Need new laptop for school

[TecHNooB]

Been outta the loop for a while. Want to buy something under 900 with a decent cpu and gpu. Was looking to get this but seeking other recommendations. I'd like to be able to play some newer games on it as well

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834214893

 

[gmaster456]

Been outta the loop for a while. Want to buy something under 900 with a decent cpu and gpu. Was looking to get this but seeking other recommendations. I'd like to be able to play some newer games on it as well

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834214893

That laptop looks good. It's relatively light compared to most other 17 inch laptops, and it's thin. The battery life isn't bad either for a 17 inch. If you want a 17 inch laptop, I don't think that would be a bad choice. They are big, just keep that in mind.

 

[pelov]

That's way too expensive for what you're getting. I like Toshiba's build quality, though, but they have it overpriced on Newegg. The battery is only 48W/hr and $750 for no discrete GPU is a crime.

You can configure an HP dv6z with the same A10, a 1080p LED screen (it might be an e-IPS as well, some HP laptops configured with 1080p monitors are shipping with e-IPS screens and some are just regular TN panels), backlit keyboard and a 62W/hr battery for $775.

If you don't want to buy HP then there's the Lenovo Y580s which come with the new Kepler mobile chips and the new Thinkpad Edge 435 with Trinity is going to be available soon.

On Toshibadirect they offer a configured option of that laptop and with a 66W/hr 6-cell battery it comes out to only $547. I own a Toshiba SB i3 and I like the build quality quite a bit. Certainly has a solid feel to it. Their panels are very glossy, though, but adequately bright. Even on the dimmest brightness setting I can read text comfortably indoors.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I wouldn't want a laptop that big for school. Carrying that thing around would get old very fast.

 

[TecHNooB]

now i'm thinking i should get an i7 with a discrete graphics card. what's the cheapest laptop that meets both these reqs? most seem to be in the 800 range if there's one in the mid 700 range, i'd be all over it.

 

[gmaster456]

now i'm thinking i should get an i7 with a discrete graphics card. what's the cheapest laptop that meets both these reqs? most seem to be in the 800 range if there's one in the mid 700 range, i'd be all over it.

Good luck finding that. It will also cut your battery life in half. Also an i7 isn't required for gaming, and the only major difference between an i7 and an i5 is hyperthreading, which makes little difference in anything but heavily multithreaded apps.

 

[pelov]

Also an i7 isn't required for gaming, and the only major difference between an i7 and an i5 is hyperthreading, which makes little difference in anything but heavily multithreaded apps.

It's not hyperthreading but rather extra L3 cache or an additional 2 cores + 4 threads. The non-QM versions of the i7's have just the added L3 cache + clock speed bumps while the QM versions are 4 cores and 8 threads, usually lower non-turbo clocks but high turbos.

 

[TecHNooB]

went to toshibadirect, applied some coupons, and walla!
i7-3610QM
8 GB RAM
1 TB HD
Radeon 7670M
15.6"

Resolution is 13xx/7xx (i'm ok with that since it's a laptop).

Grand total!?

844 shipped. Not bad imo

 

[Sunburn74]

Dunno.. the res on the screen is kinda embarassing for the price.

 

[frozentundra123456]

That's way too expensive for what you're getting. I like Toshiba's build quality, though, but they have it overpriced on Newegg. The battery is only 48W/hr and $750 for no discrete GPU is a crime.

You can configure an HP dv6z with the same A10, a 1080p LED screen (it might be an e-IPS as well, some HP laptops configured with 1080p monitors are shipping with e-IPS screens and some are just regular TN panels), backlit keyboard and a 62W/hr battery for $775.

If you don't want to buy HP then there's the Lenovo Y580s which come with the new Kepler mobile chips and the new Thinkpad Edge 435 with Trinity is going to be available soon.

On Toshibadirect they offer a configured option of that laptop and with a 66W/hr 6-cell battery it comes out to only $547. I own a Toshiba SB i3 and I like the build quality quite a bit. Certainly has a solid feel to it. Their panels are very glossy, though, but adequately bright. Even on the dimmest brightness setting I can read text comfortably indoors.

I concur. A decent laptop, but too expensive. You should be able to get a quad core intel and discrete card for a very similar price. For instance, if you are near a Microcenter, they have an Asus with an intel IVB quad core and GT 630 M for 799. I know it is an old rebadged GT540M, but still faster than the A10, with a better CPU. I also trust Asus quality more than Toshiba.