Laptop assistance

Jagos · 07-10-2011, 02:30 PM

I currently want a laptop to be used for a combination of school and video games. My old laptop runs fine (it's a dell) but it's time for a change.

Budget $600

Preferable:
RAM 4GB
Memory - 250+
Card -> Not intel integrated (is AMD okay now?)

Other things to look for would be appreciated since I've been out of the computer market for a few years now.

I have no idea what's good (no, I will NOT buy Sony...)

Jagos · 07-11-2011, 09:55 AM

No one has any ideas on good laptops or which may be good this time of year?

Nikose Tyris · 07-11-2011, 10:52 AM

Gaming laptops haven't really been the most viable option ever. They exist but at the $600 mark, it might be a little difficult.

That said: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...468&CatId=4965

Take a look at this. It's not bad by any sense of the word, and I think it fulfills most of your requirements. [And has a blu-ray player, if that interests you at all.]

Jagos · 07-11-2011, 03:27 PM

Well, here's a question, what would make for a good laptop in that price range?

Thing is, I've just been told that Intel was much better with the i5 series. I thought the Intels were bad for the integrated chips but I'm wrong for the mid range laptops.

Basically, I'm out of date on all my info, so could use a lot of guidance to get back up to speed.

Nikose Tyris · 07-11-2011, 04:11 PM

Either the one I linked if you want AMD, or this one if you want Intel:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...012&CatId=4938

Would be my recommendations.

Seil · 07-11-2011, 04:25 PM

I've got one of these:

On boxing day sales, it was just about $500, and it's been reliable so far. It's got built in webcam, wi-fi detection and really good speakers. I can safely say that any problem I've had with it was my own damn fault, and if you've got good virus protection and dun spill anything on it, you should be fine.

It runs Borderlands, TF2 and L4D well, and the only thing I'm angsty 'bout right now is my download speed, which isn't the fault of the laptop.

akaSM · 07-11-2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M

Huh, you can actually run games with Intel stuff now?

rpgdemon · 07-11-2011, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akaSM

Huh, you can actually run games with Intel stuff now?

I wouldn't try it. Even if you can run current/old games (TF2, L4D are both pretty old, Borderlands less so), it won't have legs, most likely.

Grandmaster_Skweeb · 07-11-2011, 05:29 PM

To put it bluntly: Don't expect to play with any bells and whistles on a $600 laptop. Plus you're pretty much stuck with the hardware and that's that.

Games are for gaming rigs. In my honest opinion: gaming laptops are a waste of money 'cause of how fast spec requirements are increasing. Your laptop'll be outdated faster than you can blink..and again: you're stuck with the specs.

With that said, if you're getting a laptop for school you really could afford to lower your price range down a couple hundred bucks, hell maybe even more than half. Use that money for other materials you'll need. Like fuckin expensive books.

laptops: convenience and utility.
Desktops: modularity.

Seil · 07-11-2011, 05:35 PM

Hey, I run everything on default settings and I've got mo problems. That being said, Skweeb's right. I'd invest in a notebook - a small thing that's easy to carry around and doesn't take up much room. Textbooks are expensive - like $150 to $300 expensive.

That being said, my priorities aren't on straight, and I'd advise you to buy a gaming desktop PC with a monitor like this:

07-10-2011, 02:30 PM	#1
Jagos FRONT KICK OF DOOM! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Howdy pardner... Posts: 6,399	Laptop assistance I currently want a laptop to be used for a combination of school and video games. My old laptop runs fine (it's a dell) but it's time for a change. Budget $600 Preferable: RAM 4GB Memory - 250+ Card -> Not intel integrated (is AMD okay now?) Other things to look for would be appreciated since I've been out of the computer market for a few years now. I have no idea what's good (no, I will NOT buy Sony...) __________________ Copyright musings World ramblings Scifi stories

07-11-2011, 09:55 AM	#2
Jagos FRONT KICK OF DOOM! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Howdy pardner... Posts: 6,399	No one has any ideas on good laptops or which may be good this time of year? __________________ Copyright musings World ramblings Scifi stories

07-11-2011, 03:27 PM	#4
Jagos FRONT KICK OF DOOM! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Howdy pardner... Posts: 6,399	Well, here's a question, what would make for a good laptop in that price range? Thing is, I've just been told that Intel was much better with the i5 series. I thought the Intels were bad for the integrated chips but I'm wrong for the mid range laptops. Basically, I'm out of date on all my info, so could use a lot of guidance to get back up to speed. __________________ Copyright musings World ramblings Scifi stories

07-11-2011, 05:29 PM	#9
Grandmaster_Skweeb Doesn't care anymore Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,429	To put it bluntly: Don't expect to play with any bells and whistles on a $600 laptop. Plus you're pretty much stuck with the hardware and that's that. Games are for gaming rigs. In my honest opinion: gaming laptops are a waste of money 'cause of how fast spec requirements are increasing. Your laptop'll be outdated faster than you can blink..and again: you're stuck with the specs. With that said, if you're getting a laptop for school you really could afford to lower your price range down a couple hundred bucks, hell maybe even more than half. Use that money for other materials you'll need. Like fuckin expensive books. laptops: convenience and utility. Desktops: modularity. Last edited by Grandmaster_Skweeb; 07-11-2011 at 05:35 PM.

07-11-2011, 04:25 PM	#6
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	I've got one of these: On boxing day sales, it was just about $500, and it's been reliable so far. It's got built in webcam, wi-fi detection and really good speakers. I can safely say that any problem I've had with it was my own damn fault, and if you've got good virus protection and dun spill anything on it, you should be fine. It runs Borderlands, TF2 and L4D well, and the only thing I'm angsty 'bout right now is my download speed, which isn't the fault of the laptop.

07-11-2011, 05:35 PM	#10
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	Hey, I run everything on default settings and I've got mo problems. That being said, Skweeb's right. I'd invest in a notebook - a small thing that's easy to carry around and doesn't take up much room. Textbooks are expensive - like $150 to $300 expensive. That being said, my priorities aren't on straight, and I'd advise you to buy a gaming desktop PC with a monitor like this: