Laptop for College and some Gaming

Foxhole Norman

Hey lads, I'm looking at picking up a Laptop for college where I'm doing Software Development and I'm also a big enough gamer. I'm looking for something affordable (€850 ish) but also works well. The one laptop that has caught my eye so far is this:

http://komplett.ie/site/catalog/item...temNo=80006637

Seems like decent value with a Quad Core i7, 8 GB RAM, 750GB HDD and a Nvidia GT630M.

The games I'd be looking to play would mainly be Guild Wars 2 and Starcraft 2. According to Game-debate I'll be able to play both of these games at medium-high smoothly which I am happy with.

What do ye think?

Torqay

This Acer comes at the same price with a much faster CPU and GPU and a Bluray drive, Memory upgrade costs 35 Euro or so (2x 4GB kit).

Foxhole Norman

To be honest I wouldn't trust myself to change anything or anyone I know, especially in a Laptop, I'd also like to order from Ireland. I might be able to get a discount on this as well by the way.

Torqay

Well, since you want to play games, the graphics should be your priority. While the GT 630M will suffice for low end graphics, you may want to play something better and then you're stuck.

This Sammy with a Core i5 has a decent mid-level GPU and 6 GB RAM and fits your budget.

Foxhole Norman

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate that the 630 isn't a high end GPU but for what I plan on playing, GW2 and SC2 it should suffice no? Our current home desktop running a Pentium 4 Processor, 4 GB RAM and a HD4650 seems to cope with these games fine on low. Would the 630 not run them fine on Medium? For the most part my heavy gaming is done on my 360 and the PC is for SC2 and GW2.

Torqay

That Lenovo is a fine multimedia laptop, no doubt. But not much more. The GT 630M is an entry level GPU.

SC2 isn't too demanding, so you should be fine there... but what if? You're planning for the next 3 or 4 years here and you won't be able to play newer or more demanding games. And you won't have your console or PC when away in college, right?

Just food for thought.

As for Guild Wars 2 on a GT 630M:

Some times like the area i was in i was getting 40+fps but for the most part where there is alot of people and there IS ALWAYS alot of people i get around 20fps witch is really sad.

Overheal

Actually taking the psychology of gaming into the equation, why not get a college laptop and a console like an xbox instead. Separate your work from play. Ive fallen into that trap before..

Foxhole Norman

Overheal wrote: »

Actually taking the psychology of gaming into the equation, why not get a college laptop and a console like an xbox instead. Separate your work from play. Ive fallen into that trap before..

Foxhole Norman wrote:

For the most part my heavy gaming is done on my 360 and the PC is for SC2 and GW2.

:P

Torqay, you make a lot of valid points, would the i5 be sufficient for running SC and GW smoothly? Would it be worth getting the Lenny anyway if I get a discount on it?

Torqay

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

would the i5 be sufficient for running SC and GW smoothly?

From a gaming point of view, a Core i5 is more than sufficient. If you want both, CPU power and a decent GPU, have a look at the Acer again. Upgrading the memory really isn't arcane science, just open the service hatch and replace the modules.

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

Would it be worth getting the Lenny anyway if I get a discount on it?

The GT 630M is not a gaming GPU, no matter how big the discount.

As I said before, a fine multimedia laptop with plenty processing power but not made for games.

P.S. If you're shopping at Komplett, you're ordering from Holland.

Foxhole Norman

Torqay wrote: »

From a gaming point of view, a Core i5 is more than sufficient. If you want both, CPU power and a decent GPU, have a look at the Acer again. Upgrading the memory really isn't arcane science, just open the service hatch and replace the modules.



The GT 630M is not a gaming GPU, no matter how big the discount.

As I said before, a fine multimedia laptop with plenty processing power but not made for games.

P.S. If you're shopping at Komplett, you're ordering from Holland.

Gotcha, also, I know Komplett is in Holland I just meant one with an Ie address for exact pricing.

Torqay

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

I just meant one with an Ie address for exact pricing.

Have a look here, they do price in Euro.

Core i5, 8 GB RAM, GT 650M for 868 Euro (although I'd rather go for a Core i7 3610QM for €940)

No OS included at this price (cheaper to buy Windows 7 OEM here) but it comes with a 2nd HDD bay if you want to install a solid state drive. And they all come with a 2 yr warranty.

Foxhole Norman

Upping my budget a bit but how about this: http://komplett.ie/Komplett/product/15_16_inch/80007713/lenovo_15_6_y580_m772lmh_i5_3210m_8gb_750gb/details.aspx

15.6" Full HD, i5 3210, GTX660M, 750GB HDD.

Torqay

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

Upping my budget a bit but how about this: http://komplett.ie/Komplett/product/15_16_inch/80007713/lenovo_15_6_y580_m772lmh_i5_3210m_8gb_750gb/details.aspx

15.6" Full HD, i5 3210, GTX660M, 750GB HDD.

That's more like it.

Foxhole Norman

Passed on the link to my dad today. He'll be at a business meeting where Unilevers techies will be on Wednesday and will get onto them about sorting a discount on it as they are usually entitled to a discount on Lenny stock due to the large Company wide purchase last year.

Media999

Came across this site if your interested. get a laptop without OS and save a few pound. Get everything that can be upgraded at a later stage. i.e why pay for a 750gb Hard drive when you can put the extra money towards a processor or GPU. Also 100 for an OS that can be had elsewhere for a lot cheaper.

Get an i7, 660m, 8gb ram, 128GB SSD and no OS with 3 years warranty for 948.444 EUR.

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/optimusIV-15/

edit -

Just noticed that site torqay gave is just as cheap and gives euro prices. You probably would prefer that.

Foxhole Norman

Oh Komplett, why you no take my money!

Jarren

What happened ^ ?

Is this another credit card/security related issue ?

Foxhole Norman

Jarren wrote: »

What happened ^ ?

Is this another credit card/security related issue ?

Yeah that's what it was last night, though now I'm thinking it's on my end as we got a call this morning from BoI about credit card security. Probably worried about the amount of times the card has been used this month. If it's on our end it should be sorted soon and I can order away.

Jarren

Dont' worry

Monday Morning - Ordered a lappy - card blocked -called my bank - card unblocked
Tuesday Morning - same story
Wednesday Morning - same story

Used my sister's cc to make the purchase , not a problem

Torqay

And the moral of the story? Always be nice to your sister!

Media999

About to order a 1400 laptop from mysn.de so hope i dont have to deal with this crap through Google Checkout.

What ya reckon?

Foxhole Norman

Looking at a new laptop now, a Samsung 550P5C. Same Processor as the Lenny but with 6GB RAM, 1 TB HDD and a GT650M instead. About 100 ish cheaper and can be gotten in a Bricks and Mortar shop here. Going to look in PC World tomorrow at their one. Not too bothered with the difference in Graphics as this one still has a high end chip and will be sufficient for the games I wish to play.

Media999

Make sure it is. Theres a lot of videos on youtub etc of cards with 2gb DDR5 ram and not the same thats in this laptop.

I think a great way to get an indication is look for a gaming video of the laptop on youtube and message the person to ak them. 95% of the time they will happily help you as they are only happy to show off their new laptop.

This is the S01

S03 is the newer one i think

Foxhole Norman

Stooped for the Lenny in the end. PC World didn't have the Samsung with the 650GT. Ordered it a minute ago, here's to hoping it arrives by Friday!

Foxhole Norman

Received the laptop today after just 4 days. Must say that Komplett really impressed me with their speed and prices. It was a very smooth transaction once the credit card problem was cleaned up. Very impressed by the Y580, especially the FHD screen, looks amazing. Now to try GW2 and SC2 on it.