2016+ Gaming Laptop Thread: Embracing Pascal's Wafer (Please Read OP)

Need suggestions for a gaming laptop for my brother
Budget = 1500 CAD
Max size = 15.6''
Planned usage = University work + light gaming (fifa and skyrim mostly)
Preferably 1080p and with a decent GPU like 960m.

Thanks.
 
My brother's looking for a new laptop since his current lappy's charger is on the fritz

Price range: pref. $750 or less
Region: Middle East
Desired specs-
i7 Process
Nvidia card (2+ GB)
8+ GB RAM
15 inch screen

He's flexible with a few stuff that would be higher than the ones mentioned above

He mainly uses it to play DOTA 2, and he would like or the laptop to be able to run it at max settings, so any model that can do that would b fine for him.
 
Any recommendations for a super cheap laptop under 400? Just looking to stream Netflix and play some indie games. US. Don't care about anything else.
 
I'm finally getting around to swinging by this thread. I'm looking for a laptop for graphics and multimedia design rather than gaming. I need something that can handle multi-tasking really well. For example, running any program from the Adobe Suite such as Photoshop and After Effects (notorious for bogging down machines), on top of screen capture, Skype, a browser and still have some juice to spare.

LOCATION: Buying from the US.
BUDGET: Ideal budget is around $1000 with some wiggle room. Max is $1500 for now.
OS: Windows (going to upgrade to 10)
SCREEN RES: Lowest screen size I'll take is 15" full HD (1920 x 1080).
SCREEN MISC: Multi-Touch is preferred but I want to stay away from reflective screens otherwise (for working in direct or indirect sunlight).
USAGE: Again, using for Graphics and Multimedia (Adobe Suite, Pro Tools, etc.). Mostly indoors so I'm not too concerned with portability.
CPU: As fast as it needs to be.
RAM: 8GB RAM and 2GB vRAM is probably standard.
MISC: Backlit keyboard so I stop pressing the wrong keyboard shortcuts at night.

I'm not sure whether to go HDD or SSD. I mostly use external storage and would rather not have to worry about a TB's worth of files being lost if the laptop is broken or stolen.

This was almost a match, but I'm not familiar with the brand and the reviews pointed out the poor screen and touchpad. There's nothing I can't stand more than an annoying Laptop touchpad.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K6ZIFFG/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Appreciate any advice!
 
Need suggestions for a gaming laptop for my brother
Budget = 1500 CAD
Max size = 15.6''
Planned usage = University work + light gaming (fifa and skyrim mostly)
Preferably 1080p and with a decent GPU like 960m.

Thanks.

The MSI GE62 leaps out as by far the best buy.

My brother's looking for a new laptop since his current lappy's charger is on the fritz

Price range: pref. $750 or less
Region: Middle East
Desired specs-
i7 Process
Nvidia card (2+ GB)
8+ GB RAM
15 inch screen

He's flexible with a few stuff that would be higher than the ones mentioned above

He mainly uses it to play DOTA 2, and he would like or the laptop to be able to run it at max settings, so any model that can do that would b fine for him.

Need links to regional stores.

Any recommendations for a super cheap laptop under 400? Just looking to stream Netflix and play some indie games. US. Don't care about anything else.

This will do.


I'm finally getting around to swinging by this thread. I'm looking for a laptop for graphics and multimedia design rather than gaming. I need something that can handle multi-tasking really well. For example, running any program from the Adobe Suite such as Photoshop and After Effects (notorious for bogging down machines), on top of screen capture, Skype, a browser and still have some juice to spare.

LOCATION: Buying from the US.
BUDGET: Ideal budget is around $1000 with some wiggle room. Max is $1500 for now.
OS: Windows (going to upgrade to 10)
SCREEN RES: Lowest screen size I'll take is 15" full HD (1920 x 1080).
SCREEN MISC: Multi-Touch is preferred but I want to stay away from reflective screens otherwise (for working in direct or indirect sunlight).
USAGE: Again, using for Graphics and Multimedia (Adobe Suite, Pro Tools, etc.). Mostly indoors so I'm not too concerned with portability.
CPU: As fast as it needs to be.
RAM: 8GB RAM and 2GB vRAM is probably standard.
MISC: Backlit keyboard so I stop pressing the wrong keyboard shortcuts at night.

I'm not sure whether to go HDD or SSD. I mostly use external storage and would rather not have to worry about a TB's worth of files being lost if the laptop is broken or stolen.

This was almost a match, but I'm not familiar with the brand and the reviews pointed out the poor screen and touchpad. There's nothing I can't stand more than an annoying Laptop touchpad.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K6ZIFFG/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Appreciate any advice!

I'm not too well versed in touch screen equipped laptops.
 
i'm looking for some advice as i'm about to purchase my first laptop in years.

Moving to Spain soon currently living in Sweden. Studying architecture and am in need of a laptop that can run heavy programs and large files(autocad etc.) Using it mostly for 3d modeling. But i'll also use it for gaming as i'll be leaving my ps4 in sweden.

Specs I've been given are; i-7... 16gb RAM... 17.3" 1920_1080p... minimum 128gb ssd +1 tb hdd... minimum graphics card is gtx 960M...

Budget... maximum 1500€.

Found MSI GE72 qd thanks to a friend but i'm also asking you guys for advice.

Build quality is important as i won't be purchasing a new laptop for a minimum of six years.

Thanks in advance !

=)
 
It's something I can do without. I like when it's there, but I don't see myself relying on it aside from the novelty in a social setting.

Okay, so what do you think of this machine.

Thanks a lot for the suggestion. Would be an alternate option which is somewhat lighter and has an IPS display?

It has a good TN panel. I wouldn't sacrifice the 965M to 860M/960M performance gap (25-35% difference) for an IPS and a pound or so.

The Lenovo Y50 has an IPS, but it weighs about the same as the GE62.


The laptop I got last year I got it from this shop-
http://www.alafnan.net/

http://www.alafnan.net/Notebook Computers.asp

I'm seeing some models that fit his requested specs although they're over his preferred price range but I'll recommend any that are good to him.

Find him something with a GT 840M or 940M, 850M/950M if it can fit in the budget.

i'm looking for some advice as i'm about to purchase my first laptop in years.

Moving to Spain soon currently living in Sweden. Studying architecture and am in need of a laptop that can run heavy programs and large files(autocad etc.) Using it mostly for 3d modeling. But i'll also use it for gaming as i'll be leaving my ps4 in sweden.

Specs I've been given are; i-7... 16gb RAM... 17.3" 1920_1080p... minimum 128gb ssd +1 tb hdd... minimum graphics card is gtx 960M...

Budget... maximum 1500€.

Found MSI GE72 qd thanks to a friend but i'm also asking you guys for advice.

Build quality is important as i won't be purchasing a new laptop for a minimum of six years.

Thanks in advance !

=)

GE72 is a good machine. Does the one you're looking at have the 965M or 970M?
 
The one i was looking for was GTX960M, it's 1399€. There is another setup with GTX970M but that one only has 8GB RAM and it's 1399€ aswell.
Do you need more than 8GB? The 970M is almost 2x the speed of the 960M, so as a gamer it's a no contest situation.

edit: and I'm sure you could always add more RAM later, while you can't add a better GPU
 
Do you need more than 8GB? The 970M is almost 2x the speed of the 960M, so as a gamer it's a no contest situation.

edit: and I'm sure you could always add more RAM later, while you can't add a better GPU

This is true.

I'm thinking the usage will be divided like this:

70% internet browsing, movies, modeling in autocad, rhino etc., transfer large files

30% hardcore gaming, such as Batman series, Metal Gear, GTA V, etc etc.

Is it expensive to upgrade to 16GB? Does it change anything with the warranty?
 
Find him something with a GT 840M or 940M, 850M/950M if it can fit in the budget.

Hmm will look into it thanks. I should mention that the prices shown are in mi country's currency, to convert to USD, just divide the figure by 0.4 =3
EDIT: Are those new graphic card models? They don't show up in the lst in the OP.
 
Okay, so what do you think of this machine.

wow that looks solid. how reliable is the brand? i'll do some more research on the specs and customization and see what the price ends up.

on that note, what are generally considered the best and worst brands as far as customer support and hardware reliability go? i'm personally not a fan of Toshiba or Acer.
 
Let's try this again with a firm budget.

1 - Knowing how much the insurance company kicks back will really help. Can you wait that long?

2 - Wanting it to last 4 years says you need a budget higher than $700, even for light gaming. ~$1k is pretty much the starting price for GTX 960M (desktop GTX 750 Ti performance, literally the same card) equipped laptops.

Insurance company is going to end up not putting in more than about ~700 but I'm going to put more into it.

Country: US
Budget: $1200
Size: 15 inches and in general lighter will be better
Usage: The same: the Total War, DayZ, Civ, and Sim Cities of the world plus random other rts, fps and indy games from steam. Video streaming (to a TV) and general work stuff will also happen but I'm sure almost any computer will suffice. Resolution and such don't particularly matter, but I do hope I'll be using the laptop for the next four years at least. Nothing too loud fan-wise for my wife's consideration since we share the same living room space when on our computers. Luckily my headset is still here so I don't have to replace that.

Ended up finding an MSI Apache pro that through my brother-in-law will end up being under $1200, would that be worth it, barring any other recommendations?

Ended up grabbing an Logitech g602 on the cheap during the Amazon sale so feeling good about that.
 
wow that looks solid. how reliable is the brand? i'll do some more research on the specs and customization and see what the price ends up.

on that note, what are generally considered the best and worst brands as far as customer support and hardware reliability go? i'm personally not a fan of Toshiba or Acer.

Objectively tier 1 are only MSI, Alienware, everything else is subjective.

Clevo/Sager is very solid, reliable, just lacking amenities.

Let's try this again with a firm budget.



Insurance company is going to end up not putting in more than about ~700 but I'm going to put more into it.

Country: US
Budget: $1200
Size: 15 inches and in general lighter will be better
Usage: The same: the Total War, DayZ, Civ, and Sim Cities of the world plus random other rts, fps and indy games from steam. Video streaming (to a TV) and general work stuff will also happen but I'm sure almost any computer will suffice. Resolution and such don't particularly matter, but I do hope I'll be using the laptop for the next four years at least. Nothing too loud fan-wise for my wife's consideration since we share the same living room space when on our computers. Luckily my headset is still here so I don't have to replace that.

Ended up finding an MSI Apache pro that through my brother-in-law will end up being under $1200, would that be worth it, barring any other recommendations?

Ended up grabbing an Logitech g602 on the cheap during the Amazon sale so feeling good about that.

At under $1,200, that GE62 is an amazing deal.
 
I'm unfortunately going to be cutting my budged in half, so no shiny gaming computer for me just yet. I've found a decent budget replacement, but I am a little skeptical about some of the stats:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010F0XW9U/?tag=neogaf0e-20

15.6 in Full HD IPS LED touchscreen (1920 x 1080), 10-finger multi-touch support
Intel Core i5-5200U 2.20 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.70 GHz; Intel HD Graphics 5500 with shared graphics memory; Windows 8.1, 64-bit
12GB DDR3L 1600 MHz; 1TB 5400 RPM HDD; No Optical Drive
2 USB 3.0 • 1 USB 2.0 • HDMI • Headphone output/Microphone input combo • LAN (10/100)
3-cell 43 WHr lithium; Intel RealSense 3D Camera; 802.11ac/a/b/g/n (Miracast enabled); Bluetooth; Backlit keyboard; Waves MaxxAudio Pro; 5-in-1 card reader (SD/SD 3.0/SDHC/MS/MS Pro)

It's on sale so it comes up under $700. It looks like it'll be able to handle multitasking, but I'm not sure how fast or stable it'll be.

I figure it's otherwise a solid deal for that price. Most others in the range don't have touch, backlit keyboard, or full HD. Thoughts?
 
So i just bought myself a laptop to work and write, but now that i have i'd like to jump into some indie/strategy gaming.
I've got a Lenovo B50-80, with a i7, Radeon m330 and 4 gigs of memory (which i will upgrade in some time).

I'm interested in games like Civilization, Total War, Hearts of Iron. Will it be sufficient?
 
I'm considering laptop options for my sister who will be off to college in a month's time.

Use: collegiate work, light gaming, general browsing
Price limit: $1000

Dedicated GPU is a must because I want to at least give her some measurable ability to play games on it (like Vocaloid, indie RPG games, etc). I'm looking for something relatively inexpensive, but durable. Currently I'm looking at the Lenovo Thinkpad E555 20DH002TUS, which is well below the budget limit at about $500, has a quad-core CPU and which should be able to handle the indie games that she plays just fine. She doesn't intend on carrying it around so it will mostly be stationary at her dorm room.

What other options should I be looking at? My big thing is durability, because I want this to last the entirety of her college years. At the other end of the spectrum I'm looking at the new model of the Lenovo Y50 with the GTX960M which opens up a shitload of gaming ability she hasn't previously known, but is slightly over budget at $1100.

Worth mentioning is her current laptop is a P.O.S. $100 Walmart laptop that I'm surprised is still functioning after 4 years. She will be living in a dorm room with a roommate. Part of the reasoning for the Thinkpad vs Ideapad is the Thinkpad is much less desirable to steal, and if it is stolen I can replace it for her easily, whereas the Ideapad would be a bigger bullet to bite and is much more attractive to thieves. On the other hand, she takes good care of her stuff and doesn't leave them around in plain view for theft, so that may not be too big of an issue as long as her roommate is similarly street smart and not a thief herself.
 
Heya all, looking for a new computer and was just hoping to get some insight.

First off the obligatory;
My Budget: 1500-2000
Size: Not sure, but I want a full size keyboard.
Usage: Game development stuff(3D art with Maya and zBrush, Photoshop work, and Unity game engine thungs). Would also like a range of good to great gaming. Leaning more towards great.

Back story: I've been needing a new machine for a while now and was planning to build another desktop. However, with my classes, we work a lot in groups and I miss out on stuff because I don't have a laptop I can work on. I just think the convenience of something portable would be cool. Still going to put thought into though since with the same budget I can get a great desktop.

Other things: Been looking at the ASUS RoGs or whatnot and they seem great. A few students here have one and they like them. I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with one along with any other brands that compete just so I have stuff to compare and think about. Also, I've been using a HDMI into a TV for a monitor so being able to do that as well would be a plus!

Hope this is alright for a post and thanks in advance for any help!
 
Hey LaptopGaf, I graduated from college and for the last four years I've have been using a Lenovo T420. I want a new laptop.

Country: USA
Maximum budget: $550
Max size: It doesn't matter to me.
Planned usage: Mostly browsing the internet, programming and some gaming. The most I'd play on it would be TF2, Civ V, CK2 and maybe EU4.
Misc things: A laptop with a good keyboard.
 
I'm unfortunately going to be cutting my budged in half, so no shiny gaming computer for me just yet. I've found a decent budget replacement, but I am a little skeptical about some of the stats:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010F0XW9U/?tag=neogaf0e-20

15.6 in Full HD IPS LED touchscreen (1920 x 1080), 10-finger multi-touch support
Intel Core i5-5200U 2.20 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.70 GHz; Intel HD Graphics 5500 with shared graphics memory; Windows 8.1, 64-bit
12GB DDR3L 1600 MHz; 1TB 5400 RPM HDD; No Optical Drive
2 USB 3.0 • 1 USB 2.0 • HDMI • Headphone output/Microphone input combo • LAN (10/100)
3-cell 43 WHr lithium; Intel RealSense 3D Camera; 802.11ac/a/b/g/n (Miracast enabled); Bluetooth; Backlit keyboard; Waves MaxxAudio Pro; 5-in-1 card reader (SD/SD 3.0/SDHC/MS/MS Pro)

It's on sale so it comes up under $700. It looks like it'll be able to handle multitasking, but I'm not sure how fast or stable it'll be.

I figure it's otherwise a solid deal for that price. Most others in the range don't have touch, backlit keyboard, or full HD. Thoughts?

Looks like a great multimedia machine.

So i just bought myself a laptop to work and write, but now that i have i'd like to jump into some indie/strategy gaming.
I've got a Lenovo B50-80, with a i7, Radeon m330 and 4 gigs of memory (which i will upgrade in some time).

I'm interested in games like Civilization, Total War, Hearts of Iron. Will it be sufficient?

The M330 is a little bit stronger than Intel's fastest IGP.

I'm considering laptop options for my sister who will be off to college in a month's time.

Use: collegiate work, light gaming, general browsing
Price limit: $1000

Dedicated GPU is a must because I want to at least give her some measurable ability to play games on it (like Vocaloid, indie RPG games, etc). I'm looking for something relatively inexpensive, but durable. Currently I'm looking at the Lenovo Thinkpad E555 20DH002TUS, which is well below the budget limit at about $500, has a quad-core CPU and which should be able to handle the indie games that she plays just fine. She doesn't intend on carrying it around so it will mostly be stationary at her dorm room.

What other options should I be looking at? My big thing is durability, because I want this to last the entirety of her college years. At the other end of the spectrum I'm looking at the new model of the Lenovo Y50 with the GTX960M which opens up a shitload of gaming ability she hasn't previously known, but is slightly over budget at $1100.

Worth mentioning is her current laptop is a P.O.S. $100 Walmart laptop that I'm surprised is still functioning after 4 years. She will be living in a dorm room with a roommate. Part of the reasoning for the Thinkpad vs Ideapad is the Thinkpad is much less desirable to steal, and if it is stolen I can replace it for her easily, whereas the Ideapad would be a bigger bullet to bite and is much more attractive to thieves. On the other hand, she takes good care of her stuff and doesn't leave them around in plain view for theft, so that may not be too big of an issue as long as her roommate is similarly street smart and not a thief herself.

Go Y50.

Heya all, looking for a new computer and was just hoping to get some insight.

First off the obligatory;
My Budget: 1500-2000
Size: Not sure, but I want a full size keyboard.
Usage: Game development stuff(3D art with Maya and zBrush, Photoshop work, and Unity game engine thungs). Would also like a range of good to great gaming. Leaning more towards great.

Back story: I've been needing a new machine for a while now and was planning to build another desktop. However, with my classes, we work a lot in groups and I miss out on stuff because I don't have a laptop I can work on. I just think the convenience of something portable would be cool. Still going to put thought into though since with the same budget I can get a great desktop.

Other things: Been looking at the ASUS RoGs or whatnot and they seem great. A few students here have one and they like them. I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with one along with any other brands that compete just so I have stuff to compare and think about. Also, I've been using a HDMI into a TV for a monitor so being able to do that as well would be a plus!

Hope this is alright for a post and thanks in advance for any help!

Buy a cheap laptop and build a desktop?


Hey LaptopGaf, I graduated from college and for the last four years I've have been using a Lenovo T420. I want a new laptop.

Country: USA
Maximum budget: $550
Max size: It doesn't matter to me.
Planned usage: Mostly browsing the internet, programming and some gaming. The most I'd play on it would be TF2, Civ V, CK2 and maybe EU4.
Misc things: A laptop with a good keyboard.

This should do.

Is this a decent deal?

Lenovo Z51

Intel i7-5500U
Radeon R9 M375 2GB
8GB Ram
15.6" 1920x1080

$669

This is a better deal.
 
Buy a cheap laptop and build a desktop?
Main issue with that would be program licenses which limit themselves to one computer. Guess if it came down to that I could just put everything on the laptop and just work on it and not worry about gaming with it. I'll have to figure out my actual budget though.

Thanks for the response and thread by the way! Helps out a lot.
 
Main issue with that would be program licenses which limit themselves to one computer. Guess if it came down to that I could just put everything on the laptop and just work on it and not worry about gaming with it. I'll have to figure out my actual budget though.

Thanks for the response and thread by the way! Helps out a lot.

If you want something thin, for carrying to class, the MSI GS60 is a great option. With the 970M it's still a strong gaming laptop.
 
Looks like a great multimedia machine.

thanks! i just hope it doesn't end up being spread too thin. will see when it gets here in a few days.

i've never had a computer with more than 4GB RAM and my last laptop was old as hell, so this is uncharted territory for me.

Thanks! I guess Criagslist may not be the best place to get my laptop, haha

i personally avoid shopping for electronics on craigslist unless it's really rare.
 
If that's your budget, go with this new one.
Wow, thank you. That is a fantastic price. I'm going to keep looking for a couple hours but that brings me the closest to pulling the trigger I've been yet.

One more question... How is the following for $600:
HP Omen 15-5010nr - 15.6" - Core i7 4710HQ - Windows 8.1 - 8 GB RAM - 256 GB SSD
 
In the UK. Looking for a laptop that'll be good for emulating PS2 and Gamecube/Wii games as well as video editing software and Source FilmMaker.

Been looking on PCSpecialist at ones I could configure. I've found something but I'm not sure if I'm overspending for my intended purpose.

Intel Core i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4710MQ (2.50ghz)
8GB Ram
Nvidia GeForce GTS 960M
1TB hard drive (5,400 rpm)
Windows 10

That comes to £727 which is in the intended budget but I'd be okay with spending less if the specs are overkill for what I want.
 
I've asked once before but didn't end up buying. This time I am definitely buying and my needs have changed slightly.


Country: Australia
Maximum budget: $1000
Max size: It doesn't matter to me.
Planned usage: Mostly browsing, watching HD video, Photoshop editing, light to moderate gaming.
Must have: 1920*1080, SSD or SSHD
Misc things: Prefer upgradeable RAM, half decent dedicated graphics would be good

Thanks.
 
Hey guys. I need a new laptop for school, and I've never been a PC gamer but I really, really want to play the new XCOM. Right now I'm looking at this laptop. It has an Intel Core i5 5200U, GeForce 940M and 8GB RAM.

Being a PC noob, I have a few questions.

1) Although system requirements haven't been released yet, can this reliable be expected to be able to handle XCOM 2?

2) People have complained that the resolution is only 1366x768, and therefore sub 1080p, and I can't tell if those criticisms are coming from diehard videophiles or whether it's relatively minor. Like, is it the difference between 1080 and 720 (which I wouldn't mind), or will games look really bad?

3) Keeping in mind that I really only want to play XCOM 2 on this thing, if I did decide I wanted to hook it up to my HDTV and play it, would it be able to handle 1080p? Again, some sacrifices are OK, but I wouldn't want it to be total shit. Like, going down to 30 fps? Fine. Turning off all effects, and sound, and color? Not so much.

Thanks!
 
Not looking for a specific build just yet but I'm a bit of stuck and would appreciate some input:

SSD vs. SSHD:
- My ideal setup is 128 GB SSD for OS and software plus e.g. 1 TB second standard HDD for media and possible game installs. Problem is that two HDDs don't seem to be so common. Are SSHDs (e.g. 8 GB SSD) a good alternative performance-wise?

Standard laptop vs convertible:
I was going to buy a normal laptop but as it will run Windows 10 I'm wondering if tablet mode might be worth getting a convertible. Something that would be useful while sitting a train or plane. Problem is that there are only few convertible in the 15.6" screen size category and I'm not willing to go smaller as that's the screen size I like to work with (Lenova Yoga 500 maybe).
Would be Windows 10 worth any possible comprises? I will use the thing daily but most things will require a m&kb to be efficient, especially work. Can only think of the train example in a crowded situation, reading a paper or something....

i5 vs. i7:
It seems i5 would make more sense considering the performance I'm going for, but OP scared be a bit with the 4 core thing being better for future-proofing the system. Was that mostly concerning games? I do want a dedicated graphics card but it will be in the lower/mid range so I don't really care about playing upcoming games on it. But software-wise I of course do care considering I usually use my PCs/laptops for 4-5 years.
 
Going to keep this simple. Looking for the best gaming laptop $1200 Canadian dollars (tax in) can by. The $1200 price is if I can buy it at Wal Mart since I have $200 in points, otherwise any other store my budget is $1000. (tax in)

Thanks.
 
Ordered a Lenovo Y50-70 with this specs:

i7-4720HQ
8GB RAM
1920x1080p 15.7" screen
GeForce GTX 960 2GB

All for 8999 Sek (or 1050 USD) a good price when the next thing (Also a Lenovo) at the same price has a i7-4710HQ and a GTX 860 2GB
 
In the UK. Looking for a laptop that'll be good for emulating PS2 and Gamecube/Wii games as well as video editing software and Source FilmMaker.

Been looking on PCSpecialist at ones I could configure. I've found something but I'm not sure if I'm overspending for my intended purpose.

Intel Core i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4710MQ (2.50ghz)
8GB Ram
Nvidia GeForce GTS 960M
1TB hard drive (5,400 rpm)
Windows 10

That comes to £727 which is in the intended budget but I'd be okay with spending less if the specs are overkill for what I want.

There's no point in going with specs any lower than that, and I'd at least take a 7200 rpm HDD.

I've asked once before but didn't end up buying. This time I am definitely buying and my needs have changed slightly.

Country: Australia
Maximum budget: $1000
Max size: It doesn't matter to me.
Planned usage: Mostly browsing, watching HD video, Photoshop editing, light to moderate gaming.
Must have: 1920*1080, SSD or SSHD
Misc things: Prefer upgradeable RAM, half decent dedicated graphics would be good

Thanks.

Y50?

Hey guys. I need a new laptop for school, and I've never been a PC gamer but I really, really want to play the new XCOM. Right now I'm looking at this laptop. It has an Intel Core i5 5200U, GeForce 940M and 8GB RAM.

Being a PC noob, I have a few questions.

1) Although system requirements haven't been released yet, can this reliable be expected to be able to handle XCOM 2?

2) People have complained that the resolution is only 1366x768, and therefore sub 1080p, and I can't tell if those criticisms are coming from diehard videophiles or whether it's relatively minor. Like, is it the difference between 1080 and 720 (which I wouldn't mind), or will games look really bad?

3) Keeping in mind that I really only want to play XCOM 2 on this thing, if I did decide I wanted to hook it up to my HDTV and play it, would it be able to handle 1080p? Again, some sacrifices are OK, but I wouldn't want it to be total shit. Like, going down to 30 fps? Fine. Turning off all effects, and sound, and color? Not so much.

Thanks!

1 - no idea, but probably with settings turned down

2 - 940M can't handle 1080p gaming anyway

3 - see 1 and 2

Not looking for a specific build just yet but I'm a bit of stuck and would appreciate some input:

SSD vs. SSHD:
- My ideal setup is 128 GB SSD for OS and software plus e.g. 1 TB second standard HDD for media and possible game installs. Problem is that two HDDs don't seem to be so common. Are SSHDs (e.g. 8 GB SSD) a good alternative performance-wise?

Standard laptop vs convertible:
I was going to buy a normal laptop but as it will run Windows 10 I'm wondering if tablet mode might be worth getting a convertible. Something that would be useful while sitting a train or plane. Problem is that there are only few convertible in the 15.6" screen size category and I'm not willing to go smaller as that's the screen size I like to work with (Lenova Yoga 500 maybe).
Would be Windows 10 worth any possible comprises? I will use the thing daily but most things will require a m&kb to be efficient, especially work. Can only think of the train example in a crowded situation, reading a paper or something....

i5 vs. i7:
It seems i5 would make more sense considering the performance I'm going for, but OP scared be a bit with the 4 core thing being better for future-proofing the system. Was that mostly concerning games? I do want a dedicated graphics card but it will be in the lower/mid range so I don't really care about playing upcoming games on it. But software-wise I of course do care considering I usually use my PCs/laptops for 4-5 years.

SSD vs. SSHD - I'd only expect an SSHD to improve boot times, but there are reviews out there with more detail.

Standard laptop vs convertible - I have little knowledge on convertibles or Windows 10

i5 vs. i7 - Well it is an OP on gaming laptops. Anything with a 960M (860M too) or higher needs a quad core i7.

Ordered a Lenovo Y50-70 with this specs:

i7-4720HQ
8GB RAM
1920x1080p 15.7" screen
GeForce GTX 960 2GB

All for 8999 Sek (or 1050 USD) a good price when the next thing (Also a Lenovo) at the same price has a i7-4710HQ and a GTX 860 2GB

Really nice price. Congrats.
 
Aorus x5

My mistake - it is 2880x 1620 out of the box, not 2880x1800.

Initial impression, thicker than I thought, build quality better than expected.

My gamble was that sli 970m was overkill for 1080p on the x7, while sli 965m might be in the ballpark for this resolution.

Setup was oddly sluggish - it seemed to take a while to process choosing wifi ap to connect to.

Out of the box - 442 out of 461 free on SSD, 931 gb free on HDD

Might take a while to go through setup/updates. but will try checking in after installs




I'd love to hear more on an Aorus machine
 
Hey all. Looking for suggestions on a laptop.

Location: US
Budget: Anywhere between $1500-$2000
Size: 14-15"
Usage: Gaming (Mostly play Dota, GTA, FFXIV, but looking to play like Fallout 4 and Battlefront.) For work sometimes using photoshop and other video editing programs.

I'll be bringing this with me to work so weight is important to me.

Recently looking at the Alienware 15 though it is bulkier and on the heavier side. I watched some review videos and I like the specs, but the battery life isn't that great and the battery pack is huge.
http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-15/pd?ref=PD_OC

This is another laptop that I saw mentioned (not sure if here) though on other pc sites. Looks very slender and close to what I would need to game and transport to and from work.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152567

Tthere are the MacBook Pro laptops though I'm not really into using another mac. I was looking at Razer Blade laptops. They are really expensive but they look of a higher quality. I don't think I can splurge over $2000 on a laptop.

I haven't bought a laptop in awhile so I'm really open to suggestions and guidance. Thanks!
 
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