Recommend future proof laptop (Budget £1,000-1,500)

The Last Beep

Hi All,

I'm looking to replace my my current Asus N56V which has lasted me since around 2012. I'd like to get something which is going to last me a similar amount of time if possible.

Probably the main use that is going to dictate what I need to Football Manager which I'd like to play at the highest graphics settings and with plenty of leagues/players loaded. Needs to be able to keep up with increased FM requirements over the coming years too.

Other than that main uses are quite light, small amount of photoshop but no video editing. Some other games but I don't see myself getting into any of the demanding FPS's. I do need a decent amount of storage so 1TB HDD at least and I'd also prefer to have a SSD.

Thought this might be the time of year to look for a powerful machine at a bargain price.

Thanks for any help.

for something where you want a hdd to fit in as well as an ssd the options of being light are slim

most light laptops only use m.2 sticks now

better off finding an option (will have to research models) with 2 m.2 ports and buying your own 2nd one later

this seems to have 2 m.2 slots (a 2280 and a 2230). you don't want to be using hdd anymore - slow and slows down more over time.

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptops/inspiron-14-7000/spd/inspiron-14-7490-laptop

maybe go for the version the nvidia mx250 card to give yourself some graphics horsepower.

discount on the expensive version but maybe the other ones will be discounted over next few days.

light, all-metal so should last better, modern design.

the 7000 range have the build quality of the xps but for less money

ram seems soldered tho so prob go for the 1400 one with a 17% discount (1162) - to get 16gb and fast m.2 pci nvme 1tb hard drive.

with the discount in your budget and already has the capacity you need.

this config

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptops/new-inspiron-14-7000/spd/inspiron-14-7490-laptop/cn74902

mx250 will run football manager well.

as FM doesn't change too much graphically really I would say that you'll be alright.

otherwise you'll have to go twds something with a full 1650 card - will be heavier by a good bit to meet the thermal dissipation requirements of the extra heat coming off that.

The Last Beep

Thanks very much for the above. Just had a look at my HDD usage and I'm currently using 490gb on my current laptop with plenty of clearing out that could be done so maybe 1TB isn't essential.

I'm also not too bothered about weight as I don't travel with my laptop often. Just wondered if this might open up and few more options?

I did look that the Lenovo Legion you mentioned in the Black Friday thread but I'm willing to spend a bit more than that so though I'd get a bit more laptop for my money. 8gb RAM put me off a bit but maybe it shouldn't.

ShadowHearth

Why don't you get one custom built?
I was in kind of similar situation like you, wanted specific spec, but everything that was on sale had stuff I did not wanted or were missing something. So I went and ordered custom built one. Price wise turned out the same. Maybe even cheaper then pre built stuff.
Now I spent 1.5k on my one, bit for your needs you could spend waaay less and get what you want. Like 1tb m.2 ssd. I honestly don't understand why laptops still have normal hdds when ssds have dropped in price that much.

the custom built laptops aren't finished as well as good production ones tbh

I might aim for a dell xps 15 then - if you can get a discount to bring the one with video car into your budget

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptops/xps-15/spd/xps-15-7590-laptop

or maybe the dell 7000 - also a full metal build - the base version with the 1050 would do probably - and better from a thermal point of view

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptops/inspiron-15-7000-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-7590-laptop

these will have spare space inside for additional m.2 or 2.5 sata drives. just check the manual or have a look inside

click and play when you are adding a new drive so couldn't be easier

The Last Beep

The Last Beep wrote: »

Thanks very much for the above. Just had a look at my HDD usage and I'm currently using 490gb on my current laptop with plenty of clearing out that could be done so maybe 1TB isn't essential.

I'm also not too bothered about weight as I don't travel with my laptop often. Just wondered if this might open up and few more options?

I did look that the Lenovo Legion you mentioned in the Black Friday thread but I'm willing to spend a bit more than that so though I'd get a bit more laptop for my money. 8gb RAM put me off a bit but maybe it shouldn't.

the legion is a very gamery laptop though (unless you don't mind that then it's a good and powerful option and very good value)

I assumed that you were looking for a more professional looking metal-build type machine

simple upgrade to the legion laptop for ram

gaming laptops always have 2 ram slots

ShadowHearth

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Why don't you get one custom built?
I was in kind of similar situation like you, wanted specific spec, but everything that was on sale had stuff I did not wanted or were missing something. So I went and ordered custom built one. Price wise turned out the same. Maybe even cheaper then pre built stuff.
Now I spent 1.5k on my one, bit for your needs you could spend waaay less and get what you want. Like 1tb m.2 ssd. I honestly don't understand why laptops still have normal hdds when ssds have dropped in price that much.

I'm gone overdue on purchasing a new laptop (I started this thread 4 months ago: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058011270) and was finally about to pull the trigger on a custom build laptop from PC Specialist this weekend. Spec-wise, it's a beast.

However, at the last moment I read the negative reviews about PC Specialist on Trust Pilot. Over 80% of the reviews are 5/5 and that looks great on the surface, but when you start reading you see that a lot of these are related to their custom build PCs rather than laptops. Then when you isolate the bad reviews, the 1/5 and 2/5 ratings, there are a lot of recent reviews giving out about their 1) Laptop build and overall quality, and 2) Their tech support and repair service.

I was thoroughly excited about ordering a laptop from PCS, but the hour I spent last night reading those negative reviews have put me way off. I know that there are negative reviews out there for every tech company on the planet, but a worrying pattern occurred to me about the quality control and build quality of their laptops. Some of the problems reported were horrendous and inexcusable...

https://ie.trustpilot.com/review/pcspecialist.co.uk?languages=en&stars=1&stars=2

Anyway, I don't think I'm going to take the chance with the PC Specialist custom-build route. It seems to be a bit too much of a risk for my own liking. I'm keeping an eye on threads like this at the moment and I'm probably gonna bump my own thread now and wreck glasso's head again :pac:

ShadowHearth

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'm gone overdue on purchasing a new laptop (I started this thread 4 months ago: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058011270) and was finally about to pull the trigger on a custom build laptop from PC Specialist this weekend. Spec-wise, it's a beast.

However, at the last moment I read the negative reviews about PC Specialist on Trust Pilot. Over 80% of the reviews are 5/5 and that looks great on the surface, but when you start reading you see that a lot of these are related to their custom build PCs rather than laptops. Then when you isolate the bad reviews, the 1/5 and 2/5 ratings, there are a lot of recent reviews giving out about their 1) Laptop build and overall quality, and 2) Their tech support and repair service.

I was thoroughly excited about ordering a laptop from PCS, but the hour I spent last night reading those negative reviews have put me way off. I know that there are negative reviews out there for every tech company on the planet, but a worrying pattern occurred to me about the quality control and build quality of their laptops. Some of the problems reported were horrendous and inexcusable...

https://ie.trustpilot.com/review/pcspecialist.co.uk?languages=en&stars=1&stars=2

Anyway, I don't think I'm going to take the chance with the PC Specialist custom-build route. It seems to be a bit too much of a risk for my own liking. I'm keeping an eye on threads like this at the moment and I'm probably gonna bump my own thread now and wreck glasso's head again :pac:

My PCS laptop came in last week and I am extremely happy with it. And I don't agree with above comment that custom build laptops are worse and less polished.
Build quality is very good on my one, it feels very solid and nice. Keyboard is very good too. O have older 14inch Alienware laptop and build quality of PCS not a bot worse.
Customer support was solid so far and can't complaint at all. All my questions in tech support were answered by a person who knows his stuff and not just reads off the manual.

As you said, all companies get negative reviews and we know that those are mostly vocal minority. I am very happy with my purchase, but you won't find my review there as I usually could not be bothered.

It's up to you ofc and it's just a suggestion. I personally very happy. And the only thing I can say negative is that their software a bit basic for fan controls, but functional.

ShadowHearth

ShadowHearth wrote: »

My PCS laptop came in last week and I am extremely happy with it. And I don't agree with above comment that custom build laptops are worse and less polished.
Build quality is very good on my one, it feels very solid and nice. Keyboard is very good too. O have older 14inch Alienware laptop and build quality of PCS not a bot worse.
Customer support was solid so far and can't complaint at all. All my questions in tech support were answered by a person who knows his stuff and not just reads off the manual.

As you said, all companies get negative reviews and we know that those are mostly vocal minority. I am very happy with my purchase, but you won't find my review there as I usually could not be bothered.

It's up to you ofc and it's just a suggestion. I personally very happy. And the only thing I can say negative is that their software a bit basic for fan controls, but functional.

Best of luck with the purchase! I'm happy to hear that it's going well for you. Do you mind me asking what model of laptop you went for? It's the Cosmos VIII 15.6 inch I've been looking at.

As for bringing this back on topic - OP, as you can see, going the custom route might be an option for you.

not sure

here is one of their most expensive recent/current gaming laptop chassis options and it's showing significant thermal issues

https://youtu.be/psZFSR94hDk?t=373

glasso

glasso wrote: »

this seems to have 2 m.2 slots (a 2280 and a 2230). you don't want to be using hdd anymore - slow and slows down more over time.

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptops/inspiron-14-7000/spd/inspiron-14-7490-laptop

maybe go for the version the nvidia mx250 card to give yourself some graphics horsepower.

discount on the expensive version but maybe the other ones will be discounted over next few days.

light, all-metal so should last better, modern design.

the 7000 range have the build quality of the xps but for less money

ram seems soldered tho so prob go for the 1400 one with a 17% discount (1162) - to get 16gb and fast m.2 pci nvme 1tb hard drive.

with the discount in your budget and already has the capacity you need.

this config

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptops/new-inspiron-14-7000/spd/inspiron-14-7490-laptop/cn74902

mx250 will run football manager well.

as FM doesn't change too much graphically really I would say that you'll be alright.

otherwise you'll have to go twds something with a full 1650 card - will be heavier by a good bit to meet the thermal dissipation requirements of the extra heat coming off that.

I've been looking at Inspirons this past week as an option for myself, and I'm just wondering where you saw that about the RAM?

From what I've read, the RAM can be upgraded after purchase...

https://forums.tomsguide.com/faq/upgrading-the-ram-in-a-dell-inspiron-laptop.20899/

Google search

By the way, Dell are now running 17% discounts on the other 2 Inspiron 15 7000s now until December 8th.

wassie

Perhaps you could consider alternative approach if 'future proofing' is important. You could buy a reasonable high spec machine but doesn't have a dedicated GPU/lower spec GPU, and instead purchase an external eGPU which could then be replaced at a later date?

If you really are tight on budget, you could get a Dell XPS 15 (9570) on the Dell Outlet Store (https://www.dell.com/en-ie) at the moment for under €1200 (Note stock changes frequently) and a Razer Core X Chroma eGPU from Amazon Warehouse (near new) for under €400 - total cost ~€1600. (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B07PY3JZNX/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all)

Good article on Windows Central explaining the requirements the laptop must have (even though its a couple of years old). https://www.windowscentral.com/razer-core-dell-xps-15-guide

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

I've been looking at Inspirons this past week as an option for myself, and I'm just wondering where you saw that about the RAM?

From what I've read, the RAM can be upgraded after purchase...

https://forums.tomsguide.com/faq/upgrading-the-ram-in-a-dell-inspiron-laptop.20899/

Google search

By the way, Dell are now running 17% discounts on the other 2 Inspiron 15 7000s now until December 8th.

any ram labelled as LPDDR is soldered.

varies across the inspiron line - some is LP ram, some isn't.

wassie

wassie wrote: »

Perhaps you could consider alternative approach if 'future proofing' is important. You could buy a reasonable high spec machine but doesn't have a dedicated GPU/lower spec GPU, and instead purchase an external eGPU which could then be replaced at a later date?

If you really are tight on budget, you could get a Dell XPS 15 (9570) on the Dell Outlet Store (https://www.dell.com/en-ie) at the moment for under €1200 (Note stock changes frequently) and a Razer Core X Chroma eGPU from Amazon Warehouse (near new) for under €400 - total cost ~€1600. (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B07PY3JZNX/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all)

Good article on Windows Central explaining the requirements the laptop must have (even though its a couple of years old). https://www.windowscentral.com/razer-core-dell-xps-15-guide

and you'd also have to buy an actual graphics card to put into the egpu!

add another few hundred euros....

plus the fact that you do not get the full power of the card running it that way.

ShadowHearth

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Best of luck with the purchase! I'm happy to hear that it's going well for you. Do you mind me asking what model of laptop you went for? It's the Cosmos VIII 15.6 inch I've been looking at.

As for bringing this back on topic - OP, as you can see, going the custom route might be an option for you.

It's Proteus VII. Not the one from the video Bellow and so far it did not cooked my fingers. :pac:

glasso

glasso wrote: »

any ram labelled as LPDDR is soldered.

varies across the inspiron line - some is LP ram, some isn't.

Lpddr ram uses less powerI believe. So a reason why it may be used - particularly in laptops.