Tech and Talk > Gaming > PC gaming Tech > I'm on a Budget of 500 Bucks and looking for a gaming laptop

I'm on a Budget of 500 Bucks and looking for a gaming laptop

quote:

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AMD Quad-Core A8-4500M Accelerated Processor
Microsoft Windows 8 (64-bit)
4GB DDR3 RAM
500GB 5,400RPM Hard Drive
8x DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive
Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
AMD Radeon HD 7640G
10/100/1000 Network
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
Bluetooth 4.0+HS
15.6" HD Widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit Display

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Save up. You won't be happy at that budget.

reply to Snakeoil
I spent $450 on my wife's Acer laptop. You ain't playing shit on that thing besides maybe Farmville and Angrybirds.

Actually, I'm being kind of harsh. You can probably play some current games on medium settings.

You ain't getting much of a gaming laptop at $500. I researched every single laptop at that price range and the one I got was the best one for the money I could find.

I understand that, but that is the budget I have.

It's better then what I currently have.

reply to Snakeoil
If you want to play new games save up and get a real gaming laptop. If you only want to play old games, ie half life 2, then it would work.

reply to Krisnatharok
I agree. But it's what we have.

So why not wait?

reply to Snakeoil
I'm in the same boat--sold mine and saving to replace it. This is the best gaming deal I can find at 1200.
»www.bestbuy.com/site/MSI+-+15.6%···3&st=msi laptop&cp=1&lp=7

Not bad. Another reason why I am on the 500 dollar budget is that I have to buy a total of 3 of them. 1 for me, 1 for each of my kids.

reply to Krisnatharok
I asked the wife [the money controller]. She said No, because she wants to save up to buy a new vehicle to replace or 14 year old van.

I suggested we stash the 1500 bucks [we promised the kids new computers for christmas, so it's 500 bucks per PC]. And add to it over the next couple of months so instead of 500 bucks, we could spend 700 bucks each. She said no.

She can be hard headed like that.
I plan on getting a part time job soon, then I'll save up and upgrade the 2 home built boxes I have. I tried assembling a list yesterday, and it got to 520 Bucks.
If I could keep the total below 500, I could in theory build myself a desktop machine, and let he kids have the low powered laptops.

I would need:
mobo
CPU
power supply [current one is only 400 or 500 watts [I don't remember]
At least 4 to 8 GB of ram.
And a video card that is around 100 bucks or so.

I could use my old windows Vista disk for the OS, I don't want to pay for a new OS, unless it comes with the computer. Or I'd stick with Ubuntu, as it's free, or maybe try linux mint.

But upgrading the two boxes I have is for a later date.
also, one of my kid's e-machines fried yesterday. They are about 6 years old, and surprisingly, they worked well enough. I understand they aren't great computers, but they got the job done.
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Is a person a failure for doing nothing? Or is he a failure for trying, and not succeeding at what he is attempting to do? What did you fail at today?.

If the psu is 500w you may not need to get a new one. Steam may be on linus but it doesnt have many games, so not sure that would be the best idea unless you just want to play counter strike forever.

That said for $500 you can get a decent gaming desktop. Especially if you have a case, psu, and hard drive.

an i3, mobo, 650 and 8GB ram would only run about $380. You could pump a few more bucks into the gpu if you want, or spend $70 into a 600-650w psu and still have like $50 to pump into other stuff.

I've read that the i5 has come down in price, and is a better option then the i3.

One reason I was looking at AMD VPUs, is that they tend to be cheaper then Intel.

I could consider an i3 as long as the mobo would accept an i5 later [as I got the money for one. Though Windows is stupid, because it will refuse to work if I swap out the CPU. Where as Linux doesn't seem to care.

Steam for linux just announced a bunch of other games that are getting ported over to linux.

»steamforlinux.com/

I've never played Team Fortress 2 or counter strike. I typically play games on my PS3, or World of Warcraft, Rift , and maybe Defiance when it ships on the PC.
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Is a person a failure for doing nothing? Or is he a failure for trying, and not succeeding at what he is attempting to do? What did you fail at today?.

Yep the ones I have in mind »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···13157325 and »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···13157297 work with the i3/5/7.

the i5 is about $100 more than the i3 and you may need a better psu for it.

Hmm, not bad. Both links are tempting.

Does the intel cpu come with a cooling fan?

I can survive without a laptop, but he kids want one to take to their friends. I have a nexus 7 tablet that suits my needs when I travel.
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Is a person a failure for doing nothing? Or is he a failure for trying, and not succeeding at what he is attempting to do? What did you fail at today?.

Yes, its not a really great one, but since the i3 can't overclock that doesn't matter its more than enough for stock speeds even for the i7. And for the money its hard to go wrong with an i3 for a budget.

The nexus 7 is really an amazing tablet, a full quad core arm cpu, I've only used it a little but I was impressed with it. My mom has one and she got a $30 wireless keyboard that doubles as a screen cover for travel, she only uses her laptop when she *needs* a big screen or to print something.

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···14130827

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···20231585

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···13157297

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···19116775

550w Power supply that is rated for i3, i5, and i7:

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···17341050

Grand total: 489.95 without shipping or an OS.
I could use my Vista disk. Though I may have to call Microsoft to get a new key. Though it's a builder's edition of Vista Premium [It was a bundle when I purchased parts for my last PC].
Though I wouldn't mind going for windows 8, but that'll put me over budget. So, I could use like I said, Vista or a linux flavor.
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Is a person a failure for doing nothing? Or is he a failure for trying, and not succeeding at what he is attempting to do? What did you fail at today?.

A power supply can't be "rated" for a CPU. That is nonsense.

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···17182131

On such a strict budget, why are you wasting money on overclocked memory? I wouldn't even put that stuff in an X79 build. It's 1.65v too, so it will fry the CPU being overvolted and all that.
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Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···20148347

Better choice?

Between the power supply you suggested and the ram in the above link the total price is down to 435 and some change. That's before shipping. I just may give up getting me a laptop.

Though I dunno if I want to stick with windows Vista or go windows 8. Or Maybe forget windows altogether and just use a distro of linux. I'm basically 100% Ubuntu now. As I seldom use my windows box.
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Is a person a failure for doing nothing? Or is he a failure for trying, and not succeeding at what he is attempting to do? What did you fail at today?.

If you're using an Ivy Bridge CPU, use 1600mhz, 1.5v ram.

reply to Snakeoil
heres some 1.5v ram at 1600mhz »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···20231314 Or 8GB ddr2 1.5v 1333mhz with a free 16GB flash card »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···20231486

If you are basically 100% linux now just get linux mint(I personally prefer it to ubuntu) it has steam and some games, and wine/play on linux for some others. Minecraft too.

EDIT: heres another video card for only $5 more »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···14202011 7770ghz edition. Based on this it looks like it should be a better video card »www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gef···-24.html andhttp://www.tomshardware.com/forum/374794-33-7770