Buying a Laptop, I need some advice.
July 31st, 2013
Right so, I’m looking to buy a laptop in the next couple of weeks. I need it for a bit of gaming (Skyrim, maybe BF3) but without maxed out graphics specially, just smooth gameplay with decent quality. And a bit of Photoshop and Cinema 4d use as well. I’m no graphic designer but I like tinkering with both softwares.
I’ve noticed this one
http://www.cdiscount.com/informatique/ordinateurs-pc-portables/samsung-np300e5a-s04fr/f-1070923-np300e5as04fr.html
Sorry it’s in french but the specs are self explanatory.
My question is, will it be enough for my intended uses or what would you recommand in the same price range? (around 500€)
Thank you for your time
Dont buy i3. Buy at least i5. (has some features like turboboost which is very important for overall performance). 4gb is short too…
My opinion is, you should expend a litle more money and get a better pc which will last longer. Otherwise you will need a new pc soon and in the end it will be more expensive than buy a good one right away.
So, you should buy at least i5 (trust me on this). 6GB would be nice too. Dedicated graphics card too, not that Intel HD crap. HDD is not that much important (only you know how much space you need).
Look in 650-700€ zone.
Ok, so I followed the tips given in previous post and upping my budget a little I saw those 2
http://www.materiel.net/ordinateur-portable/dell-xps-l502x-i5-68541.html
http://www.materiel.net/ordinateur-portable/msi-ge620dx-427-71729.html#
The Dell seems to have a slightly better cpu, more RAM and a nice 7200rpm HDD, but the MSI has a better GPU.
What should I choose.? Those “mobility” graphics cards are really hard to understand
I saw this too but apparently ACER overheats quite worryingly
http://www.materiel.net/ordinateur-portable/acer-aspire-7750g-2456g15tmn-74567.html
7200 rpm hdd is important too. Lets say in Windows startup. It will be faster. Those mobility cards are dificult BUT I have the solution.
Use this 2 benchmarks websites to check whitch card is better. You can compare all cards for it’s true performance value. BUT personaly I think Dell is very good. I would buy that Dell. But there is always other options too. Like Toshiba and Asus. Those 2 brands are very good.
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/
Where are you from? If you want more help PM me your IM chat.
I’m from France. By “IM chat” do you mean like for MSN….. if so, I haven’t used any such service in years, maybe on the IRC right here.?
I had a look at the site you provided and I’ll have a lot of reading ahead of me
I’m also using http://www.notebookcheck.net but it still seems a bit overwhelming
Those websites that I provide you are only for AFTER you choose a set of laptops, compare them. You can see what GPU/CPU is better and by how much. Then you know if it worths the price or not.
My advise is:
Go to the websites of the stores you use there in France. Dont forget webstores like amazon or pixmania. In each one do this:
Search for Laptops. Set the min and max price like 600-800. After that select only those with i5 and 6 GB ram.
Then you will have small number of laptops and you can easly compare them by they cpu / gpu and other specs (here is when the cpubenchkmark and videocardbenchmark comes in).
Select the better 3 and write somewhere the links to them. Go to the next store website and do the same.
In the end you will have a small list with the best laptops for you and you can pick the winner (here is when the cpubenchkmark and videocardbenchmark comes in again).
If you are lucky probably you will find stores with promotions like 20% off this weekend lol.
I’m from Portugal so I cant help you with the best stores but my advise is look in all of them lol. Better lose 30 min doing research rather then money
You can even share the final list here so we can help you choose the winner based on our preference.
Ookay….so I had a rather long read about laptop performances and I had to re-up my budget in order to get something decent for gaming….
2 rather cheap ones
http://www.materiel.net/ordinateur-portable/asus-n75sf-v2g-ty108v-71118.html
http://www.materiel.net/ordinateur-portable/msi-ge620dx-427-71729.html
For those the limitation seems to be RAM with both at 4Gigs, is it complicated to add RAM to a laptop? Done it several times on desktop though.
THe GT 555m looks like it would do the trick for me.
Which would you choose?
And then I saw these 2
http://www.materiel.net/ordinateur-portable/asus-g53sx-sx116v-71122.html
http://www.materiel.net/ordinateur-portable/msi-gt683-677-71728.html
Both a bit more expensive but featuring 6 or 8 Gigs RAM and what looks like a rather sweet GPU.
HDD space is not an issue for me as long as it is more than 500gigs
Would the MSI GE620 be enough? and/or would it be cost effective to get ASUS N75S and upgrade the RAM? The N75S gets my preference regarding price, but I’ll wait for your advice because to be honest I can’t see much difference between (N75S and GE620DX) or (G53SX and GT683).
Upgrade RAM in laptop is just as easy as it is on a Desktop BUT (there is always a but) there is a problem… Laptops usualy have 2 (or 3) slots of ram and they are all always in use (for better performance)… This means there is NO empty ram slot. So in a 4GB (2+2) laptop you have 2 slots of 2 GB. If you want to upgrade to 6GB (3+3) you cant just add 2GB more with a single 2GB ram becouse you dont have an extra empty slot… You have to replace BOTH 2GB ram for new 3GB. ram which.
Now those laptops:
ASUS N75SF has a 17.3” screen… That Sh*t is huge… So for me is excluded.
That gives me the 3 remaining candidates.
Between MSI GT683 and ASUS G53SX I dont see that much diference and FOR ME Asus is better than MSI. It is cheeper too. So maskes sense that MSI GT683 is excluded too.
That gives me the 2 remainig candidates:
Between ASUS G53SX and MSI GE620DX…………………. Lets see:
Asus G53SX has better cpu, better GPU, more RAM… BUT is more expensive and with 3,85kg isnt really a laptop… Is more like a Desktop that you can move around once in a while loool.
Lets be realistic: Considering the screen resolution 1366 x 768, you can run skyrim and with a litle effort bf3 too in the MSI. Probably you cant MAX out everything but you will be able to shot some guys in the head. You can use photoshop and any other software application as well…
I would buy the MSI. I think asus is a LOT more money, and i think too big for me… heavier too. But I’m not a gammer… Maybe just once in a BIG while lol.
If you will be using 80% of the time running software and 20% gamming I think MSI is a better choice (reasonable choice perhaps).
If you will play more then 20% of the time I think you will be pleased with that extra power from ASUS…
So in the end it isn’t about the “Which one is better” question, it is about “which one will suit me better in my needs”. And that question only you can answer…
violetblood replied: ... You have to replace BOTH 2GB ram for new 3GB. ram which.
Please do tell us, where you can buy 3GB sticks of RAM ???
the Meerkat replied: violetblood replied: ... You have to replace BOTH 2GB ram for new 3GB. ram which.
Please do tell us, where you can buy 3GB sticks of RAM ???
Online shops… But i buy at some stores in my country which is no help for you since you are not here… They are expensive though…
most laptops are generally poorly built with very soft plastics and poor quality components. A $600 i5 laptop will be built using the same plastics and motherboard as a $400 i3 from the same vendor.
my advice to you, spend as little as possible so its a minimal loss or by a mac book pro