So, I've been in the market for a new laptop, I've gotten fed up with my old mac. This laptop has to be under 450 dollars and be able to run Minecraft and other semi 3D games. I, of course, want it to be good for coding. Wink (And I don't want it to be a tablet like the Surface)
The specs I want to get:
::Intel core i5 or i7 or the equivalent AMD processor.
::More than 5 GB of RAM
::4 hour= battery life
::Graphics card
I have looked around the interwebs, I am I currently looking at this Lenovo. (http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-15-6-Inch-Laptop-80E3005NUS-Black/dp/B00K6ZID58/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8)
What do you think? Please post any thoughts you have!
If I get the 500GB option, I can get a CE too... :ninja:
I have some questions:
-In long terms, such as two years, do you plan to play games such as GTA 5 or Crysis 3?
-What graphic cards does this laptop have?
-Do you think you will be able to shell another $450 away in two or three years for another laptop?
I am asking the first two questions, because why the specs I have read on the website seems good for games like Minecraft and semi-3D games, a very old or crappy video card will get you nowhere unless it's a very recent crappy card that is just good enough to run older games. The ideal thing is if you don't have to replace your computer again in 2-3 years.
About my third question, I am asking because laptops tend to have a much higher failure rate and last much shorter than desktop computers. If you do not need the mobility of a laptop and have enough space in your bedroom, then I would recommend getting a desktop computer instead. They are more durable and for $450 you will get better desktop specs than a laptop.
So yeah, those are two things to keep in mind if you decide to buy a new laptop, especially at that price.
Definitely no GTA5, I'll look Crysis up, but probably not.
I think it says on amazon...
I don't think I will have another 450 dollars...
It has an intel hd 4400. My little brother has one and he can play most older games, though on low settings. He said he can get around 30 to 60 fps with that on minecraft.
Quote from: Cumred_Snektron on April 21, 2015, 05:46:41 AM
It has an intel hd 4400. My little brother has one and he can play most older games, though on low settings. He said he can get around 30 to 60 fps with that on minecraft.
Me thinks you are wrong
Quote from: Amazon.com
AMD Quad-Core A8-6410 Processor with integrated AMD Radeon R5 graphics
The R5 graphics processor is almost as fast as HD4400 (1% faster...), so both can run some old game pretty much well.
However, you'll never see Crysis3 or GTAV on these, even low dedicated cards don't run these, even on low.
On topic, I found this laptop. I5-broadwell, intelHD5500 (20%faster than HD4400), 6GB DDR3 but only 500GB of hardrive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834318466
you have also this, but I didn't had time to compare spec with the precedents:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834314813&leaderboard=1
I have a 500gb hdd and i'll never get it full
.The Acer looks nice, just the R5 graphics. I have had bad experiences with Acers in the past, so I'm leaning to a Lenovo. 500 GB Is more than enough for me. I like the Lenovo you linked to, I just won't have enoughf for a CE afterward.
I recommend anything with above an A6 or dedicated nvidia card. This is the one that I use and it can handle a lot of gaming stuff: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/toshiba-satellite-15-6-laptop-amd-a8-series-4gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-jet-black/8541017.p?id=1219345074266
Anyways I got this on sale for $289 (open box) so you just have to look for good deals.
But, but, 4gb RAM. I think I'm gonna get the one I linked to.
Quote from: Unicorn on April 21, 2015, 04:33:43 PM
.The Acer looks nice, just the R5 graphics. I have had bad experiences with Acers in the past, so I'm leaning to a Lenovo. 500 GB Is more than enough for me. I like the Lenovo you linked to, I just won't have enoughf for a CE afterward.
Yeah you're right.
Acer is such a crappy company.
oooooo opinionated.... :P
My tablet is from acer... It looks like a ripoff ipad with like a hundred bloatware apps and a cty android port... I only use it for yt and some games like plaque though
Quote from: Cumred_Snektron on April 29, 2015, 10:40:21 PMI only use it for yt and some games like plaque though
Plaque inc, the dentistry version of plague inc. I agree on the Acer thing but I do like their monitors.
The 4gb of memory is the only problem on mine although I only notice it when I have 30 chrome tabs open. Good luck on finding a good deal. If you can I'd go to your local best buy or whatever and look for display model deals. They are very worth it in my opinion and you may be able to get a computer with a dedicated card.
I got told once that 4 GB of RAM is still fine nowadays, but when I got Starcraft II in 2010 I noticed that I was using around 4.6 GB total when it was running. I think 6 or 8 GB might be better (although 8 isn't that necessary in your case I think)
Yeah, I at least want above 4 for virtual machines and such.
I have 8 in my PC and i think that's just right. I bought it with 4Gb but then i started playing a really heavy ftb modpack that require 4Gb so i had to buy another stick. It has lights <_<
I like lights. How much is a 4gb stick?
i think it was like 30-40 euros
Translates to: about 33$ Thats affordable.
it was Geil Pristine dragonRAM IIRC
Thats what I'll probly do:Buy the one I linked to and upgrade the ram.
Thats what i did t oo
yeah, I'm thinking this Lenovo (http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-G50-80-15-6-Laptop-80E501U3US/dp/B00V8ZA8YY) with 4gb extra RAM
Keep in mind that if you want any more serious gaming you will need a dedicated graphics card.
Not necessarily, I can run saints row 4 at 30fps on and r5 integrated. Basically you could run any game at low settings on that computer and most oldish new games on medium to high. Expect for games like gta5 to run on low.
Even though this is 100 dollars high it is a dedicated gaming laptop: http://www.neweggflash.com/Product/N82E16834318572
i remember i tried playing saints row 4 on my integhrated hd 3000... it couldnt even handle 240x320 on 5 fps >_>
Intel integrated is so bad but AMD integrated is almost as good as a low end card.
Any intel gpu is bad :P
Intel graphics really made progress these few years though, and somewhat narrow the gape between them and AMD. Some of they integrated come even faster than AMD's.
IntelHD 5500 is a pretty much good 'accelerator' (http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-HD-Graphics-5500.125586.0.html)
Of course, a dediacted cards would be in all case faster/better, but it came with a higher price
Well yeah, integrated GPUs are more than sufficient for casual uses, like going on the Internet, working and playing some casual games that don't require much. Any higher and you should get a dedicated card.
My 2 cents is that for 450 dollars, there's nothing that good for a laptop. (for a home-made destkop, though, that's another story)
You'll probably end up with something that may work at first but will rapidly degrade. I recommend spending a bit more at first to get a "real" thing, instead of having to spend smaller amounts multiple times at shorter intervals. In the long term you'll save money.
I've had a 1300euro PC laptop for school (public price was more like 1800 euro) and it turned to sh*t in like 2.5 years. So I can't imagine a 450 dollars thing doing any good...
(BTW, I know people like to trash talk Apple for their high prices, but at least I've never had durability issues with them :P PS: I pretty much don't use them for gaming but I occasionally do some CPU-intensive audio and video things, so I have one with a dedicated GPU, and I'm pretty happy with it. Integrated GPUs won't run big games, as said, anyway, and middle-range games will have to be put at a quite low level)
Well, it is usually for 999 dollars, it is a lightning sale by amazon.
I would want this one (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/lenovo/flex-series/flex-3-11/#tab-customize) if I was you
So, after some research I think I am either going to get The first listed i7 or the first listed i5 (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/lenovo/z-series/z40/)
So yeah, I should order them soon, unless I find something better or the same for cheap.
Would the i5 effect my performance very much for what I want to do?
Depends on the processor, there are like a million different i5's and i7's. Generally though i think the i7 is a little bit better.
(also, you might have notices the CPU Ghz of laptops seems to have gone down in the last year - actually its a newer gen processor that does more instruction per cycle. sadly manufacterers do not give you these statistics, so i always just go with the most Ghz :P)
The i7 is .3 Ghz faster,is that much of a differnece?
Generally you're not just buying the GHz, they also tend to provide better support and driver optimization for the better models. What's the price difference? If its less than 30 dollars I'd go for the i7.
80 dollar difference. :(
I'd go with the i5 but its really your call. I'd save your money if I were you. Think of the ti 84pce that you could almost buy.
Yeah, I'll go with the i5 I think.
Its been bought, and should arrive today! I can't believe I got FREE 3 day shipping.
Good to hear! Tell us about the performances when you test some softwares. :) Glad that you got free shipping too.
Well, its not here yet. Not that I have high expectations for free shipping or anything. :P
But yeah, I probably won't use it until school ends, so I don't slack off on studying for my finals.
So, it arrived today, and I have began the process of removing the bloatware. How would you guys recommend doing it? Using the control panel uninstall program or what? It also does not have superfish ;)
Step 1. Reinstall Windows
Boom. No more bloat.
Yeah, the best way is to reinstall Windows as soon as you get it. Or Linux. Or even Mac. Your choice.
Yeah I don't think you can safely remove the bloatware from the program uninstall screen. I heard that sometimes it can backfire (as in, punish you), especially with HP computers. So a reformat might be the best solution unless there is some secret on Google. Do a backup CD/DVD first, though, and ensure you got a copy of Windows and the serial before deleting anything.
What do you mean a backup CD? Dump the Windows operating system on it? Wouldn't that be illegal? I don't actually have a copy of windows 8 either. What is the serial, the serial number?
Whew, that's a lot of questions :P
If your laptop shipped with windows then you own a copy of windows. You'll need to find the product key, it is supposed to be in the package that you received. Then you'll need to download a copy of the windows version that came on you computer. This is perfectly legal. Once you have your windows iso you need to download an iso burning tool, I use Rufus but it doesn't really matter. You'll also need a flash drive, probably at least 4gb but 8gb is better. If you need help burning the iso to the usb flash drive I can help you but its pretty self explanatory. Before you overwrite your computer make sure to find your windows key. Then installing it is just as easy as following the prompts.
Almost everything is allowed with software if you don't share it :P
Quote from: CKH4 on May 13, 2015, 12:17:55 PM
If your laptop shipped with windows then you own a copy of windows.
Yeah I was saying because in my case, I once had to reformat my computer, but I had lost the original packaging and manuals, so I no longer had the serial key. I also heard stories about stores that didn't give a serial number with the computers they sold.
As for illegal copies of Windows, I think Microsoft softwares can detect it when you are asked to validate your Windows install. If it's not genuine, then you cannot receive system updates and are severely limited in what you can download from Microsoft.
Nah, worse than that, you can't use Windows after a delay if your pirated copy is busted.
What, i don't have an illegal version or anything :-X
I have a reliable source of legal keys for windows. Apparently Harold can get them for free from ms because of a student program or something. :P
I'm currently burning the .iso file...
Wait, so could I burn a Mac or linux ios file, and I would have a mac or linux computer?
Yep, good luck though. If you need any help I'll probably know something about it. I've done this a few times before. You can load multiple Oses onto the same HDD by partitioning. I've heard its better to use the built in tools included in the isos but I've never had a problem using the built in windows one.
I just ran minecraft with largest render distance, fanciest textures, and all particles, and this computer behaves awesomely! :w00t: :D
Quote from: Duke "Tape" Eiyeron on May 14, 2015, 07:11:38 AM
Nah, worse than that, you can't use Windows after a delay if your pirated copy is busted.
Ah that changed then. I had an illegal copy of Windows 2000 for a while (since that's what came on my first computer) and XP because I lost the first serial number and I didn't have any problem other than not being warned that I won't be able to update.
Also if you aren't too used to Windows, you could try Linux as well or dual-boot with it and Windows.
Quote from: Unicorn on May 15, 2015, 02:03:46 AM
I'm currently burning the .iso file...
Wait, so could I burn a Mac or linux ios file, and I would have a mac or linux computer?
Linux, yes. Mac is a little bit trickier to get running on a regular PC.
I thought so. I finally reinstalled windows, so thats done. When school ends I'll install all the programs I need.
Quote from: Unicorn on May 15, 2015, 03:51:13 AM
I just ran minecraft with largest render distance, fanciest textures, and all particles, and this computer behaves awesomely! :w00t: :D
(http://i.imgur.com/DweWh2f.jpg)
I had the same (and still have) with my PC and some games.
lol, that was the extact feeling I got. :)
Get Optifine and boost it to 32 chunks :P
Thats what is was doing, without optifine. *.*
32 or 16 the max for vanilla minecraft is 16
Oh, really? I though it is said 32+... hmmm Whatever, its amazing
I also have removed all the bloat.
I think in one version they had it set the max to 32 but they took that out for lag reasons but you can get that with Optifine. Although you can't on severs because they have server wide render distances that you can't go above a certain amount :(
I think the server wide renders distances are only for displaying players. Anyways, I'm gonna make a amplified world with 32 chunks :D
*mumbles something about running 80 mods with 32x texturepack and 2x render resolution at 60 fps*
Quote from: Unicorn on May 15, 2015, 08:39:37 PM
I think the server wide renders distances are only for displaying players. Anyways, I'm gonna make a amplified world with 32 chunks :D
Good luck with amplified, I would set it down to 8 then boost it up when you have all the chunks generated. At 32 it would take an insanely ling time for any computer to generate the world O.O.
Lol cumred the modpacks are next. :P
And yeah, alex I just want to see ho much my comp can handle.
And how much could it handle? :P
I don't use any Minecraft mods but if I recall correctly, the only real lag I ever get is when I am playing online. Otherwise it runs at 60 FPS most of the time. I don't remember if I had every setting maxed out, though.
Online is fun, also with this comp, my speed test grade went up to a B from a D-!!
And im just sitting here with my 1970 20mb/s twisted pair which has 10 mb/s reserved for the tv <_< and i need to share the rest with 4 other persons... <_<
Quote from: Unicorn on May 21, 2015, 08:20:48 AM
Online is fun, also with this comp, my speed test grade went up to a B from a D-!!
Wait, your new computer gives you worse Internet speeds? Could it be that it got a worse wifi card? Sometimes to sell something for cheaper they lower the quality of specs that people don't look as much into. Many people will look for the speed, RAM, disk space and video memory, but will forget to check what type of RAM, hard drive speed, sound card, wifi capabilities, etc. I know that the hard drive on my computer isn't all that fast, because Starcraft maps can take quite a while to load and with all the RAM that I got, I discovered that it was because of my hard drive.
Ummm I think you read that wrong. I went from a D- to a B+ I just sneaked an up inthere.
I read "from B to D-" first too. Bit of a weird sentence :P
Ya, I think it may have been late.
Quote from: Unicorn on May 25, 2015, 07:27:10 AM
Ummm I think you read that wrong. I went from a D- to a B+ I just sneaked an up inthere.
Oh right, my bad. It's the up that kinda caught my attention more. :P
Yeah, well... Anyways, I just figured out that my computer wasn't even using the nvidia card, so I changed that up. :D
How does that happen? i mean you'd expect the factory to set the default on the better card
Well I did reinstall windows.... and I guess the version I used didn't take into acount the nvidia card maybe?
EDIT: Omagers!!! I'm a custom titler!!!!! :)
Nah, the nvidia cards isn't 'on' by default to save batterie (it is "optimus" feature). Laptop stop the cards when not used for intensive task like gaming or such. Minecraft doesn't indeed run by default on the graphics cards (but you can set it in the nvidia panel), cause the seing runing program is java.
Quote from: Cumred_Snektron on May 28, 2015, 07:14:39 AM
How does that happen? i mean you'd expect the factory to set the default on the better card
In my Intel Celeron, I had an on-board intel graphics card then I eventually added an ATI Radeon card in 2006. However, I never managed to have it use the ATI card as default one, and doing it would cause it to not work. The result is that I had to set the 2nd monitor as primary and have a crappy monitor connected to the on-board video card. It was weird to always use the 2nd computer monitor as 1st and I often ran into issues.
I'm never gonna buy computers with integrated graphic cards again.
Well pretty much every processor now have an integrated cards. (All intel does, some AMD doesn't (but mainly have one)).
But support for these type of cards is well better, as well as plug and play / driver management.
EDIT : 66 posts >:D
I don't think my FX 8350 has one, at least i thought i saw it somewhere.
Also congrats on being Math.floor(666/10)
I bet my powerbook doesn't have one :P
and congrats on being one below satan.
When they were made they didn't even have gpu's for laptops. You have an integrated one :P
NO I MUST HAVE NO GRAPHICS! :trollface:
Quote from: TheMachine02 on June 05, 2015, 05:02:50 PM
Well pretty much every processor now have an integrated cards. (All intel does, some AMD doesn't (but mainly have one)).
But support for these type of cards is well better, as well as plug and play / driver management.
EDIT : 66 posts >:D
Oh I didn't know that. I thought they were just inside lower-end computers you buy at the store and that most high-end gaming PCs had removable cards.
i though that at first too, a few years back.
Appearantly it works something like this:
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AXUmwddhdfA/TGNx5V57-MI/AAAAAAAAAuM/fYumdQx9Y8g/s1600/package-integrated+graphics.png)
also if you compare that with the size of a desktop pc's gpu O.O
Yeah, desktop GPU are much bigger in size. (At least for the chip, pcb size doesn't count :P). Your image isn't totally correct, size in general, memory control is more on CPU side, but I guess it depend on model.
But now, in newer processor, integrated graphics is indeed like half the size of the chip :P
Soon full size graphics cards might be that small though. Nvidia is planning on stacking memory on the cards so we may be seeing much smaller cards, especially if they don't require a fan.
Yeah, most likely. But I do think that even if they got something smaller, they'll go for adding more core/cache, so total size won't really change.
Also, on-die memory (HBM), reduce the size of the PCB, but not really the chip in itself. AMD will release soon the first card with this though.
I think that the size of the chip will really reduce when they'll change to 16nm FinFET or such (and they will can make even bigger GPU :P)
Omg yess, r9 300 series looks so awesome *.*
Yeah, I agree. I can't wait to see it released. Futhermore, that reduce all price on market, so that is all good :P
I reaally wonder if they made significant improvement over consuption/heat produced. I hope so.
Yesh, my PSU can barely handle my current setup <_<. Though it will probably take a while before a get a new one since i just got a new gpu :P
Yeah :P Those beast are quite watt-eater.
So Unicorn, how does your laptop handle minecraft shader ? :P
I haven't used shaders yet, but I haven't experienced any lag yet!
I should do that today, but I don't really like them. :/
u wot m8
Shaders are awesome. Though it depends on the shader pack :P
Quote from: Cumred_Snektron on June 09, 2015, 07:02:46 PM
u wot m8
Shaders are awesome. Though it depends on the shader pack :P
Which packs do you like? My favorites are Kuda and sildurs
I play with regular textures and no shaders, I am boring :P
Me to alex :P
Anyways, I was just mobbed by spiders, and it was not fun. About 30 of them. *.*
Quote from: Cumred_Snektron on June 09, 2015, 07:02:46 PM
u wot m8
Shaders are awesome. Though it depends on the shader pack :P
Probably also if the player has played Minecraft since the very start (back when it had very minimal shading, if any at all). There are also Starcraft players who play SCII with all shading on low because apparently it makes it easier to see units.
I play most of the time on full brightness too, otherwise i can't see anything. Though moody makes for a way cooler effect in adventure maps and such
Moody is really not worth it. Sometimes, I wish I wasn't to lazy to turn up my Gamma playing on brightest O.O :wa1rii: