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[Sergius]

So, I'm going to buy a new computer next month, a friend is going to be traveling to USA and bringing it back to me. I've checked a few models, including a Lenovo Y70, a MSI Leopard GP72 and a MSI Apache GE72.

At around the same price (my budget is $900-1100 range) I think the Y70 has the worst value (860 card, 8GB ram) while the Apache is probably the best (16GB RAM and a 960 nvidia card), so I'm leaning heavily on the Apache.

Any other recommendations that I should check out before I make my mind? Preferaby, something I can order from Amazon using their regular free shipping.

EDIT: I forgot, these are the specs for the GE72 Apache:

    Intel Core i7-5700HQ 2.7-3.5GHz
    16 GB (8 GB x2) DDR3L 1600 GHz RAM
    1024 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive
    17.3-Inch Screen; NVIDIA Geforce GTX960M Graphics with 2 GB GDDR5 VRAM
    DVD SuperMulti; Windows 10

Price: $1,069.00

[BigD145]

A ThinkPad will get you one of the most durable cases in the $1000 and under price.

[Flying Dice]

My advice would be to double-check every one you're considering to see if they have paired integrated chipsets and graphics cards (most will), and search around to see if it's possible to hard-set which one is used (and if not, if there are issues with the automatic switching). I had a Lenovo Y580, and it was fucking great... except that you couldn't force it to use the Nvidia card and the switching was fucked up; it took me close to two years to get it set up so that it usually used the card instead of the shitty Intel chipset.

[Sergius]

My advice would be to double-check every one you're considering to see if they have paired integrated chipsets and graphics cards (most will), and search around to see if it's possible to hard-set which one is used (and if not, if there are issues with the automatic switching). I had a Lenovo Y580, and it was fucking great... except that you couldn't force it to use the Nvidia card and the switching was fucked up; it took me close to two years to get it set up so that it usually used the card instead of the shitty Intel chipset.

Thanks for the tip, I'll check that.

[Meph]

Lenovos come preinstalled with spyware in the BIOS.

I have a MSI GS60 Ghost and I'm pretty happy with it.

[ChairmanPoo]

conversely I'm VERY unhappy with my alienware 13. I wouldn't recommend buying one to an enemy.

[Flying Dice]

The Apache doesn't look like a bad choice, and a cursory google search didn't throw up any systemic issues with the model.

[Sergius]

One review for an older model of the Apache (GE70) mentions that you can choose which video card to use for what.

Lenovos seem to be a bit too expensive, like half the stats for the same price and an older video card.

Thanks, I'll stay clear from AlienWare, tho I heard they are overpriced as hell anyway.

[Flying Dice]

They are, just as pretty much every manufacturer that puts glowing shit all over is.

[BigD145]

Alienware is also owned by Dell, which are generally shit. You might get 1 year out of one. They burn themselves out.

[Flying Dice]

Eh, my experience with Dell craptops is that they're garbage and not very ergonomic, but I've got one that still runs after something like six years. HP, on the other hand? Had one brick itself by frying its own mobo less than six months after purchase, while being used only irregularly for office work, sitting on a clean and uncluttered desk.

[ChairmanPoo]

Yeah. My alienware IS holding together. Although all the small problems it has are rather annoying.


Tbh: my advice on this regard is: forego a "gaming laptop" . Go for a decent regular laptop, and play whichever runs. Really, I could have gotten an asus for about the same price and with about the same specifications that my alienware 13. Only difference is that I'd not have the graphics amplifier but it works poorly anyway.

If you have "big gaming laptops" in mind, eeeh, you can get really high end stuff, but they'll be really expensive (think over 2000€) and heavy. And bulky. I dont see the point in getting one over a desktop

[Donuts]

Yeah, "gaming" laptops are generally anything but. Either a desktop or just a regular old laptop will probably be the best use of your money.

[BigD145]

Getting a laptop not billed as a gaming laptop, but with a good dedicated graphics card, is likely the most bang for your buck. More than 8GB RAM is where games are heading, so 16 is good.

[Sergius]

The thing is, I'm going to be paying thru the nose if I try to buy a computer at the prices here, specially since a video card like the 970 is going to be over $500 probably. Someone's going to go on vacation to USA an bring it to me, so I can't really tell them to get me a desktop computer, which would probably have to pay customs taxes anyway and end up just as expensive. And heavy.