New Laptop / Graphics Card - Help

[Ratchet]

So, I intend to buy a new laptop in the coming week or two and I'm looking at my options online. I'd like something for less than $1000, preferably capping around the $900-$950 area (base price, without shipping & handling if it can only be found online).

And I do have a few requirements / specific questions.
Requirements:
- Windows 7. Home or Professional, I'm indifferent.
- i7 Processor (Quad Core - QM)
- 6GB RAM (Prefer 8GB) or additional RAM slots
- 15.X" Screen (15.6" most common)
- HDD 500GB+

Now, here's to the question part. I can find quite a few laptops online, some for a bit less than $900. However, the biggest thing weighing in on my mind is something equally important as everything previously - I'd like to have a "good" or "above average" graphics card. A buddy of mine said any "integrated" card will, by nature, not perform as well as an "external" card.

With that being said, I set out to find a laptop and came across one that has a NVIDIA GeForce 630M 1GB in it, and some other great specs as well.

Samsung Series 5 NP550P5C-T01US

That is a great laptop, however I began to think. I don't really play any "computer games", such as Bioshock, Diablo III, etc. Do I really need a laptop that expensive, just for the graphics card? Probably not. So I looked at this benchmark and was overwhelmed with statistics and performance comparisons (which use a lot of terminology I'm not particularly familiar with).

So, I took to more entry-level research and went to Apple's website to see what graphics cards the Macbooks have in them. Turns out, the $2,000 Macbook Pro is running off of a Intel HD 4000 graphics card.

Statistically, the GeForce 630M is more of a powerhouse graphics card than the HD 4000. However, is it that big of a deal for something like Tron/LeagueOfLegends/Nonhardcoregamers ?
I also have another laptop (included below, marked with **) that has a 2GB DDR3 AMD Radeon 7670M graphics card. Does anyone have an opinion on that particular card?

What graphics cards does everyone have? What processor do you have with that card ? (Google says graphics cards' performance is also based upon the type/amount of processing power you have). What tron FPS do you get with your card?

I'm just asking this to try and get a better idea of what graphics cards are capable of. Sorry for the long post. Also, here are a few options that I currently know of.

Samsung Series 5 NP550P5C-T01US
- I like the overall specs, though I'm not sure about the design of the laptop/keyboard

**Toshiba Satellite S850-BT3N22
- I like the customization available, and this one comes with W7 Professional, with the media to upgrade to W8 Pro at any time. (The reviews are pretty complain-y, mostly about Windows 8 / Keyboard. Since it is now possible to get with W7, I'm not sure if I should be concerned)

Still looking for more ideas. So really, any feedback is appreciated. If I can find a *very good* computer with only Windows 8, buying Windows 7 separately is also an option.

[delinquent]

To be honest, as chipsets progress, this is becoming less of an issue. This time last year, I would have told you to forget altogether about buying a laptop if you intended to play anything heavier than the Sims on it.

That Samsung will do what you ask, but it's tiny. You'll get pig sick of playing on a screen of that size in no time, much more so with League of Legends. The same goes for the Toshiba.

The chipset in that Samsung (680M) is pretty popular in laptops, and there's a fair few PCI cards that also sport a similar variant. All for good reason: It's solid, and it works well. That thing will last you for a good 3-5 years at the very least, if not a lot longer.

There is a vast price difference between a teachers laptop and a nerds laptop. Nowadays that gap is pretty vast, and because producers are more often looking for hardware that uses less power, it's difficult to find something in-between without breaking the bank. Nevertheless, I had a look for you:

Vaio E series
Pretty decent. Translate that price into dollars and it's pretty cheap too. Using Arma as a benchmark, you'll get about 50-80 FPS on it, and 100-130 if you put linux on it.

Toshiba L875 series
Nice. This one is damned reliable, the 10g model is a favourite of mine.

Also, if you don't mind a refurb, the Dell outlet has some decent(ish) offers.

[Renegade]

Here's a computer for you

[ASUS A73SD-TS72

With all the specs, and price range you asked for, and an interchangeable NVDIA Graphics card more than capable of running tron.

Though, it's more for media, but still good for games that aren't too heavy. Full HD too, so you'll have to adjust to those tiny pixels. :d I'd look on Newegg for other options, they're pretty reliable, and usually offer free 2-day shipping

[Fippmam]

I seriously think you should consider a desktop. if you seriously have no intentions of lugging it around all day, and your dorm room has enough space, I say go for it - you'll get a stronger machine with that budget.

Aside from the ones you already listed, I'd recommend this: ASUS N56VJ-DH71 (Which you can find on Amazon for just around your price range) or if you have a hundred more bucks to spare and you really don't wanna risk your games not running as smooth, I'd recommend ASUS G55VW-DH71, with it's more powerful video card.

I switched out the tiny card on my cyberpower desktop for an Asus Radeon HD 7770 card, which runs Bioshock Infinite on Very High with no hiccups whatsoever (Also on Ultra, but then the hiccups start) but I don't think most laptops let you customize graphics cards, especially if the laptop came with an integrated card.

[Ratchet]

I looked at all of your suggestions - some nice alternatives. @Deli: I liked the L875's you linked to, but I am concerned that perhaps they are UK-only (can't find them on the US site) and they will have an alternative keyboard/system installed.

Another popup question: How terrible is Windows 8? Has anyone here had to suffer it? Does it make you want to commit suicide? Is 99% of programs not compatible with it? Or is it not that bad?

[delinquent]

Windows eight is ok, but not on a stereotypical computer. It only really works (imo) on a tablet. Even then, I prefer a tablet with win7 or ubuntu.

I found a few models on amazon for you:

L875D-S7232

L875D-S7131NR

L875-S7110 - best bet imo.

S875-S7242 - better cpu, but intel onboard doesn't really push any envelopes.

[epsy]

The Intel HD4000(included on all 3rd gen Intel Core CPUs) is a very capable chip if you intend to play tron with it. I currently have vsync on, but I reached about 400 fps last time I tried. The Nvidia 630M does roughly as good as it, so I would not recommend you pick it.

[Renegade]

Just don't get windows 8, even though w8 laptops are offered at a lower price, it's not worth it. Deli's right, it was built more for touchscreen gadgets, which I don't think you'd like anyway. I've only suffered windows 8 on my laptop because my laptop has a nice processing speed, so it makes it bearable.


I'm not sure Dell laptops are so good, I've had one, and it crapped out on me fairly quickly, but Dell may have gotten a bit better since then. I have to agree with getting a desktop, they have some nice power, and just get a chrome book for menial tasks you have to do on the go.

[Ratchet]

I have no immediate use for a desktop. It's in my future, though!

And perhaps I may give in to windows 8. I have watched a few Youtube videos on the OS and it seems fairly acceptable, though it is much more hotkey based (win + blah) for nearly all functions. Additionally, if you weren't already aware, Stardock has some pretty amazing programs that allow Windows 8 functionality to be maximized. At the very least, I can get a copy of Windows 7 for (fairly) cheap. That being said, the door opened for a lot of new possibilities. Personally, I like the Lenovo Ideapad Y500. I think it's a viable option, and I may very well end up with it.

[Clutch]

Would just like to give my 2 cents since the Satellites have been mentioned a few times. I'm currently using one, though I'm pretty sure its older than the ones Delinquent mentioned. I have an L750D. I don't really understand computer specs and all that so I'm not going to get into it. But aside from specs, just from experience I can tell you that graphics-wise, the one I have is very meh. I have to play most demanding games on about medium or less. For tron, its perfect for me. I get a solid 200-250 fps. Also should mention it gets very hot. All in all the newer models would probably be pretty solid. Maybe I should upgrade myself

[Bytes]

I just bought one of the new HP envy sleekbooks, haven't had a proper go with it yet but I'll give an update at some point.
I went for the AMD6 processor instead of the intel i5 due to the superior graphics. Processor speed is pretty much the same, possibly a little towards the i5 but nothing noticeable so I've heard. Plus it has beats speakers built in so should sound decent. All in all way £450 (down from £550) and boy does it look gorgeous. Can't wait to get it home (was delivered to work where I am now).

I know you were looking for an i7 equivalent so maybe this might be a bit underpowered for your liking but oh well.

As far as win 8 goes, I find it just as usable on my desktop as win 7. Yet to try it on a laptop though.

[Ratchet]

I looked at a lot of Satellites on Toshiba's site, including the ones Deli posted, but I really just don't care for them. It looks like all of the keyboards are the same, and my dad's L-something (fairly new) has a keyboard that I really don't care for at all. I appreciate all the input, though. It helps to see what others think I do think the Lenovo laptop will suffice, my current laptop is about 5.6lbs, the Y500 being slightly over 6lbs (which is a bit hefty - but hey, it is a monster). My current laptop is a "lightweight" laptop compared to what I want.

I don't think I mentioned it before, but this is what I currently have - so any upgrade is going to be a major one.

http://www.cnet.com/laptops/toshiba-sat ... 84882.html

[Fippmam]

Your old one isn't that bad, haha.

Lenovo computers are built well, so I'd go for the ideapad like you decided. Whatever you do though, do not get a HP computer. I had a desktop and a laptop - both HP - that crapped out on me prematurely.

Windows 8 looks really cool though The only reason I haven't quite jumped on it, is because all the Windows 8 certified Monitors (10 point multitouch w/ Full 1080p resolution) are like 500 bucks. "Ain't nobody got time foe dat." I'll wait for the cost of the monitors to come down before upgrading my OS, because using a mouse to scroll through the UI of Windows 8 looks painful.

[Ratchet]

To be completely honest, I'm not even sure it looks painful. I think it'd be fun to learn, it seems to have some pretty neat features. Like I mentioned to Renegade, there is also a $5 Stardock program to get Windows 7 functionality back, as well as a multitude of other Stardock applications that you can get individually for roughly $5 or in a suite containing all of them for $50.

Windows 8 looks like it could be fun to play around in I'm kinda excited to try it out tbh. I just hope it functions as well as Windows 7.

[kyle]

I just hope it functions as well as Windows 7.

heh good luck with that everything MS added in counterintuitive.