Advice for buying a new laptop (UPDATED)
SharGuidesMyHand
Member Posts: 2,582
I'm currently using a Dell Vostro 1500 laptop with Windows XP installed, that someone gave to me about 7-8 years ago. It still runs OK and has served my needs quite nicely thus far (namely, gaming and browsing the web). Even the EE games run smoothly on it.
However, I'm getting a hankering for trying Pillars of Eternity, and Tides of Numenera if that ever gets released, but it appears that my archaic laptop won't be able to run those games. Between that, and the end of support for Windows XP, I fear that the time may finally have come for me to buy a new laptop. I'm hoping to keep the price under $500 if possible, but I want to ensure that the laptop is quality enough to run a new game like Pillars. The problem is, I'm basically technologically illiterate, and have no idea what terms like "intel celeron" or "Xth generation i#" mean or how they compare to the requirements for a game like Pillars.
So I now turn to you kind folks here for guidance - any insight or suggestions that anyone here has to offer on this subject would be greatly appreciated.
However, I'm getting a hankering for trying Pillars of Eternity, and Tides of Numenera if that ever gets released, but it appears that my archaic laptop won't be able to run those games. Between that, and the end of support for Windows XP, I fear that the time may finally have come for me to buy a new laptop. I'm hoping to keep the price under $500 if possible, but I want to ensure that the laptop is quality enough to run a new game like Pillars. The problem is, I'm basically technologically illiterate, and have no idea what terms like "intel celeron" or "Xth generation i#" mean or how they compare to the requirements for a game like Pillars.
So I now turn to you kind folks here for guidance - any insight or suggestions that anyone here has to offer on this subject would be greatly appreciated.
Post edited by SharGuidesMyHand on
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Choosing the videocard is more tricky. Videocards on laptops are usually named differently than desktop versions. Read online tests of the laptops in question to know what performance they have. Looking at the minimum requirements of PoE, I believe most modern laptops should have enough "graphic power" for it.
If you have to buy a used machine, go for lenovo. I would.
You should REALLY consider buying a desktop though. Same performance levels are cheaper and it's better for gaming in all regards.
"If" money isn't a concern and you don't mind dealing with the limitations inherent in a laptop, there are several models that work great. My personal laptop is a Sager and pretty much custom built. It's a solid machine and can run just about any game out today. Alienware used to be a good choice, but I haven't heard good things about them lately so....
If price is a factor? As stated above, go with an i5 or i7 desktop. Make sure that you get something that doesn't use an integrated video card. Make sure that you can go minimum of 8GB of RAM and make sure that you get a solid video card.
The big thing today is to get a solid state drive. This is an excellent way to go, but they can be pricey. If price is a factor, get a small one that only runs your operating system. That will speed up your boot and seek times. make sure that you have enough hard disk space to handle all of your needs without having to go an external drive (which will seriously slow down your gaming). Also, don't cheap out on memory. Make sure that you have a good name with a low interrupt.
All of this can be gotten for reasonable prices. If you can avoid it, don't go with pre-built systems as they will often come with loads of bloatware that is unnecessary. And unless you are very tech-savy, make sure that you get some form of tech support package at least initially.
If you find something that looks good, come back with the specs and let us check it out.
As others have said, you're better off getting a desktop unless you need the portability of a laptop.
Edit: I did a quick search, and it seems like some people are playing with integrated graphics, albeit with somewhat mixed results. So you might be ok without a discrete card, especially if you're ok with playing at lower resolutions (e.g. 720p). As an additional note, AMD integrated graphics tend to be superior to Intel's.
Edit: bear in mind that there were some problems with intel graphics running the Enhanced Editions. I'm not sure whether these have been officially solved but my laptop works fine.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834314807
EDIT: newest i5, GT840M, full HD, 8 GB RAM
As far as newegg, it's a great site to shop. Another is tigerdirect, but you have to know what you are looking for. I would almost suggest though that getting something at a (reputable) local computer store might be better simply because you can take it in instead of mailing it anywhere for repairs. If there is a Frys in the area, that would be a good place to look.
If the OP is looking for something under $500, probably a lot of my previous post is out the window. Certainly a good solid desktop can be had for that price (or less), but you are probably relegated to a stock system. In that case, even checking out something like Dell is a good thing. At least you would have the tech support backing it. And if that is the price point, again:
Look for an i5 CPU with at least 4GB RAM. If it is expandable, consider that even if you need to hold off on that till later. Don't go crazy here and pay for a system that can take 16 or 32, you won't ever need/use it with the system you are getting.
Make sure it has a separate graphics card. Just to put in perspective, an integrated card will share CPU and memory with the core system. That means that it competes with processing and memory with every single other application running. It can work, but higher end graphics games, particularly those with physics engines and loads of other rules/mechanics processing won't be happy about that. The best names on the market (only???) are Nvidia and ATI. I personally lean towards Nvidia but either will do. And I don't say one is 'Better' than the other, merely that I like one more.
If you can get a system that is network wireless ready, that's a good thing. It makes such that you don't need to purchase/install a network card. I think 99% of systems today come that way, but it is worth noting. Also, if you have a hard line connection and don't want to worry about wireless (it is a desktop after all), that might be even better because most hardline connections are faster than a wireless network.
Some good(ish) names in the business are Dell, Asus and HP. Of these Asus is the highest end and probably the best. Don't limit your searches to these alone, but if you have a choice, I'd go with one of these over something else. My Ex had an Acer and it was no end of trouble, so I'd stay clear of them.
At the end of the day, getting something under 500 is extremely possible, you just aren't going to get anything that will out-think Skynet or anything.
https://www.falcon-nw.com/laptops/tlx
To answer some of the questions, I prefer a laptop over a desktop because it's a lot more convenient for me - I don't really have an ideal spot in my house to set up a desktop, and besides, I like to relax on the sofa when I'm playing a PC game or browsing the web.
However, price is also a concern for me, and if getting a desktop is better in terms of both cost and efficiency, then I will give a lot more consideration to that as well.
I still have to run Divinty: Original Sin on low, but it loads about 10 times faster than my old machine. I seriously don't get the outrageous system requirements for both that game and Pillars. Pillars especially has no business requiring the kind of power they are asking for. On the plus side, Tides of Numenera runs on the same engine, so if you can play one....
There're plenty of good advice there.
I still can recommend ASUS ROG laptops. I have one and it absolutely rocks!
The temperature is very low, it's one of the most prominent features of these series of laptops. The laptop is very silent - sometimes, I don't even hear it's working.
I love this laptop for its performance, a wonderful screen and very solid graphics card.
And no one says that you have to be able to build your own desktop to buy/use one. Even when people are talking about upgrading, it is quite easy to take a desktop into a computer store and have them do the work.
Building a desktop:
Oh, and then there's what type of cooling to use and where. How to apply the conductivity jell when applying the CPU (this isn't easy as I've messed it up several times).
Not to mention what case to use, what motherboard to use, what cooling system to use. How much is too much and how much is not enough.
And finally, if you mess up with legos, you take them apart. if you mess up with a CPU installation, you can fry both the board and the CPU, thus rendering them REALLY Expensive lego pieces.
I know some VERY intelligent people who could build masterpiece Lego sets that couldn't put together a computer to save their lives.
Even though I concur with those promoting a desktop if there is no clear requirement for a laptop, I think that building a desktop is less simple than physically plugging devices.
On the other hand, branded laptops also come with a ton of crap programs supposed to ease your life. If you opt for a laptop, make sure you understand how to set it for power management efficiency and minimize the use of those superflous programs.
Sorry if all of that sounds obvious.