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[valouris]

This might be a bit off-topic, but:

I got a Clevo W355ss about a year ago. Everything has been going fine, but lately the fan has started to make too much noise. It's probably something structural, as I opened it up, cleaned everything from dust and re-applied thermal paste.

Temperatures went down considerably (15-20 degrees in idle mode). This made the problem better when idling because the fan never turns on, but as soon as the fan starts even in its slowest mode, considerable noise is being made, disproportionate to the speed.

Do you guys have any tips on how to improve this? I opened the fan up and I don't know if I am able to remove the fan itself, as it seems to be held on its axis without screws, and it is plastic. Do you have in mind any tutorials for Clevo fans and heatsinks? Any website where I might be able to get a cheap replacement or a better heatsing and/or fan?

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

Thank you to all the folks out there helping out in this thread, specifically KJack. Keep doing God's work. PC gaming is the goat.

 

[Rogue Agent]

Thank you to all the folks out there helping out in this thread, specifically KJack. Keep doing God's work. PC gaming is the goat.

Yeah, this thread has been very helpful and I don't regret my past purchase even now.

 

[inm8num2]

Just found out about this guy:

Gigabyte P55K

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M GDDR5 2GB
Intel Core i7 5700HQ (2.70 GHz)
16 GB Memory 1 TB HDD
15.6" IPS FHD 1920 x 1080
14.92" x 10.59" x 1.08" -1.14" 5.51 lbs.
DVD Super Multi

$1049
- $100 coupon until 11/22

That's not a bad deal. Only one review I could find on this model.

 

[Moobabe]

Another one of those "I need a laptop" posts incoming...

So I've recently moved to London and now don't have room for a PC (which sucks) if only because I can't play some games with my friends.

I'm only talking things like Divinity: OS: EE and Rocket League - nothing too strenuous at all.

I'm in UK and I don't really want to spend much at all - can anyone recommend a good/decent laptop that can run that stuff?

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

Another one of those "I need a laptop" posts incoming...

So I've recently moved to London and now don't have room for a PC (which sucks) if only because I can't play some games with my friends.

I'm only talking things like Divinity: OS: EE and Rocket League - nothing too strenuous at all.

I'm in UK and I don't really want to spend much at all - can anyone recommend a good/decent laptop that can run that stuff?

Why not try something like the alienware alpha. It's even smaller than a laptop and not to crazy price wise. About £500.

Anything less than that on a laptop and its gaming capabilities will be really limited. The alpha is pretty much in par with a ps4.

I have enjoyed my laptop over the past 2 years but I would prefer something like the alpha next time. As you I want a small form factor. Don't want a bit tower and even mini itx. Still to bulky.

 

[Moobabe]

Why not try something like the alienware alpha. It's even smaller than a laptop and not to crazy price wise. About £500.

Anything less than that on a laptop and its gaming capabilities will be really limited. The alpha is pretty much in par with a ps4.

I have enjoyed my laptop over the past 2 years but I would prefer something like the alpha next time. As you I want a small form factor. Don't want a bit tower and even mini itx. Still to bulky.

There's no screen on this thing right? It's just a small form factor PC?

 

[Haden]

Thought this may be the best place to ask, made a real amateur mistake about a week ago I spilt white wine on my laptop.

After turning it off for a day and leaving it upside down i turned it back on, it kept restarting and I thought I was screwed but it has stopped doing that now. The only thing that doesn't work is the trackpad and I have left it on for a couple of days and it hasn't restarted since.

Am I looking like I am in the clear minus a trackpad now? Some sites said errors can appear weeks after a water spillage but I wondered if anyone here had any experience?

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

There's no screen on this thing right? It's just a small form factor PC?

Yeah. It's just a tiny PC made of laptop parts. Mainly designed to hook up to a TV. Has windows 8.1 currently and an additional Overlay that allows you to just use the Xbox controller it comes with to simulate a console experience.

I have a small laptop desk at home with a monitor on it. I then have my ps4 and laptop hooked up to that.

Gaming on a laptop screen can sometimes be hard to get comfortable. If its on your lap you crane your neck down to much. If its on a desk with a laptop stand to tilt / raise it, you may as well get a bigger/better monitor to hook it up to.

 

[Moobabe]

Yeah. It's just a tiny PC made of laptop parts. Mainly designed to hook up to a TV. Has windows 8.1 currently and an additional Overlay that allows you to just use the Xbox controller it comes with to si ulate a console experience.

I have a small laptop desk at home with a monitor on it. I then. Hook my ps4 and laptop up to that.

Gaming on a laptop screen can sometimes be hard to get comfortable. If its on your lap you crane your neck down to much. If its on a desk with a laptop stand to tilt / raise it, you may as well get a bigger/better monitor to hook it up to.

The issue is I don't have room for a desk in the room - if I did I would just move down my PC to London. I need something I can play in bursts, maybe on my lap with a control. This is a cool idea though, but I definitely need something with a screen

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

The issue is I don't have room for a desk in the room - if I did I would just move down my PC to London. I need something I can play in bursts, maybe on my lap with a control. This is a cool idea though, but I definitely need something with a screen

OK well then I would say either get an alpha and just hook it up to the TV.

Or get a laptop (try PC specialists. I really like what they offer, its who I used 2 years ago and I got my dad to use recently). Then get a padded laptray (like you would eat you dinner off). Then get and adjustable cooling laptop stand so you can raise the sceen up when it's on your laptray. Can get them really cheap on Amazon. Then if you want to use a mouse, use the sofa arm rest if you have a decent one. Or get the new steam controller.

That was the best I could come up with until I ended up just getting a small laptop desk recently. It worked pretty well but is a bit of a faff. It's why I would just get something like an alpha next time.

Edit. Just to clarify,a laptop desk is pretty tiny. About the width of a keyboard and mouse pad.

 

[PLASTICA-MAN]

What are the strongest laptops so far and which are the most affordable ones? I read that Asus and Gigabyte don't allow you to create recovery disks like with other companies. What are the other companies that don't let you create recovery disks?

 

[Souldestroyer Reborn]

Looking for some help laptop GAF!

Country - UK
Budget - ~£500
Size - I really don't know.
Usage - Casual gaming/School

My parents are looking at getting my brother a laptop for his Christmas. I've never bought a gaming laptop so I've no idea what the consensus is other than what I've read here.

I could maybe get them to push a little higher if the trade off is worth it but no more than £100 more!

 

[lord]

I'm looking at this one:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PYYDMQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Thoughts?

 

[K.Jack]

Thank you to all the folks out there helping out in this thread, specifically KJack. Keep doing God's work. PC gaming is the goat.

'

Thanks for the props. Before I started doing these threads, gaming laptops had a bad rep on GAF. The prevailing answer was, "lol buy a desktop fool", so my Father sent me from on high to lead the revolution.

It's my pleasure to keep this thread going.

Just found out about this guy:

Gigabyte P55K

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M GDDR5 2GB
Intel Core i7 5700HQ (2.70 GHz)
16 GB Memory 1 TB HDD
15.6" IPS FHD 1920 x 1080
14.92" x 10.59" x 1.08" -1.14" 5.51 lbs.
DVD Super Multi

$1049
- $100 coupon until 11/22

That's not a bad deal. Only one review I could find on this model.

Wow, yeah, that's a really good find. It's the new ~$1k leader.

Another one of those "I need a laptop" posts incoming...

So I've recently moved to London and now don't have room for a PC (which sucks) if only because I can't play some games with my friends.

I'm only talking things like Divinity: OS: EE and Rocket League - nothing too strenuous at all.

I'm in UK and I don't really want to spend much at all - can anyone recommend a good/decent laptop that can run that stuff?

At least provide a budget.

What are the strongest laptops so far and which are the most affordable ones? I read that Asus and Gigabyte don't allow you to create recovery disks like with other companies. What are the other companies that don't let you create recovery disks?

Most important info:

Country where it will be purchased.
Maximum budget.
Max size (can be in screen inches, dimensions, weight).
Planned usage (what kind of games or specific games it must run, if heavily gaming at all). Ideally you'll point out what resolution and settings are your standard, based off of what I've laid out in the OP.
Whatever else you find relevant, misc. things such as desired battery life, screen resolution, fan noise, etc.
Note: If you're from outside of North America, please provide links to a few of your countries laptop retailers.

As far as who doesn't allow recovery, I honestly don't know. It's something I've taken for granted with my Clevo and MSI machines. I know Dell/Alienware also has means of recovery disks.

Looking for some help laptop GAF!

Country - UK
Budget - ~£500
Size - I really don't know.
Usage - Casual gaming/School

My parents are looking at getting my brother a laptop for his Christmas. I've never bought a gaming laptop so I've no idea what the consensus is other than what I've read here.

I could maybe get them to push a little higher if the trade off is worth it but no more than £100 more!

Configuring one of these might work.

I'm looking at this one:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PYYDMQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Thoughts?

Looks great, but so far there's little info to back up that first impression.

 

[Imperfected]

I put in an order for the MSI Dragon Edition GT72S. Probably be mid-November by the time I see it, though. Not really expecting any big surprises in terms of build quality and performance, but I'll keep you posted.

 

[Ingeniero]

I need a new laptop, need advice.

Country: USA
Buget: $1,300 - 1,400.
Screen: 17" is a must.
Use: Casual gaming, not very demanding games (Diablo III for example) but want good solid framerates and high detail.

Maybe I don't need a very powerfull lappy, but I renew every 5 years aprox, so I always buy "top tier good ones" so they can last.
I looked into the ASUS ROG series and they look very nice, but there are too many models, with different cards GTX 980M, 970, 965, 960, etc. Which one is the best price/perfomance ratio?

I suppose it's a good idea to wait for black friday right? Any good site for gaming laptops deals?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[Arttemis]

I need a new laptop,need advice.

Country: USA
Buget: $1,300

look two posts above yours.

Edit - Disregard if you need more than 15.6" screen.

 

[Ingeniero]

look two posts above yours.

Edit - Disregard if you need more than 15.6" screen.

Edited with complete info.

 

[paolo11]

Thank you to all the folks out there helping out in this thread, specifically KJack. Keep doing God's work. PC gaming is the goat.

KJack is a great man. He is very helpful.

 

[52club]

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that I got my new dell shown at this link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015PYYDMQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

I'm hesitant to say too much as I just got it, but if you were thinking about it from my previous post there is a lot of information in the reviews.

My opinion is this is pretty close to perfect mid-range gaming machine based on the specs. My one concern so far is the keyboard. It seems a little cheap. However, it the back lit part is super nice. So I'd be a bit hesitant to recommend it to hardcore WASD players, but if you don't mind plugging in a controller you should be fine.

 

[K.Jack]

I put in an order for the MSI Dragon Edition GT72S. Probably be mid-November by the time I see it, though. Not really expecting any big surprises in terms of build quality and performance, but I'll keep you posted.

Expect to love it. You got the GTX 980?

A mini-review would be much appreciated.

I need a new laptop, need advice.

Country: USA
Buget: $1,300 - 1,400.
Screen: 17" is a must.
Use: Casual gaming, not very demanding games (Diablo III for example) but want good solid framerates and high detail.

Maybe I don't need a very powerfull lappy, but I renew every 5 years aprox, so I always buy "top tier good ones" so they can last.
I looked into the ASUS ROG series and they look very nice, but there are too many models, with different cards GTX 980M, 970, 965, 960, etc. Which one is the best price/perfomance ratio?

I suppose it's a good idea to wait for black friday right? Any good site for gaming laptops deals?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

I'd go with this. Comes with an SSD and the GTX 970M is the best card for the price.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that I got my new dell shown at this link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015PYYDMQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

I'm hesitant to say too much as I just got it, but if you were thinking about it from my previous post there is a lot of information in the reviews.

My opinion is this is pretty close to perfect mid-range gaming machine based on the specs. My one concern so far is the keyboard. It seems a little cheap. However, it the back lit part is super nice. So I'd be a bit hesitant to recommend it to hardcore WASD players, but if you don't mind plugging in a controller you should be fine.

Any impressions you can give us will be great. The price is amazing, so I'm hoping they didn't cut any corners.

How are the screen and speakers?

 

[TonberrysKnife]

Got a 980Ti now. My 970 golden edition is coming back tomorrow from an RMA. Since I won't be needing it and it's still under warranty, I'll be selling it. PM if interested. 980 is mad quiet and runs well so far.

 

[Imperfected]

Expect to love it. You got the GTX 980?

A mini-review would be much appreciated.

Desktop GPU version, yeah. Bumped up the RAM for some extra future-proofing, but otherwise pretty much the normal specs.

I probably won't get to do much of interest on it other than throw on cygwin and Visual Studio until winter break, but I'll at least be mindful of how hot its getting, battery life, etc. under normal use conditions. (There are better outlets for the tech benchmarks, I'm sure, and I don't plan on overclocking it or anything for a while yet.)

 

[RocBase]

Hey guys!

I'm looking to get a good enough laptop to last me at least several years as I'll be moving around a lot. I'm essentially going to be doing lookdev/UE4/3D intensive stuff, and would like a machine to support that.

My budget is anywhere between 1000 – 1500 CAD.

I did sniff around and landed on these two lappys. Which would be the better bang for the buck? Or any other better options?

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232447

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834315066&_ga=1.264728783.157603740.1446084876

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232325&cm_re=asus_rog-_-34-232-325-_-Product

Thanks.

 

[Ingeniero]

I'd go with this. Comes with an SSD and the GTX 970M is the best card for the price.

Thanks for your advice.
That SAGER looks very nice, stats are superior than the ASUS ones I was looking into:
OPTION 1
OPTION 2
What do you think.
I had almost decided to but a ROG, I never heard about the SAGER brand but it looks solid.

Any chance there are deals for these SAGER lappys in black friday?

Thanks again.

 

[K.Jack]

Desktop GPU version, yeah. Bumped up the RAM for some extra future-proofing, but otherwise pretty much the normal specs.

I probably won't get to do much of interest on it other than throw on cygwin and Visual Studio until winter break, but I'll at least be mindful of how hot its getting, battery life, etc. under normal use conditions. (There are better outlets for the tech benchmarks, I'm sure, and I don't plan on overclocking it or anything for a while yet.)

I hope you plan to eventually do a ton of gaming, it's a waste of $3k otherwise.

Hey guys!

I'm looking to get a good enough laptop to last me at least several years as I'll be moving around a lot. I'm essentially going to be doing lookdev/UE4/3D intensive stuff, and would like a machine to support that.

My budget is anywhere between 1000 – 1500 CAD.

I did sniff around and landed on these two lappys. Which would be the better bang for the buck? Or any other better options?

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232447

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834315066&_ga=1.264728783.157603740.1446084876

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232325&cm_re=asus_rog-_-34-232-325-_-Product

Thanks.

Go with the Asus, strongest GPU.

Thanks for your advice.
That SAGER looks very nice, stats are superior than the ASUS ones I was looking into:
OPTION 1
OPTION 2
What do you think.
I had almost decided to but a ROG, I never heard about the SAGER brand but it looks solid.

Any chance there are deals for these SAGER lappys in black friday?

Thanks again.

Take the Sager. It's simply a better laptop.

There are almost never deals on any gaming laptops, ever, not even holidays.

 

[RocBase]

Go with the Asus, strongest GPU.

How significant is the difference between the GTX 870M and GTX 965M? Im just wondering if it's really worth spending the extra 100+ on it as with the tax added, the GTX 965 one goes quite over budget.

 

[K.Jack]

How significant is the difference between the GTX 870M and GTX 965M? Im just wondering if it's really worth spending the extra 100+ on it as with the tax added, the GTX 965 one goes quite over budget.

The refurb only has a 90 day warranty, when I saw that I disregarded it completely. The $100 is more than worth it, for a full year of manufacturer's warranty.

 

[RocBase]

The refurb only has a 90 day warranty, when I saw that I disregarded it completely. The $100 is more than worth it, for a full year of manufacturer's warranty.

Sweet, thanks a lot for your input.

Just one more question. It says that the max memory supported is 32gb, so does that mean that along the way I can add more to it?

 

[52club]

Any impressions you can give us will be great. The price is amazing, so I'm hoping they didn't cut any corners.

How are the screen and speakers?

The screen is what I would consider an average IPS display, I would compare it to the kind of one you would find on a monoprice monitor...which isn't great. But still better than most TN panels.

The speakers are pretty good, they are definitely loud, but the sound quality is what I would consider above average.

Because all this is subjective I'm hesitant to praise it too much, but what I will say the overall value is probably a 9.0/10. None of it is high end, but at $850 (with tax) it is a really good value. And really is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[torontoml]

So I'm pretty sure I'm about to buy the Dell XPS 13, I'm just unsure of these configurations. I thought with Dell I could kinda mix and match but that doesn't seem available for the xps.

I have no need for the touch screen so I think I'm going with this one http://www.dell.com/en-ca/shop/productdetails/xps-13-9350-laptop/nxps13350_bt_h5149pe

I just wish I could get the bigger ssd with it but that only seems available with the touch enabled ones and that's like $600 more in comparison.

I'm in Canada (Alberta specifically), does anyone know if buying direct from Dell is my best option or is there somewhere else I should look?

 

[K.Jack]

Sweet, thanks a lot for your input.

Just one more question. It says that the max memory supported is 32gb, so does that mean that along the way I can add more to it?

Probably means you can put an 8GB stick in each RAM slot.

The screen is what I would consider an average IPS display, I would compare it to the kind of one you would find on a monoprice monitor...which isn't great. But still better than most TN panels.

The speakers are pretty good, they are definitely loud, but the sound quality is what I would consider above average.

Because all this is subjective I'm hesitant to praise it too much, but what I will say the overall value is probably a 9.0/10. None of it is high end, but at $850 (with tax) it is a really good value. And really is exactly what I was looking for.

Sounds pretty good, for the price. Let us know more after you've had it for a while.

So I'm pretty sure I'm about to buy the Dell XPS 13, I'm just unsure of these configurations. I thought with Dell I could kinda mix and match but that doesn't seem available for the xps.

I have no need for the touch screen so I think I'm going with this one http://www.dell.com/en-ca/shop/productdetails/xps-13-9350-laptop/nxps13350_bt_h5149pe

I just wish I could get the bigger ssd with it but that only seems available with the touch enabled ones and that's like $600 more in comparison.

I'm in Canada (Alberta specifically), does anyone know if buying direct from Dell is my best option or is there somewhere else I should look?

Only other places to look are the Canadian sites for Tigerdirect, Newegg, and Amazon.

 

[torontoml]

Only other places to look are the Canadian sites for Tigerdirect, Newegg, and Amazon.

K quick question, never used Tigerdirect before but when I went there it showed the exact computer of what I want at a great price. But when I go to add it to my cart it jumps from 1150 to 1599.

http://m.tigerdirect.ca/product/itemKey/103070961

What's going on there?


Otherwise I will buy from Dell tomorrow.

 

[Imperfected]

I hope you plan to eventually do a ton of gaming, it's a waste of $3k otherwise.

Most definitely, but I'm working 90+ hour weeks at the moment, so it's going to have to wait until I have winter vacation to really put it through its paces.

 

[Pirabear]

Is the 960m enough for most current games? It seems like it's pretty much the only option for a sub-$1300 laptop. Is it good enough for upcoming games like Fallout 4, Street Fighter 5, and Overwatch? I don't need max settings but would like 60 fps for the latter two.

 

[ss_lemonade]

I'm planning on getting the dell xps 15 9550 4k/i5 model whenever its available and since I guess a 960m won't even be close to being fast enough for such a resolution on heavier games, I was wondering: how does 1080p even look on a 2160p screen? Is it as bad as say, 1280x720 on a 1920x1080 panel?

I initially planned on getting a Surface Book but for close to the same price (cheaper even), I realized I could get something with better specs in the xps.

 

[Moobabe]

Budget wise? Less than £400 - I don't need to play anything demanding at all. I've asked around with people in the indie thread who play stuff similar to me and have landed here:

http://www.ebuyer.com/723849-hp-probook-455-g3-laptop-p5t06ea-abu

It looks, to the uninitiated like me, to be a pretty decent laptop for a good price. How does it look to you folks?

 

[K.Jack]

K quick question, never used Tigerdirect before but when I went there it showed the exact computer of what I want at a great price. But when I go to add it to my cart it jumps from 1150 to 1599.

http://m.tigerdirect.ca/product/itemKey/103070961

What's going on there?


Otherwise I will buy from Dell tomorrow.

I'd contact them, as it looks like their 25% off price isn't applying.

Is the 960m enough for most current games? It seems like it's pretty much the only option for a sub-$1300 laptop. Is it good enough for upcoming games like Fallout 4, Street Fighter 5, and Overwatch? I don't need max settings but would like 60 fps for the latter two.

It's literally a desktop GTX 750 Ti, so look at benches for that card, as what to expect.

I'm planning on getting the dell xps 15 9550 4k/i5 model whenever its available and since I guess a 960m won't even be close to being fast enough for such a resolution on heavier games, I was wondering: how does 1080p even look on a 2160p screen? Is it as bad as say, 1280x720 on a 1920x1080 panel?

I initially planned on getting a Surface Book but for close to the same price (cheaper even), I realized I could get something with better specs in the xps.

Below native res always looks like pure shite.

Budget wise? Less than £400 - I don't need to play anything demanding at all. I've asked around with people in the indie thread who play stuff similar to me and have landed here:

http://www.ebuyer.com/723849-hp-probook-455-g3-laptop-p5t06ea-abu

It looks, to the uninitiated like me, to be a pretty decent laptop for a good price. How does it look to you folks?

Its iGPU is stronger than what Intel is offering in that price range, so it looks decent to me as well.

 

[RedSwirl]

Well, the cheapest Skylake laptops with no dGPU are around $699, which is why I feel they aren't a good purchase versus the Asus I suggested, which has a dGPU, an SSD, 1080p screen, and 8GB RAM for just a little bit more.

There is this one I just found. It at least has a GT 940M.

How much cheaper is it possible to go? Not much, honestly. There's this Acer w/ 940M at $519.99, but the a 3 score average with 47 reviews makes me wary. But then again, no laptop in the range of $500 and below will be perfect or without a downside.

There's a plethora of Broadwell and Haswell iGPU laptops to choose from in that range.

Amazon has something pretty similar to the first system you suggested me: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146DD02G/?tag=neogaf0e-20 For about the same price it goes up to an i7, but drops the HDD in exchange for an SSD twice the size of the other one's. Same GPU. I don't really need an i7 and I'm not sure I need that 1TB of space either. I would never install any big games (certainly nothing over 10GB) and other files would be mostly word documents and pictures.

My main concern is actually the ability to install an older version of Microsoft Office on Windows 10, like Office 2007 or whatever. And I'd have to do it through an external optical drive.

 

[K.Jack]

Amazon has something pretty similar to the first system you suggested me: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146DD02G/?tag=neogaf0e-20 For about the same price it goes up to an i7, but drops the HDD in exchange for an SSD twice the size of the other one's. Same GPU. I don't really need an i7 and I'm not sure I need that 1TB of space either. I would never install any big games (certainly nothing over 10GB) and other files would be mostly word documents and pictures.s

My main concern is actually the ability to install an older version of Microsoft Office on Windows 10, like Office 2007 or whatever. And I'd have to do it through an external optical drive.

New Dell just came out, around the same price. It wins because of the Skylake i5 quad core processor, IPS display, and the GTX 960M w/ GDDR5. Amazing value, really.

As far as Office, Microsoft themselves have said that the only versions which aren't certified compatible are 2003 and XP. You could just download the .exe for your version, then use your product key to activate it.

 

[shockdude]

New Dell just came out, around the same price. It wins because of the Skylake i5 quad core processor, IPS display, and the GTX 960M w/ GDDR5. Amazing value, really.

That Dell looks absolutely incredible. Easily the most well-rounded laptop I've ever seen; good power, good build quality, good screen and speakers, good battery life, decent weight, all for an excellent price.

 

[X05]

For those oogling that new Inspiron 7559, here is a quick review.
Good things:
- It's quite cheap for the hardware.
- Good battery life.
Potential downsides:
- There seems to be a panel lottery, so you can get a good screen or a shit one.
- CPU/GPU temps are not what should be considering it's a multi-heatsink and dual fan setup, so a cooling pad or repaste might be in order.

 

[shockdude]

For those oogling that new Inspiron 7559, here is a quick review.
Good things:
- It's quite cheap for the hardware.
- Good battery life.
Potential downsides:
- There seems to be a panel lottery, so you can get a good screen or a shit one.
- CPU/GPU temps are not what should be considering it's a multi-heatsink and dual fan setup, so a cooling pad or repaste might be in order.

Considering the previous midrange gaming laptop recommendation was the Y50, the "downsides" aren't really that bad. The Inspiron 7000 beats the Y50 in nearly every way, screen and cooling included. Only things the Y50 has over the 7000 are slightly less weight and a better keyboard.

Seriously, with those specs and battery life the 7000 is a competitive alternative to getting a console plus a basic laptop.

 

[K.Jack]

9 hours of battery life? Unheard of in a gaming laptop.

Yes, it is going to have some compromises made, but it kicks the tar out of every other laptop in its price range.

 

[Beckx]

I need help. I am trying to replace my son's laptop.

Willing to spend up to $650ish (would prefer less though), and am trying to balance against several needs that may be incompatible:

• speed (opens programs quickly (not talking photoshop, just steam, chrome, etc.))
• games - not AAA, but modded/multiplayer minecraft, starbound, terraria, castle crashers, etc.
• touchscreen if possible

After browsing a lot I just don't have the expertise to balance these.

There's this MSI and while it has a dedicated graphics card it's a 4th gen processor (from looking at the same computer on other sites, at least). what's that going to do to performance? And, no touchscreen.

Then there's this ASUS, which is 6th gen i7 and integrated graphics, no touchscreen. But is 6th gen / i7 overkill given the tradeoff for no touchscreen at the pricepoint, and would I better off finding a 5th gen with touchscreen (and if so, what)?

And that's just what I can find in the sea of options. Are there better options that meet my needs at a lower price point? Is there a light laptop option since these are both in the 5 pound range?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Amazon is ideal given the ease of shipping & returns.

 

[BobbyColtrane]

I have an Alienware 13 that I really love, but unfortunately the wife and stepson use it all the time, so I need to get them something so I can have my gaming laptop back....

Country where it will be purchased: USA
Maximum budget: MAX $500
Max size (can be in screen inches, dimensions, weight): 15"
Planned usage: Internet, streaming media, Microsoft Office
Whatever else you find relevant: Something quiet with good battery life would be great

I'd love to buy on Amazon or Best Buy so I can use my American Express Points...

 

[K.Jack]

I need help. I am trying to replace my son's laptop.

Willing to spend up to $650ish (would prefer less though), and am trying to balance against several needs that may be incompatible:

• speed (opens programs quickly (not talking photoshop, just steam, chrome, etc.))
• games - not AAA, but modded/multiplayer minecraft, starbound, terraria, castle crashers, etc.
• touchscreen if possible

After browsing a lot I just don't have the expertise to balance these.

There's this MSI and while it has a dedicated graphics card it's a 4th gen processor (from looking at the same computer on other sites, at least). what's that going to do to performance? And, no touchscreen.

Then there's this ASUS, which is 6th gen i7 and integrated graphics, no touchscreen. But is 6th gen / i7 overkill given the tradeoff for no touchscreen at the pricepoint, and would I better off finding a 5th gen with touchscreen (and if so, what)?

And that's just what I can find in the sea of options. Are there better options that meet my needs at a lower price point? Is there a light laptop option since these are both in the 5 pound range?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Amazon is ideal given the ease of shipping & returns.

I'd go with this.

No, you won't find a decent machine with a touchscreen, in this range.

I have an Alienware 13 that I really love, but unfortunately the wife and stepson use it all the time, so I need to get them something so I can have my gaming laptop back....

Country where it will be purchased: USA
Maximum budget: MAX $500
Max size (can be in screen inches, dimensions, weight): 15"
Planned usage: Internet, streaming media, Microsoft Office
Whatever else you find relevant: Something quiet with good battery life would be great

I'd love to buy on Amazon or Best Buy so I can use my American Express Points...

This'll do.

 

[Beckx]

I'd go with this.

No, you won't find a decent machine with a touchscreen, in this range.

Thank you! Is it worth doing a full reset in Windows when I get it to remove the bloatware? The only reason I hesitate is that I worry it will have touchpad drivers or the like that get lost and will be a headache to reinstall.

 

[K.Jack]

I don't bother with clean installs, as far as bloatware.

I find that it's faster to just delete anything I don't want through the Control Panel -> Uninstall method.