Question Gaming laptop recommendations

pjmssn

Member
Aug 17, 2017
89
11
71
Hi all,

My daughter is currently using one of my old workstations for light gaming (Xeon X5650, 24 GB RAM, GT730 graphic card). My wife is complaining that the computer takes too much space and would like me to find an affordable laptop as replacement.
My daughter would use the computer mostly to play Minecraft, Sims4, and a bunch of online games similar to Minecraft, as well as regular homework related activities (office, web searches...)

I am looking for recommendation for a laptop that would meet her needs in the $300-$400 range, used is perfectly fine.
Screen - 15", FHD
I am assuming a discreet graphic card and 8GB of RAM is needed. I can easily install more memory and a SSD myself.

Thank you for your help.
pjm
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,339
10,044
126
Laptop, with FHD screen, 8GB RAM, discrete graphics that can play Sims4 and "online games", for $300-400? Yeah, I'd like that too...

That said, look at the Ryzen 5 3500U laptops, with FHD screens. They should come with SSDs too. RAM is easy to upgrade, in most cases, in case it only comes with 4GB.

I don't own Sims4 (really, any of them), so I can't say. But I just picked up a Ryzen 3 3200U laptop, last week, at Wally-world, $269. 4GB DDR4 and 128GB M.2 SSD (turned out to be a Samsung SATA model). HP 14". Only problem, NOT a FHD screen. Although, you can install the newest AMD video drivers (Adrenaline 19.7.3) and use a "virtual" resolution of up to 2560x1440P, on a 1366x768P native screen. Sort-of-mostly works.

The 3200U is 14nm, and has 2C/4T, base clock of 2.60Ghz, and Vega 3 iGPU graphics. I don't know if that's enough for Sims. Maybe at native 768P res. Could be a budget option, and as a bonus, it's new, light-weight, and has a warranty, though I don't know if they would honor it if you upgrade the RAM. ($60-70 for a 2x8GB DDR4-2667 kit, GSkill @ Newegg.)
 

pjmssn

Member
Aug 17, 2017
89
11
71
Laptop, with FHD screen, 8GB RAM, discrete graphics that can play Sims4 and "online games", for $300-400? Yeah, I'd like that too...

That said, look at the Ryzen 5 3500U laptops, with FHD screens. They should come with SSDs too. RAM is easy to upgrade, in most cases, in case it only comes with 4GB.

I don't own Sims4 (really, any of them), so I can't say. But I just picked up a Ryzen 3 3200U laptop, last week, at Wally-world, $269. 4GB DDR4 and 128GB M.2 SSD (turned out to be a Samsung SATA model). HP 14". Only problem, NOT a FHD screen. Although, you can install the newest AMD video drivers (Adrenaline 19.7.3) and use a "virtual" resolution of up to 2560x1440P, on a 1366x768P native screen. Sort-of-mostly works.

The 3200U is 14nm, and has 2C/4T, base clock of 2.60Ghz, and Vega 3 iGPU graphics. I don't know if that's enough for Sims. Maybe at native 768P res. Could be a budget option, and as a bonus, it's new, light-weight, and has a warranty, though I don't know if they would honor it if you upgrade the RAM. ($60-70 for a 2x8GB DDR4-2667 kit, GSkill @ Newegg.)
Thanks! I'll keep looking for good deals.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

fire400

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2005
5,204
21
81
eBay: thinkpad geforce

filter: Buy It Now, Price lowest to highest

plenty of $400 deals there

example:
Thinkpad E570 i7-7500U Nvidia GeForce GTX 950M ● 15.6" FHD IPS 1920x1080 Gaming
$400 and free shipping
 

Muadib

Lifer
May 30, 2000
17,916
838
126
These are the most selling and best laptop available in the market. All these laptops are worth their price, the performance of these are best they are made for gaming.
  1. Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701.
  2. MSI GS75 Stealth 8SG. ...
  3. Razer Blade Pro 17 (2019) ...
  4. HP Omen 15. ..
I guess you missed the part where he said he only wanted to spend 300-400 bucks.
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
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