I have always gamed/simmed on a desktop PC and never really considered using a laptop for that purpose. Recently I started a new job that has me on the road a lot, so I am starting to look more at a mobile solution. I am looking to spend no more than say $1200 for a laptop capable of running sims such as RoF, X-Plane 10 and games such as Skyrim. Has anyone here gone down that road recently? Any advice would be appreciated.

Let me just say for starters that "gaming" and "laptop" should never be used in the same sentence. If you do, you're only fooling yourself. Or really rich.

If you've got to have it, you have to have it.....but you'll pay through the nose, have a machine which you can't really upgrade and want a new one within 3 years whilst wondering why you spent so much money for so little return.

It's probably the most expensive way to game. If it's mobility and/or size that is the major thought.....I'd possibly look at the new Alienware X51 small form factor base units....you'd still need a monitor but at least you'd still have a machine in a few years time that is capable of playing games.

Dell/Alienware website

If I look at a replacement MXM graphics card for an Alienware Aurora m9700, it'll set me back 200€. It's nice to have the option, but 200€ for an nVidia 7900GS? Ouch!

How does this one rate?
Toshiba

Paul,

Suggest Asus or Sager.

Asus G53SX $1200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230099

Asus G74SX $1400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230142

Sager NP8150 $1400
http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.php?page=product_info&model_name=NP8150

Sager NP8170 $1450
http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.php?page=product_info&model_name=NP8170

Asus has lots of value, but include a ton of shovelware and crapware, so you will want to clean format the drive after making backup disks. The Toshiba looks like good specs. Don't know about their dependability or how much crapware comes on them. Sager manufacturers systems for brand name companies that stamp their nameplates on the lid.

Thanks for the info Doug! I will check those out. I know that gaming on a laptop isn't ideal for a number of reasons, but when I am holed up in a hotel room it would be nice to have the ability to fire up a sim or RTS if I want to.

And if you use that approach, you'll be fine. If turning down the graphics doesn't give you bad heartburn, and you clean load without the crapware, it beats the hotel game system rental by a mile.

My Alienware M14x can handle and play most everything at high, with a framerate ave of 30... and it only cost 1200 bucks... so those who say it's impossible or only for the rich are mistaken. I can even hook it up in my Living room 50 inch HDTV... and play 1080p... looks great, a little zaggy.

Just FYI.

But Doug knows PC's... so i'd take his recommendations over mine.

My friend just dropped $4,400 on an Alienware M18x loaded to the gills. It has its way with Rise of Flight, that's for sure.

Only problem is, when the SLI GTX 580Ms are active, the DPC latency is high and random audio artifacts start creeping into the sound that randomly appear and disappear, and the only way to fix the sound issue for now is to run on integrated graphics mode.

Also, the keyboard fails S-D-Space and D-F-Space, common combinations if you're playing FPSs.

I mention these as a lesson in that when you're shopping around for gaming laptops, raw FPS benchmarks and features aren't the only things you need to consider.