Hey guys, I know a few of you are pretty knowledgeable on the subject so I figured I'd come here for help first. I need to buy a new laptop for college, because I'm transferring -- and the university I am currently attending provides them for us "free of charge" (obviously we do not keep them). I was wondering what are some good choices on the cheaper end of the spectrum? I want to be able to run some higher end games, but running them on the "high" setting is not a priority. I want to stay under $800 at the absolute MOST. Any help you guys could provide would be great, thanks.

Trying to find a cheap gaming laptop isnt easy because it's sorta like asking for everything.

I would try to figure out what level of gaming performance is acceptable to you. It's almost all about the videocard- for example some people are satisfied with AMD HD3200 or Geforce 8400M but I know It wouldnt be enough for me. I would need something with a Geforce 8600M/GT130M or AMD 4650+. I think everyone would agree to stay away from Intel graphics.

As I scroll thru Newegg laptops, the cheapest ones that would suite my purposes as a light gaming laptop run ~$750.

under $800 is sorta hard for what you're looking for

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152126
But proc kinda sucks and keyboard is a little weird

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834157046
Relatively better GPU but I dunno bout the proc

The laptop wouldnt be *for* gaming but I would like to be able to do some gaming on it. Thanks for the suggestions and I will check them out.

LOLmac.

But seriously, the revamped MacBooks are almost identical inside to my 4 month old macbook pro. Boot Camp + Win7 = happy gaming?

EDIT: Got my currency conversion wrong - they're $1000

Student discount + refurb from apple = just around $800

Oh yeah I forgot about that

A 15" MBP with a 9600M GT would probably be better than that MSI I listed but you'd have to get it for $800 which seems sort of impossible

I would still recommend that HP (4650 > 9600M GT) even though these really aren't "gaming" laptops (and gaming laptops aren't really worth it anyways)