Help with getting laptop

[dario03]

Hey guys, I need some help finding a laptop for my friend. He is looking to spend about $1000 - $1200. Wants to do some gaming like Command and Conquer 3 and other strategy games. Doesn't play fps at all.
He also wants to be able to play older games like Red Alert 2 so I was wondering how well that would work out on Vista.

Basically just looking for good deals that have a decent dedicated graphics card and would like 15.4 or 17 if that is possible.

Also any good links to deal sites would be good.

 

[Nukem]

Newegg.com - iBUYPOWER CRZ-58 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo T5500(1.66GHz) 15.4" Wide XGA 2GB DDR2 667 120GB Dual layer DVD Burner NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 - Retail

 

[Trotter]

15.4", upgrade to 8600M for $200
The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

17", upgrade from 8400M to 8600M for $100
The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

15.4", ATI Radeon M76 (256MB DDR3)
ClubIT Product - ENPOWER 15.4" WXGA LCD AMD Turion 64 x 2 TL-56 ATI Radeon M76 (256MB DDR3) 2GB DDR2-667 160GB SATA HDD 8X Super Multi DVD Gaming Notebok Retail ENP634

17", dual 8600M
Newegg.com - TOSHIBA Satellite X205-SLi1 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo T7250(2.00GHz) 17.0" Wide XGA+ 2GB DDR2 667 240GB HD DVD-ROM / Super Multi Dual NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT - Retail

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

 

[Kharn]

Dell's XPSTM M1730
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7500. (2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2 cache, 800 MHz FSB)
Vista® Ultimate. (32Bit)
4GB DDR2 RAM.
NVIDIA GeForce Go 8700M GT graphics.
250GB Hard Drive. (SATA)
Wireless. (a/b/g)
Blu-ray Disc DVD+/-RW Optical Drive.
Bluetooth.
9-cell Lithium-Ion Battery.
17.0" UltraSharp.
2.0mp Webcam.
Graphite Black/Sapphire Blue Casing with White LED Back lights.


Nice laptop good features, as for playing older games I haven't seen much in the way of computability errors but for the most part you can just right click the .exe an force compatibility for XP, "2000, ect.

 

[dario03]

Is the 8600m gt the best to get in this price range?

Is Dells lcd truelife a good thing to get? it cost nothing to add.

 

[Kharn]

Yes as far as I know the 8600m is great for mobile gaming. I have no experience with the true life but if it costs nothing add it.

 

[pctech2]

HP DV9700t Laptop: Core 2 Duo 2.20GHz 2GB 250GB $999, with 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS card. 17.0" (1680 x 1050) screen.

 

[dario03]

He went with Trotters suggestion of the 17" and 8600m gt.

Thanks.