best pc laptop for poker multi tabling

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kyndlyon

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any1 know what the best pc laptop is for poker multi tabling? also, where can i find the best deals on getting a new/refurbished pc laptop? any help is appreciated.
 
Poker Orifice

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Pretty much anything from the last two years will suffice (or even older).
It depends on what you're doing.
ie. I'll often be on 4-5 poker sites at same time & might have a dozen to fifteen tables/tourneys running, along with other software, emails, trolling forums, listening to music, etc. etc. & my laptop is nothing special at all (pretty basic actually). My 17"Acer (couple yrs. old) is fine for this, 4GB Ram & mediocher processor.
I also use an old Dell 15" (with extra monitor) & it too has no problems running multiple sites/tables, etc. & has just 2GB Ram & an Intel Pentium processor that is ancient by today's standards.

What I'm saying is > anything will likely suffice. Probably want to go with 4GB Ram though (minimum if poss.) & semi-decent processor.
Some of the newer ones I see at Walmart these days typically have min. 4GB Ram, good processor & are REALLY CHEAP! (as in $400 for a 17", $325 for 15", HP, Dell, Toshiba). Any of them would be more than good enough imo.
 
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BlueNowhere

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Just out of interest PO how do you manage 15 tables? Stack or tile? Whenever I get up to a fair amount I never know where I am on anything (plus comp doesn't help by having a stroke if I try it)
 
jolubman

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As long as it runs Microsoft Windows I think any brand would be okay.
 
Dorkus Malorkus

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OP, really, anything is fine. IF your sole concern is poker and multi-tabling then you don't need huge amounts of processor speed/RAM and a super high-end graphics card, you just need something that's comfortable with a decent-sized screen.

Just out of interest PO how do you manage 15 tables? Stack or tile? Whenever I get up to a fair amount I never know where I am on anything (plus comp doesn't help by having a stroke if I try it)

unless you have dual monitors or are hooking your system up to a huge tv or something you pretty much have to stack 12+ tables unless you're insane imo.
 
Tindall91

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Just go for one with a very large screen if you plan on using the laptop screen only. Obviously go for any laptop if you are going to use a separate screen
 
Poker Orifice

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fwiw, If I were to do it over again...
I'd just keep the old laptop & purchase a new desktop/tower instead.
Start with one 23 or 24" monitor & then down the road add another one.
 
Tom1559

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You could 20 people this question and get 20 different answers. It is a personal thing but really any up to date lap top should have a specification that will easily handle what you need. PO using two screens is however essential for multin tabling at that level.
 
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Poker really doesn't require much of a setup. I can multi table 20 on a 5year old lapop(Granted it does get a little to hot and stutters at times) but in general it runs fine and have loaded up 30+ tables without lag on a 7year old PC too. Granted, the pc was custom made for games in particular but that's 7 years ago so isn't any good by todays standards. It is more comfortable and easier to play on a desktop PC because you have a proper station to play from in general + in most cases they are much faster than laptops so you get next to no lag.

I've had 10 tables which didn't run great on my note book which isn't designed for anything other than browsing/word documents etc
 
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RVladimiro

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I play 4+ (I think the most I played was 12) stacked tables on a small screen old netbook with no processing issues.
 
Poker Orifice

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Poker really doesn't require much of a setup. I can multi table 20 on a 5year old lapop(Granted it does get a little to hot tc
I used to have this issue a bit too (on some of my older laptops)... & used to keep a 4" steel fan pointed at puter, blasting away on it all day long (I think it helped?).

Ramdee, is that all on one site? Sometimes I've had some issues when running sites that seem to be bigger resource hogs than others (ie. 888Poker & bodog.. & to lesser degree > partypoker & Cake).

I've got 6 sites up & running today with ~40mtt's lined up starting over the next 6hrs. I'll let you know if I have problems later on, lol.

kyndlyon, I think it partly depends on if you'll be playing multiple sites. My standard Acer 4GB Ram seems sufficient but tbh I wish it had a bit more power... but keep in mind I run quite a few sites at the same time (& write posts in forums like this one... at the same time, lol).
 
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RamdeeBen

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Ramdee, is that all on one site? Sometimes I've had some issues when running sites that seem to be bigger resource hogs than others (ie. 888Poker & Bodog.. & to lesser degree > PartyPoker & Cake).

I've got 6 sites up & running today with ~40mtt's lined up starting over the next 6hrs. I'll let you know if I have problems later on, lol.

Might try the 4" fan idea lol.

I dont usually multi table on different sites, just from the same one in general but I know I wouldn't be able to handle multi tables on other sites, I'm sure pokerstars uses less resources than all the others I've played on. Definitely feels a lot smoother anyway.
 
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Might try the 4" fan idea lol.

.
I'm sure it helped alot. Able to pick up little 4" steel fan at local store for ~$10.

I also cut a piece of wood that I use as a laptop stand (2" x 3/4", & as long as the laptop is wide, placed under the rear part of laptop). Then I place a bunch of those small, round, rubber thingys on the bottom side of it (placed to make it sturdy, balanced & a good grip on desk/table top)... those 'thingys' with peel off sticky side. The extra airspace & with the fan blasting on it,... seems to help. It worked better than a variety of laptop stands I've purchased (ie. Belkin) - the ones with the fan(s) in them. One thing I didn't like about those is that the fans on tend seem to blow dust right into my computer (used to have to put cheese cloth over the fan on the stand to keep it from blasting in too much dust ... I live in a really dusty area though).
 
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Workstation instead of a Laptop
4 GB min Ram
Processor - not as important
Spend your $money on the monitors if you plan to multi 12+
2 26" monitors are imo nearest to perfection with out excessive head spin.

Go with what fits your budget and focus on comfort (monitors) rather then bang (high end processor).
 
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I use 26 inch monitors and a really really good chair. Herman Miller Aeron.
 
ythelongface

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PO, do you find that a 17 laptop monitor is sufficient? Looking into buying one before too long.. just curious as to your thoughts.
 
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PO, do you find that a 17 laptop monitor is sufficient? Looking into buying one before too long.. just curious as to your thoughts.
I used to tile 6-tables on a 15" laptop (small tables are normal for me).

Sufficient.. do you mean for screen size (space)?
 
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Mainly for poker tbh.
The 17" laptop I'm using right now is a couple of years old & is great for poker. I can easily play on a bunch of different sites at the same time (iPoker, Cake, Merge, PokerStars, Microgaming, Everest) w/o any problems like lag or freeze ups. (888Poker along with a bunch of others sometimes gives me a bit of trouble, but really only if I've got a bunch of other sites running too). Can comfortably tile 4 tables (& can easily fit up to 6 tables.
I'd suggest 4GB Ram as a minimum.

I've bought a bunch of laptops from Walmart - some good sales there.
 
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you dont need a strong pc for poker and multi tabling, mby you just take some bigger wide mointor for better view coz u want multi tabling. I have 23 inch wide acer monitor and its very good if u want to play few tables in same time, because is pretty big.
 
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AllInDom

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You can get a tower computer and add multiple screens easily. I run Windows with three monitors. It is convenient for running any application.
 
hojediade

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Hey everyone, it's been a long time :)
I'm in the mood of buying some new laptop and I still wonder if HD should have any importance while choosing it or not? I heard it was better for multi-tabling due to the quality but i'm not that sure...
It seems also that Intel is the right choice (probably i5 or better) with at least 4GB RAM, sort of a general consensus. I'd probably go with XPS 15. Your thought?

:rock:
 
Diya05

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I don't think it matters much.
My dad plays poker all the time on his old Dell. That laptop is at least 9 years old, runs on Windows XP and looks as old as the devil's cream cracker.
 
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