Budget Gaming Laptop

[UsiGX]

HI everyone,

As I will be spending the next 4 yrs of my life at university dorms, I need to get a decent gaming laptop for work and play. Below are my preferences :

Budget : Around $1300
Favourable brands : Msi / Asus / Lenovo ( Alienware too expensive )
Condition : I don't mind getting a used one for a decent price since they would be around an year used.
Screen Size : Preferably 17"
Models : Currently considering a used gt70 20C

Ive found a decent deal on ebay, openbox and barely used....from ncix outlet.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/MSI-GT70-i7-...3?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item233a16282b&_uhb=1

Suggestions please.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Does it have to be a laptop? An 8.6 lb. gaming laptop will be a pain to lug around.

What about a mini-ITX desktop? A "shoebox" gaming PC will be faster now and you can upgrade the video card in a couple of years if needed.

 

[mnewsham]

What about a mini-ITX desktop? A "shoebox" gaming PC will be faster now and you can upgrade the video card in a couple of years if needed.

why even bother going that small? Its a dorm not a prison cell, as long as it's not a full tower chassis, there should be plenty of room.

OP, get a $300-400 laptop for notes and shit, spend the rest on a desktop and get much better gaming experience.

 

[nsafreak]

Also consider it's much easier for a gaming laptop to get lost/stolen than it is for a gaming desktop.

 

[NewYorksFinest]

why even bother going that small? Its a dorm not a prison cell, as long as it's not a full tower chassis, there should be plenty of room.

OP, get a $300-400 laptop for notes and shit, spend the rest on a desktop and get much better gaming experience.

Also consider it's much easier for a gaming laptop to get lost/stolen than it is for a gaming desktop.

Seconded. All a person has to do is unplug a laptop. But to steal a desktop, they have to unplug the monitor, unplug the cables, and carry a 20 pound case.

 

[UsiGX]

Well forgot to mention that I will be sometimes spending the weekend with family back at home and I'll have a room mate.

Could this cause any possible problems ?

 

[nsafreak]

Well forgot to mention that I will be sometimes spending the weekend with family back at home and I'll have a room mate.

Could this cause any possible problems ?

Not really. Easiest setup would be to get a small mid tower or mini tower case and a pair of monitors. Leave one at your parent's and the other in the room. Your typical mid tower case really isn't hard to transport. I've transported mine to several LAN parties, system weighs all of 10 pounds (if that). It shouldn't take up too much total space either unless dorms have gotten a lot smaller you should easily be able to put it behind or to the side of your LCD of choice (say 22") and be just fine.

 

[QuantumPion]

As I posted in the other thread, the Lenovo y510p is on sale for ~$800 and has 2x755M SLI. It's a 15.6" though.

 

[gothamhunter]

As I posted in the other thread, the Lenovo y510p is on sale for ~$800 and has 2x755M SLI. It's a 15.6" though.

SLI doesn't start until like $1200...

 

[QuantumPion]

SLI doesn't start until like $1200...

That's why this one is such a steal. It was probably $1400 last year but it's an out-going model on sale for $830.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Seconded. All a person has to do is unplug a laptop. But to steal a desktop, they have to unplug the monitor, unplug the cables, and carry a 20 pound case.

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I agree for gaming a desktop is better, but most laptops, at least higher end ones, do have a port for a locking cable don't they? Still could be cut of course, but it would prevent someone from just casually picking it up and walking away.

 

[gothamhunter]

That's why this one is such a steal. It was probably $1400 last year but it's an out-going model on sale for $830.

Again, no SLI for $830...

 

[TerryMathews]

As I posted in the other thread, the Lenovo y510p is on sale for ~$800 and has 2x755M SLI. It's a 15.6" though.

No. Its advertised as "up to". The $809 special is a single 750M.

 

[QuantumPion]

No. Its advertised as "up to". The $809 special is a single 750M.

Nope! The specs on the lenovo page are a little bit confusing but the $800 one does have 755Mx2. None of those models actually have only a single card. Here it is on newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834313742

 

[TerryMathews]

Nope! The specs on the lenovo page are a little bit confusing but the $800 one does have 755Mx2. None of those models actually have only a single card. Here it is on newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834313742

I don't know what browser you're using but it's drawing the table incorrectly then.

 

[Enigmoid]

It is 755m SLI and is probably the best bang for the buck $800 notebook around.

 

[TerryMathews]

Nope! The specs on the lenovo page are a little bit confusing but the $800 one does have 755Mx2. None of those models actually have only a single card. Here it is on newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834313742

Lenovo says SKU for that model is 59401502.

Lenovo says single 750M.
Amazon says single 750M.
Notebookreview says single 750M and 1366x768 screen.

 

[gothamhunter]

You linked the Lenovo site, which directly shows you are incorrect. If you are quoting from a 3rd party re-seller, then link that instead. If Lenovo's website is wrong, then just state that. But what you are stating and the site is showing are different.

 

[Enigmoid]

Why on earth are you arguing with him? Newegg part number is 59409581.

Newegg says its SLI. Reviews say its SLI. Stop nitpicking.

Lenovo.com isn't totally accurate for pricing.

 

[QuantumPion]

Why on earth are you arguing with him? Newegg part number is 59409581.

Newegg says its SLI. Reviews say its SLI. Stop nitpicking.

Lenovo.com isn't totally accurate for pricing.

Seriously. It's like the guy is trolling because he is mad he bought a worse laptop for more money or something, lol.

 

[gothamhunter]

Who's arguing? I want to make sure we have accurate information. Did you look at Terry's SKU information? Did you look at the Lenovo link he provided and the Newegg one he provided and noticed that the Newegg one is an i5 6GB model while all the rest are i7 8+GB RAM?

I'm not saying that there isn't an ~$800 755m SLI laptop out there, but the one he's been able to show via Newegg is not at all the same as the ones he showed IN HIS ORIGINAL LINK.

Is that trolling? If it is, then I apologize; next time I'll just let you all provide half-assed information.

 

[Enigmoid]

Who's arguing? I want to make sure we have accurate information. Did you look at Terry's SKU information? Did you look at the Lenovo link he provided and the Newegg one he provided and noticed that the Newegg one is an i5 6GB model while all the rest are i7 8+GB RAM?

I'm not saying that there isn't an ~$800 755m SLI laptop out there, but the one he's been able to show via Newegg is not at all the same as the ones he showed IN HIS ORIGINAL LINK.

Is that trolling? If it is, then I apologize; next time I'll just let you all provide half-assed information.

He did forget the newegg link but I assume that he linked Lenovo's website to get the more technical information. He should have posted the newegg link immediately but he provided a newegg link later which you proceeded to ignore.

He did mention the other thread

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2379451&highlight=

which also contains the lenovo.com link (no newegg link) though he specifically mentions newegg.

 

[DaveSimmons]

The $900 model is out of stock and might never be restocked if a clouseout.

The $1100 model with i7 quad-core and 2 x 755m GPU seems like a decent choice if you must have a laptop.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&leaderboard=1

 

[TerryMathews]

It took a little while but I figured out what was going on. QuantumPion, you were half-right.

Nope! The specs on the lenovo page are a little bit confusing but the $800 one does have 755Mx2. None of those models actually have only a single card. Here it is on newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834313742

The specs on the Lenovo page are not confusing. They are simple, and are accurate. The model you linked on Newegg is not listed on the Lenovo page according to the SKU. I imagine that it's a discontinued model, but I don't really know for sure.

This is a legit hot deal, the one linked above from Newegg. The listings at Lenovo.com for $800 which do not have SLI are decent deals but not hot.

 

[toughtrasher]

The $900 model is out of stock and might never be restocked if a clouseout.

The $1100 model with i7 quad-core and 2 x 755m GPU seems like a decent choice if you must have a laptop.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&leaderboard=1

I was going to vouch for something like this (or it might actually be this laptop with an i7) but have you really made the decision to go with a gaming laptop?

I liked the idea of just buying a cheaper laptop to take notes and use that money to buy a better gaming desktop. That's what I plan to do at least