Hey everyone, my name is Joe and recently I've been having a hard time deciding on what to do with my computer situation.

Currently, I own a Gateway M680XL "gaming" laptop. I bought this computer approximately a year ago, now I would not have any problems what so ever if my computer continuously ran like it did during the first 15-20 minutes after start up.

The primary game I play is World of Warcraft, if any of you are familiar with it, I have a lvl 60 mage on the realm Korgath in the guild Death and Taxes, a hardcore well established end game raiding guild.

Now, the problems I am having with my computer is that after about 20 minutes of gameplay my fps drops drastically from 120 to about 30, and stays around the 20 - 30 range after that. I know WoW is not even close to the pc dependant games out there, although it does take a decent computer to run WoW well, my computer should run it fine (ofcourse I could be mistaken). My initial thoughts were that my computer was overheating, not only because of the fps drop, but the screen would go crazy sometimes after alt tabbing back into the game, something only a restart would fix, and it was very hot to rest my hands on.

So, I installed 3rd party drivers, specifically xtreme g mobile forceware drivers which solved the crazy screen problem, and I bought one of those laptop fans that the laptop rests upon which fixed the issue with the computer getting to hot to touch, but my fps problem still exists.

For some reason you can also see the outline of where my left and right hand rests on both sides of my touchpad, could be from the overheating melting away the paint possibly? Or just frictional wear I guess anyway just felt I should mention that.

Now, I also overclocked the video card a bit to try and fix the fps problem, didn't work... I read it could be a bottle neck type thing because the processor is too slow, but I don't think that is the case eaither, and I don't want to send my computer which I think just finished its warranty, back to gateway only for them to tell me they can't fix it blah blah... basically I am getting a little fed up and I should have just gotten a desktop. I am rather dissapointed that I did not see this happeneing beforehand, how could a powerful laptop get proper cooling without a lcs.

Anyway, at this point.. unless someone could offer up a suggestion as to fixing my laptop issue... I am in the market for a new computer.

Now I don't necessarily want to buy a dell or gateway, however.. I don't feel confident enough in my knowledge about computers to build one, when I want to get it right this time. A friend of mine has built many many computers, but I dont think he does such a great job eaither, since my roomate gave him five thousand dollars last year and is in the same boat as me :), actually his is much worse his computer blue screens every time he opens the damn game.

With how convenient simply typing in my credit card number on dells website, and a big box magically appearing on my front steps seems I'd like some of your input.

I have been looking at the Dell xps 700 and the Gateway FX510 series. The Dell xps has actually gotten some good reviews from people that actually own the computer, I know many people would rather die than get a dell, but apparently every retard finds his nut once every however many years dell has been in buisness. On the other hand, the Gateway does not come with the graphics accelerator, I dont think at this point in time it is really that necessary, but the computer also seems cheaper and better equipped under certain options. If anyone feels like doing me a huge favor and looking into this topic for me any and all input would be greatly appreciated.

Things I am specifically looking for:
I would like my new desktop to include,
1. A good hard drive size around 500gb
2. Very good graphics card, however vista is apparently coming out soon... depending upon if bill gates glasses were thick enough for him to find his nut also, I might not go so crazy on the graphics cards, with Dx10 coming out a new line will be launched I'm sure.
3. 20+ inch monitor flat panel (college student need room, no crt's)
4. I think I'm going with an intel core duo processor on this one, no amd for me this time around, and I don't think i need the extreme 6800 one the 2.13 / 2.4 should be fine imo (correct me if i'm wrong)
5. A nice 5.1 + speaker system
6. 2gb ram
Price range is 2-3.5 maybe 4 thousand, really depends. (I can get really good discounts from dell and gateway so if something is a little above four it's fine I wouldn't be paying nearly that much)

Thank you for everyone who took the time to read my post, I am sorry that it was so long... any suggestions are welcome, thanks guys!

Well...if your warranty is still on you can always take advantage of that before you turn to buying a new computer, unless the warranty expired. Death and Taxes....I heard that the guild downed Naxx first, which is a big achievement.

Ummm....call the computer fairies to fix it?

Well...if your warranty is still on you can always take advantage of that before you turn to buying a new computer, unless the warranty expired. Death and Taxes....I heard that the guild downed Naxx first, which is a big achievement.


Yea that was my first thought, however I am two weeks too late :(, sucks I know. And yes we were the first guild to clear up to saphiron, third guild to finish Naxx WW, would have been first but Kel'thuzad bugged and despawned 3 days in a row.

Well...that's still good, if your computer is really jacked up you can always sell it to a sucker and use the money to help fund your new computer.

Well...that's still good, if your computer is really jacked up you can always sell it to a sucker and use the money to help fund your new computer.
That's always an option for you isn't it? Trick some dumb kid into giving you money...

haha it's a good idea, but nah I wouldn't do that to anyone.. I was thinking of doing a trade in but dell / gateway will only give me 325 for it.. rediculous... I spent over 2500 on it last year :(

VooDoo Makes some really nice gaming machines that are all custom built and benchmarked.

http://www.voodoopc.com/system/quotekitchen.aspx?productID=1097

heres one thats $3300 to start. Just customize it how you want it.

That's always an option for you isn't it? Trick some dumb kid into giving you money...
Hey, it does work...and it gets you money.

Hey, it does work...and it gets you money.If you're talking about eBay. I pitty the person who tries to sell a broken computer.

Hey, it does work...and it gets you money.
That's what my friend did, gave a rich kid a ragnarok acc. for $100.

If you're talking about eBay. I pitty the person who tries to sell a broken computer.
That's why you don't use eBay.
That's what my friend did, gave a rich kid a ragnarok acc. for $100.
Was it a crappy account?

Anyways, you should just get a new computer or something....can't stick with that old one if it won't work.

Was it a crappy account?
No most of the characters were maxed out.

Only 100 dollars? He could've sold it for more money. Unless it was a private server.

that is the ultimate waste of money. buying online accounts.

Yeah...and some of them turn out to be fake and chances are you get tricked out of your money. Which is why it is an ultimate waste of money and you don't get any benefit in real life if you buy an account.