Buying Advice for Laptop

[Maurits]

Hi guys. I'd like to buy a new laptop. The reason to do so is the fact that I need to be mobile, traveling from my parent's to my room near my university. Therefore, I think 15,6'' would be ideal.

Why are you upgrading?
I'm upgrading because my old laptop is reaching the end of it's functionality after more than 5 years of using it. I will use it for my studies, so being a historian it should be portable enough to take with me to archives and libraries, which my current system isn't. Besides that, I would like to be able to play R2TW to start modding again, since my current system fails to run it.

What is your budget?
€1000,-

Where do you live?
The Netherlands.

Can you build this computer yourself, or do you need to buy prebuilt?
I need to buy it prebuilt.

What are you current system specs?
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.130707-1535)
Language: Dutch (Regional Setting: Dutch)
System Manufacturer: Acer
System Model: Aspire 8930
BIOS: InsydeH2O Version V1.20
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T6400 @ 2.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
Memory: 3068MB RAM
Page File: 2319MB used, 4030MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 7.00.6002.18107 32bit Unicode
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 9600M GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0649&SUBSYS_01451025&REV_A1
Display Memory: 2285 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1007 MB
Shared Memory: 1277 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Algemeen PnP-beeldscherm

What screen resolution will you be using?
1920x1080

What websites/stores can you purchase parts from?
http://www.paradigit.nl/
http://www.bol.com/nl/index.html
Or actually all reliable stores with physical presence in the NL.

Do you need to purchase peripherals?
I need to buy an operating system. I dislike what I see and hear about Windows 8, would prefer to buy 7. Or would you advise against this?

When do you plan to buy this computer/parts?
Now.

I hope that you guys will be able to help me!

[AqD]

Sager NP7358 (Clevo W350SS)

Standard:
- 15.6” FHD 16:9 LED 1920x1080
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M (2.0GB), maxwell, optimus
- 3 DDR3 memory slots, max to 24GB
- 1 mSATA slot, 2 HDD slots, 1 DVD slots (= max 4 HDDs)

Upgradable:
- Intel i7-4710MQ (2.5GHz to 3.5GHz, overclockable by Intel XTU)
- 8GB * 1 RAM
- 120GB Crucial M5 mSATA SSD
- 1TB 7200RPM HDD (free upgrade from 750GB)
- DVD/RW
- IC Diamond Thermal Compound
- Windows 8.1

$1,214 according to Sager website. You can also find custom builds on XOTIC: they provide laptops without OS and with extra Cooling Copper Heatsinks.

Additions:
- free modded BIOS by Prema (unlock all functions)


The GPU is around 55C in Passmark Performance Test. It's overclockable by nVIDIA inspector and can reach +250MHz core and +500MHz memory without voltage increase.

I have a laptop of the same clevo model; haven't tested any real game on it though.

[karamazovmm]

there is that one and the lenovo y50 as well same guts basically, but the screen is horrid and people are swapping it for an IPS one

[AqD]

We had bought 2 Lenovo laptops before. One is of X series, constantly overheats and they couldn't fix it ( design I suspect), the other has keyboard broken now. Both have battery died after one year of use. We have replaced one of them with Clevo P170SM-A recently.



Can't comment on screen. Aren't people supposed to use external monitors?

[karamazovmm]

the x series has superb engineering, something was off, not saying they are perfect, they are extremely good.

Im now mainly using my notebook screen, sincerely given my tiredness lately I have bee staying in bed and not at the desk

[AqD]

superb engineering overheats, not to mention it uses low-power CPU which is already a lot cooler than gaming CPUs and sucks in performance.

Lenovo is on my no-buy list now because of that.

[karamazovmm]

superb engineering overheats, not to mention it uses low-power CPU which is already a lot cooler than gaming CPUs and sucks in performance.

Lenovo is on my no-buy list now because of that.

So you got the x240 or the x240s? I know the x240 doesn't overheat now the s model is Asia only so I don't have info on it.

However since the x220 lenovo doesn't allow for Max turbo clocks on those machines and it throttles quite aggressively on battery the performance

[Maurits]

I'm thinking of buying this, still not sure about the SSD though. I could get 120GB Crucial M500 mSATA SSD for €89,- extra.
http://www.bto.eu/bto-p-book-15cl54.html

Huidige configuratie

P•BOOK 15CL54 QUAD IPS

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15CL54 Full HD IPS Non Glare (mat scherm) met NVIDIA GTX850M 2GB videokaart

1X

Intel® Core™ i7-4710MQ (6M Cache, up to 3.50 GHz) - 47Watt - Quad Core

1X

8GB DDR3L (1600MHz) BTO Selected geheugen module

1X

Geheugen slot 2 (optioneel)

1X

DVDRW Drive 8x (DVD+/+RW / DVD-/-RW)

1X

Intel Wireless-N 7260, Single band, 2.4GHz, 300 Mbps + Bluetooth

1X

Keyboard US / Nederland - isolated 15CL17 - 15CL54

1X

2 Jaar Carry in garantie

1X

BTO Basic draagtas, t/m 17 inch, incl gratis aktiekit

1X

15CL54 Full HD IPS Non Glare (mat scherm) met NVIDIA GTX850M 2GB videokaart

1X

1TB (1000GB) 7200rpm 2.5 inch harddisk

1X

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit NL (DVD OEM pakket incl installatie - max 16GB RAM support)

1X

Koelpasta voor Processor en indien mogelijk de Videokaart

1X

Geen mSATA SSD Module in slot 1 (optioneel)

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€ 1.105,50

prijs incl. BTW

[Maurits]

I bought it, with the SSD. Thanks for showing me the right direction guys