Best old Laptop for Windows XP gaming ?

[80s_Atari_Guy]

I have been looking for the best Laptop, specs-wise, for Windows XP gaming. Not a Laptop that is powerful enough for Windows 7, so something from around 2001 - 2003.

A decent video chip from Nvidia, or ATI, would be nice. Certainly better than anything from Intel.

Single core CPU, 1 - 1.5Ghz CPU. A dual core would be nice, but I doubt it would have the older ports.

1 - 1.5Gb RAM. Should be enough for XP.

HD size - not too fussed. Will probably replace with a DOM, or a SDCard solution.

Ports - Definitely looking for older ports such as Parallel, RS232 Serial. These would be mostly for projects.

USB 1.0/2.0 - USB would be nice, 1 or 2 ports.

VGA port - Not a necessity, but I'm seeing them on a lot of Laptops from this era, anyway.

So far, after a few hours on Google, I have found a few models, some maybe from specific regions only.

Dell Latitude D600 - This looks like a great all rounder. Fairly decent Pentium M CPU, ATI 9000 series graphics, CDROM/DVDRom Drive, Cheap and easy to find.

Dell Inspiron 8000 - This looks a bit old for XP. Pentium III-M, Nvidia GeForce 2 mobile, a possible ESS Maestro 3 audio card( Not all models).

Dell Precision M6300 - This looks a bit too new for XP (Thinking of drivers), Intel Core 2 Duo T9300, Nvidia FX 1600M, 3Gb RAM, SigmaTel STAC9205 Audio chip.

Dell Inspiron 9300 - Too many Dells. Intel Pentium M 1.86 GHz, 2Gb RAM, DVD Drive, 2Gb RAM, ATI Radeon X300 1440 x 900 or Geforce Go 6800. STAC9750 Audio codec. This looks good, cheap, easy to find.

IBM Thinkpad T42 - Intel Pentium M 1.6 GHz, 1Gb RAM, 30+GB HD, Radeon 7500 or 9000, Built like a tank. Not easy finding one working and complete.

Compaq Evo N610c - Pentium 4 M 1.8GHz, Mobility Radeon 7500, DVD Drive, Hard to find complete. I can only find parts. Would run XP well.

To me, the best so far, with all the ports I want, is the Dell Latitude D600. Easy to find, cheap - about £60 ($75) for a good one with everything I need including PSU. I Can still get the drivers from Dell, and it appears to run XP very well.

I would love a 3.5" floppy drive, as well. But finding a Laptop able to run XP, XP games, and have a floppy drive, is asking a little too much. I know you can buy external drives, but compatibility with the programs I want to use, isn't great. I need a floppy drive connected to a floppy controller, not a USB controller.

What I don't want is a desktop, I don't have the space for one. And, I need portability.

So, anyone rocking a XP Laptop for XP gaming ?

[zylon]

I use a Dell Latitude D600 myself with no complaints. Has CD rom drive, 2 usb ports, and a ZIP disk drive.

[Mr C]

Dell Inspiron M 170 with support for Pentium M chips that exceed 2Ghz, support for up to 2GB of RAM, support for a GeForce GO 6800 ULTRA, built in sound system that includes a subwoofer, and it's built like a tank. 

 

This is my choice for Windows XP gaming. 

[warpman]

I have a Dell D630.  Runs XP well and there is plenty of replacements out there.  I use a USB 3.5 floppy drive with it when I need to.

[+OLD CS1]

I have been selling my Dell Latitude D-series laptops.  They make great XP and 7 machines.  BTW, the Latitude D600 and D610 are the same system as the Inspiron 600m (just in a different, less robust case.)