How high-end to go? np5796 vs np2096

I am looking at laptops, and the only high-end graphics program I plan to play on them will probably be Second Life. <EDIT: Not looking at Sager too hard anymore. Now looking at ASUStek.>

So here is my question: how graphics-intensive, really, IS second life? With WindLight, of course. It would be really, really awesome if I were fiiinally able to run SL on "ultra" graphics, with WindLight enabled (I have to turn it off on my current rig). Would it make a significant difference in my framerate to shell out that extra $800?

I won't actually be buying the lappy before Christmas this year; so maybe the price will have gone down by then....?

Halp plees!

<EDIT: What I'm really looking for is something that SL won't COMPLETELY outpace in a few years' time. I mean I'm sure there will be nice new settings and all, but it would be nice if someone could just tell me what graphics cards specifically look like they'll be able to take everything SL throws at them, and yet not be ridiculously over the top. Ditto CPU. Example: Will something like an Nvidia 8600GT be enough, or is it just "barely" enough so that one day it WON'T be enough and I'll have to dial down my pretty graphics?>

The problem is no matter what you get or plan to get someone will find something better. If you are going for a laptop that is capapble of running SL in ultimate settings you are looking at a significant monetary investment compared to a desktop that is more powerful......but I think you already know that. Either graphics card you are looking at will work.....and I doubt you will seen a significant difference in performance between the two. By the time you say you are going to purchase this machine both cards could be "old" and outdated. Something that technology and Second Life cannot wait for is the world to catch up......they will always try to be out front. If you were buying today, I'd say go with the cheaper of the two. You won't see a difference in performance.....believe it or not, SL does have a limit on how much it can perform. A high end computer can take all SL has PLUS SOME MORE........but that probably won't remain the case for long. Then some other rig will come along that gets out front again......endless cycle.

Heheh.... well in the time it took for this thread to get replied to, I've already forgotten about teh Sagers and found the ASUS F8VA-B1, which seems to fit my needs quite well. It's pretty (yayzers!), has a comparable graphics card with plenty of VRAM, and is under $1300. Check it. http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-f8vab1-p-2444.html

Does anyone know of a pc comparable in price and specs to the asus F8VA-B1? I'm just trying to make sure I don't close off all my options. E.G., comparable CPU but different manufacturer; comparable GPU; similar price (under 1.5k); sleek appearance.

I would also like reassurrance that SL will take more than a few years to absolutely outpace this compy. I reeeeally want those Ultra graphics settings.

That's going to be hard for anyone to do. LL seems to release viewers and update server code around once every couple months. Each release and update seem to require more from your computer. I would not go out on a limb and tell you that any computer will be able to run SL a "few" years from now.......I might go out there and tell you it will still very capable of running SL next year this time, but that's about as far as I'm willing to stick my neck out.

The best way to hedge that bet is to get a computer that is upgradable. A computer that has room for more RAM, bigger and better graphics, faster CPU's, and as much wattage as you can get from a power supply (to run all the stuff you have now, plus stuff you think you might add at a later date). But, even that is a crap shoot.......who knows exactly what will be required and motherboards, peripheral slots, etc you might need to upgrade?

A laptop is quite a bit more limited in upgradability.........sorry, just a fact.

Take heart in knowing no matter what laptop you buy, it's not going to run SL with everything turned up to ultra at 50 FPS. Very few desktops will achieve that either for that matter. For a laptop that will run SL acceptably would require at least an 8600 Nvidia video card with separate and dedicated memory opposed to the often retarded solutions like "dedicated" system memory used as video memory. On the other hand SL will function on a much lower end solution but I would consider that just a portable supplement to my plush desktop.