(06-26-2014, 08:59 PM)talkingdolphin Wrote: So I'm making sure I'll make the right purchase first.
I aim to have the cheapest possible laptop that can run all Dolphin games at full speed and also run recent games at good FPS (min 30). Don't really care if it runs at 800 x 600.
You get what you pay for. A nicer laptop now could last you a long, long , looooonnnggggg time. other wise if you have budget of 400 USD or under you'd be lucky to run anything more than GC games because yu need a dedicated video card and a GOOD laptop with GOOD AND UPGRADABLE video card is gonna run you at least $600 for used one that is good but, a few years old to over 1K fora new one but, they can last you a long time as long as you take care of them.
A high end laptop wouldn't be able to run all games at full speed but, could come close. Laptop hard ware.. the high end gaming stuff is getting better and better these days sometime even COMPARABLE to desktop counterparts. key word comparable not "as fast as"
If you want REALLY good buying advise i HIGHLY recommend you go the NoteBookReview Forums, they are probably THE most knowledgeable people on laptops.
Also for 2k+ make sure to ask for an "MXM" based laptop. MXM just means the video card be taken out and replaced and or upgraded. most of the time it's an un replaceable permanent part then after a few years if it's too slow for game it can't be upgraded... this is not the case with MXM. MXM is not a brand it's something called a "standard" like USB or Sata or PCIe.