Cheap gaming laptop?

[blackdog]

I'm relocating to UK in a week or so!

I'm going to be in a temporary situation for some time for sure; that pushes back the possibility/convenience to get a serious desktop like i wanted.

So to finally do some proper tinkering with some tools in my spare time (my main computer is a 2008 Macbook :-/ and i can barely run Hammer on an even older laptop), the best choice would be a new laptop, but to spend a lot on a gaming one doesn't seem the best idea to me (read: i hope in ~6 months to be settled and be able to afford a desktop).

The question: do you guys have any recommendation? For the aformentioned reasons I'd be looking for machines at 600€/500£ top.

I've browsed a little recently and it seems there are a few models, but haven't had time yet to study benchmarks; since i'm not updated with latest hardware I'm not sure what to look for.

~

Aside: do you use a pen+tablet to work? I borrowed one a year ago to try working on the 2D stuff i made for mobile games, but it's collecting dust. I wonder if it's better to return it or propose the girl to buy it. (It's a Graphire 4 Silver -- CTE-640.)

I had the Wacom entry model myself years ago, it was nice for the photo-retouching i was used to do, so maybe it's useful to make textures or with tools like the Sandbox.

Edited September 15, 2013 by blackdog

[Thrik]

One thing to note is the Dell UK Outlet sells near-perfect models that got cosmetic damage during production for much cheaper, I got a powerful development laptop for like half the normal price that way. I think Amazon and Apple do similar schemes.

[TarrySruman]

I got an HP laptop pretty cheap a few months ago and its surprisingly powerful. The biggest problem is its got a shitty laptop hard drive, so things run really well, but they take ages to load.

[Thrik]

Yeah I know I just made this point in another thread but my god is an SSD worth it, especially on a laptop.

[blackdog]

Can I ask you both the models you got?

As per the SSD matter, one idea i didn't jot down would be to find a computer offering a second bay, so that I could invest some money in such a disk, since prices are more accessible now.

Awesome tip with the DELL Outlet Thrik, thanks very much!

I've quickly dabbled with the filters and right now it doesn't seem to be something to commit to (only one 15" with archaic CPU) but prices are definitely interesting, must keep an eye on it.

I've checked several times in the past for the Apple refurbished products, but they still cost A LOT... it's funny, and tempting, that a MB Pro with Retina costs less than the standard MB Pro there. I wonder if one would have to worry about performances with that display though, or if there are issues with a Windows boot.

I didn't pay attention to those Macs because my long-term plan was always to end up getting a desktop-PC and pairing an Air for travelling or lightweight work.

Edited September 15, 2013 by blackdog

[Thrik]

It was this one:

 

http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/latitude-e6430/pd

 

Although you have to customise it to get the precise model I got, as mine has the quad core i7 and an SSD which takes the price up to about £1100. I got it for about £600 if I remember correctly, with the only fault being the rubber rim around the screen was coming loose and needed sticking back in — a small thing to deal with for the savings.

 

And yeah, you have to keep an eye on these things. The good deals aren't always up and when they are they go fast, as it's literally a case of how many happen to have production faults. I know some people are totally against buying anything that's imperfect and there's a slight gamble to what the superficial problem is (one colleague had a deep scratch on the casing) but fuck if I'm paying so much for the same hardware pretty much.

[Sentura]

I think one thing I have learned is that gaming laptops don't really work out. I always tried to get out, but it would always yield too little while getting diabolically hot.

 

Also congrats on relocating, did you get a job? =)

Edited September 15, 2013 by Sentura

[blackdog]

Thanks Sentura, really appreciate it!

I have a job but it's just a temporary and modest one, non gaming or even computer related... but i can't stand to be at home or Italy anymore, and here the gaming industry is practically non-existent anyway; being close to London should give so many more opportunities. Fingers crossed.

I completely agree with you on the laptops, but in this situation I'll maybe have to bounce around for a while so it's pretty much the only solution, the other would be to get an all-in-one, but that would still be problematic (and not better hardware afterall).

~

Any mobile GPU to recommend and to look for?

On the Dell outlet there are some nice workstations (17") at a nice price, but that's what those are... they mount ATIs FirePro M with 2gb of GDDR5(!), which is definitely a "pro" GPU, but I'm afraid not good for gaming(?)

Edited September 15, 2013 by blackdog

[blackdog]

Among the DELLs, this machine struck me, seems pretty good. Pity the 14". Thoughts?

 

Vostro 3460
Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-3632QM (2.2GHz, 6M cache)
Windows® 8 Pro
32GB mSATA3 SSD for Minicard Slots
750 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
8 GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz Memory (2 DIMMs)
Display : 14.0 inch High Definition LED Display (1366 x 768) with Anti-Glare
LCD Back Cover : Silver
Graphics : 1GB nVidia GeForce GT 630M Discrete Graphic Card
Back Up Media Not Included
Windows 8 Professional (64 Bit OS)
Wireless : Intel Centrino Advanced-N 2230 (2x2, a/g/n) + Bluetooth
8X DVD+/- RW Drive
Battery : Primary 6 Cell 48W/HR
Internal Qwerty Keyboard

[Thrik]

Not sure what that SSD thing is, seems like some kind of external hard drive slot? Not big enough to really install Windows on so it probably wouldn't be much benefit really, but SSD is arguably a luxury anyway (even if sweet).

14 inches might not be amazing for gaming but that's still a pretty big and heavy laptop, good to bear in mind if you plan to move it around.

[DrywallDreams]

mSATA is internal, really small:

[AtsEst]

Among the DELLs, this machine struck me, seems pretty good. Pity the 14". Thoughts?

 

Vostro 3460

Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-3632QM (2.2GHz, 6M cache)

Windows® 8 Pro

32GB mSATA3 SSD for Minicard Slots

750 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)

8 GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz Memory (2 DIMMs)

Display : 14.0 inch High Definition LED Display (1366 x 768) with Anti-Glare

LCD Back Cover : Silver

Graphics : 1GB nVidia GeForce GT 630M Discrete Graphic Card

Back Up Media Not Included

Windows 8 Professional (64 Bit OS)

Wireless : Intel Centrino Advanced-N 2230 (2x2, a/g/n) + Bluetooth

8X DVD+/- RW Drive

Battery : Primary 6 Cell 48W/HR

Internal Qwerty Keyboarid

If you want to drag it along and work on it then it is pretty much the perfect size(don't expect much of a battery life though). The bad thing about the display is that is quite low resolution. But that can be remedied by getting an actual display so you have more screen real estate to work with and get a lot better IQ as well.

 

I got myself a 15" dell xps ~2 years ago with a 1080p screen which is decent but definitely does not replace a multiple display setup. Also dragging it along with its huge power brick isn't comfortable at all. also the GPU in it is a 540m which is pretty much the same spec as 630m, should be more than enough for Hammer. But it will likely choke up if you throw anything heavier at it (Cryengine SDK for example).

[Thrik]

Good point about the monitor. At work we have Dell docks which have a 24-inch monitor, keyboard, and laptop plugged into them. You simply put the laptop on top of it and a connector on the bottom basically turns it into a desktop unit. Pretty much indistinguishable from using an actual desktop, but of course mine isn't geared towards gaming. I guess the GPU will always be the hardest thing to max out in a laptop.

[blackdog]

Thanks everyone for contributing

 

If you want to drag it along and work on it then it is pretty much the perfect size(don't expect much of a battery life though). The bad thing about the display is that is quite low resolution.

 

I got myself a 15" dell xps ~2 years ago with a 1080p screen which is decent but definitely does not replace a multiple display setup. Also dragging it along with its huge power brick isn't comfortable at all. also the GPU in it is a 540m which is pretty much the same spec as 630m, should be more than enough for Hammer. But it will likely choke up if you throw anything heavier at it (Cryengine SDK for example).

 

 

yeah in fact i'm looking first at 15", i'd take a 17" if a good deal is available. An additional display is not something i'm considering atm, it could be something to invest between the shift from laptop to desktop, when i'll be settled.

 

Thanks a lot for the info about the GPU.

Is there a mobile GPU that could work with the Cryengine? Other than an Alienware with SLI cards

 

Are the workstations i also found in the outlet with ATIs FirePro M with 2gb of GDDR5 rubbish, in terms of gaming?

What about the 650M found in Macbooks?

 

mSATA is internal, really small:

 

done a quick Google search and I understand it's something like a cache. I wonder how does it work, i've read about hybrid disks that use some solid memory to shift around stuff accessed more often.

But especially i wonder if there's a slot compatible with that much memory or the 32gigs are actually there.

Edited September 16, 2013 by blackdog

[DrywallDreams]

 

mSATA is internal, really small:

 

done a quick Google search and I understand it's something like a cache. I wonder how does it work, i've read about hybrid disks that use some solid memory to shift around stuff accessed more often.

But especially i wonder if there's a slot compatible with that much memory or the 32gigs are actually there.

 I was under the impression that it worked as a regular drive.  There are larger ones available, I was considering one for my computer after I noticed the slot on my mobo.