Bang for the buck game laptop under $1k

[HeianJodan]

Hello all,

I was looking into getting a bang for the buck gaming laptop under $1k

Mainly it is for playing Warframe however since my current laptop just keeps blue screening and im about to use it for shooting practice.

The one I have been looking into is the:
Acer Aspire V15 $899.00

• Intel Core i7-4720HQ Processor (2.6 GHz)
• 8 GB DDR3 RAM
• 1 TB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
• 15.6-Inch Screen, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M
• Windows 8.1, 4-hour battery life

I give no pref to Win 8 and will probably just install Win 7 when I get it.

Anyone have any good recommendations that are as good if not better than this for the money?

 

[sze5003]

Is that the nitro? I've thought about getting that over the lenovo y50. But its a pain to open up and upgrade. Such a pain that you can break it easily. I ordered a lenovo y50 a month ago.

Through the Barnes and noble discount from lenovo I got it for $927 with tax.

It's an i7 4710, 15 inch 1080p IPS screen , 1tb HD + 8gb sshd, 8gb ram, 860m geforce card.

A few weeks after I ordered they updated the models to the 4720 processor. I've been thinking about sending it back when it gets here to order the 4720 model but I don't see a huge difference.

 

[thescreensavers]

check out xoticpc.com they have MSI,Sager laptops which are in that price range with possibly better graphics options(960M..)

http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np7155-clevo-n155sd-eta-mar-30th-p-8083.html

 

[VirtualLarry]

If I can partially hijack this thread... what kind of price range would be required for a laptop that can handle playing D3?

I have a friend, who's eldest daughter's laptop died. He said the replacement has to be able to play D3. I have no idea if the older one did.

I quoted him a price for one of my desktop gaming rigs (G3258, HD7950 3GB, 8GB DDR3-1600, 240GB SSD), but he thought that was too expensive.

I think he thinks he can just go to Walmart and pick up a cheap laptop and it will be able to play D3. Is this true, or does he need to go looking for a "gaming" laptop, with a dGPU?

 

[sze5003]

If I can partially hijack this thread... what kind of price range would be required for a laptop that can handle playing D3?

I have a friend, who's eldest daughter's laptop died. He said the replacement has to be able to play D3. I have no idea if the older one did.

I quoted him a price for one of my desktop gaming rigs (G3258, HD7950 3GB, 8GB DDR3-1600, 240GB SSD), but he thought that was too expensive.

I think he thinks he can just go to Walmart and pick up a cheap laptop and it will be able to play D3. Is this true, or does he need to go looking for a "gaming" laptop, with a dGPU?

Depends on what setting the old laptop was playing the game. I don't think you will have much luck with Walmart laptops. A decent i5, newer models, should be able to play it with integrated graphics on low/med settings.

 

[sm625]

I think he thinks he can just go to Walmart and pick up a cheap laptop and it will be able to play D3. Is this true, or does he need to go looking for a "gaming" laptop, with a dGPU?

It will. If set to the lowest possible settings it should run, as long as its not an atom. Hell, the new 14nm atom systems will run it (atom N3700 is actually roughly 2/3 of a haswell i5-Y GPU). If it is an AMD it will definitely run it even if it is a cat core. But if you want to run at better than 720p and/or higher quality settings, you're going to need something. Either a higher level iGPU, such as an AMD kaveri or a discrete GPU.

 

[HeianJodan]

check out xoticpc.com they have MSI,Sager laptops which are in that price range with possibly better graphics options(960M..)

http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np7155-clevo-n155sd-eta-mar-30th-p-8083.html

Was looking at that custom build and the benchmark diff between the 860m and the 960m seemed fairly minimal:
- GeForce GTX 960M - 1,652
- GeForce GTX 860M - 1,638

With the price tag at $1019.00 do you guys think the Acer Aspire v19 @899.00 is a good bang for the buck price point?

 

[sze5003]

Was looking at that custom build and the benchmark diff between the 860m and the 960m seemed fairly minimal:
- GeForce GTX 960M - 1,652
- GeForce GTX 860M - 1,638

With the price tag at $1019.00 do you guys think the Acer Aspire v19 @899.00 is a good bang for the buck price point?

It is unless you plan on upgrading parts. I'd pick the y50 over the Acer because its easier to upgrade the ram and HD in it.

 

[HeianJodan]

Based on your ease of upgrade reply, a comparable Lenovo I am seeing the following laptop:

Lenovo Y50 59421832 Touch $992.99

• 4th Generation Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (2.50GHz 1600MHz 6MB)
• Hybrid 1TB 5400 RPM+8GB SSHD / 8GB PC3-12800 DDR3L SDRAM 1600 MHz
• Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160, Bluetooth Version 4.0
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M 2GB
• 15.6 FHD LED Backlit Multitouch Display (1920×1080). Windows 8.1 64 Bit

Pros for the additional cost compared to the Acer:
- SSD
- Multitouch display
- Easier to upgrade

Cons
- CPU is not as good:
Lenovo: Intel Core i7-4710HQ @ 2.50GHz 7,958
Acer: Intel Core i7-4720HQ @ 2.60GHz 8,291

 

[sze5003]

Based on your ease of upgrade reply, a comparable Lenovo I am seeing the following laptop:

Lenovo Y50 59421832 Touch $992.99

• 4th Generation Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (2.50GHz 1600MHz 6MB)
• Hybrid 1TB 5400 RPM+8GB SSHD / 8GB PC3-12800 DDR3L SDRAM 1600 MHz
• Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160, Bluetooth Version 4.0
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M 2GB
• 15.6 FHD LED Backlit Multitouch Display (1920×1080). Windows 8.1 64 Bit

Pros for the additional cost compared to the Acer:
- SSD
- Multitouch display
- Easier to upgrade

Cons
- CPU is not as good:
Lenovo: Intel Core i7-4710HQ @ 2.50GHz 7,958
Acer: Intel Core i7-4720HQ @ 2.60GHz 8,291

I think you are looking in the wrong place. Are you in US?

Sign up here for an account, it gives you access to discounts: About 20-25%. You just create a username and password and you will see discounted prices once you log in.
https://shop.lenovo.com/barnesnoblegold/us/en/affinity/home/

Also do you need touch display?

Here is the slickdeals I found. Mine is coming today, similar to this one except I have the 4710 because I ordered right before they changed them.

http://slickdeals.net/f/7801883-len...b-geforce-gtx-860m-849-with-free-shipping?v=1

Also, difference between a 4710 and 4720 is minimal. Close to 100mhz and you won't notice it.

 

[B-Riz]

For D3, i3 3217u HD 4000, even on the lowest of low settings, it is not an enjoyable experience.

YMMV with only Intel HD stuff.

I would look for a refurb laptop on eBay that has a dedicated chip, or a Kaveri based laptop.

http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Z50-15-6-Inch-Laptop-80EC0087US/dp/B00NNQFNV4/

 

[sze5003]

For D3, i3 3217u HD 4000, even on the lowest of low settings, it is not an enjoyable experience.

YMMV with only Intel HD stuff.

I would look for a refurb laptop on eBay that has a dedicated chip, or a Kaveri based laptop.

http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Z50-15-6-Inch-Laptop-80EC0087US/dp/B00NNQFNV4/

I was considering a z50 but the screen is not IPS and no backlit keyboard.

 

[HeianJodan]

Here is the slickdeals I found. Mine is coming today, similar to this one except I have the 4710 because I ordered right before they changed them.

http://slickdeals.net/f/7801883-len...b-geforce-gtx-860m-849-with-free-shipping?v=1

Thanks for the tip on the Lenovo deal, which I bought for $899.94 shipped:
Lenovo Y50-70 Laptop - 59440656 - Black

• 4th Generation Intel Core i7-4720HQ Processor (2.60GHz 1600MHz 6MB)
• Windows 8.1 64
• 15.6" FHD IPS LED Backlight (1920x1080)
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M 2GB
• 8.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3L SDRAM 1600 MHz
• Hybrid 500GB 5400 RPM+8GB SSHD
• Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160
• Bluetooth Version 4.0
• One year warrenty
• 4 Cell 54 Watt Hour Lithium-Ion

 

[sze5003]

Thanks for the tip on the Lenovo deal, which I bought for $899.94 shipped:
Lenovo Y50-70 Laptop - 59440656 - Black

• 4th Generation Intel Core i7-4720HQ Processor (2.60GHz 1600MHz 6MB)
• Windows 8.1 64
• 15.6" FHD IPS LED Backlight (1920x1080)
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M 2GB
• 8.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3L SDRAM 1600 MHz
• Hybrid 500GB 5400 RPM+8GB SSHD
• Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160
• Bluetooth Version 4.0
• One year warrenty
• 4 Cell 54 Watt Hour Lithium-Ion

Your welcome. Yours should have the IPS screen. Mine that arrived today is an older model number that stated IPS on the website but the box says FHD LED.

I didn't open it and contacted support. They couldn't verify the type of screen and sent me to hardware support with my serial number. They couldn't figure anything out either. I called a second time and got someone else that send me their product spec sheets stating that my model was IPS.

I don't believe them so I asked for an RMA and since I had a cancelation request from a while ago I will get a refund in full. Once that happens I'll order the same model you got here.

 

[RossMAN]

Congrats you made a wise choice.

 

[sze5003]

Whenever you receive the laptop can you report back about the screen and what it says on the box for "Display" ?

I'm sending mine back because I believe I ordered a model they no longer have which ended up being non IPS. Didn't want to chance opening the package and get charged a restocking fee.

 

[HeianJodan]

Whenever you receive the laptop can you report back about the screen and what it says on the box for "Display"?

Sure np.

 

[B-Riz]

I was considering a z50 but the screen is not IPS and no backlit keyboard.

Apologies, did not mean to hijack your thread. Was trying to help out Larry with his D3 question.

I picked up a refurb Asus G46VW a while back, still going strong with a 1080p panel upgrade and SSD.

Anything Ivy Bridge or greater with nVidia Optimus and an SSD can't be beat for mobile gaming.

 

[HeianJodan]

Photo from the box.

 

[sze5003]

Photo from the box.

Holy crap yours did not take a month? You got it quickly. Thanks a lot..looks like my box did. Hmm guess I should have kept it. Well now I'll order the model you got with the 4720 instead of the 4710. I may just get the 16gb model since the standard 8gb is 2x4gb sticks. That model with the Barnes and noble discount is $909.

Your review of it would be appreciated if you have time. Kicking myself for not keeping the model I just sent back unopened lol.

 

[HeianJodan]

So far so good, though I'm removing all of this pre-loaded lenovo software. Ill ping back once I have tested it for running Warframe.

 

[sze5003]

So far so good, though I'm removing all of this pre-loaded lenovo software. Ill ping back once I have tested it for running Warframe.

Take note you loose the Lenovo recovery system the onekey(next to power button), controls if you wipe the drive and do a clean install. I do have the one key recovery engineering iso that's used to recreate the recovery partitions on a new or blank drive if you want to use that recovery system when installing a new drive or wiping the original.

When I buy mine I'll be wiping the drive and reinstalling windows 8.1 so I'll use that iso to recreate the recovery partions in case I ever want to use the recovery button to save a backup image or restore.

 

[HeianJodan]

When I buy mine I'll be wiping the drive and reinstalling windows 8.1 so I'll use that iso to recreate the recovery partions in case I ever want to use the recovery button to save a backup image or restore.

I only have the key that came with this laptop and I cant use that key to download the os from windows for an 8.1 fresh install. So I will either have to buy a new OS disc or just walk through all the apps and try to clean them all up manually.

 

[sze5003]

I only have the key that came with this laptop and I cant use that key to download the os from windows for an 8.1 fresh install. So I will either have to buy a new OS disc or just walk through all the apps and try to clean them all up manually.

Sure you can. Your key is stored in bios. Head over to the windows 8.1 site here and run the tool on the laptop.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

It will recognize the windows version you need or give you an option to choose. You need a 4gb flash drive to create the install media.

When you wipe the drive and clean install windows will activate on its own.

Let me know if you care enough about the OKR8 recovery iso and I can see if I can upload it somewhere for you.

 

[HeianJodan]

Sure you can. Your key is stored in bios. Head over to the windows 8.1 site here and run the tool on the laptop.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

It will recognize the windows version you need or give you an option to choose. You need a 4gb flash drive to create the install media.

When you wipe the drive and clean install windows will activate on its own.

Let me know if you care enough about the OKR8 recovery iso and I can see if I can upload it somewhere for you.

I went here
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only
and when I ran their tool with my key it gave me a message saying I could not install the retail version of windows.

I will try the link you sent instead.

I am interested in the recovery iso.