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Canada18410 Posts
Man FragKrag is on that shit like zatic is on tdot
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Ares[Effort]
DEMACIA6550 Posts
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Roffles
Pitcairn19291 Posts
Just make sure your video card doesn't burn out. =D
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Jesus FragKrag... you're just waiting to pounce on these threads... awesome
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bump I made a list of the ones I'm looking at right now along with the Lenovo Frag recommended. I'm looking for the best processor/video card combo I can get for $500-$700 basically.
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If you want to run SC2 comfortably, both of the Slickdeals laptops are out. They simply aren't very powerful at all. The Dell Vostro will however, run SC2 better than the other slickdeals laptop.
The refurbished ASUS from TigerDirect is very odd. It has a powerful video card, but the weaker processor leaves a bit to be desired. You will probably get decent performance (high?) out of that laptop in SC2. The warranty is also disappointing.
The ASUS from buy.com sports a more powerful processor than the TigerDirect ASUS, but the GPU is a bit weaker. However, I consider it a better overall computer than the TD ASUS. High should not be a problem imo. The warranty of only 90 days is a pretty big downside though.
The first ASUS from newegg sports an even weaker GPU, but the CPU seems to be fine. It won't run SC2 past medium/low. The 1 year damage warranty is pretty good, but a longer warranty would have been a bit more comforting. Overall, this laptop seems like a good buy though it isn't very powerful at all.
The second newegg (the MSI) is a terrible laptop for gaming. Avoid it if you want to touch SC2 because it will not run SC2 at all. I doubt it will run much because it seems like a glorified netbook.
The third newegg (the 2nd MSI) seems like a weaker version of the first newegg, so whatever.
The fourth newegg (the 3rd MSI) is a ripoff, as is the fifth newegg (the 4th MSI).
IMO, if you have more money to spend, go for the Lenovo. If you don't want to spend that money the ASUS from buy.com is a great value, (if you aren't concerned about the warranty), and if you are concerned about the warranty and don't want to spend as much, the ASUS from Newegg seems like a solid bet. If SC2 is not a priority at all, I like the Dell Vostro from slickdeals (though it doesn't say anything about the warranty, Dell laptops usually come with a 1 year don't they?)
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Lenovo =/= Thinkpad. Lenovo laptops, like the Ideapads, have build quality issues like poor fitting and a decent amount of keyboard flex. Its a nice laptop but don't get disappointed when the build quality is only average. Also Lenovo laptops in general have really all round awful screens so if you need a good screen for gaming don't get a Lenovo.
Lenovo's Thinkpad line are the reliable bricks that everyone knows about. But those laptops aren't for gaming and cost a fortune.
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Yeah, I realize that, but the Ideapads are still generally reliable (at least moreso than most of the other companies out there).
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On April 08 2010 11:22 FragKrag wrote:
Yeah, I realize that, but the Ideapads are still generally reliable (at least moreso than most of the other companies out there).
I have an Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 and the build quality is only as good, and sometimes worse, than Dell's and Asus' similar priced consumer models. With the awful screen and resolution they have, I can't really suggest Lenovo and I'd probably say that the Dell Studio 15 series would be a better buy.
I've only other multimedia laptop that I have had first hand experience with in the Dell Studio 15 and its definitely pretty robust though it does have suffer from keyboard flexing.
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And I have a thinkpad and it's a reliable brick :p
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I'll be playing games on a monitor so the screen isn't a big deal. I have a super old T-42 something thinkpad and yea it's pretty reliable. I wouldn't mind getting another thinkpad but I can't find any that come with decent graphic cards. Where should I look?
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On April 08 2010 12:16 zulu_nation8 wrote:
I'll be playing games on a monitor so the screen isn't a big deal. I have a super old T-42 something thinkpad and yea it's pretty reliable. I wouldn't mind getting another thinkpad but I can't find any that come with decent graphic cards. Where should I look?
That's the problem: Thinkpads aren't cheap. If you're looking for a Thinkpad with at least a 512mb graphics card, you're looking at $1500USD minimum not including any e-coupons Lenovo always seems to be offering.
Thinkpad supremacy though. I still have my ThinkPad 600X and this thing is still chugging along despite falling off the desk a stupid amount of times.
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Ah ok then nevermind, so which lines would you suggest as reliable? Dell/Asus and what else?
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For your price range and what you want I can only think of those brands. All other brands fail your criteria such as Samsung's R### laptop line being made out of paper and HP's entire laptop line having a long history of being either noisy or hot.
If you were willing to pay $200 more, I'd suggest looking at Gateway or Sager.
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best advice for buying a laptop.
get a desktop
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On April 08 2010 12:53 Kwanroller wrote:
For your price range and what you want I can only think of those brands. All other brands fail your criteria such as Samsung's R### laptop line being made out of paper and HP's entire laptop line having a long history of being either noisy or hot.
If you were willing to pay $200 more, I'd suggest looking at Gateway or Sager.
Pay $200 extra for a Gateway? Gateway is a budget brand just like Acer (and is also part of Acer)
Why would you ever consider buying a gateway for more money?
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On April 08 2010 13:03 FragKrag wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2010 12:53 Kwanroller wrote:
For your price range and what you want I can only think of those brands. All other brands fail your criteria such as Samsung's R### laptop line being made out of paper and HP's entire laptop line having a long history of being either noisy or hot.
If you were willing to pay $200 more, I'd suggest looking at Gateway or Sager. Pay $200 extra for a Gateway? Gateway is a budget brand just like Acer (and is also part of Acer) Why would you ever consider buying a gateway for more money?
Because he's looking for what is a cheap desktop replacement? Budget brand aside, the build quality of Gateway (and Acer) laptops are generally pretty good and the specs are generally aren't bad for the price. I would never get one since I don't understand the purpose of desktop replacements but from what I understand the (cheap) brands to go are Asus, Gateway, and Sager.
I overestimated the price a bit and found that he can get a good Gateway laptop for $800. Something like this: http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668644.php/
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I did a bit more research and I think I'll have to shell out more if I want something decent. Deciding between a Sager NP7652, a Dell Studio15, Ideapad Y550p or some kind of Asus.
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On April 08 2010 14:22 Kwanroller wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2010 13:03 FragKrag wrote:On April 08 2010 12:53 Kwanroller wrote:
For your price range and what you want I can only think of those brands. All other brands fail your criteria such as Samsung's R### laptop line being made out of paper and HP's entire laptop line having a long history of being either noisy or hot.
If you were willing to pay $200 more, I'd suggest looking at Gateway or Sager. Pay $200 extra for a Gateway? Gateway is a budget brand just like Acer (and is also part of Acer) Why would you ever consider buying a gateway for more money? Because he's looking for what is a cheap desktop replacement? Budget brand aside, the build quality of Gateway (and Acer) laptops are generally pretty good and the specs are generally aren't bad for the price. I would never get one since I don't understand the purpose of desktop replacements but from what I understand the (cheap) brands to go are Asus, Gateway, and Sager. I overestimated the price a bit and found that he can get a good Gateway laptop for $800. Something like this: http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668644.php/
link doesn't work
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On April 08 2010 14:27 zulu_nation8 wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2010 14:22 Kwanroller wrote:On April 08 2010 13:03 FragKrag wrote:On April 08 2010 12:53 Kwanroller wrote:
For your price range and what you want I can only think of those brands. All other brands fail your criteria such as Samsung's R### laptop line being made out of paper and HP's entire laptop line having a long history of being either noisy or hot.
If you were willing to pay $200 more, I'd suggest looking at Gateway or Sager. Pay $200 extra for a Gateway? Gateway is a budget brand just like Acer (and is also part of Acer) Why would you ever consider buying a gateway for more money? Because he's looking for what is a cheap desktop replacement? Budget brand aside, the build quality of Gateway (and Acer) laptops are generally pretty good and the specs are generally aren't bad for the price. I would never get one since I don't understand the purpose of desktop replacements but from what I understand the (cheap) brands to go are Asus, Gateway, and Sager. I overestimated the price a bit and found that he can get a good Gateway laptop for $800. Something like this: http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668644.php/ link doesn't work
The laptop is the Gateway NV5940u:
http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668644.php
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4GB of RAM doesn't mean anything :|
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If you're willing to skimp on the processor a little bit, you can get a Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 (not the Y550p as listed above) for $671.20 including shipping, rather than the $815.35 for the Y550p. Both have 1 yr warranty.
On the Lenovo site (I don't think it links very well), use the USPY550405 coupon code for the "IdeaPad Y550 with enhanced discrete graphics". edit: offer expires 04/14
Specs are:
Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 (2.20 GHz 800 MHz 2MBL2)
nVidia Geforce GT 240 M
3 GB DDR3 RAM
250 GB, 5400 rpm HDD
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On April 08 2010 14:27 zulu_nation8 wrote:
I did a bit more research and I think I'll have to shell out more if I want something decent. Deciding between a Sager NP7652, a Dell Studio15, Ideapad Y550p or some kind of Asus.
I am by no means a computer gosu, but I own a Dell Studio15. So far for me it meets most of your criteria stated in the OP as well as being able to play SC2 on low somehow.
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Can you give me the specs on it?
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Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 @ 2.10GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.1GHz
Mobile Intel 45 Express Chipset Family (seriously I don't understand how it runs sc2; it can't even run Armies of Exigo, which is a 2004 game t.t).
4 GB DDR3 RAM
300 GB
Additional details:
*Vent for air/fan is located on the back, not bottom, so it never overheats unless the lid is pulled so far as to block the vent. Actually, I don't even recall it ever getting hot, no matter what the surface is.
*If by reliability you mean it never crashes and you can leave it on for days and it doesn't slow down much, then yes, it's reliable.
*Battery life w/ windows 7 is like 4-5 hours and it's been almost a year since I bought it.
It was around 700 or something when I bought it. I actually prioritized battery life with an ok processor when buying this, so it might not be what you're looking for.
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Nice thanks, so I'm guessing the integrated graphic card is like 128mb? or less? If so then it looks like SC2 should run without a problem on a Radeon 4570 or something.
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And yea, if this can run SC2, I'm pretty sure anything can handle it on low. I can turn it to medium too but it's lag city.
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Pretty old CPU there and the resolution is nah.
But I guess you don't really care.
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EPT
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