Getting a new laptop. I need it to work on relatively new games with med. settings or somewhat high low settings. I also need it not to be Linux or Mac because basically no Steam Games work for them and I'm not going through the trouble to change operating system. Anyways must work on low-mid settings on the average steam game. Also using this for schoolwork so this can't be solely gaming. Try to suggest as cheap as you can, Nothing over $950

Edited 12/13/2014 04:51:06

>Getting a new laptop
>Not enough money for a steam game

Depends on what you're looking for. I personally am . . . fine. . . with my current setup of a quad-core AMD, HP. It runs games fairly well, but here's my advice:

1. i7s are better in processing power. I know this for a fact, because my computer's been fighting chess matches against i7s and I'm simply outgunned on some games. That said, it's never actually lost a game because I've made a hyper-solid openings book, but that's just ranting if you're not a chess player.

2. Avoid integrated graphics cards. Meaning, if they're trying to sell a laptop that forces its processors to work on graphics instead of having a real graphics card do the job right, then someone's treating you like you're a noob.

3. Basically, anything new should work for modern gaming. You will only want to be picky if you want to have something that can run some seriously heavy calculations. For example:

Graphic design. My advice: Use a desktop. A high-end one.
Chess. My laptop can fight it out pretty well in the arena against people who mistreat their chess programs, but in the high-stakes matches I rely only on my desktop.
Weather forecast predictions/mapping nuclear reactions/anything else: Seriously, buy a desktop.



In short, a new, decent Windows laptop should do what you need unless you need to push the limits. Hope that helps. :)

Thanks Kasp, Lol Mr. Fall I was just lazy on that other post.

First off, I would never buy one from a retail store. All but Lenovo load them up with extra crap that bogs it down eventually. You want a clean Windows install without all that junk. I would get one from here:

http://www.xoticpc.com/#

They charge 15 bucks for clean install, well worth it. Plus unlike other stores you can swap out items.

If you are using for schoolwork, you probably don't want one from their gaming section. it will be a heavy/bulky case and more power than you need anyway. If you are going to do some gaming, you want a 15 inch (10 is too small and you have no num pad).

Kasp is right, get a dedicated GPU. Personally I like Asus/Acer ones. They are nice looking, good design on the cases. I've had my Acer for 7 years and it still performs well. They also have nice features on many like a button to turn off wifi and one to turn off keypad (if you have a wireless mouse). These are HUGE I think. Very handy.

This one has a dedicated graphics card that is really good, does not have an i7, but a fast i5 still: http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-e451ldxb51-p-7150.html

But I would spend the extra 40 bucks on this:
http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-x550jkdh71-p-7766.html
faster i7 processor (clocks in almost double that i5), plus a better video card with double the dedicated RAM (2 GB). Also comes with double the hard drive (1 TB). That is a really nice laptop, and not that expensive really for that much power.

That 2nd one is $880. Add $15 for clean install and you come in just under $900.

Edited 12/13/2014 05:40:57

1 Dedicated GPU
2 SSD
3 Plenty of RAM
4 Fastest processor you can get with the rest of your budget.

If you find a Windows 7 machine, you can do a clean install for free, the download is available on Microsoft's website. They don't let you do that with Windows 8, or didn't last time I checked.

Edit: Don't pay for antivirus. Get avast.

Edited 12/13/2014 06:51:49

My Previous Laptop was Lenovo. Worked like a charm until a few months then it just derped out bcuz of age.

I had a Sony Vaio for five years, ran everything great, that was on Windows XP, then one day it decided to die and It just stopped working. I suggest a desktop, I am currently using a I Buy Bower build PC, Win 7, love it has a good sized memory, I coughed up for the highest graphics card available, and a good amount of RAM

Xbox. Cause this happens!



But really what computers are good that are less than a Grand?

desktop is always more for money, but he said he's doing schoolwork, so he probably wants a laptop only.

Your Vaio was probably loaded with extra crap that bogged it down. My Acer did that (was not clean install), but I have Windows 7 disk for my desktop I built, so I just wiped it clean myself. Little Blue is correct, but Windows 7 will cost way more than 15 bucks more than 8 anyway. Really what you are buying is the serial #/key

My desktop came to 795 ish (USD) without the monitor and keyboard and other accessories.