Recommend me a laptop with non-integrated graphics please

[witch]

My son is looking for a decent laptop that has a separate graphics card for around the £400 mark. Does anyone know of a good one? He is going to use it for video editing and casual gaming and has been told that an integrated graphics card might not do the job- is this the case or can anyone recommend me one with integrated graphics that would be OK?

[mac_shinobi]

@VeryPC may be able to help. Id say dedicated would help a lot and be better. Along with between 4gb or more ram and an ssd or sshd Edited September 16, 2013 by mac_shinobi

[witch]

@VeryPC may be able to help. Id say dedicated would help a lot and be better. Along with between 4gb or more ram and an ssd or sshd

 

Thanks

I know what he wants - it is the cost that might be a bit difficult so I thought somone might know of a laptop that gives great performance even though it has an integrated card.

He went out at midnight last night to get GTA5 so he is quite keen!

[tmcd35]

£400 is not much, can't see getting a dedicated graphics card for that. Personally I'd look into something based around AMD's APU's. They tend to have pretty good spec integrated graphics, maybe load up on the RAM?

 

Something like: Buy Laptops - Best Laptop Deals Online - Misco.co.uk

 

And double the RAM to 8Gb?

 

I'm sure @VeryPC can build something suitable...

[Arthur]

£400 is not much, can't see getting a dedicated graphics card for that. Personally I'd look into something based around AMD's APU's.

The only problem with getting a laptop with an AMD APU is that you will end up with a computer that has a much slower CPU.

 

The HD 5000 GPU found in the latest 4th Gen Intel processors is actually pretty decent for games, although a laptop with one of these is going to cost more than £400.

 

http://i.imgur.com/yLX5IhZ.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/kjskcrT.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/eY8SN55.png

[mac_shinobi]

The only problem with getting a laptop with an AMD APU is that you will end up with a computer that has a much slower CPU.

 

The HD 5000 GPU found in the latest 4th Gen Intel processors is actually pretty decent for games, although a laptop with one of these is going to cost more than £400.

 

http://i.imgur.com/yLX5IhZ.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/kjskcrT.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/eY8SN55.png

 

I was gonna say if you can get a laptop configured with a decent dedicated gfx card ( something you cant upgrade easily aside from buying another laptop ) then the RAM and HDD options can be upgraded a bit later on so 2 or 4gb of ram for now and a 250 or 320gb 7200rpm normal hdd. CPU assuming it uses a zif socket or similar you could upgrade later on when it runs out of warranty although if its a gen 4 intel cpu as per @Arthur then it shouldn't need an upgrade

 

Can always get more ram and either an sshd or an ssd later on depending on ££££

[witch]

Yes, I thought that was going to be the case. He could perhaps stretch to a bit more than £400 - it'll be the VAT that kills him.

I think he is just a bit worried about buying something with all his money and then have it not be able to handle games and video to a reasonably good level.

 

*all pics, links etc filtered so I can't see anything ATM - arrggghhhhhh

[witch]

I was gonna say if you can get a laptop configured with a decent dedicated gfx card ( something you cant upgrade easily aside from buying another laptop ) then the RAM and HDD options can be upgraded a bit later on so 2 or 4gb of ram for now and a 250 or 320gb 7200rpm normal hdd. CPU assuming it uses a zif socket or similar you could upgrade later on when it runs out of warranty although if its a gen 4 intel cpu as per @Arthur then it shouldn't need an upgrade

 

Can always get more ram and either an sshd or an ssd later on depending on ££££

 

That's true but he still needs the decent base unit

[tmcd35]

Could ebay be worth a look? I'm sure you could pick up an 18month old machine with (albeit older, but) better cpu/gpu/ram than you'd get new?

[X-13]

I think he is just a bit worried about buying something with all his money and then have it not be able to handle games and video to a reasonably good level.

 

Ideally, he should check the minimum/recommended specs of the game he wants to play and buy accordingly. [Or look at options and check benchmarks.]

 

Though, that involves waiting to play stuff... [Please laptop... Please play Assassin's Creed 4 with decent settings.]

 

I would recommend mine, but I can't remember the model. IIRC, it was >£500 but that was a year or so ago. So it could have dropped down to around £400 or less. [Or it's just discontinued.]

[mac_shinobi]

Yes, I thought that was going to be the case. He could perhaps stretch to a bit more than £400 - it'll be the VAT that kills him.

I think he is just a bit worried about buying something with all his money and then have it not be able to handle games and video to a reasonably good level.

 

*all pics, links etc filtered so I can't see anything ATM - arrggghhhhhh

 

If you ordered it for him dont u get an edu discount or price ex vat ??

[X-13]

If you ordered it for him dont u get an edu discount or price ex vat ??

 

Only if @witch doesn't mind tax evasion charges...

 

 

This is what I have [with more graphics memory] and as I suspected, it's discontinued and out of the price range. [it was originally more expensive than that... Allegedly about £700]

[Arthur]

If you ordered it for him don't u get price ex vat ??

I don't think Witch wants to be done for VAT fraud. :-)

 

https://www.gov.uk/report-vat-fraud

[witch]

Hmm. Thanks guys. Problem with ebay is...I just don't trust it and as this is all his hard-earned money I am not about to risk it

[tmcd35]

Well, if you don't trust eBay, can't afford new and don't mind secondhand - then I'd go for a trip to the local Cash Convertors and see what they've got before settling on something.

[3s-gtech]

You could indeed look at something with an AMD APU here, which should give a decent cost/performance compromise for gaming. Something like Lenovo IdeaPad Z585 Laptop, AMD A10 4600M, 8GB RAM.. | Ebuyer.com should do for this. Be wary of comparisons (as above) of the HD5000 which is fitted to more expensive Intel parts, vs the 8250 which is fitted to some of the cheapest AMD parts, there's a price gulf. The very top Intel parts are performing similarly to the mid-range AMD/Nvidia now though.

 

I recently picked up a 17" Toshiba laptop from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BAOWWD8/ref=oh_details_o06_s02_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 which was a fair bit cheaper than the current price. This has the best of both worlds - Intel CPU and discrete graphics. Only mid-range parts, but good enough for 1366x768 gaming.

[mac_shinobi]

I don't think Witch wants to be done for VAT fraud. :-)

 

https://www.gov.uk/report-vat-fraud

 

I wasn't advising fraud I was asking if she would be able to or allowed to get or buy it either with ex vat or at least with an edu discount ie 15% off in comparison to the normal price

[VeryPC_Ed]

Hi Witch,

 

As others have mentioned, we supply custom laptops so I am sure we can look at a few different options for you.

 

I'll send you a PM with some details on what we can provide and some pricing to go with them.

 

Also thanks to all who have recommended us on here !

 

Thanks,

 

Ed

[witch]

@VeryPC_Ed

 

Sounds good, but as I still have no veggie piggies..I might be unable to go on......

[VeryPC_Ed]

@VeryPC_Ed

 

Sounds good, but as I still have no veggie piggies..I might be unable to go on......

 

I've just spoken to our head of sweetie goodness (Al) and he is going to send another bag out for you !

 

Ed

[mac_shinobi]

@VeryPC_Ed

 

Sounds good, but as I still have no veggie piggies..I might be unable to go on......

 

Just to re-iterate I was not advising fraud / tax evasion I was merely and miserably failing to ask if you could purchase it for them and get an educational discount or if it was possible to get it ex vat ( obviously from the replies ) getting it ex vat is not possible / legal

 

Also am sure if you order through @VeryPC they may chuck a bunch of sweets in with the order ??

 

As a side not If both @witch and @VeryPC are ok with this would be good to know laptop specs and prices ?

Edited September 17, 2013 by mac_shinobi

[witch]

Just to re-iterate I was not advising fraud / tax evasion I was merely and miserably failing to ask if you could purchase it for them and get an educational discount or if it was possible to get it ex vat ( obviously from the replies ) getting it ex vat is not possible / legal

 

Also am sure if you order through @VeryPC they may chuck a bunch of sweets in with the order ??

S'alright sweetie, I know you weren't advocating criminal behaviour

[witch]

Soooo. He really hasn't got £500

Have you ALL got really expensive kit then?

Has anyone got anything cheaper that runs something like GTA5 really well?

I am at a loss here and fast losing my credibility in the family!!

[X-13]

Has anyone got anything cheaper that runs something like GTA5 really well?

 

...ATM GTAV is console only.

 

Nobody has a PC that can run it. [Apart from the Devs.]

[mac_shinobi]

@witch

 

Saw this in one of my emails this morning

 

http://www.itproportal.com/2013/09/17/deal-492-dell-inspiron-17r-laptop-full-hd-display/#20

 

Also wondering if it would be worth while looking on the Dell Refurbished laptops may get a good spec laptop for a bit cheaper ??

 

£492 after using the voucher code ??

Edited September 18, 2013 by mac_shinobi