   another laptop thread
  Sorry to proliferate the LTs ( Laptop Threads ), but this is important.I currently have a desktop, and need to get a laptop for mobile work / study.  My dilemma is that Doom 3 is coming in a few weeks.My Desktop has a Pentium 3 1Ghz chip, 256Mb ram, 20 Gb HD.  The graphics card is an ATI 9500 pro, perhaps the best part of the machine.So I'm pretty sure that any modern laptop ( Toshiba, Acer, Sager ) will outperform my current desktop.  BUT!  Will a reasonably priced laptop ( < $1800 ) really cut it with Doom 3?  Help please.  I just want to have  realistic expectation ( what with watered down 'mobile' CPUs and GPUs ) before I lay down a pile of cash.*edit* oh yeah, I can't get a new desktop.  I can only afford one computer investment at this point, and the laptop has priority.   
  Well, your desktop  won't run Doom 3. I believe 1.5 GHz is the requirement.Now, I'm not sure any existing laptop will really make doom 3 scream. I'm sure there are some that will run it just fine, but the problem with laptops is that their video cards seem to always be a step behind the top of the line desktop version, and video card is  a big part in Doom3. Now, if you can hunt down at least a 2GHz laptop with a Radeon 9800, or maybe even a 9600, you might be in pretty good shape. Of course, 512MB of RAM is like the minimum too, with 1GB recommended, but for high performances, they actually recommend 2GB, which getting a laptop with that much would cost a fortune. Just shop around and hope for the best.Of course, the 5.1 Surround effects of Doom3 will definitely be lost on a laptops inferior sound system. I hear the audio in Doom is almost worth as much as the graphics. Well, best of luck!   ;  Laptops aren't meant for gaming, and you shouldn't use them as such if you can help it. It's much better to have a desktop for serious computing power and a very lightweight and power efficient laptop for working on the move.Mobile GPUs and CPUs are really not that good. If you really can't afford a desktop...well, I wouldn't plan on playing Doom 3 at any really nice detail settings, honestly.   ;  You might be able to run Doom 3 on low settings but don't expect to do it in battery mode.If you get a laptop, at least get one with a decent videocard - the Radeon Mobility series comes to mind. That will most likely cost a bit more but if gaming is that important, it'll be well worth the investment.   ;  Well, lets just say it's hard to pursuade the powers that be ( a woman ) that 2 computers are necessary... I'm in a catch 22.  I've got a wonderful but ancient desktop, need a laptop... and doom 3 is coming out in 2 weeks... aargh!  I guess id have at least one victim already : I'm going through hell thanks to them.   