this_sucks
ok im wanting to buy a laptop that i can play games on such as World of Warcraft ((takes up alot of memory)) but i have no idea what any of the stuff means these days when i go to purchase one........so i guess im looking for an exact name of a laptop taht would be good for games + music.........also is there a chip or something that makes graphics better..?
BTW: i have $5,000 to spend on it
Answer
Money would be the main factor....
However, a specific laptop that is somewhat value conscious and good for games would be a HP DV6700t with the Nvidia 8600GT video card. I would highly recommend a 7200 rpm drive, a 2.2Ghz proc or better and a wireless N card if you plan on doing your games via a wireless network.
The 9000 series of HPs would be ideal (Dual drive Raid 0 support), but you'll end up spending well over $2000 fully configured...
Edit: $5,000! If you want the "coolest" laptop in that price range for games, you are looking at the Alienware/Dell XPS category. If you want the same thing (90% of the same features - no dual video card support) for $1,000 less, you are looking at the HP 9700 series laptop. $,5000 is going to buy you waaay more than a W.O.W. laptop. You can get that for less than $1,500. Lots of memory really only means you need 2/3GB. 4GB is overkill. Be aware that you need to be running a 64bit OS if you hit the 4GB mark and that not even Crysis needs that much (only 1.5GB for recommended configuration).
Money would be the main factor....
However, a specific laptop that is somewhat value conscious and good for games would be a HP DV6700t with the Nvidia 8600GT video card. I would highly recommend a 7200 rpm drive, a 2.2Ghz proc or better and a wireless N card if you plan on doing your games via a wireless network.
The 9000 series of HPs would be ideal (Dual drive Raid 0 support), but you'll end up spending well over $2000 fully configured...
Edit: $5,000! If you want the "coolest" laptop in that price range for games, you are looking at the Alienware/Dell XPS category. If you want the same thing (90% of the same features - no dual video card support) for $1,000 less, you are looking at the HP 9700 series laptop. $,5000 is going to buy you waaay more than a W.O.W. laptop. You can get that for less than $1,500. Lots of memory really only means you need 2/3GB. 4GB is overkill. Be aware that you need to be running a 64bit OS if you hit the 4GB mark and that not even Crysis needs that much (only 1.5GB for recommended configuration).
Which laptop should I get?
Das Gross
HP Pavilion dv6t or MacBook Pro 13"
What I plan on using either of these laptops for
1. Good gaming experience with the newest titles (Integrated Graphics are key). By that, I mean it can run Portal 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 very well.
2. Video editing (I'm in a A/V class where Final Cut Pro is the main software. If I got a Macbook, I could install Final Cut Studio 2 for free, as I'm a student)
3. Everyday use for Word Processing, etc. Battery Life is a big factor as well.
4. Which one will be the most reliable/last the longest/has the best resale value.
Oh, and the MacBook Pro is the newest edition. 2.4ghz processors, Intel HD 3000 graphics
The only real games I want to play on the MacBook Pro are already on OS X. Portal 2, Counterstrike Source, Team Fortress 2, Call of Duty 4, Civilization IV, etc.
One more thing: I'm reluctant to buy another HP product because I've had bad experiences with HP laptops.
Answer
Here's the problem. Brand names are not manufacturers (except MSI which is design+production and the Asus/Asustek partnership, and the Lenovo Thinkpad highest end T series which is Japan designed) The two you mention are both wrong for different reasons.
HP reliability and service is at the bottom of the barrel year after year. Here is the latest survey:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/244419/laptop_reliability_and_satisfaction_macbooks_rule.html
HP has their manufacturers take the same basic shell, cooling, fans, etc and has them use the full spectrum of CPU and graphics, the high end ones generating lots of heat. Their fans are noisy and cooling systems break down a lot.
Apple is the top of quality, but the bottom of value. For the same $1200 for a reference, you get really bad CPU and graphics, and as you mention Intel HD, it is not for gaming. Here is a couple of sites: http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html
When you mention re-sale value, the values drop fast once you buy a laptop. On average it is 50% per year. However, you need to spend money to get the features you want. Battery life numbers are usually false.They run them differently at each company and some are likened to a car rolling downhill for mpg (while engine is running of course).
You can write the blank check and get a high end Mac Pro and say screw the price. Some people do. Great operating system, reliability, software, features, wow-factor among friends, etc. It is a fine product if you think it is worth the premium.
I have a few favorites on the market, especially if you are USA seems models change by geo.
Lenovo Y570 is top value in a good graphics good performance mid-range quality well featured system, going with sale prices, and front page can get you 10% discount on first order with your email address.
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087¤t-category-id=F41BC8E1656C5F85171FBDB172571912&action=init
It's a 15.6" USB 3.0. Specials change often. Sample as IdeaPad Y570 Laptop - 08626JU - $800 and the coupon if you get it covers tax and a little more. The MAC 13 is $1200
i7-2670QM 2.2GHz quad core. The clock screening boost to 2.4 buys little (it's the same IC)
The Max 13 is a dual core 2.4GHz i5. They hide it, but it is the i5-2430. (6786 vs 3467 passmark score). The Y570 has 8GB ram. Apple wants $200 to upgrade to 8GB RAM. Y570 uses NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 1GB. MAC PRO 13 is Intel graphics (puke at the price). You can dig into all the features, but even though much bigger, the Y570 blows away Macpro13 other than size and operating system and battery life (because of the CPU+graphics not pulling power for MAC).
Your better compare is a Macpro 15 which has graphics. The base model at $1800 is more than double the Y570 price. You get thinner+lighter, better battery life, better operating system, your free software for vid edit, but not quite the I/O ports of the Y570. The HD6750M is #80 at Notebookcheck. It is a high end class 2. Not great gaming, but OK. The GT 555M is a low end class 1 at #65. So, the Y570 is better graphics officially and is 1GB GDRAM. The Y570 with 8GB RAM again takes $200 to get the MAC to 8GB. The Y570 is at least comparable to a MACPRO15 when you stack up everything. Some would call it better, some think Windows sucks and nothing stacks against a MAC. I stack $1200 price difference in comparably equipped against a MAC on top of the Y570.
Now, won't get into details as I am already too big an answer, look for gaming level Asus or MSI if you want higher end graphics than the Y570. If you want smaller system, browse the Lenovo site and compare all the specs to competition. Buy the best value of the brand you are comfortable with. Worldwide PC sales unit volume at last check were HP/compaq, Lenovo, Dell and Acer with their other brands neck+neck at #4 in order, and apple, toshiba, samsung... and everyone else after that.
PS add: 1st answer was half right in a few words. Macpro 13 does not do games. Mac pro 15 does gaming almost as good as Y570, and maybe a tiny touch better with 8GB ram for $200 because the better screen and op system counters the better graphics chip of the Y570. Gets close at a $1200 price spread.
Here's the problem. Brand names are not manufacturers (except MSI which is design+production and the Asus/Asustek partnership, and the Lenovo Thinkpad highest end T series which is Japan designed) The two you mention are both wrong for different reasons.
HP reliability and service is at the bottom of the barrel year after year. Here is the latest survey:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/244419/laptop_reliability_and_satisfaction_macbooks_rule.html
HP has their manufacturers take the same basic shell, cooling, fans, etc and has them use the full spectrum of CPU and graphics, the high end ones generating lots of heat. Their fans are noisy and cooling systems break down a lot.
Apple is the top of quality, but the bottom of value. For the same $1200 for a reference, you get really bad CPU and graphics, and as you mention Intel HD, it is not for gaming. Here is a couple of sites: http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html
When you mention re-sale value, the values drop fast once you buy a laptop. On average it is 50% per year. However, you need to spend money to get the features you want. Battery life numbers are usually false.They run them differently at each company and some are likened to a car rolling downhill for mpg (while engine is running of course).
You can write the blank check and get a high end Mac Pro and say screw the price. Some people do. Great operating system, reliability, software, features, wow-factor among friends, etc. It is a fine product if you think it is worth the premium.
I have a few favorites on the market, especially if you are USA seems models change by geo.
Lenovo Y570 is top value in a good graphics good performance mid-range quality well featured system, going with sale prices, and front page can get you 10% discount on first order with your email address.
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087¤t-category-id=F41BC8E1656C5F85171FBDB172571912&action=init
It's a 15.6" USB 3.0. Specials change often. Sample as IdeaPad Y570 Laptop - 08626JU - $800 and the coupon if you get it covers tax and a little more. The MAC 13 is $1200
i7-2670QM 2.2GHz quad core. The clock screening boost to 2.4 buys little (it's the same IC)
The Max 13 is a dual core 2.4GHz i5. They hide it, but it is the i5-2430. (6786 vs 3467 passmark score). The Y570 has 8GB ram. Apple wants $200 to upgrade to 8GB RAM. Y570 uses NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 1GB. MAC PRO 13 is Intel graphics (puke at the price). You can dig into all the features, but even though much bigger, the Y570 blows away Macpro13 other than size and operating system and battery life (because of the CPU+graphics not pulling power for MAC).
Your better compare is a Macpro 15 which has graphics. The base model at $1800 is more than double the Y570 price. You get thinner+lighter, better battery life, better operating system, your free software for vid edit, but not quite the I/O ports of the Y570. The HD6750M is #80 at Notebookcheck. It is a high end class 2. Not great gaming, but OK. The GT 555M is a low end class 1 at #65. So, the Y570 is better graphics officially and is 1GB GDRAM. The Y570 with 8GB RAM again takes $200 to get the MAC to 8GB. The Y570 is at least comparable to a MACPRO15 when you stack up everything. Some would call it better, some think Windows sucks and nothing stacks against a MAC. I stack $1200 price difference in comparably equipped against a MAC on top of the Y570.
Now, won't get into details as I am already too big an answer, look for gaming level Asus or MSI if you want higher end graphics than the Y570. If you want smaller system, browse the Lenovo site and compare all the specs to competition. Buy the best value of the brand you are comfortable with. Worldwide PC sales unit volume at last check were HP/compaq, Lenovo, Dell and Acer with their other brands neck+neck at #4 in order, and apple, toshiba, samsung... and everyone else after that.
PS add: 1st answer was half right in a few words. Macpro 13 does not do games. Mac pro 15 does gaming almost as good as Y570, and maybe a tiny touch better with 8GB ram for $200 because the better screen and op system counters the better graphics chip of the Y570. Gets close at a $1200 price spread.
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