I require a new pootah

So I've probably said I plan to replace my current shitty computer, and I think I've found a worthy replacement, but I am not exactly an expert in computering.


Acer V5-573PG (laptop)

Processor: Intel i7 4500u 1.8GHz (says something about a turbo boost to 3.0 GHz

Ram: 12GB DDR3

Memory: 500GB

GPU: Nvidia GeForce GT 720M with 2GB dedicated VRAM

Screen: 15.6 touchy HD LED LCD

Windows 8 (I'll get 8.1 put on it)

And some Acer nipplify 802.11a/g/n + BT 4.0

And all for £800


Is this any good? Bearing in mind I'm limited to a laptop, and I'm going to want to run stuff like:

KSP
Techne
MCP
Gmod
Minecraft
Any other game
Maybe Dolphin or PCSX2.

I know little about computer hardware but it seems good to me.
Except the Windows 8 part.
I suggest getting Windows 7 for it instead.

Daynel wrote:

I know little about computer hardware but it seems good to me.
Except the Windows 8 part.
I suggest getting Windows 7 for it instead.

I can get 8.1, which is windows 8 but with a start menu

I see one fatal mistake in this, and it's the fact that it is a laptop.

Prototype wrote:

Daynel wrote:

I know little about computer hardware but it seems good to me.
Except the Windows 8 part.
I suggest getting Windows 7 for it instead.

I can get 8.1, which is windows 8 but with a start menu

All right then carry on.

Desdenova wrote:

I see one fatal mistake in this, and it's the fact that it is a laptop.

Can't get a desktop, I have to be able to take this to university, and carry it around.

Seems like a lot to pay for what you get.  A 500 GB HDD is very limited, you will not need more than 8 GB of RAM unless you're video editing, and the graphics card is very weak.  Like, onboard graphics level weak.  The CPU is also a ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) dualcore chip, and a throttled one at that.  Despite the i7 in front of it look for weak to mediocre performance at best, although you can expect a good battery life.

Your setup is fine for casual use (ie. schoolwork) but I wouldn't bet on running any games over Low settings.  PCSX2 will also likely be unplayable.  And for 800 pounds ($1200-$1500) there are MUCH better deals out there.  I would recommend ASUS (X750JB is a slightly more powerful version of the one you posted for a little over half the cost, and N750JV is a much better model more in line with your present cost) or Samsung (7-series, unfortunately I can't offer many specifics) as good brands to look at in this price range, and I would also advise you against a screen above 15.6".  Going for a 720p monitor will also bring the price:performance ratios more into line without giving away too much; the screen is small enough that you shouldn't notice the drop in resolution unless you plan on running Crysis (which you can't).

Edit: I came out of my lurker lair for this, I hope it helps.

Those Asus's are showing to be £900 and £1,300 respectively, are you sure on their prices?

The Samsung 7-series looks ok though, I'll look more into it.

And I wasn't going for bigger than 15.6 anyway, and I'm not going to use 500GB.

But thanks for the info, I wouldn't have seen that.


Another one I found was this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenovo-G700-17-3-inch-Laptop-Black/dp/B00DPES0QY/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1385402618&sr=1-1&keywords=lenovo+g700+i7

Is this one any good?

Found another potential:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TouchSmart-15-j002ea-15-6-inch-Laptop-Windows/dp/B00DJ3GZAE/ref=sr_1_10?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1383931671&sr=1-10&keywords=laptop

Prototype wrote:

Found another potential:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TouchSmart-15-j002ea-15-6-inch-Laptop-Windows/dp/B00DJ3GZAE/ref=sr_1_10?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1383931671&sr=1-10&keywords=laptop

This is better than both of the ones you've touted so far just by virtue of the graphics.

Seriously.

Crash course in shopping GPUs - the first number is the series, the second is how good it is, the third is how good it is within that class.

So 720m is a 7 series GPU, but the 2 indicates that it's fairly weaksauce.

A 555m is a 5 series GPU from 3~ years back, but it's a better chip than the 720m. It is also more powerful than the 550m, more of a gipped 560 if I remember right.

So basically, you want the first two numbers to be above five for the best performance. A 660m, or a 750m. Anything less is not going to do what you want it to.

The same also applies to AMD cards - a 6650m is from the 6 series of late 2010-2011, but is more powerful than, say, a 7320. AMD is really big on the last number indicating rank within a 'class' - ie, a 6770 vs a 6790. 6790 is better, clearly, but a 6850 would be even better. And even better still would be a 7990, which is the highest you can go.

And as Avenger said, don't be a sucker for a big screen. Not only will it be harder to carry, it'll also greatly reduce your bang for buck because manufacturers count on drawing people in with their magnificent 1600x900 res.

For what you're doing, the last one you posted would suffice, but just barely. I'll see if I can find something better within your budget.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenovo-Ideapad-Y500-15-6-inch-Laptop/dp/B00B2HVYRI/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1385582896&sr=1-1 (Don't know how you feel about used, but these have decent build quality and well rounded specs)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-NP670Z5E-X01-i5-3230M-2-6-3-2GHz-Anti-Glare/dp/B00FQHBJKM/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1385583301&sr=1-2&keywords=670m (extreme example, it has a really nice GPU but the screen isn't all that great.)

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/vortexIII-LE/ (Base price is 680 pounds, but you once you up the CPU to a quadcore i7 3630QM it's 817)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B0074H2S02/ref=sr_1_2_olp?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1385584176&sr=1-2&condition=used (Again, don't know how you feel about used or Alienware, but it falls within your budget and has decent specs)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00DS7ZC8M/ref=sr_1_7_olp?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1385584176&sr=1-7&condition=used (Another used one, though 50 above your maximum price)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-VPCF22M0E-B-CEK-F-Series-Processor/dp/B0054QK82A/ref=sr_1_28?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1385584399&sr=1-28 (540m is not bad for the price, though again, may or may not suffice for your apps)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-GX723-007UK-Gaming-Laptop-DVDSMDL/dp/B002C1ADC0/ref=sr_1_26?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1385584458&sr=1-26 (look at this 1337 rig)

Thanks, though I may have a few issues with second hand regarding delivery, but I should find a way round, my only reservation being last time I bought second hand it failed catastrophically within two weeks, and this time I won't be able to get a warranty on it.


However that pc specialist should be ok, and even with quad i7s the price isn't too bad (I won't be charged VAT)

And that Alienware seems fine, I haven't got much against the brand save for the price, £700 seems fine even for a used. Same for the Lenovo.

I use a ThinkPad E430 for my general duties. 14" matte screen at 1366x768, i5-3210m @ 2.5GHz (upgradable to an i7-something), 4GB of RAM, and some sort of integrated graphics. It does surprisingly well on graphics-intensive games set to low-medium. No touchscreen, though. I got mine new back in August 2012 for about $550, I think it's about $500 now. You can also order it with a better graphics card and/or screen.

I'd recommend it; it's very good for the price but not as powerful as some of the other systems here. But hey, maybe you just really want a $1600 laptop.

I don't even have £1600, or $1600 for that matter.


Also, used is out of the question, just isn't worth the risk, can't find enough information on any of them.

Found this, seems good to me:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-N56VZ-15-6-inch-Laptop-Graphics/dp/B00B2I6E40/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1385579121&sr=1-2&keywords=Asus

These things sure are expensive , I won't buy a thing twice as cheap as that, not even talking about these things ... BTW twice as cheap means even more powerful yet stationary. Laptops are really not for gaming in my opinion. All the gaming part will prob happen at home anyway where you can be comfortable while at uni your requirements for a laptop are totally different. It needs to be compact, lightweight and with a lasting battery.

Im also going to buy a comp as this one is getting old (it served me well for 5 years now) as well as a separate one for uni. Both of these will still cost two times less than these ones. Also don't get win 8 , it doesn’t even have MINESWEEPER !!! And apart from that also costs too much.

I can get it for ~750, this is just the specs.

And while it'll come with win 8, I can swap it to win 7 for free, but I'll try 8.1 first to see if its any better than 8.

Well you still pay the price of a win 8.

Actually, I might be able to get win 7 put on it rather than win 8, but IDK if they'll change the price.

Better than my computer.
You should be able to play Planetside 2 on that no problem

Prob upgrading to win 8 wont save you money or all ppl would be doing it ... Oh w8 they won't couse nobody wants win 8 !

Actually they do but in my opinion it is mostly a waste of money, windows didn't progress that much since win xp while win 8 is designed for touch, not desktop, even with 8.1 , it also causes weird problems, for example it installed adobe reader for portables on my friend's comp and OFC as a result he couldn't read any PDFs ...