2016+ Gaming Laptop Thread: Embracing Pascal's Wafer (Please Read OP)
- Thread starter K.Jack
- Start date
ipitydatfu
Member
welp i think my sagers np8268 subwoofer is broken.
We didn't even have 17" IPS until very recently. They will come soon.
Because it never worked, or it worked and then stopped?
How old is it?
Most don't. Some let you pay extra for one. Many ship with recovery software (burn your own discs), but they usually create a factory image, meaning bloatware and all.
Dell sends free discs by request only, assuming your machine is still under warranty.
HP comes with software.
Doing some research for a coworker. She says her son wants a laptop that's okay for things like playing Call of Duty with friends, but on a budget of $500-$700 CAD. This sounds impossible to me but I'm seeing it as a challenge:
Country where it will be purchased: Canada
Maximum budget: $700 CAD before tax
Max size (can be in screen inches, dimensions, weight): Doesn't matter
Planned usage (what kind of games or specific games it must run, if heavily gaming at all): Playing Call of Duty games at ~30 fps at around 1280x720 or 1366x768 at low to med settings.
Whatever else you find relevant, misc. things such as desired battery life, screen resolution, fan noise, etc: Preferably at least 720p screen resolution.
My first guess is that a dedicated GPU is out of the question at this price range. I'm guessing something with an AMD APU?
Country where it will be purchased: Canada
Maximum budget: $700 CAD before tax
Max size (can be in screen inches, dimensions, weight): Doesn't matter
Planned usage (what kind of games or specific games it must run, if heavily gaming at all): Playing Call of Duty games at ~30 fps at around 1280x720 or 1366x768 at low to med settings.
Whatever else you find relevant, misc. things such as desired battery life, screen resolution, fan noise, etc: Preferably at least 720p screen resolution.
My first guess is that a dedicated GPU is out of the question at this price range. I'm guessing something with an AMD APU?
Unless K.Jack has a better recommendation, here's a CDN$700 laptop with an Nvidia 840M, which should be good enough for CoD.
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00O56K8AM/
Install your own SSD? It's pretty easy.
That's a good suggestion, but I just found that the same model has been updated with a faster Broadwell CPU.
1.7Ghz vs 2.2Ghz base clocks is a nice boost.
G751 is widely reviewed as having absolutely dreadful speakers, like the worst. Someone a page or so back returned there's due to that.
The GT72, otoh, has the best speakers of any gaming laptop, and also has the best keyboard. I have owned one for about a month, and I'm so happy I chose the MSI. It's an incredible machine that I can't recommend any more confidently.
If you have any GT72 questions, ask away.
p.s. - they both come with the same IPS
The 860M/960M are literally a GTX 750 Ti.
Thanks for that helpful info. Will ask more questions if they come up.
Is it a situation where you can just overclock the 860m and potentially match the 960m's performance, or are there bigger differences than just clock speed?
Via Purifico
Banned
I decided to save up and go for a MSI instead. I hear you can replace parts which caught my interest.
My budget will be 1000USD
How about this? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TI6TAB2/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Specs
Intel Core i5-4210H 3.5 GHz Processor
8 GB DDR3L SDRAM
1 TB 7200 rpm Hard Drive
15.6-Inch Screen
Windows 8.1
I want to play the latest games and use photoshop I saw another one for 100+ more that comes with a solid state drive and 16GB of RAM.
How is emulation on MSIs?
My budget will be 1000USD
How about this? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TI6TAB2/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Specs
Intel Core i5-4210H 3.5 GHz Processor
8 GB DDR3L SDRAM
1 TB 7200 rpm Hard Drive
15.6-Inch Screen
Windows 8.1
I want to play the latest games and use photoshop I saw another one for 100+ more that comes with a solid state drive and 16GB of RAM.
How is emulation on MSIs?
Mister0079
Member
The difference is just the clock speed, I overclocked my 860m by +135mhz (the BIOS limit) to match the 960m's performance.
The CPU in that is not so good, you can find $800-$900 laptops with i7 47xxHQ and 860m which are a much better deal to me. This MSI doesn't look anything special. 940m is just a overclocked 840m. I doubt it has an IPS panel either. If you want a laptop with those specs you can go low like ~$600.
see these for example
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232122
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232132
acer nitro, best performance for the money right now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...14849&cm_re=acer_nitro-_-34-314-849-_-Product
you can find 860m ones for lower too
sub $600 with similar performance as the MSI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834314807
Clocks are only difference.
You can't replace CPU/GPU in that laptop, so you might as well go for a Y50.
Piercedveil
Member
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask since I don't necessarily need a laptop for gaming, but I need a new laptop for work and I am not really sure what will work for me.
Right now I'm looking at the ASUS Zenbook UX305FA-ASM which seems to be everything I want except possibly for the Intel Core M processor.
My typical work day involves me constantly running Visual Studio 2013 with a couple plugins as well as other various programs (Chrome, word processors, etc.) I am mostly worried about how well this CPU would perform with Visual Studio. Does anyone have any insight for me on the Core M?
Otherwise, a 1080p screen, SSD, 8 GB of RAM, and an aluminum build with plenty of ports is perfect for me.
Right now I'm looking at the ASUS Zenbook UX305FA-ASM which seems to be everything I want except possibly for the Intel Core M processor.
My typical work day involves me constantly running Visual Studio 2013 with a couple plugins as well as other various programs (Chrome, word processors, etc.) I am mostly worried about how well this CPU would perform with Visual Studio. Does anyone have any insight for me on the Core M?
Otherwise, a 1080p screen, SSD, 8 GB of RAM, and an aluminum build with plenty of ports is perfect for me.
I take it you want something more portable, in ultrabook class right? If you don't care about fanless design Dell XPS 13 2015 is worth a look. You can always look into Surface Pro line too but right now should hold on that until 4 comes out. Actually I suggest waiting for a couple of month because apparently ULV Skylakes might come out pretty soon and there should be good gains on ULV line that you will find in these kind of laptops. Core M is on the weak side, depending on the vendor it can match lower bin ULVs or perform much worse, it just throttles really hard and your experience might be uneven, it's not bad but not worth the premium Intel asks for it right now, on normal task it's similar ot ULV CPUs but under heavy load it can throttle down badly. ULV Core i5 5xxx performs better at same price range and they have considerably better GPU performance, like in XPS13. Beside XPS and Surface Pro there isn't many out there that have metal build and are actually priced reasonably, lenovos tend to be not in sub $1000 range. I'm not sure about other Zenbooks.
Read the Macbook 2015 review here, it has Core M too, they test Windows as well.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/9136/the-2015-macbook-review/10
Piercedveil
Member
Yeah, portable and a good build quality are both very important to me since I'll be lugging this thing around daily. My current laptop is very cheap and isn't cutting it, so I think no matter what I go for it will be an upgrade. The Dell XPS 13 seems really nice but I remember reading that it had some issues. I think it may have been reports of coil whine. Any idea if that has been fixed in more recent batches?
I think the Zenbook I linked would be great for the price if I just knew it could handle Visual Studio and some other apps open all at the same time. I haven't been able to find any programmer impressions while Googling around.
Yes, you will get a a significant performance boost, but only in games that support SLI. And yeah, the ultrabay GPU does have heating problems.
Additionally, using an Ultrabay GPU disables the iGPU, which means your battery life will tank.
I have a Y510P and I personally wouldn't go for it. The reason I like the Y510P is because it's a balanced laptop, with good enough everything, and adding the ultrabay GPU would skew that balance by taking away battery life and adding heat.
Also, I treat my laptop as a desktop by rotating it on its side, and an ultrabay GPU would prevent me from doing that.
Via Purifico
Banned
Sorry for the slow response on vacation in Mexico. Thanks for your help I will go with either of those or the Y50.
thanks a lot for your feedback,
you reckon I should wait a year down the line for when graphical benchmarks become more taxing?
So, now that I'll have a laptop, I'd like to always have one that's somewhat up to date. How long should I expect the Y50 to last before it's basically too old to keep up and/or resell? It's already a year old, so maybe a year? Is there a general rule of thumb some of you who upgrade regularly go by?
spindashing
Banned
Country where it will be purchased: US.
Maximum budget: $600
Max size: Not a big deal.
Planned usage: Gaming wise, as good as I can for the price, really. I'm not looking to go crazy, but I'd love to test the PC gaming waters , Photoshop, Streaming videos...
Honestly, from previous answers in the thread, this Acer seems up my alley but my only gripe is that it doesn't have a CD/DVD player, which I'd like to have. So something similar to that with one would be an instabuy.
Maximum budget: $600
Max size: Not a big deal.
Planned usage: Gaming wise, as good as I can for the price, really. I'm not looking to go crazy, but I'd love to test the PC gaming waters , Photoshop, Streaming videos...
Honestly, from previous answers in the thread, this Acer seems up my alley but my only gripe is that it doesn't have a CD/DVD player, which I'd like to have. So something similar to that with one would be an instabuy.
So I am thinking of getting a new laptop...
Country: USA
Maximum budget: Whatever it takes, it's for work (but it is on my own dime, I do contract work
)
Size: 14" - 15.6". Preferably sub 6-7lbs. 17" is probably too big.
Planned usage:
Game development (UE4)
Required:
Minimum 1080p IPS screen
Backlit keyboard
Would prefer a Num Pad if possible.
Don't want it to burn my fingers or melt my desk. I want something relatively portable (I have a desktop PC that I use most of the time), just so that I have the option of getting some work done when I am away from home. That said I am willing to put up with a larger/heavier/thicker laptop if it means that I'll get a better cooling system/lower fan noise.
My current laptop is a quad core i7 Sony Vaio S 15" from 2012 or so. The CPU is acceptable (i7-3612qm IIRC) but the Nvidia 640M-LE graphics card is holding me back, I get very poor framerates when running multiple instances of UE4 (multiplayer testing). At the time it was a good compromise between power and portability, but I'm willing to accept some more bulk (I have the optional sheet battery on the laptop all the time anyway).
I think I am willing to spend extra for a 980M vs. a 970M so that hopefully I don't have to upgrade for a while. I've been considering the Alienware 15 but afaik it lacks a num pad (not a deal breaker) but was wondering if there are other models that I should consider?
Country: USA
Maximum budget: Whatever it takes, it's for work (but it is on my own dime, I do contract work
)Size: 14" - 15.6". Preferably sub 6-7lbs. 17" is probably too big.
Planned usage:
Game development (UE4)
Required:
Minimum 1080p IPS screen
Backlit keyboard
Would prefer a Num Pad if possible.
Don't want it to burn my fingers or melt my desk. I want something relatively portable (I have a desktop PC that I use most of the time), just so that I have the option of getting some work done when I am away from home. That said I am willing to put up with a larger/heavier/thicker laptop if it means that I'll get a better cooling system/lower fan noise.
My current laptop is a quad core i7 Sony Vaio S 15" from 2012 or so. The CPU is acceptable (i7-3612qm IIRC) but the Nvidia 640M-LE graphics card is holding me back, I get very poor framerates when running multiple instances of UE4 (multiplayer testing). At the time it was a good compromise between power and portability, but I'm willing to accept some more bulk (I have the optional sheet battery on the laptop all the time anyway).
I think I am willing to spend extra for a 980M vs. a 970M so that hopefully I don't have to upgrade for a while. I've been considering the Alienware 15 but afaik it lacks a num pad (not a deal breaker) but was wondering if there are other models that I should consider?
If you are no longer satisfied with the graphics performance of your laptop, you know your games work with SLI, you know how to regularly clean your laptop and you are ok with the battery hit, then go for it. Otherwise, wait.
I'd recommend doing some more research on your own in case there's something I missed.
Never plan to have any resell value after 2 years. With the speed the notebook industry moves, with the need to put out refreshes what seems like twice a year, value drops off the cliff fast at 12+ months.
This one gaf-hop bro.
GS60 Ghost Pro?So I am thinking of getting a new laptop...
Country: USA
Maximum budget: Whatever it takes, it's for work (but it is on my own dime, I do contract work
Size: 14" - 15.6". Preferably sub 6-7lbs. 17" is probably too big.
Planned usage:
Game development (UE4)
Required:
Minimum 1080p IPS screen
Backlit keyboard
Would prefer a Num Pad if possible.
Don't want it to burn my fingers or melt my desk. I want something relatively portable (I have a desktop PC that I use most of the time), just so that I have the option of getting some work done when I am away from home. That said I am willing to put up with a larger/heavier/thicker laptop if it means that I'll get a better cooling system/lower fan noise.
My current laptop is a quad core i7 Sony Vaio S 15" from 2012 or so. The CPU is acceptable (i7-3612qm IIRC) but the Nvidia 640M-LE graphics card is holding me back, I get very poor framerates when running multiple instances of UE4 (multiplayer testing). At the time it was a good compromise between power and portability, but I'm willing to accept some more bulk (I have the optional sheet battery on the laptop all the time anyway).
I think I am willing to spend extra for a 980M vs. a 970M so that hopefully I don't have to upgrade for a while. I've been considering the Alienware 15 but afaik it lacks a num pad (not a deal breaker) but was wondering if there are other models that I should consider?
spindashing
Banned
Just a heads up for those getting a GTX 980m laptop from Alienware. They are going to send you one with a 180w PSU... You have to call them back and ask for a 240w psu. If you don't you will experience throttling issues.
It's free of charge and takes about 2-3 business days to receive.
It's free of charge and takes about 2-3 business days to receive.
Marky Mark
Member
Country: Australia
Maximum budget: $1000 AUD but would be happy to spend closer to $750 AUD
Max size: Doesn't really matter as it won't be portable, 17" screen would be alright
Planned usage: Light gaming, nothing particularly new. My wife likes old bioware games, wants to play some rts games and I might play some indie games.
I would mostly use it for photoshop, watching 1080p video, web browsing, etc.
Screen resolution is kind of important to me as I was used to 1366x768 for so long. CD/DVD/Bluray drive is required. SSD would be nice or even those hybrid SSDs if they're any good?
edit: also being able to upgrade ram, ssd, etc in the future would be good
Http://pccasegear.com
Http://www.techbuy.com.au
Http://www.msy.com.au
www.msy.com.au/Parts/notebook.pdf
Thanks guys and gals.
Maximum budget: $1000 AUD but would be happy to spend closer to $750 AUD
Max size: Doesn't really matter as it won't be portable, 17" screen would be alright
Planned usage: Light gaming, nothing particularly new. My wife likes old bioware games, wants to play some rts games and I might play some indie games.
I would mostly use it for photoshop, watching 1080p video, web browsing, etc.
Screen resolution is kind of important to me as I was used to 1366x768 for so long. CD/DVD/Bluray drive is required. SSD would be nice or even those hybrid SSDs if they're any good?
edit: also being able to upgrade ram, ssd, etc in the future would be good
Http://pccasegear.com
Http://www.techbuy.com.au
Http://www.msy.com.au
www.msy.com.au/Parts/notebook.pdf
Thanks guys and gals.
So... I managed to grab a top of the range MSI GT72 off well known auction site for a bargain price. It comes fully loaded but the panel is TN rather than IPS.
Now my question is, who is the manufacturer and what is the exact product number of IPS panel fitted in newer models?
Has anyone attempted to replace the screen on MSI GT72?
I'm fairly comfortable with opening up and fixing computer hardware.
EDIT: apparently the ips panel is the LG Philips LP173WF4-SPF1, ID: LGD046
Would someone who owns GT72 with IPS screen be able to confirm using HWInfo?
Now my question is, who is the manufacturer and what is the exact product number of IPS panel fitted in newer models?
Has anyone attempted to replace the screen on MSI GT72?
I'm fairly comfortable with opening up and fixing computer hardware.
EDIT: apparently the ips panel is the LG Philips LP173WF4-SPF1, ID: LGD046
Would someone who owns GT72 with IPS screen be able to confirm using HWInfo?
immortal-joe
Member
MSI gaming laptop with these specs:
GTX 870M
i7-4700HQ @ 2.4GHz
16GB RAM
Does anyone know how well would I do running PS2 games via pcsx2? I'm looking at upping the res and running things smoothly. I'm asking since I know pcsx2 tends to be more demanding than expected due to the PS2's unique architecture.
GTX 870M
i7-4700HQ @ 2.4GHz
16GB RAM
Does anyone know how well would I do running PS2 games via pcsx2? I'm looking at upping the res and running things smoothly. I'm asking since I know pcsx2 tends to be more demanding than expected due to the PS2's unique architecture.
So is a gaming laptop going to bankrupt me even by picking Medium GPUs? I copied and pasted some of the GPUs listed in the OP as Medium into Amazon and Newegg. Most of it was $1100+, with a few Acers at $700-900. Are there deals on good hardware at that price or should I expect anything priced like that to fall apart like a soggy Oreo the moment the warranty expires?
hendersonhank
Member
I made a thread on OT but figure it might make more sense here, since I need a discrete GPU.
Looking for:
i7 4710 or 4720
min 8gb RAM, must be upgradable to 16gb
at least 850m
1080p IPS screen
15 or 17" screen
Weight is a non-issue.
Will not be gaming, but need the dedicated GPU for After Effects etc.
Hoping to keep it to $900.
*must have good trackpad with dedicated buttons* -- I don't use a standalone mouse as my laptop actually IS always in my lap, often in a car.
What's good? Most of my laptops have ultimately failed simply in hardware/build -- screen hinges breaking, screw housings tearing out, fans failing over and over. I've had no problems with the trackpad/buttons on my Dell XPS L702x, my Lenovo R61, or my original Dell Inspiron (1500?).
There've been some deals with the specs I want in that price range, like the Acer Nitro V15/17, but apparently that is a bitch to add RAM to, has a terrible trackpad, and reliability issues with the keyboard and display.
Has anyone bought a refurb from ibuypower? They had a smoking deal on a Gigabyte that ticked all my boxes for $900 -- 1080p ips, 960m, 16gb ram, i7 4720. I think it's gone now. No dedicated trackpad buttons though.
Looking for:
i7 4710 or 4720
min 8gb RAM, must be upgradable to 16gb
at least 850m
1080p IPS screen
15 or 17" screen
Weight is a non-issue.
Will not be gaming, but need the dedicated GPU for After Effects etc.
Hoping to keep it to $900.
*must have good trackpad with dedicated buttons* -- I don't use a standalone mouse as my laptop actually IS always in my lap, often in a car.
What's good? Most of my laptops have ultimately failed simply in hardware/build -- screen hinges breaking, screw housings tearing out, fans failing over and over. I've had no problems with the trackpad/buttons on my Dell XPS L702x, my Lenovo R61, or my original Dell Inspiron (1500?).
There've been some deals with the specs I want in that price range, like the Acer Nitro V15/17, but apparently that is a bitch to add RAM to, has a terrible trackpad, and reliability issues with the keyboard and display.
Has anyone bought a refurb from ibuypower? They had a smoking deal on a Gigabyte that ticked all my boxes for $900 -- 1080p ips, 960m, 16gb ram, i7 4720. I think it's gone now. No dedicated trackpad buttons though.
Question: How can I find out which screws a particular laptop part uses?
See, I was just browsing the web on my laptop on my couch, and I picked it up to reposition it. I noticed that the bottom hard drive cover fell off, and the screws were missing. Part No: 13N0-4EP0V01
Alternatively, can I just use duct tape to hold it in place?
See, I was just browsing the web on my laptop on my couch, and I picked it up to reposition it. I noticed that the bottom hard drive cover fell off, and the screws were missing. Part No: 13N0-4EP0V01
Alternatively, can I just use duct tape to hold it in place?
hendersonhank
Member
May have found what I'm looking for, Eurocom Shark 4 (Clevo):
i7 4720hq
8gb RAM (1 stick)
960m (the 2gb one unfortunately)
1080p IPS
actual buttons for the trackpad!
How is Clevo build quality? How does it hold up over time?
i7 4720hq
8gb RAM (1 stick)
960m (the 2gb one unfortunately)
1080p IPS
actual buttons for the trackpad!
How is Clevo build quality? How does it hold up over time?
This is the best I could find, as 1080p is few and far between on your budget.
Yes, that LG is the one in my GT72.
Should crush emulation.
I wouldn't expect a laptop of any budget to fail quickly.
Laptops pretty much universally use the same size of screws on the bottom. Can you take one off of somewhere else on the bottom panel to see if it matches?
I don't see why tape wouldn't work.
Clevos are fine, strudy.
Why wait? Replacing it now doesn't void your current warranty.
All MSI cares about is if you break something.
How much did you pay for it?
Marky Mark
Member
Thanks. If I could forgo 1080p (and if it's not too much to ask for you to have a second peek) what would be a good deal for something 1366x768 on a 15" screen maybe.
Sorry, I should have posed that question when I first asked.
Headsteyker
Member
Hello, i'm looking for a new laptop since my pavilion Dv7 is going down 
Country: Italy
Maximum budget: 750
Size: 14" - 15.6".17" is big.
Planned usage:
Light gaming.
I'd like to try out Fallout and Skyrim modding.
University Work.
Where To buy: Where it ship to italy!
I can also wait until july for a new laptop, if something good is going to be released to the public
Country: Italy
Maximum budget: 750
Size: 14" - 15.6".17" is big.
Planned usage:
Light gaming.
I'd like to try out Fallout and Skyrim modding.
University Work.
Where To buy: Where it ship to italy!
I can also wait until july for a new laptop, if something good is going to be released to the public
That's good news, might have a pop at it soon then. Wonder if ribbon cable for the panel can be reused or if it requires a different one.
It costed less than £1250
i7 4710
32GB
8GB GTX 980M
512GB SSD (Super Raid 3)
1TB HDD
Mouse, headset etc.
JStein0222
Member
Hey everyone!
Okay so here's the situation, I am completely uninitiated when it comes to all things computer specs, builds, etc. BUT, I am desperately trying to embark into PC gaming. I think laptop is the way I want to go. In addition to being a student, I work as a stand-up comic so I'm travelling a lot. Plus, when I am home my primary gaming is gonna happen on my consoles. I don't think I plan on playing anything super-taxing on my computer. Looking forward to trying out Marvel Heroes and some indie titles that haven't come to PS4 yet.
My budget is around $1,300. So with that in mind, what would you all recommend me looking into, laptop-wise, that's a simple enough solution for a newcomer? Anything easy that'll fit my needs at that price? Thanks for your help! I look forwarded to looking into responses.
A couple extra-notes - I was looking into the Alienware 13/15. Looked like the right kind of thing for me, hard to tell the difference between all that stuff though so maybe I am way off base. And in addition to gaming, I run a YouTube channel and I'm all about getting a gaming laptop that'll make my video editing life a little easier too. Oh, also I live in the US!
Thanks!
Okay so here's the situation, I am completely uninitiated when it comes to all things computer specs, builds, etc. BUT, I am desperately trying to embark into PC gaming. I think laptop is the way I want to go. In addition to being a student, I work as a stand-up comic so I'm travelling a lot. Plus, when I am home my primary gaming is gonna happen on my consoles. I don't think I plan on playing anything super-taxing on my computer. Looking forward to trying out Marvel Heroes and some indie titles that haven't come to PS4 yet.
My budget is around $1,300. So with that in mind, what would you all recommend me looking into, laptop-wise, that's a simple enough solution for a newcomer? Anything easy that'll fit my needs at that price? Thanks for your help! I look forwarded to looking into responses.
A couple extra-notes - I was looking into the Alienware 13/15. Looked like the right kind of thing for me, hard to tell the difference between all that stuff though so maybe I am way off base. And in addition to gaming, I run a YouTube channel and I'm all about getting a gaming laptop that'll make my video editing life a little easier too. Oh, also I live in the US!
Thanks!
Well you don't save much with a 768p panel. There are a couple options. This or this. Downgrading to a crap screen doesn't get you a better GPU or anything.
Hello, i'm looking for a new laptop since my pavilion Dv7 is going down
Country: Italy
Maximum budget: 750
Size: 14" - 15.6".17" is big.
Planned usage:
Light gaming.
I'd like to try out Fallout and Skyrim modding.
University Work.
Where To buy: Where it ship to italy!
I can also wait until july for a new laptop, if something good is going to be released to the public
Links to Italian stores please.
Wow what a deal. Congrats.
I'd buy one of these.