Advice on new laptop

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Advice on new laptop

Paulthagerous

698 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 16

Trusted

#116875 12-May-2013 20:26

Looking for a new laptop. Key things are decent performance, screen no bigger than 14ish inches (smaller the better). Good bang for my buck. Doesn't need to be great but would like to be able to play minecraft so a good video card is desirable. Mainly for web browsing and playing video. I have a gaming rig so it won't be pushed too hard.

Looking at the one below, after your thoughts or suggestions. Had an Acer before, hard drive faulted out and was replaced under warranty. Otherwise wasn't too bad. Would ideally be after a similar Samsung, but can't find a similar one with a decent video card for sub 1k.

http://www.bondandbond.co.nz/shop/computers/14-ultrabook/prod6771505.html

And no point suggesting Apple, too expensive (and not going second hand).

(edit - fixing link I hope)

jonb

1796 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

Trusted

#816761 13-May-2013 14:23

Looks good to me, we've had no trouble with an Acer (Aspire) for the last couple of years. The i5 and 640M video card are unusual for an 14" notebook/ultrabook at this price point..

Paulthagerous

698 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 16

Trusted

#816771 13-May-2013 14:36

jonb: Looks good to me, we've had no trouble with an Acer (Aspire) for the last couple of years. The i5 and 640M video card are unusual for an 14" notebook/ultrabook at this price point..

Yeah I can't seem to find anything close at that price.

Paulthagerous

698 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 16

Trusted

#816872 13-May-2013 16:39

So I had a look at one at Noel Leeming - and it appears it doesn't have the 640M! It was only showing up with 128MB video memory on an Intel HD 4000 chipset! Sales Rep was confused as it had 1GB dedicated on the price tag and it had a 640M sticker on the laptop, but his conclusion was the same as me - it simply wasn't there. So very disappointed, though it does explain why it's so cheap. Thinking about a complaint to the ComCom, wasted a trip in to look at it...

ethannz

14 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#816879 13-May-2013 16:46

Paulthagerous: So I had a look at one at Noel Leeming - and it appears it doesn't have the 640M! It was only showing up with 128MB video memory on an Intel HD 4000 chipset! Sales Rep was confused as it had 1GB dedicated on the price tag and it had a 640M sticker on the laptop, but his conclusion was the same as me - it simply wasn't there. So very disappointed, though it does explain why it's so cheap. Thinking about a complaint to the ComCom, wasted a trip in to look at it...

Windows experience rating doesn't always show dedicated video cards, often only showing the onboard graphics.

Paulthagerous

698 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 16

Trusted

#816884 13-May-2013 16:52

ethannz:
Paulthagerous: So I had a look at one at Noel Leeming - and it appears it doesn't have the 640M! It was only showing up with 128MB video memory on an Intel HD 4000 chipset! Sales Rep was confused as it had 1GB dedicated on the price tag and it had a 640M sticker on the laptop, but his conclusion was the same as me - it simply wasn't there. So very disappointed, though it does explain why it's so cheap. Thinking about a complaint to the ComCom, wasted a trip in to look at it...

Windows experience rating doesn't always show dedicated video cards, often only showing the onboard graphics.

We tried looking at DxDiag as well as the below method. AFAIK there isn't another way to check it in Win8 (though I am a Windows 8 newbie, give me Win7 any day...), and the sales guy who would hopefully know also believed it didn't have it.

And even if it did happen to have it, what good is it if it isn't being used?

http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/e83792/how-to-check-your-graphic-card-on-windows-8/

jonb

1796 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

Trusted

#819936 15-May-2013 11:52

I think the HP Envy 4 would be a good choice. It's at a few places for $930 on Pricespy, and were discounted to $879 at Dick Smiths or Harvey Norman not long ago, so probably will be again soon.

This one at PBtech has a great screen resolution and specs for the price.

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Paulthagerous

698 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 16

Trusted

#819946 15-May-2013 12:00

jonb: I think the HP Envy 4 would be a good choice. It's at a few places for $930 on Pricespy, and were discounted to $879 at Dick Smiths or Harvey Norman not long ago, so probably will be again soon.

This one at PBtech has a great screen resolution and specs for the price.

Unfortunately for me it is just too big. 14 inch is my absolute max, something 9-12 would be much better suited if possible. Should have stressed that portability is key, though will have power available pretty much everywhere.

jonb

1796 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

Trusted

#819999 15-May-2013 12:48

Looks like the Acer does have the 640M graphics card though. Nowhere do
any reviews mentions any variations of the m5-481TG not being included
with extra graphics card, and the switching between HD4000 and the 640M
is meant to be seamless using 'Nvidia Optimus', maybe that is why you
can't see it?

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Acer-Aspire-Timeline-Ultra-M5-481TG-Notebook.79391.0.html

Paulthagerous

698 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 16

Trusted

#820008 15-May-2013 12:56

jonb: Looks like the Acer does have the 640M graphics card though. Nowhere do
any reviews mentions any variations of the m5-481TG not being included
with extra graphics card, and the switching between HD4000 and the 640M
is meant to be seamless using 'Nvidia Optimus', maybe that is why you
can't see it?

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Acer-Aspire-Timeline-Ultra-M5-481TG-Notebook.79391.0.html

Hmm will go and have another look, see if I can force it to use the card somehow...

jonb

1796 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

Trusted

#820819 16-May-2013 21:19

It seems that Windows Experience not recognising Nvidia Optimus cards is a known issue.

Check out the PBTech sale at the weekend too (from tomorrow 17th May), this Lenovo Ultrabook will be $916. The 610 Graphics card isn't as good but it has a built in SSD cache drive.

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#820827 16-May-2013 21:32

Paulthagerous:
jonb: Looks like the Acer does have the 640M graphics card though. Nowhere do
any reviews mentions any variations of the m5-481TG not being included
with extra graphics card, and the switching between HD4000 and the 640M
is meant to be seamless using 'Nvidia Optimus', maybe that is why you
can't see it?

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Acer-Aspire-Timeline-Ultra-M5-481TG-Notebook.79391.0.html

Hmm will go and have another look, see if I can force it to use the card somehow...

Look in Device Manager, assuming that still exists in Windows 8, sure it does, surely.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

Regs

4066 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 206

Trusted

Snowflake

#820899 17-May-2013 01:09

jonb: It seems that Windows Experience not recognising Nvidia Optimus cards is a known issue.

Check out the PBTech sale at the weekend too (from tomorrow 17th May), this Lenovo Ultrabook will be $916. The 610 Graphics card isn't as good but it has a built in SSD cache drive.

heaps of good specials in the PB tech sale (17-19 may). couple of i7 options around $1k from acer, HP. A sony i5 touch ultrabook with SSD for $1100.

Sales Engineer
Snowflake
www.snowflake.com

about.me/nzregs
Twitter: @nzregs

psychrn

1610 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 155

ID Verified

Trusted

#820900 17-May-2013 01:15

wonder if a high end tablet would it the bill.
Tend to be smaller.??
Is there such a beast

GZMCC. Lenovo Yoga C640. 8 gb Ram and 256Gb SSD, Cam Am Spyder 2016 F3 LTD. GoPro 5 Black, Samsung S22 Ultra, Huawei Watch D. Samsung S6 Lite Tablet, Amateur Radio Callsign ZL1CJH