Laptop vs Desktop for Gaming ( College Student ), advice requested.

[Amur]

Hello everyone, this is my first post though I've been lurking for a long time.

I am a first year student at IIT Kanpur about to complete my first semester and go back home for the Winter to Kolkata. I didn't buy a laptop before coming here and I was planning to do so over the winter. I'm also an avid gamer, and have a powerful custom built rig at home.

Now looking at gaming laptops, it strikes me that they are very cost inefficient in terms of their power relative to desktops and I'd be better off with a desktop instead. Even though space is an issue , I have managed to work it out with my roommate.

Now the question to be resolved is this. Is it practical to transport a desktop computer from Kanpur to Kolkata ( and vice versa ) via the Rajdhani express ? We have to vacate our rooms at the end of each sem and there's no choice in the matter. So I HAVE to bring it back. Now I'd like some honest opinion about whether it is practically feasible to pack a desktop by yourself and transport it over Indian railways....I do not want some accidental dislodging to ruin my rig. Is the transport good enough or not ?

 

[ithehappy]

I can't say about transporting, but it should not be an issue. It will always be worth it to carry a desktop, even if you have to walk all the way from origin place to destination all by yourself carrying the product, there is no other way to look around it.

 

[abhigeek]

I don't think travelling with desktop to and forth is a good idea..
My friend lost his laptop in train to delhi(6 month old)
Anyways handling your bags,monitor,CPU your whole experience gonna be cumbersome.

I suggest to go with laptop, I think you will get gaming laptop according to your budget.

 

[a_k_s_h_a_y]

first year student

gym, self improvement, passion, girls, seduction, startups, confidence, friends, travel, books!
unless game development or international pro gaming is your passion..

 

[ashs1]

yeah..travelling to and forth with a whole desktop on train does not seem to be at all plausible..gaming laptop is better suited

 

[Nerevarine]

Deal with a laptop now and after 4 years you can get a super high end PC without any issues.. I dont know how its even allowed but living in a hostel with a desktop will be very very wierd, you will probably be the only one...
I say this as a Desktop warrior myself, yes.. Desktops are supreme, nothing comes close to it's Price/Performance, but a laptop will be suitable in your case
Again, i must stress the fact that living in a hostel, you will have very little time for actual gaming.. So, why bother with a gaming desktop for these 4 years.. Trust me, after you graduate from college, you can ditch the laptop and get yourself a proper gaming system..

 

[seamon]

Buy MSI GS30 or Alienware 13 a little while later.
These laptops will allow you to convert your laptop into a desktop with any desktop graphics card.

 

[whitestar_999]

Except for cabinet,rest all is easy stuff.install cpu in the mobo & pack it in mobo box after taking out any extra stuff,also put ram in its original covering inside it too.psu can be packed in a simple polythene & tucked away in some corner.graphics card too can be carried easily within its original box.for cabinet though you have to arrange for some place(some senior's room etc) to leave it there during vacations.if money is not an issue you can always courier it back to home at a cost of ~1000.btw you won't get time to even watch 1-2 movies during weekends in 1st year in IIT Kanpur with all the work load,forget about serious gaming.

 

[$hadow]

Better get a gaming laptop

 

[kkn13]

Buy MSI GS30 or Alienware 13 a little while later.
These laptops will allow you to convert your laptop into a desktop with any desktop graphics card.

+10000 to this
my friend bought alienware 13 with the desktop gpu thing
works like a charm,bit pricey but i love the concept and might buy the same

- - - Updated - - -

carrying a desktop around like that or dismantling it is a ridiculous idea imho,itll be very cumbersome and the risk of breaking something is very high
plus why care for another desktop
buy a gaming laptop for IIT Kanpur and play games on your rig back home in the vacations
also I dont understand why people undermine gaming laptops like that,if you buy the right config/model it can beat most gaming desktops with ease
also a laptop is more convenient

 

[SaiyanGoku]

Depending on your budget, you can get a really good laptop if you are open to importing it through somebody.
Else you're stuck with Lenovo Y50 and Asus g550jk in India under 80k budget. Above that price, importing makes even more sense.