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[Cookie18]

I posted this in the Samsung Chromebook OT but I think it's probably dead.

I need a cheap laptop to take to South Korea as I don't want to take my MacBook Pro. The hardware of the Samsung Chromebook is really nice but I need to know two things before I can even consider getting it.

Can a USB to Ethernet adaptor be used with it? I don't have WiFi where I am going, just an Ethernet port in my room.

Can Internet sharing be used on it? I currently use my MacBook as a WiFi hub for my iPad and iPhone as it can share the Internet with them. Without this functionality I cannot get online.

Are there any other recommendations for cheap laptops? I've seen this Lenovo which seems ok but to be honest I've kind of got my hopes on the Chromebook doing what I need as I really don't like Windows.

Edit: I'm going for four months, it's not a holiday or anything which is why I need one.

 

[B-B-Bomba!]

Received my (full res) Y580 last week and am really happy with it so far. It's a big jump for me, the last gaming HW I bought was a Wii in 2008, and I've only done HD gaming very occasionally with friends.

The only modern game I have atm is Deus Ex HR, and apart from enjoying the game I'm frequently blown away by the details and crisp lines everywhere. Looking forward to Far Cry 3 and Dishonoured down the line, also having a great time with Spacechem and Hotline Miami.

Really happy with my purchase, just wanted to drop a 'thank you' into this thread to K.Jack and all the others who've shared insight and experiences.

**

I also have a question re. this thread on Downsampling:

Can we clarify that this simply doesn't apply in instances where graphics processing switches between integrated and specialised cards (eg laptops that do this to save power consumption)?

If that's the case could it please be added to the OP? I have had a frustrating and disappointing 15 minutes.

Or is it possible that I can temporarily override Optimus? Would love some pointers if so. Tx

The folks over there couldn't answer. I'll relay any responses I get here.

Thanks again!

 

[Tizoc]

Posting from my iphone-
Right so my hunt for a y580 hasnt yielded anything so far sadly. I will keep looking for it but are there any other ir new models that fit my needs? Ive qouted my previous post below for further clarification.

Thanks for the thread, just read the first post so here's my request if anyone can help please, but take note that I was recommended Lenovo Y580 & ASUS N76VZ based on the preferences I mention below:

Country where it will be purchased: Middle East
Maximum budget: $750-1000
Max size: 16-17"

Planned usage:
a) For the laptop's convenience, I plan on gaming at a maximum of 720p, if I can find within my price range that it can run games fine at 1080p and 60 FPS, then the better.
b) Battery life is tricky, for the long run I expect to play on my laptop for maybe say 3-5 hours, I don't like keeping my laptop charging all the time and may want to turn off the electricity if I'm not using it for gaming.
c) Aside from the usual PC games I would also like it to run emulators well, I could list what emulators I want if that's OK?
d) Low fan noise and if possible one that doesn't overheat a lot.

 

[Cousteau]

So the screen isn't passable, quality-wise?

No....It seems it is just the standard res which is disappointing considering this model would benefit from a higher one.

 

[terrisus]

Hi all. So, in a couple of months (probably around the end of April) I may finally have a chance to be getting a new laptop like I've been saying I've wanted to for a while. It's still a bit off, so too early to be looking at specific recommendations and deals and such, but just have a few general questions while I'm kind of looking around.

1) How big a difference is there between the types and amounts of dedicated memory on a graphics card? That is, assuming all else with the card is roughly equal, how big a difference is there between something (say a GTX 660m/670m or something in that area) with 2GB DDR3, 2GB GDDR5, 3GB GDDR5, or 4GB GDDR5?

2) How are mSata SSDs for boot drives, in terms of performance and reliability? I definitely want a SSD as my boot drive (as I have with my current laptop as well), but, having that in an mSATA drive and leaving the other two slots for regular drives would obviously give more room for additional space. But, how are mSATA drives particularly in terms of being reliable as a boot drive, being fixable if there is an issue, etc.

3) What kind of protection plans are out there for laptops, including accidental? I've looked around a bit, and of course there's Best Buy, and then Asus has accidental included in their warranty, Xoticpc offers plans including accidental, and then there's stuff like SquareTrade as well. Just wondering if anyone has experience with some of those other ones, and how they are. I've been trying to read up a bit on them, and from the looks of it, with both Asus and Xoticpc, it's limited to a single accidental claim over the entire course of the plan, and after that it's just standard. And then with SquareTrade it's basically they'll cover repairs up to the cost of the laptop (that is, on a $2000 laptop, once it has a total of $2000 worth of repairs done to it, the plan is used up). Just curious as far as what are the better options as far as protecting the laptop over the life of it, and the services offered by each and such. It's not like I'm planning to have a cracked screen, a dead motherboard, a stuck keyboard, and a dozen other issues every week, but, I also have had issues in the past (including the aforementioned cracked screen and keyboard issues), and don't want to be stuck with an unusable laptop or high repair bills (and no, I'm not good at fixing that sort of thing on my own).

Also, as a side note, I really do want to stay with Windows 7 (yeah, I've used Windows 8, and have a free copy of it that Microsoft sent me sitting here unused as well. It's not that I would throw away a computer with it or something, but given the choice, want to stay with Windows 7), which obviously then splits things into the two options of either finding a place where I can still get Windows 7 (which Xoticpc still offers), or getting something with Windows 8, buying a copy of Windows 7, and switching over to that. The second one is a bit more hassle and a bit higher cost than it needs to be, but, such is life.

I think that's about it for now. When the time comes, I'm probably going to be looking at a budget in the range of $1500-2000 US (including any plan I do end up going with), but, as I said, at this point just trying to get ideas on a couple of things, will be a bit until I'm ready to do it and can start locking in at specific deals (although that hasn't stopped me from poking around at Xoticpc configurations anyway, and any other ideas of places with good configuration options to look at would be fun too).

 

[RM8]

Guys, what's a good, small laptop for gaming? I don't need high-end device by any means.

- Small. The smaller, the better.
- I guess it's not a must, but I'd love if I could remove/fold/whatever the keyboard.
- If it's not hideous looking, better.

It seems like I'm looking for something like the Vaio Duo 11:

Is there any alternative to it? I'm guessing it doesn't get any smaller without it becoming pretty much a notebook, haha.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Azzurri]

Someone is selling an Alienware M17X, but I don't know what to offer. Brand new it's 2k, but he bought it refurnished him self, but added a 128ssd. I was thinking $1,400?

 

[K.Jack]

Posting from my iphone-
Right so my hunt for a y580 hasnt yielded anything so far sadly. I will keep looking for it but are there any other ir new models that fit my needs? Ive qouted my previous post below for further clarification.

Just find a GT 650M.

Hi all. So, in a couple of months (probably around the end of April) I may finally have a chance to be getting a new laptop like I've been saying I've wanted to for a while. It's still a bit off, so too early to be looking at specific recommendations and deals and such, but just have a few general questions while I'm kind of looking around.

1) How big a difference is there between the types and amounts of dedicated memory on a graphics card? That is, assuming all else with the card is roughly equal, how big a difference is there between something (say a GTX 660m/670m or something in that area) with 2GB DDR3, 2GB GDDR5, 3GB GDDR5, or 4GB GDDR5?

2) How are mSata SSDs for boot drives, in terms of performance and reliability? I definitely want a SSD as my boot drive (as I have with my current laptop as well), but, having that in an mSATA drive and leaving the other two slots for regular drives would obviously give more room for additional space. But, how are mSATA drives particularly in terms of being reliable as a boot drive, being fixable if there is an issue, etc.

3) What kind of protection plans are out there for laptops, including accidental? I've looked around a bit, and of course there's Best Buy, and then Asus has accidental included in their warranty, Xoticpc offers plans including accidental, and then there's stuff like SquareTrade as well. Just wondering if anyone has experience with some of those other ones, and how they are. I've been trying to read up a bit on them, and from the looks of it, with both Asus and Xoticpc, it's limited to a single accidental claim over the entire course of the plan, and after that it's just standard. And then with SquareTrade it's basically they'll cover repairs up to the cost of the laptop (that is, on a $2000 laptop, once it has a total of $2000 worth of repairs done to it, the plan is used up). Just curious as far as what are the better options as far as protecting the laptop over the life of it, and the services offered by each and such. It's not like I'm planning to have a cracked screen, a dead motherboard, a stuck keyboard, and a dozen other issues every week, but, I also have had issues in the past (including the aforementioned cracked screen and keyboard issues), and don't want to be stuck with an unusable laptop or high repair bills (and no, I'm not good at fixing that sort of thing on my own).

Also, as a side note, I really do want to stay with Windows 7 (yeah, I've used Windows 8, and have a free copy of it that Microsoft sent me sitting here unused as well. It's not that I would throw away a computer with it or something, but given the choice, want to stay with Windows 7), which obviously then splits things into the two options of either finding a place where I can still get Windows 7 (which Xoticpc still offers), or getting something with Windows 8, buying a copy of Windows 7, and switching over to that. The second one is a bit more hassle and a bit higher cost than it needs to be, but, such is life.

I think that's about it for now. When the time comes, I'm probably going to be looking at a budget in the range of $1500-2000 US (including any plan I do end up going with), but, as I said, at this point just trying to get ideas on a couple of things, will be a bit until I'm ready to do it and can start locking in at specific deals (although that hasn't stopped me from poking around at Xoticpc configurations anyway, and any other ideas of places with good configuration options to look at would be fun too).

1) The type is a huge deal. Last time I knew better, the same card with DDR3 instead of GDDR5 has at least 40% less bandwidth. But all high-end cards come with GDDR5, so that isn't an issue in your price range. Amount doesn't matter today. With both of the next generation consoles packing 4GB or more, having a lot definitely won't be a bad thing.

2) The mSATA SSD will destroy any HDD as an OS drive. As far as reliability, they have no moving parts. Shouldn't be an issue.

3) I don't have much to add. Just keep in mind that Xotic is just a Sager reseller, so the warranty is fulfilled through the latter.

But you say you want to buy near the end of April, which means we'll be right on the cusp of seeing Intel's new CPU as well as new cards from AMD and Nvidia. Expect to have to wait until June.

 

[K.Jack]

Posting from my iphone-
Right so my hunt for a y580 hasnt yielded anything so far sadly. I will keep looking for it but are there any other ir new models that fit my needs? Ive qouted my previous post below for further clarification.

Just find a GT 650M.

Hi all. So, in a couple of months (probably around the end of April) I may finally have a chance to be getting a new laptop like I've been saying I've wanted to for a while. It's still a bit off, so too early to be looking at specific recommendations and deals and such, but just have a few general questions while I'm kind of looking around.

1) How big a difference is there between the types and amounts of dedicated memory on a graphics card? That is, assuming all else with the card is roughly equal, how big a difference is there between something (say a GTX 660m/670m or something in that area) with 2GB DDR3, 2GB GDDR5, 3GB GDDR5, or 4GB GDDR5?

2) How are mSata SSDs for boot drives, in terms of performance and reliability? I definitely want a SSD as my boot drive (as I have with my current laptop as well), but, having that in an mSATA drive and leaving the other two slots for regular drives would obviously give more room for additional space. But, how are mSATA drives particularly in terms of being reliable as a boot drive, being fixable if there is an issue, etc.

3) What kind of protection plans are out there for laptops, including accidental? I've looked around a bit, and of course there's Best Buy, and then Asus has accidental included in their warranty, Xoticpc offers plans including accidental, and then there's stuff like SquareTrade as well. Just wondering if anyone has experience with some of those other ones, and how they are. I've been trying to read up a bit on them, and from the looks of it, with both Asus and Xoticpc, it's limited to a single accidental claim over the entire course of the plan, and after that it's just standard. And then with SquareTrade it's basically they'll cover repairs up to the cost of the laptop (that is, on a $2000 laptop, once it has a total of $2000 worth of repairs done to it, the plan is used up). Just curious as far as what are the better options as far as protecting the laptop over the life of it, and the services offered by each and such. It's not like I'm planning to have a cracked screen, a dead motherboard, a stuck keyboard, and a dozen other issues every week, but, I also have had issues in the past (including the aforementioned cracked screen and keyboard issues), and don't want to be stuck with an unusable laptop or high repair bills (and no, I'm not good at fixing that sort of thing on my own).

Also, as a side note, I really do want to stay with Windows 7 (yeah, I've used Windows 8, and have a free copy of it that Microsoft sent me sitting here unused as well. It's not that I would throw away a computer with it or something, but given the choice, want to stay with Windows 7), which obviously then splits things into the two options of either finding a place where I can still get Windows 7 (which Xoticpc still offers), or getting something with Windows 8, buying a copy of Windows 7, and switching over to that. The second one is a bit more hassle and a bit higher cost than it needs to be, but, such is life.

I think that's about it for now. When the time comes, I'm probably going to be looking at a budget in the range of $1500-2000 US (including any plan I do end up going with), but, as I said, at this point just trying to get ideas on a couple of things, will be a bit until I'm ready to do it and can start locking in at specific deals (although that hasn't stopped me from poking around at Xoticpc configurations anyway, and any other ideas of places with good configuration options to look at would be fun too).

1) The type is a huge deal. Last time I knew better, the same card with DDR3 instead of GDDR5 has at least 40% less bandwidth. But all high-end cards come with GDDR5, so that isn't an issue in your price range. Amount doesn't matter today. With both of the next generation consoles packing 4GB or more, having a lot definitely won't be a bad thing.

2) The mSATA SSD will destroy any HDD as an OS drive. As far as reliability, they have no moving parts. Shouldn't be an issue.

3) I don't have much to add. Just keep in mind that Xotic is just a Sager reseller, so the warranty is fulfilled through the latter.

But you say you want to buy near the end of April, which means we'll be right on the cusp of seeing Intel's new CPU as well as new cards from AMD and Nvidia. Expect to have to wait until June.

Guys, what's a good, small laptop for gaming? I don't need high-end device by any means.

- Small. The smaller, the better.
- I guess it's not a must, but I'd love if I could remove/fold/whatever the keyboard.
- If it's not hideous looking, better.

It seems like I'm looking for something like the Vaio Duo 11:


Is there any alternative to it? I'm guessing it doesn't get any smaller without it becoming pretty much a notebook, haha.

Thanks in advance!

Sager NP6110 / Clevo W110ER

Someone is selling an Alienware M17X, but I don't know what to offer. Brand new it's 2k, but he bought it refurnished him self, but added a 128ssd. I was thinking $1,400?

What's the warranty situation?

 

[Zeroth]

Guys, what's a good, small laptop for gaming? I don't need high-end device by any means.

- Small. The smaller, the better.
- I guess it's not a must, but I'd love if I could remove/fold/whatever the keyboard.
- If it's not hideous looking, better.

It seems like I'm looking for something like the Vaio Duo 11:


Is there any alternative to it? I'm guessing it doesn't get any smaller without it becoming pretty much a notebook, haha.

Thanks in advance!

You will need to specify what kind of gaming you want. Generally, small laptops have integrated graphic cards, which are usually terrible for gaming. I guess you could do with a Sager NP6110 since it comes with a mobile Nvidia card which is infinitely better than the intel integrated cards that come with smaller laptops.

Edit: Hah

 

[RM8]

Sager NP6110 / Clevo W110ER

You will need to specify what kind of gaming you want. Generally, small laptops have integrated graphic cards, which are usually terrible for gaming. I guess you could do with a Sager NP6110 since it comes with a mobile Nvidia card which is infinitely better than the intel integrated cards that come with smaller laptops.

Edit: Hah

Nothing too demanding, really. Stuff from GOG, Desura and some Steam games like the Ys games, 2D platformers, etc. - that's why I thought the Sony one was probably not a bad idea - plus with its option to hide the keyboard I can put it on my lap and play with a Bluetooth controller more comfortably. Still, the one you guys recommended seems like a much better product. Now I'm torn I'll have to think about it. Thanks!

 

[Azzurri]

What's the warranty situation?

Still has about 6 months

 

[K.Jack]

Still has about 6 months

Uh, damn, why didn't I ask you for the specs? Kinda important.

Hey, what CPU and GPU does it have?

 

[Tizoc]

Just find a GT 650M.

Hmm I've seen a few lappy with 630 M, will check some retailers again for any laptops that have the GT 650M in the next few days, thanks~

 

[Azzurri]

Uh, damn, why didn't I ask you for the specs? Kinda important.

Hey, what CPU and GPU does it have?

7970m gpu and i7-3610QM Processor (2.3GHz up to 3.3GHz,6MB Cache,w/ Turbo Boost 2.0) GPU

750gb hdd, but he also added a 128gb SSD.

 

[K.Jack]

7970m gpu and i7-3610QM Processor (2.3GHz up to 3.3GHz,6MB Cache,w/ Turbo Boost 2.0) GPU

750gb hdd, but he also added a 128gb SSD.

Yeah you could throw $1,400 out there. He can't ask very much closer to $2k.

 

[Azzurri]

Yeah you could throw $1,400 out there. He can't ask very much closer to $2k.

That what I was thinking since he already bought it refurbiushed himself, and new it's 2k. SO it's 3rd hand

He said it cost him 2.2k with the SSD, wants 1.6k

 

[K.Jack]

That what I was thinking since he already bought it refurbiushed himself, and new it's 2k. SO it's 3rd hand

He said it cost him 2.2k with the SSD, wants 1.6k

I knew he was going to ask $1.6k, 100% lol. I don't know if I could spend that much on a 3rd hand machine, just because he added a 128GB SSD ($120 retail value). I can't say that's unfair, but I'm on Dell.com and am looking at $2,041.55 for an all new M17x w/ 7970M and a 128GB mSATA boot drive + 750GB 7200 RPM storage HDD. An extra $400 is a lot of money to me, but having an un-fooled-around-with laptop with a full year of warranty is also an added value in its own right.

So I dunno, I guess it depends on how much you mind it being a used laptop.

 

[Azzurri]

I knew he was going to ask $1.6k, 100% lol. I don't know if I could spend that much on a 3rd hand machine, just because he added a 128GB SSD ($120 retail value). I can't say that's unfair, but I'm on Dell.com and am looking at $2,041.55 for an all new M17x w/ 7970M and a 128GB mSATA boot drive + 750GB 7200 RPM storage HDD. An extra $400 is a lot of money to me, but having an un-fooled-around-with laptop with a full year of warranty is also an added value in its own right.

So I dunno, I guess it depends on how much you mind it being a used laptop.

I was thinking the same thing too, nothing like brand new.

 

[Tizoc]

If you don't mind me asking, but why is the Acer Aspire V5 model not good for gaming?

Also I did a search and found that these 3 ASUS laptops are available in my region:

http://ae.asus.com/en/Notebooks/Gaming_Powerhouse/G55VW/#specifications
G55VW Specs:
Processor:
Intel Core i7 3630QM Processor
Intel Core i7 3610QM Processor
Intel Core i5 3230M /3210M Processor
Chipset: Intel HM77 Chipset
Memory: DDR3 1600 MHz SDRAM, 4 x SO-DIMM socket for expansion up to 16 GB SDRAM *1
Display: 15.6" FHD EWV LED Backlight HD/HD 3D LED Backlight
Graphic: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M with 2GB GDDR5 VRAM
Storage:
1TB 5400
750GB 5400/7200
500GB 5400/7200
128GB SSD
750GB 7200 SSH


http://ae.asus.com/en/Notebooks/Gaming_Powerhouse/G75VW/#specifications
G75VW Specs:
Processor:
Intel Core i7 3720QM Processor
Intel Core i7 3610QM Processor
Intel Core i7 3630QM Processor
Chipset:
Intel HM77 Chipset
Memory:
DDR3 1600 MHz SDRAM, 4 x SO-DIMM socket for expansion up to 16 GB SDRAM
Display:
17.3" HD with EWV (1366 x 768) / FHD 3D LED Backlight
Graphic NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M/670M with 2GB/3GB GDDR5 VRAM
Storage:
2.5" SATA Dual HDD
1TB 5400RPM
750GB 5400/7200RPM
500GB 5400/7200RPM
750GB 7200RPM SSH
256GB RPM SSD
RAID0/1 Support

http://ae.asus.com/en/Notebooks/Gaming_Powerhouse/G75VX/#specifications
G75VX Specs:
Processor:
Intel Core i7 3630QM
Chipset:
Intel HM77 Chipset
Memory:
DDR3 1600 MHz SDRAM, 4 x SO-DIMM socket for expansion up to 32 GB SDRAM
Display:
17.3" HD+ EWV (1600 x 900) / FHD 3D LED Backlight
Graphic:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX with 3GB GDDR5 VRAM
Storage:
2.5" SATA Dual HDD
1TB 5400RPM
750GB 5400/7200RPM
500GB 5400/7200RPM
750GB 7200RPM SSH
256GB RPM SSD
RAID0/1 Support

 

[Mr. Sam]

Hello, um, LapGAF. I'm a mewling baby in the world of laptops and could use some guidance. I'm from the UK and, essentially, I need a new laptop and something which could play games would be nice. I'm not planning on playing Battlefield 3 on the couch but something which could make, say, DOTA 2 not look like a clipshow (like it does on my current laptop) would be nice. I don't have particularly high needs. I'm looking to spend between £400 and £600. I've been on PCSpecialist and tried to follow the advice in the OP but could well have made a mess of it. So far I have (this coming out to £555):

The main questions I have are:

1. Do I at all need a higher resolution screen? I'll not be doing any high level graphic design or watching HD movies, though I do like, you know, looking at stuff.
2. Should I upgrade the battery from the "Genesis Series 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (48.84WH)" which comes as standard? I'd be using it mostly inside the house but might take it to uni/a friend's house on occasion and it would be nice if it lasted a few hours and didn't melt or explode or whatever after a few months.

Oh, and that's the best graphics card available with that chassis, though it didn't used to be.

Thanks very much.

Edit: I've followed the links in the OP and chased some stuff down, and I'm thinking of breaking my budget for this: http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer...on.asp?refsource=ldawin&affid=102563#maindesc

 

[K.Jack]

If you don't mind me asking, but why is the Acer Aspire V5 model not good for gaming?

Also I did a search and found that these 3 ASUS laptops are available in my region:

http://ae.asus.com/en/Notebooks/Gaming_Powerhouse/G55VW/#specifications
G55VW Specs:
Processor:
Intel Core i7 3630QM Processor
Intel Core i7 3610QM Processor
Intel Core i5 3230M /3210M Processor
Chipset: Intel HM77 Chipset
Memory: DDR3 1600 MHz SDRAM, 4 x SO-DIMM socket for expansion up to 16 GB SDRAM *1
Display: 15.6" FHD EWV LED Backlight HD/HD 3D LED Backlight
Graphic: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M with 2GB GDDR5 VRAM
Storage:
1TB 5400
750GB 5400/7200
500GB 5400/7200
128GB SSD
750GB 7200 SSH


http://ae.asus.com/en/Notebooks/Gaming_Powerhouse/G75VW/#specifications
G75VW Specs:
Processor:
Intel Core i7 3720QM Processor
Intel Core i7 3610QM Processor
Intel Core i7 3630QM Processor
Chipset:
Intel HM77 Chipset
Memory:
DDR3 1600 MHz SDRAM, 4 x SO-DIMM socket for expansion up to 16 GB SDRAM
Display:
17.3" HD with EWV (1366 x 768) / FHD 3D LED Backlight
Graphic NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M/670M with 2GB/3GB GDDR5 VRAM
Storage:
2.5" SATA Dual HDD
1TB 5400RPM
750GB 5400/7200RPM
500GB 5400/7200RPM
750GB 7200RPM SSH
256GB RPM SSD
RAID0/1 Support

http://ae.asus.com/en/Notebooks/Gaming_Powerhouse/G75VX/#specifications
G75VX Specs:
Processor:
Intel Core i7 3630QM
Chipset:
Intel HM77 Chipset
Memory:
DDR3 1600 MHz SDRAM, 4 x SO-DIMM socket for expansion up to 32 GB SDRAM
Display:
17.3" HD+ EWV (1600 x 900) / FHD 3D LED Backlight
Graphic:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX with 3GB GDDR5 VRAM
Storage:
2.5" SATA Dual HDD
1TB 5400RPM
750GB 5400/7200RPM
500GB 5400/7200RPM
750GB 7200RPM SSH
256GB RPM SSD
RAID0/1 Support

1. Acer Aspire V5 = low powered ULV CPU and integrated graphics

2. The ASUS G55 and G75 would be great to pick from, if they're within your budget.

The main questions I have are:

1. Do I at all need a higher resolution screen? I'll not be doing any high level graphic design or watching HD movies, though I do like, you know, looking at stuff.
2. Should I upgrade the battery from the "Genesis Series 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (48.84WH)" which comes as standard? I'd be using it mostly inside the house but might take it to uni/a friend's house on occasion and it would be nice if it lasted a few hours and didn't melt or explode or whatever after a few months.

Oh, and that's the best graphics card available with that chassis, though it didn't used to be.

Thanks very much.

Edit: I've followed the links in the OP and chased some stuff down, and I'm thinking of breaking my budget for this: http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer...on.asp?refsource=ldawin&affid=102563#maindesc

1. Well, it's hard for me to argue against going 1080p for a "mere" £35, when I'm pretty outspoken in here about how crap all 768p screens are. You would appreciate the extra screen real estate and LCD quality, trust me.

2. We don't know what the standard battery offers as far as life, so it's hard to say.

3. The Acer does have some value, with its significantly better GPU and Blu-ray drive. As far as gaming longevity, it wins easily, and with the next-gen consoles on the way, I always lean towards the faster GPUs.

 

[Mr. Sam]

3. The Acer does have some value, with its significantly better GPU and Blu-ray drive. As far as gaming longevity, it wins easily, and with the next-gen consoles on the way, I always lean towards the faster GPUs.

The glossy finish and the screen are putting me off, though those do sound like some considerable advantages. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Tizoc]

1. Acer Aspire V5 = low powered ULV CPU and integrated graphics

2. The ASUS G55 and G75 would be great to pick from, if they're within your budget

Cool~
I tried to read up on those processors but uh my PC lingo is pretty low, I'll just ask which of them is the cheapest with a 750GB/1TB hard drive and get that. I'll call the retailer later today if they're open and check with them.

 

[sgjackson]

Well fuck, I broke the hinge on my Alienware. (It was my own fault, thing was a joy before that.) What are my options for repairing the thing? Or would I be better off getting a new one? Potentially being sans computer for weeks while Dell fixes my shit would be a pain.

 

[Mr. Sam]

Edit: Never mind.

 

[sgjackson]

Well fuck, I broke the hinge on my Alienware. (It was my own fault, thing was a joy before that.) What are my options for repairing the thing? Or would I be better off getting a new one? Potentially being sans computer for weeks while Dell fixes my shit would be a pain.

I ended up deciding to see if I liked the ASUS G46 at Best Buy before looking at my options online. I actually really liked it, and got one - all brushed aluminum and rubber finishes, feels really solid (less flex than the Alienware, which surprised me), quiet, nice feeling backlit keyboard - and I had 400 dollars of those credit card gift cards from my apartment complex, so the price was very right. The screen's definitely not as nice as the Alienware (which wasn't particularly great in the first place), but I think I can live with it. I'll mess around in Far Cry 3 later to check out performance, but it should be pretty standard GTX 660m stuff, I imagine. Once the exclusivity deal ends I'd recommend this without question - it feels noticeably nicer than other ASUS G-series models I've played with, and those were far from terrible.

 

[GlenChivas]

What does GAF think?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834131305

I'm mainly using it for school but it would be nice to be able to play a few rounds of BF3 on so my gf can't complain about me hogging our tv.

Also if you recommend something else please note that Windows 8 is not an option. I'm not going near that thing. And this price is as high as I'm willing to go.

 

[sgjackson]

What does GAF think?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834131305

I'm mainly using it for school but it would be nice to be able to play a few rounds of BF3 on so my gf can't complain about me hogging our tv.

Also if you recommend something else please note that Windows 8 is not an option. I'm not going near that thing. And this price is as high as I'm willing to go.

That's a high price for a 630m.

I don't blame you on Windows 8. Having to wrangle with it is the worst part about my new laptop.

 

[GlenChivas]

That's a high price for a 630m.

I don't blame you on Windows 8. Having to wrangle with it is the worst part about my new laptop.

Yeah so far it's been kind of hard to find something with a better card that doesn't come with Windows 8. I could always just install 7 but I'd really rather not if I don't have to.

Also, I'm willing to go to $1000 but not higher.

 

[Munin]

How future proof would buying a top of the line Sager model be at this point in time? Are CPU/GPU refreshs expected in the next few months? The OP states that the Sager/Cleo laptops can actually be upgraded...but I can't find any more info about this. Any advice?

 

[Noogy]

So, I've had my Y580 for a week now (unfortunately I'm not getting a whole lot of time to mess with it due to work), but so far I'm very impressed.

The build quality is great, I love the keyboard and screen, and the thing delivers the promised performance. I obviously have to tone things down in comparison to my desktop (i7, Geforce GTX 660Ti), but it's very comparable. My only gripe is Win8, which I'm trying to adjust to (if for nothing else than to future proof myself).

I have two questions though, if anyone can help:

1) Is is possible to charge this (or any notebook) though one of the USB ports? I was looking at car charging solutions and keep seeing these little lighter > female USB options.

2) Is there any way to completely disable GPU/CPU throttling when running on a battery? I understand the limitation, but sometimes I just want that power, even if it's only for 30 minutes. I'd also need the fan to kick in when needed.

 

[Zeroth]

How future proof would buying a top of the line Sager model be at this point in time? Are CPU/GPU refreshs expected in the next few months? The OP states that the Sager/Cleo laptops can actually be upgraded...but I can't find any more info about this. Any advice?

IIRC, the announcements of new Intel and graphic cards come in June~July, so you will be safe until then. Even so, it's worth noting there aren't many benefits in upgrading your GPU/CPU, due to the prices being extremely high, and the fact you can't actually upgrade your CPU. Your best bet is buying a decent laptop and using it until you decide to get a better one.

What does GAF think?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834131305

I'm mainly using it for school but it would be nice to be able to play a few rounds of BF3 on so my gf can't complain about me hogging our tv.

Also if you recommend something else please note that Windows 8 is not an option. I'm not going near that thing. And this price is as high as I'm willing to go.

Have you tried checking resellers that allow laptop customization such as Gentech or Xotic? They allow you to build your laptop according to your budget and choose your OS, so you wouldn't need to worry about Windows 8 machines.

 

[GlenChivas]

Have you tried checking resellers that allow laptop customization such as Gentech or Xotic? They allow you to build your laptop according to your budget and choose your OS, so you wouldn't need to worry about Windows 8 machines.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215672

Right now I'm leaning towards this one and just planning on installing 7 the minute it's out of the box. I'd prefer something that does 1920x1080 though. I'll check that site out. I'm not planning on ordering anything until Monday.

 

[sgjackson]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215672

Right now I'm leaning towards this one and just planning on installing 7 the minute it's out of the box. I'd prefer something that does 1920x1080 though. I'll check that site out. I'm not planning on ordering anything until Monday.

You could get a Sager NP6350 with a 1080p screen, faster graphics card (GTX 660m instead of a GT 650m), and a faster HD with Windows 7 for under a grand.

 

[GlenChivas]

You could get a Sager NP6350 with a 1080p screen, faster graphics card (GTX 660m instead of a GT 650m), and a faster HD with Windows 7 for under a grand.

After I went there and customized it a bit I'm not 100% sure if that's the way I want to go. I did get a build I'd be happy with down to about $919. That's with no OS at all though.

- 15.6” FHD 16:9 LED Backlit Wide screen (1920x1080) Super Clear Glare Type Sager Screen (SKU - S1T319)
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- NO Professional Monitor Color Calibration
- Sager - 3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core™ i5-3210M (2.5-3.1GHz, 3MB Intel® Smart Cache, 35W Max TDP) [Supports up to 16GB (2 SODIMMS)] (SKU – S2R173)
- -Stock OEM Thermal Compound
- nVidia GeForce GTX 660M 2,048MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 w/ Optimus Technology (SKU – S3R524)
- No Copper Cooling Upgrade
- No Video Adapter
- No External Mobile Display
- 8GB - DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS) (SKU - S4S423P)
- Remove All Branding
- Standard Laptop Finish
- 750GB 7200RPM [Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache] - Default (SKU - S5T306)
- None Standard
- HDD Raid Settings - OFF
- Combo Dual Layer SuperMulti DVDRW/CDRW Drive w/ Software (When selecting a Hard Drive in the Optical Bay, No Optical Drive is Included) (SKU - S7R455)
- No Extra Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy
- No Back Up Hard Drive
- NO External USB Optical Drive
- Internal 9-in-1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD/Mini SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS/MS Pro/MS Duo)
- No Back Up Software
- Bluetooth Included *With select wireless cards only* (See “Wireless Network” Section Below)
- Sager - Built-in 802.11 Wireless B/G/N - Stock Wireless Card + Bluetooth™ v3.0 (SKU - S8R110)
- No Network Accessory
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera

Considering I don't want any decals or anything how long does a build normally take to arrive?

I'm still looking at newegg and these are a little bit more than I'd like to spend but I'm leaning towards one of the two

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230589

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834312439

I've read that the 660 only averages around 3-5 extra frames than SLI 650s so that's not what I'm worried about. It's those HDD's. I'm not sure if I want to sacrifice the storage space for speed. Or vice versa.

Building a desktop is so much easier. This is actually my first real laptop and I just really want to get it right. I had some crap HP one a relative gave me a few years ago but it's seen far better days.

 

[terrisus]

So, depending on our tax refund situation (yeah, I might be one of those sorts of people this year), I might end up being able to get something a bit sooner, so kind of looking around a bit more now.

Was wondering how this laptop looked, and some thoughts on it:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152364&Tpk=GT70%200ND-492US

i7-3630QM, GeForce 675MX (yeah, could be nice to go with a 680MX, but ah well) 4GB dedicated, 16GB RAM (granted I could have gotten less elsewhere and added more after), a 128GB SSD boot drive and secondary 750GB HD, and, while it wasn't something that I was particularly looking for, a Blu-Ray drive and lighted keyboard don't hurt any, at $1800. Windows 8 though, which means I'll be spending some extra for Windows 7 to move back to that, but other than that, seems pretty good unless I'm missing something. Also, not familiar with MSI, but I noticed a few of them in the recommended list in the OP, but wondering how those are for build quality and such as well.

 

[Zeroth]

I've read that the 660 only averages around 3-5 extra frames than SLI 650s so that's not what I'm worried about. It's those HDD's. I'm not sure if I want to sacrifice the storage space for speed. Or vice versa.

Building a desktop is so much easier. This is actually my first real laptop and I just really want to get it right. I had some crap HP one a relative gave me a few years ago but it's seen far better days.

Normally Sager takes about 5 to 10 business day to finish your customized laptop, and then the shipping is added to that. I'm not particularly worried about HDD speeds, so it didn't bother me much when I built my laptop, but you should decide what will be more relevant for you at the end.

Also, even if the differences at the highest settings it's only 2~5 FPS for the 660M vs 650M SLI, it's worth noting the power consumption of a SLI laptop is much higher than that of a single GPU one, so you should consider how much portability you would want with that.

So, depending on our tax refund situation (yeah, I might be one of those sorts of people this year), I might end up being able to get something a bit sooner, so kind of looking around a bit more now.

Was wondering how this laptop looked, and some thoughts on it:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152364&Tpk=GT70%200ND-492US

i7-3630QM, GeForce 675MX (yeah, could be nice to go with a 680MX, but ah well) 4GB dedicated, 16GB RAM (granted I could have gotten less elsewhere and added more after), a 128GB SSD boot drive and secondary 750GB HD, and, while it wasn't something that I was particularly looking for, a Blu-Ray drive and lighted keyboard don't hurt any, at $1800. Windows 8 though, which means I'll be spending some extra for Windows 7 to move back to that, but other than that, seems pretty good unless I'm missing something. Also, not familiar with MSI, but I noticed a few of them in the recommended list in the OP, but wondering how those are for build quality and such as well.

You know, I built one of the MSI barebone laptops recommended in the OP through Gentech (Xotic is out of 3630 CPUs for the barebones MSI) with specs similar to that one, and here's what I got:

Description Price [+/-] from
base price
Winter Sale: My total is over $1500 -50.00
Availability: In Stock and ready to ship/build 0.00
Shipping: Free UPS Ground Shipping to Domestic US (Not Available to Alaska and Hawaii) 0.00
Screen: 15.6" 16:9 1920X1080 Full HD LED backlight (Matte-Type) 0.00
HDMI: HDMI 1.4, 60Hz/120Hz output 1080P, 3D Ready 0.00
Dead Pixel Warranty: Standard Manufacturer Dead Pixel Warranty 0.00
Graphics Controller: nVidia GeForce GTX 680M 4GB GDDR5, DX11 with nVidia Optimus Technology 0.00
Processor: 3rd Gen Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7-3630QM, 2.4~3.4GHz, 22nm, 6MB, 45W 79.00
Thermal Compound: IC Diamond 24 Carat Thermal Compound on both CPU/GPU (Free with CPU Upgrade) 0.00
RAM: 16GB DDR3 1600/PC3 12800 Dual-Channel (4G X 4) 0.00
Primary Hard Drive: 750GB 5400rpm 2.5-inch 9.5mm 8MB SATA II 3Gb/s (Standard) 0.00
Secondary Hard Drive: 128GB Crucial M4 C400 Solid State Drive SATA III 6Gb/s 129.00
RAID Configuration: Hard Drives RAID setting is disable 0.00
WiFi: 802.11 Wireless a/b/g/n + Bluetooth Combo Card (Standard) 0.00
Optical Drive: 8X DVDRW DL Super Multi (Standard) 0.00
Options for HDD in Optical Drive Bay: None: for HDD in Hard Drive Bay not selected 0.00
Hard Drive Caddy: None 0.00
Keyboard: Blue LED Chiclet Style Backlit Keyboard 0.00
External Storage for backup/data transfer: None 0.00
Networking: None 0.00
Bluetooth: None or Choose Wireless-N + Bluetooth Combo Card 0.00
USB 3.0: 3 USB 3.0 Ports / 1 USB 2.0 0.00
eSATA: Built-In External SATA Port 0.00
Webcam: Built-in 720P HD Webcam with microphone 0.00
Headset: None 0.00
Primary Battery: One 9 Cell Primary Battery included 0.00
AC Adapter: One AC Adapter included 0.00
Car Adapter: None 0.00
Mouse: None 0.00
Carring Case:None 0.00
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit Full Version DVD 104.00
Microsoft Office Software: None 0.00
Drivers Disk: Drivers Disk Included 0.00
Warranty: 1 Year Parts/Free Domestic Ground Shipping/Lifetime Toll-Free Technical Support 0.00
Packaging: Shipping with Double Box 0.00

I chose a MSI barebones laptop because it has all the perks of the official MSI laptops, but without branding and thus MSI warranty, and comes at a very affordable price. As you can see, this laptop has a 680M, yet it's total is only $1841.00. It also comes with Windows 7, so you wouldn't need to worry about the OS. It's worth noting I didn't select a Blu-Ray drive, but if I did, it would bump the price by $45, so it's be wary of that that if you're interested in a Blu-Ray reader. This laptop also comes with a great keyboard, and if you would like to see a deeper review on it, Gentech has one on youtube.

 

[K.Jack]

As I said in the OP, the unbranded versions of the MSI laptops offer a significantly higher value.

How future proof would buying a top of the line Sager model be at this point in time? Are CPU/GPU refreshs expected in the next few months? The OP states that the Sager/Cleo laptops can actually be upgraded...but I can't find any more info about this. Any advice?

The new Clevo models are coming out in April.

So, I've had my Y580 for a week now (unfortunately I'm not getting a whole lot of time to mess with it due to work), but so far I'm very impressed.

The build quality is great, I love the keyboard and screen, and the thing delivers the promised performance. I obviously have to tone things down in comparison to my desktop (i7, Geforce GTX 660Ti), but it's very comparable. My only gripe is Win8, which I'm trying to adjust to (if for nothing else than to future proof myself).

I have two questions though, if anyone can help:

1) Is is possible to charge this (or any notebook) though one of the USB ports? I was looking at car charging solutions and keep seeing these little lighter > female USB options.

2) Is there any way to completely disable GPU/CPU throttling when running on a battery? I understand the limitation, but sometimes I just want that power, even if it's only for 30 minutes. I'd also need the fan to kick in when needed.

1. No sir, no way, not all all.

2. You'd run the risk of damaging the battery.

Building a desktop is so much easier. This is actually my first real laptop and I just really want to get it right. I had some crap HP one a relative gave me a few years ago but it's seen far better days.

Simplify your process. Set an unmoving budget ceiling, then get the most GPU you can at that price, in a reliable machine.

 

[terrisus]

How are MSIs? I know there was a bit of a write-up on Sager/Clevo in the OP, just not as familiar with MSI. I'm sure they're fine, obviously they're a number of the suggested models in the OP, I guess all the lights and bells and whistles on the laptop kind of throws me off, I do tend to prefer understated designs over fancy ones.

 

[K.Jack]

As hardware goes, MSI is just as reliable as Clevo, and they have the better keyboards between the two's high-end laptops.

Those barebones which open the doors for GTX 680Ms at sub-$2k are hard to deny.

 

[Swig_]

Does the Y580 have switchable graphics?

 

[Anton668]

quick question: whats the brands to "go to" nowadays? which to avoid?

the GF wants a lappy for simple gaming (re:facebook) and browsing. shes looking in $500 +/- ball park.

right now shes eyeballin this ASUS A55A-AH51-BU 15.6-Inch LED Laptop ( Blue )

overkill? quality?

 

[K.Jack]

Does the Y580 have switchable graphics?

Yes.

quick question: whats the brands to "go to" nowadays? which to avoid?

the GF wants a lappy for simple gaming (re:facebook) and browsing. shes looking in $500 +/- ball park.

right now shes eyeballin this ASUS A55A-AH51-BU 15.6-Inch LED Laptop ( Blue )

overkill? quality?

There's not really any "bad" brand anymore. At this pricepoint they're pretty much equal, but I prefer ASUS, because even their cheap laptops come with their mandatory 2 year warranty.

The one you linked seems fine for Facebook. It doesn't have a dedicated GPU though, so more serious gaming will be an issue.

 

[omg_mjd]

I just bought a Sony Vaio S 13.3 with a 1GB 640M LE and an i5 3210M. So far so good. Not a powerhouse like the Y580 I originally considered getting but it's fast enough at 768p + low/med settings for games like X-Com and Skyrim. Also appreciate the fact that it doesn't get very hot or too noisy while playing.

Only gripe is the Vaio bloatware--these are the only apps that have crashed despite being updated. Still trying to figure out what I can safely delete or uninstall to keep my system lean and uncluttered.

Compared to my MacBook Air the build quality is 90% there IMO. No flexing on the case and the hinge feels solid. The black finish on the metal parts of the laptop (keyboard & trackpad area) does scratch easily though--the part where my watch hits the edge of the wrist rest has a small spot of paint missing. But the rest of the case is magnesium (I think) and the coarse textured finish on the lid is amazing (for the black model). Pretty light too at less than 4 pounds.

 

[ShadowFox08]

Hey Neogaf!

I'm not a huge gamer, and I don't care about playing the most powerful games in 60fps HD. But I'm looking for a laptop that has great all around specs for a non gaming laptop, and can play Starcraft 2 at least, without trouble.

My ideal laptop is at least 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, i5 or higher or something equivalent. Something pretty lightweight. Around 5lb or less if possible. 15.6 inch screen max. A 10 pad numeric key would be a bonus. I don't like laptops that heat up too quickly though, so energy efficient is nice. Price range is 400-$600 for now.


I'm seriously thinking about buying this laptop though --> HP Pavilion G6-2278DX.
The main specs are:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-HP-Pavi...40686418?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item416f548d52

or



Microprocessor
1.9GHz up to 2.8GHz AMD Quad-Core A8-4500M Accelerated Processor

Microprocessor Cache
4MB L2 Cache

Memory
4GB DDR3 SDRAM (1 DIMM)

Video Graphics
AMD Radeon HD 7640G Discrete-Class graphics and up to 2029MB total graphics memory

Hard Drive
640GB 5400RPM hard drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection

Multimedia Drive
SuperMulti DVD burner

Network Card
10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)

Wireless Connectivity
1x1 802.11b/g/n WLAN

External Ports
Multi-format digital media card reader for Secure Digital cards and Multimedia cards
2 SuperSpeed USB 3.0
1 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
1 HDMI
1 VGA (15-pin)
1 RJ-45 (LAN)
1 Headphone
1 Microphone in

Power
65W AC adapter
6-cell 47WHr 2.2 Ah lithium-ion battery


How's this laptop, spec wise in power and value?
Is Windows 8 good? I've been hearing mixed things about it.. Mainly regards to downloading stuff.
How does the AMD8 series compare to the i3-i7 series?


Thanks!

 

[Spinluck]

I'm a student, and a part-time worker. I'm always on the go so I prefer something small.

I just need a nice portable laptop with decent build quality to do some light gaming, video playback, web browsing, and obviously homework too.

When I say light gaming, I mean may league of legends light, and I don't really care about what settings I can run it at.

I'm eying a 13.3(14 is fine too) VAIO T series lap top from Sony. I like the look, and Sony makes decent laptops right? I've heard in the past they've had driver issues. Optical drive is a must for me though. I swear I can't find anything with a back lit keyboard -___-

Anything good out there? I probably sound like a picky bastard.

 

[omg_mjd]

I'm a student, and a part-time worker. I'm always on the go so I prefer something small.

I just need a nice portable laptop with decent build quality to do some light gaming, video playback, web browsing, and obviously homework too.

When I say light gaming, I mean may league of legends light, and I don't really care about what settings I can run it at.

I'm eying a 13.3(14 is fine too) VAIO T series lap top from Sony. I like the look, and Sony makes decent laptops right? I've heard in the past they've had driver issues. Optical drive is a must for me though. I swear I can't find anything with a back lit keyboard -___-

Anything good out there? I probably sound like a picky bastard.

I'm guessing the Vaio S 13.3 is bigger and heavier than the T but it's got what you're looking for:

Backlit keyboard
Slot-loading DVD burner (high end models have BluRay I think)
640M LE for gaming
Non-ULV CPU (either i5 or i7)
Solid build quality and materials (except for the metal parts--the paint can flake off if you scratch it with something hard)
Under 4 pounds, about an inch thick

About driver issues, that's probably more of a concern if you're switching to other operating systems but if you use what it came with then the drivers are all there. (Except my Synaptics trackpad driver got bugged after a Vaio update. Had to reinstall it from Synaptic's website.)

I've only had my Vaio S for a few days so I'm still forming my impressions. But so far I really like it.

 

[Crimsonlink]

Should I wait for new laptop materials/upgrades to come out or should I upgrade my laptop?

I plan on getting a desktop but thats about 1-2 years away from now.

Country where it will be purchased: USA
Maximum budget: $800-1000
Max size: 15-17

Planned usage:
1. Lots of SC2: HOTS
2. Lots of PC games that are coming out at a decent 60 FPS if manageable or 30 FPS if not.
3. Flexible/easy to carry because I want to take it places.

I'm looking at the Sony laptops as I have a Vaio E series and I think their S series looks like it might fit what I need but I'm unsure Laptop GAF.

 

[Zeroth]

Should I wait for new laptop materials/upgrades to come out or should I upgrade my laptop?

I plan on getting a desktop but thats about 1-2 years away from now.

Country where it will be purchased: USA
Maximum budget: $800-1000
Max size: 15-17

Planned usage:
1. Lots of SC2: HOTS
2. Lots of PC games that are coming out at a decent 60 FPS if manageable or 30 FPS if not.
3. Flexible/easy to carry because I want to take it places.

I'm looking at the Sony laptops as I have a Vaio E series and I think their S series looks like it might fit what I need but I'm unsure Laptop GAF.

The big announcements for CPU/GPUs will probably come in June~July, so you might want to wait a bit or not, it really depends on your needs. It's worth noting that stuff like the CPU can't be upgraded, and Graphic Card upgrades for laptops tend to be very expensive, so they are not as beneficial as they are on desktops.

I'm looking at this this page, and looks like the base laptops use a AMD Radeon HD 7340, which is not really suited for the kind of games you need. The $999 model comes with a AMD Radeon HD 7670M, which might be more of wht you want, but be wary that in order to run fluent FPS you will need to run the games on low settings. Even so, unless you are going to play UE3 games, you might not hit FPS fluently even in low settings with upcoming games, so watch out for that.