gatorclaws Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]My fiancee wants a new laptop as she currently just uses her work computer which can't handle games without blue screen of death. We have a desktop that can handle almost anything, but it's in the other room and she likes to sit out in the main living room with me most of the time.[/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Basically I'm looking to buy something as cheap as possible that can handle what she needs. She spends most of her time playing runescape which is a [color=#000000]MMORPG. I assume when Diablo 3 comes out she's going to want that as she loved Diablo 2. [/color][/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]That's the main thing she's looking for, something to handle those games without crashing. Almost all cheap laptops have poor video cards, but I'm not sure how much more I'd need to spend to get something decent? Any suggestions on what to buy? The cheaper the better, but I don't want to buy junk.[/color][/font][/size] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|Elflocko| Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 You still have't defined "cheap" as that can vary greatly. There are certain brands I might recommend, but even then, many of the "cheap" selections are the exact same hardware with a different label and may or may not be meet your performance requirements. [quote][color=#000000][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The cheaper the better, but I don't want to buy junk.[/font][/color][/quote] There's a sexist joke in there somewhere... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorclaws Posted February 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 I'm thinking <$500. Not sure if that's enough to get something worthwhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorclaws Posted February 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 How about this at bestbuy for $430 [url="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Laptop+-+Pewter/4672956.p?id=1218503709670&skuId=4672956"]http://www.bestbuy.c...0&skuId=4672956[/url] this looks similar but larger screen although it's open box [url="http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0375347#rebate"]http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0375347#rebate[/url] or this... it's a refurb and over $500 but much better specs [url="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834158191"]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834158191[/url] I don't know enough about AMD but their products are cheaper. I wen't into this thinking I'd get something in the $350 range but it seems like all those would be a waste of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mongo Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 Wish I could help. I have stayed somewhat up on desktop GPU's, and desktop and mobile CPU's. I just haven't followed mobile GPU's enough to know what's up to the task of the specified gaming. I would say your best bet is with the newegg refurb because it's 6620g would be a generation newer than the 6520g's in the other notebooks. My brain has been wired to believe gaming on laptops (and desktops) should really have a dedicated graphics card, and not anything integrated. I'm almost positive those G class card's, the 6520G and 6620G, are integrated. The M class cards are all dedicated, I think... Having said that, I just don't know how GPU heavy those games that she plays are. If it was me making this decision, I'd go the extra mile. I'd check the forums of those games to see if people are playing the games with integrated cards (and what settings they are able to use). I'd then search newegg with it filtered for dedicated GPU's to see what it would cost to swing a better laptop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTA513 Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 I saw this posted on slickdeals for $599, but I don't know how good of a deal it is or if it can do what you are wanting it to do. [url="http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0375171"]http://www.microcent...duct_id=0375171[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorclaws Posted February 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 [quote name='mongo' timestamp='1329084455' post='1095559'] Wish I could help. I have stayed somewhat up on desktop GPU's, and desktop and mobile CPU's. I just haven't followed mobile GPU's enough to know what's up to the task of the specified gaming. I would say your best bet is with the newegg refurb because it's 6620g would be a generation newer than the 6520g's in the other notebooks. My brain has been wired to believe gaming on laptops (and desktops) should really have a dedicated graphics card, and not anything integrated. I'm almost positive those G class card's, the 6520G and 6620G, are integrated. The M class cards are all dedicated, I think... Having said that, I just don't know how GPU heavy those games that she plays are. If it was me making this decision, I'd go the extra mile. I'd check the forums of those games to see if people are playing the games with integrated cards (and what settings they are able to use). I'd then search newegg with it filtered for dedicated GPU's to see what it would cost to swing a better laptop. [/quote] Thanks for the tip on the M class vs G. Helps me scan through the option quicker. My current focus is this one [url="http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1306296&SRCCODE=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=lw9MynSeamY-BoWAU4jBaypADgoq3HSy0g"]http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1306296&SRCCODE=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=lw9MynSeamY-BoWAU4jBaypADgoq3HSy0g[/url] There seems to be a lot of hate towards HP on the net. Should I stay away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorclaws Posted February 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 [quote name='CTA513' timestamp='1329094605' post='1095582'] I saw this posted on slickdeals for $599, but I don't know how good of a deal it is or if it can do what you are wanting it to do. [url="http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0375171"]http://www.microcent...duct_id=0375171[/url] [/quote] that's got the HD 3000 integrated graphics, which I'm reading can't handle much. Finding one with a dedicated graphics card is the difficulty because they all seem to be integrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mongo Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 [quote name='gatorclaws' timestamp='1329095504' post='1095586'] Thanks for the tip on the M class vs G. Helps me scan through the option quicker. My current focus is this one [url="http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1306296&SRCCODE=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=lw9MynSeamY-BoWAU4jBaypADgoq3HSy0g"]http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1306296&SRCCODE=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=lw9MynSeamY-BoWAU4jBaypADgoq3HSy0g[/url] There seems to be a lot of hate towards HP on the net. Should I stay away?[/quote] That one doesn't look too bad to me, but Elflocko will have a better read on it. I'd get his input on it... I give HP grief for the bloat ware it puts on its computers, and the limited upgrade options. With a laptop, you aren't really upgrading, so it's not a big deal. It'll have crap pre installed, but you can pull it off just fine, I would think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|Elflocko| Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 [quote name='mongo' timestamp='1329102784' post='1095603'] That one doesn't look too bad to me, but Elflocko will have a better read on it. I'd get his input on it... I give HP grief for the bloat ware it puts on its computers, and the limited upgrade options. With a laptop, you aren't really upgrading, so it's not a big deal. It'll have crap pre installed, but you can pull it off just fine, I would think. [/quote] Meh, it's not like I'm the final authority on all hardware, but I do appreciate the sentiment. My issue with HP's consumer models is that you do see so many refurbished models; they have a lot of returns because their hardware and manufacturing is suspect. And yeah, the bloatware is some of the worst out there. There are better options, [b]however[/b] for the price he wants to pay, that model is not a bad option. Particularly for the CPU and memory... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mongo Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 [quote name='Elflocko' timestamp='1329108698' post='1095616'] Meh, it's not like I'm the final authority on all hardware, but I do appreciate the sentiment. [/quote] You see more of it than I do. I'm so close to finally getting my dad to buy an iMac. As soon as I do, I may not see another Windows machine for a loooong time. Everyone else in my family is now Apple, and even my cousin is a big Linux guy. The only reason I follow any of the hardware stuff is because of my Mac Pro. I follow the Intel chips and the desktop GPUs to see what's on the horizon. After that, I mostly follow the mobile stuff in so far as what the MBPs have in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|Elflocko| Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 [quote name='mongo' timestamp='1329147904' post='1095667'] You see more of it than I do. I'm so close to finally getting my dad to buy an iMac. As soon as I do, I may not see another Windows machine for a loooong time. Everyone else in my family is now Apple, and even my cousin is a big Linux guy. The only reason I follow any of the hardware stuff is because of my Mac Pro. I follow the Intel chips and the desktop GPUs to see what's on the horizon. After that, I mostly follow the mobile stuff in so far as what the MBPs have in them. [/quote] After talking my dad into getting an iMac I haven't had to worry about computer issues with him in close to 7 years. What I *can* say is Dell laptops blow goats. They are the Stealers fans of laptop computers. A pox on their households... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 I could not believe the difference in quality between their consumer products and business products. I bought my sister a laptop with my corp discount a few years ago and it has been a massive pile of shit. My latitude has been thrown down the stairs and still works. [quote name='Elflocko' timestamp='1329195440' post='1095853'] After talking my dad into getting an iMac I haven't had to worry about computer issues with him in close to 7 years. What I *can* say is Dell laptops blow goats. They are the Stealers fans of laptop computers. A pox on their households... [/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PutWittyNameHere Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 [quote name='Elflocko' timestamp='1329195440' post='1095853'] What I *can* say is Dell laptops blow goats. They are the Stealers fans of laptop computers. A pox on their households... [/quote] Heeeey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|Elflocko| Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 [quote name='PutWittyNameHere' timestamp='1329255024' post='1095987'] Heeeey! [/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|Elflocko| Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 [quote name='Ben' timestamp='1329235131' post='1095922'] I could not believe the difference in quality between their consumer products and business products. I bought my sister a laptop with my corp discount a few years ago and it has been a massive pile of shit. My latitude has been thrown down the stairs and still works. [/quote] Even their "business" products suck Elton John's taint. I'll take a 5-year-old ThinkPad or MacBook pro over[b] any[/b] Dell laptop... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatorclaws Posted February 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 [quote name='Elflocko' timestamp='1329281535' post='1096068'] Even their "business" products suck Elton John's taint. I'll take a 5-year-old ThinkPad or MacBook pro over[b] any[/b] Dell laptop... [/quote] Could you rank the cheaper brands for me? I've seen HP, Dell, Asus, Acer, Toshiba, and Levino "ideapad". You'd never buy a Dell, but how much more would you say a comparable Asus/Acer is worth to an HP? I've talked myself into going to $600, but it's a fluid number if there's a great reason to spend more. also, is it possible to add a graphics card to a laptop instead of buying one already installed? I've never upgraded a laptop so I'm not sure if there's space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mongo Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Tough to add a video card. Most of the time, laptop motherboards will either have crappy integrated video, or a video card soldered onto it. Finding one with the available, but no card might be difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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