Suitable laptop for gaming budget approx $2000

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Roo

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#109697 25-Sep-2012 14:41

Hey everyone it's time for me to get my first laptop for when I go away to university next year.
The budget I have is $2000 and I would like to stick as close to that as possible, if its say $100 more I may be able to dip into my savings.

I have a spare microsoft office pack so it doesn't matter to me if that is included in the price, but what does matter to me is having a pre-installed windows operating system, and a decent wireless card since ill be using my hall's and the library's wifi for study and I do not want that to be super slow.

I play team fortress 2 mainly at the moment and so while that game is rather old now and I use a FPS config to run it smoother I would still want a good system since I am playing competitively and don't want to be hindered.
The other rather more demanding game I will be running is Black Ops II, I am a realist and know I wont be able to run it on max settings if I'm paying $2000 but I would like to be able to run it smoothly on mid-low settings.
I may also dabble in some photoshop and video editing/moviemaking but nothing majorly demanding.

Thank you for your time,
Roo

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#691179 25-Sep-2012 14:49

I just picked up a Lenovo Y580, it was on special at $999USD, but has just gone back to $1099USD on B&HPhotoVideo. I added on a 128GB Crucial M4 mSata SSD, and Corsair 16GB DDR3, and all up it was $1900NZD including customs/shipping. So you'd still have $100 extra to spend, which you could always put into a 256GB Crucial M4 mSata. Just make sure you get one fo the mSata with the high read/write speeds. The aData X300, Crucial M4, and MyDigitalDrives are all around the 450-550MB/s mark. Whereas the slower mSata drives top out at 200MB/s

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/872546-REG/Lenovo_209942u_IdeaPad_Y580_2099_42U_15_6.html

Specs:
Intel iCore i7 3610QM Quad core
Nvidia GTX660M 2GB
15.6" 1080P screen

Other option would be a MSI GE60 for $999 with a GT650M, plus room for an mSATA drive also, or a GT60 @$ 1369:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/854487-REG/MSI_GT60_0NC_004US_GT60_0NC_004US_15_6_Notebook.html

Which would still come in just under 2K landed, with a GTX670M 3GB, and dual 7200rpm HDDs in Raid 0

With all the above models, apart from the maybe the GE60, you'll be able to easily run Black Ops II in 1080P, at max detail with Anti aliasing off. Check http://www.notebookcheck.net/ to see the full reviews on each graphics chipset!

Reasons I got the Y580 over the GE60:
- Faster video card
- Larger HDD @ 1TB
- Better quality screen
- Backlit keyboard
- Better construction

- Blu-ray writer, so you can take large backups on 25GB blu-ray discs, vs the standard DVD-RW in the GE60/GT60

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

vexxxboy

4336 posts

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+1 received by user: 2072

#691183 25-Sep-2012 15:03

or this laptop from playtech . it has almost the same specs as above but for a lot less

http://www.playtech.co.nz/afawcs0139235/CATID=363/ID=18001/SID=263453552/productdetails.html

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Roo

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#691200 25-Sep-2012 15:27

Ok thanks to both of you, so vinnieg, if I ended up getting the US one, would I have to buy a different lead to charge it since US plugs and NZ plugs are different

vinnieg

2260 posts

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Trusted

#691205 25-Sep-2012 15:33

Just be careful with the Playtech one though, as it's got a GT610M, which is basically slower than even last years model 5650M, or 6650M

And it only has a 1366x768 screen, which is fine for most things, but in a 15.6" laptop you'd want 1600x900 or 1920x1080

I don't think the 610M would even play Black Ops 2, as it struggles with Battlefield 3:
GT610M Battlefield 3 low 19 fps
GTX660M Battlefield 3 low 72.3 fps

@Op - for the laptop lead, Dick Smith, or Jaycar will sell it

Use the same AC adapter, just replace the end lead, it'll be either 2 pronged, or 3 pronged, and Jaycar/DSE/Harveys sell them for about $5-$10 :)

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

zaptor

745 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 39

#693004 28-Sep-2012 16:19

vinnieg: I just picked up a Lenovo Y580, it was on special at $999USD ....

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/872546-REG/Lenovo_209942u_IdeaPad_Y580_2099_42U_15_6.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/854487-REG/MSI_GT60_0NC_004US_GT60_0NC_004US_15_6_Notebook.html

Fascinating, B&H seem like a respectable US reseller (who actually ship to NZ):
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/B_H_Photo_Video_Pro_Audio

How much customs did you have to pay, and can the (international?) warranty be applied locally (i.e. authorised Lenovo repairer in NZ)?

heavenlywild

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+1 received by user: 901

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#693052 28-Sep-2012 17:27

Or the Asus G75:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/855850-REG/ASUS_G75VW_DS72_Republic_of_Gamers_G75VW_DS72.html

Edit: look at the other variants to suit your budget.