware laptops, HP Omen, and a few others but I really have no idea what to purchase. I'm starting to wonder if I should just grab a mildly powerful laptop, like an HP Envy, and call it a day. Mostly I'll be doing reading,email, and some recording on whatever I go with, but maybe sneak in a few games of World of Tanks or the like.

Looking forward to joining the community again as time permits. Tim, Jim, Kodo....don't beat me up too bad

 

Glad to see your return, i personally would recommend building a new desktop custom because of longevity and reliability, less chance of kids breaking it, easier to maintenance and upgrade and most of all customizable to suit your needs. the con being that its not portable and cant follow your guitar around. but if you do decide to go laptop i personally recommend any product asus has to offer, some of the specs may not be as nice, but its affordable, easily upgradeable, reliant, hardy hardware.

 

Welcome back to the forum BluesMans, actually,@silvervuplus Pointed benefits of going for desktop PC, I also suggest you to go for new box instead of buying gaming laptop

 

Good to see you back
Something else to consider aside from the portability advantage is with a laptop you effectively have a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) when running plugged into the power.

The company I am an IT Admin for now use mid spec gaming laptops/tablets for five key employees (including me). Although the laptops/tablets initially cost a bit more the savings come when we no longer need to keep buying a replacement online UPS every 3 or 4 years or the extra 24/7 associated power running costs. Another bonus is if they are travelling or they are sick or have kids that are sick then they can still work away from the office. When they are in the office they have a 28" monitor and a bluetooth keyboard/mouse desk set so it seems like a normal pc but it takes up much less space. The two latest additions in this vein have been a couple of i7 Toshiba Porteges with a 1TB SSD and 8GB of RAM fitted. These tablets sit in a dock that is inside a vented desk drawer and with the monitor mounted above the desk on an arm and keyboard/mouse in another slide out drawer, this leaves the desk clear for spreading out documents and advertising proof photography as photographic impact is different when you see it on the screen versus printed in high quality on a large sheet of art paper.
Previously these key employees had a desktop plus a UPS in their offices and a low spec laptop to take home but now only have a mid spec gaming laptop/tablet plus keyboard/mouse desk set and a 28" monitor or in one case two X 28" monitors on arms.

 

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I have a few parts lists going for a possible tower build and am still browsing laptops as well. The more reading I do, the more I'm leaning towards a new tower. I think I can get away with using my existing Cooler Master tower case, so I'd save a few bucks there. And its hard not to want one of those new 6+GB video cards . I'd also have to read up on new monitors as well. The 19" Dell Utrasharp is on it's last leg. Ugh.

 

Thanks for the info David. I posted a thread in the hardware forum with the new build specs I'm considering. Take a look if you get the chance, would love to hear what you think.

Life is going good, thanks for asking. Pretty busy this year, 3 kids in 3 different schools is making things a bit challenging to say the least. How are things in your neck of the woods?