So like here's the sitch. My family's dumb and blames me for every little problem on the family PC because I download stuff like Firefox. My dad recently reformatted it without backing up anything including some stuff I spent a LOT of time on that I'll never get back. So basically I want my own laptop so no one dribbles in my personal stuff and I'm not limited to certain hours of the day to work on things or just be on a computer - usually when I'm actually doing something someone else has to do schoolwork or whatever so I can't be as productive as I want.

Alright, now that that's over with, what I need the laptop to be able to do is have, well, speed. It should be able to handle having a browser open, Flash open, a game open, etc., all at the same time. It should also have a satiable amount of memory. I'm not a huge music horder so not too much but enough to hold some games, programs, and tons of documents. Other than that do whatever you want.

BUDGET: Around, say... 500 bucks?

Sorry if I'm not very specific on what I want, I'm new to this sorta thing.

THANKS EXCALIBUR IN ADVANCE.

newegg. sandy bridge. $500. go.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215037
Lowest priced laptop I could in good conscience recommend to anyone. I don't like everything about it but its the lowest priced one I don't hate.

Ew Ex that laptop is kinda gross with it's LGA775 core

I'd say get something with a better CPU, worse graphics card, and more RAM for what you want to do.

EDIT: Actually inferno, you can get something for 500 that is much more powerful if you just get a desktop...

I don't compromise on mobile GFX. Its 5650M or better these days, or its just unacceptable.

Of course he'd be better off with a desktop, but that isn't what he wants, not that he knows what he's doing in the first place.

Also, wtf Cecil, its a fucking AMD chip. Lrn2socket.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on May 29 2011, 2:53 pm by Excalibur.

lol.. agreeing on the desktop front. Laptops are lame. *scowls at the large majority of SENers who game on laptops*

You should post the specs of your current computer (the new[er] one). Since that one runs everything you use fine, the people here could get an idea of what type of stuff you want in your laptop.

If you can afford it, Ex's pick is good - dedicated GPU, decent CPU, 4GB RAM, etc. Do you plan to do gaming on this laptop? (or can you get away with an integrated GPU?)

Looks good. I may have to check how much money I have since I'm using my own personal funds (I think) to buy one.

I don't expect I'll be playing anything on ultra settings. The reason I want a laptop is because I need something mobile to work on stuff with.

It's currently down - the OS was corrupted and we lost the Goddamn disk. My neighbor might have one.

I don't expect I'll do any hardcore gaming, just stuff like Terraria, StarCraft, and maybe some other things I pirate ;o.

Well you'll ultimately regret it if you get a laptop to suit your needs now. And then a game comes out you really wanna play, or technology just gets better and you're stuck with a crummy laptop. Also, the mobility argument for laptops is a myth. You'll use it 99% of the time sitting at a desk anyways... Your choice :3

Mobility isn't a myth. I use mine in many ways that I would never be able to use a desktop. It might not be what he actually needs, but as long as he says it is...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115985 <-- $450. But it has no dedicated GPU. You won't be playing much beyond WCIII (on not-highest settings) on it.

I'll also note that if you manage to scrunge up something closer to $1000, you actually start getting into awesomeness-territory, with small laptops being able to play SCII on good settings. Like the Sony Vaio S and C laptops. Also: I just checked, but Sony has something you might want: Their 15.5" EB series starts off at $600 and if you up it to $700, you get a dedicated GPU (not as powerful as Ex's, I believe, but) and a free upgrade to a 1080p screen. Otherwise, it's the same as my link above - older i3 CPU, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, etc.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on May 29 2011, 5:56 pm by Centreri.

I'm certain these two suck but I'm not made of money and they at least suit my needs.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834157800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115979

Thoughts? _{inb4 wow you suck with computers}

Imo, wait until the last minute that you have to get a computer, especially a laptop, because by then you'll be able to buy something better for less money. And you'll have more money (hopefully).

Just ma 2 cents.

wow you suck with computers.

Definitely get the HP. That acer one has the weakest processor I've ever seen to be honest. Tikels makes a good point, but better points have been made. buy a desktop. You'll get a better machine for cheaper (assuming you know what to buy and can put components onto a motherboard and attach wires). And not only will it be better, it'll last you a life time since you can just upgrade the components as you require - and as they become cheaper.

Oops, didn't realize. Either way still seems a bit dated. Well you might not wanna compromise on the GPU, but from what he listed as needs doesn't sound like a necessity of CPU/RAM.

Again Inferno you really should just get a desktop... You aren't a college student and don't really have a need for mobility.

wat

Seriously, if your budget is THAT low, then just wait a while until a decent promotional discount comes up for a laptop that doesn't suck. You are not in a rush to get the laptop I presume.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834157823
Runs source games like a boss. Has the fastest CPU you can get for $535; it's faster than my desktop for sure.
Will do SC2 on medium with playable fps.

Minor cons:
$35 over budget
2 GB ram, which is nominal, since nobody uses more than 2 GB except when gaming on high res stuff, and you're not doing that. Pretty sure you can upgrade though.
no multi gesture support native, though there's some oem drivers you can use.
enormous screen.

By the way, the 6650 Ex posted is at or above my video card I bought 5 years ago for $200. The HD 3000 is a good bit worse than that, but I played this shit out of oblivion with my x1950 pro. Source games run heavy on the CPU, and as I said before, this CPU is a beast.

I really don't think he needs these $550-600+ laptops... He said that he only plays flash games and stuff like Terraria and Starcraft. He told me that his current computer has Intel HD graphics and he didn't seem to have a problem with it, so I hardly doubt he needs an integrated graphics card. Since he wants speed, I'd suggest trying to find him something with like 4gbs of RAM and a decent cpu instead of worrying about running new games on max settings.

Not play Flash games. I meant have Adobe Flash CS5 open so I can work on stuff. I got a sudden motivation to do so and now I can't. The one I found for $499.99 is pretty much what I want/need at the moment.

According to the reviews it runs surprisingly well but I'm not sure if I can trust that. That's my fallback choice. The fallback of my fallback.

Reviews mean shit (generally speaking). That 1.0 GHz processor is laughable. Get the 500 dolla dolla bill one. Or a desktop.