Help laptop choice :(

[laptopnewbie]

Thank you!!!1

[The Bill]

Sagar NP2096 seems like the appropriate choice here, it can handle alot you're throwing at it game wise (CS:S, Eve), and it's a Sagar so it'll last a while, also this model doesn't have a fancy design to it, simple and clean. I fiddled around for a while to find the cheapest specs, but also fit what you needed.

- 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1680x1050) `
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- ~Intel® P8600 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.40GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt
- 512MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 9600M GT DDR2 DX10
- ~ 4,096MB DDR2 800 (2 SODIMMS) Dual Channel Memory (Requires Vista 64-Bit to recognize Full 4GB)
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 200GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)
- Internal 3-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS)
- Internal Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR
- Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 5300 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi Link
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Carying Case Optional (Select if desired)
- Smart Li-ion Battery (9-Cell)
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- ~Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's
- 1 Year Parts & Labor, Lifetime Sager Toll Free Tech Support
$1,359.00

You could save money by lowering the RAM to 2GB, and lowering the CPU. You could if you really wanted to save more money, by lowering the hard drive down to a 250GB 5,400RPM HD, but I used a 7,200RPM because your using MatLab. You can obviously make this fit your needs at a budget of $1,200. Anyway, there's a lot of great notebooks on Xotic, this is just a suggestion.

Bill

[Zachary]

1) What is your budget?
At maximum, 1200

Your specs are really nice but 1359 looks to be too much for him

Edit: Sorry I didn't read the bottom about the lowering to the 1200. My bad.

[halest0rM]

$1,200? Ok I found a good config:
Its a good laptop for school and games and fits your budget. It should also be quiet.
Sager NP7680 (http://www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php?products_id=2412%7B76%7D650%7B187 %7D1757%7B94%7D1074%7B92%7D2421%7B88%7D2420%7B186% 7D734%7B93%7D1094%7B193%7D657%7B112%7D656%7B98%7D1 295%7B96%7D1882%7B168%7D1453%7B116%7D1416%7B117%7D 705%7B120%7D703%7B110%7D1748%7B169%7D1449%7B119%7D 1898%7B100%7D734%7B164%7D1441%7B107%7D1539%7B106%7 D1691%7B121%7D1532%7B108%7D710%7B109%7D711%7B170%7 D1591%7B173%7D1175%7B103%7D1889%7B113%7D1413%7B111 %7D1414%7B69%7D1513)
- 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1680x1050) `
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- ~Intel® P8400 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.26GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt
- 256MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 9300M GS w/ up to 512MB Turbo Cache DDR2 DX10
- ~ 2,048MB DDR2 800 (1 SODIMM) Memory (You can upgrade this to 4gb if you like)
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 250GB 5400RPM (Serial-ATA 150)
- Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo/SD/Mini-SD/MMC/RS)
- Internal Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR
- Built-in Wireless 802.11a/b/g
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Smart Li-ion Battery (6-Cell)
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- ~Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's
- 1 Year Parts & Labor, Lifetime Sager Toll Free Tech Support

Total Price: $1,089.00
Also you have to add shipping cost to your final total which is around 37 dollars ( I dont know the exact price) If you want your laptop faster than you would have to pay more for shipping. And of course if you pay by money order/check/ wire transfer you can get a 3.0% cash discount :D
Hope this helps.