Help me build a new laptop!

[mrblakemiller]

So it seems that after four years of semi-faithful service (one word: Vista), my old laptop is in the process of biting the dust. But it's been long enough that I can justify getting a new one! The problem is that there is so much junk information about what a person really needs in their laptop and everyone is trying to sell me the most expensive thing they can, I really don't know how to know what I really need.

I figured you guys might be the people to ask.

So here's what I want: I like using desktop replacement laptops that make it feel as if I'm sacrificing nothing for the mobility (I don;t mind lugging around an enormous brick, either). I'm trying to really cut down on my gaming, but I still want to play LEague of Legends. I mostly use the laptop to write papers for class, surf the net, and I do a lot of watching TV on my comp. I think, in one sentence, I'm after a laptop with great graphics and the ability to surf the Net as fast as possible.

I've been using HP's, and I'd like to stick with them, but they hav a habit of putting the fans for their machines on the very bottom of the computer, making overheating an issue. Still, these are the options I have from perusing their online store:

OS: Gonna use Windows. Probably can hold out to get 8.

Processor: The first upgrade is "3rd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-3110M." I really don't know how to distinguish whether an upgrade on this would be worth it. Any tips?

Memory: I can go from 8GB to 16GB. I imagine 8 will be enough if I'm not planning on d/ling movies or anything. What's your recommendation?

Microsoft Office: Ugh, 2013 is rumored to come out in December. Will I have to wait that long? Skip this.

Graphics: Do I want the NVIDIA with 1 GB or oh wait the other is much more expensive nevermind. Getting the NVIDIA with 1GB, that should be fine.

Hard Drive: Do I want a terabyte at 5400 RPM or 750 gigs at 7200?

Is this "32GB mSSD Hard Drive Acceleration Cache" worth it? ($50)

If you haven't noticed yet, money isn't much of an object. Even choosing for the high-end, this all comes out to less than a grand, but I've heard you can build an awesome laptop for a lot cheaper. Any thoughts?

So, yeah, that's what I'm thinking of. If you want to guide me in some of these smaller choices or throw it all out and build a laptop of your own design that you think will serve me better for cheaper, I'm all ears. If you can, please list some experience or expertise so I know how to judge your ideas. Thanks for helping!

 

[Hazy992]

What's the GPU? Saying its a 1GB Nvidia card doesn't really tell you much as most modern mobile GPUs have at least 1GB of VRAM.

 

[mrblakemiller]

These are the options HP gives for its graphics cards:

Intel(R) HD Graphics

NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GT 630M Graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory

NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GT 630M Graphics with 2GB of dedicated video memory

NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GT 650M Graphics with 2GB GDDR 5 video memory

Don't see anything related to GPU. Perhaps you could weigh in on the thing overall or suggest another route for me to take in building a laptop to do what I want?

 

[Nouw]

You really don't need 8GBs of RAM unless you plan to do some multi-tasking with memory heavy programs such as Photoshop and a game. It doesn't affect your internet speed, it only affects how many things you can do at once. Since you're going to be browsing the web and playing LoL, 4GBs should do fine. My laptop only has 4GBs of RAM and it does its job well.

Because I can't explain why you should get an i5 using my own terms. [http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/61150.aspx]

 

[ohnoitsabear]

First off, don't get HP. They are perhaps the worst brand out there for laptops. Not only are they the least reliable of all the major laptop brands, but they also install a shitload of programs onto your computer that you don't need or want, and they only serve to slow down the computer, take up hard drive space, and be annoying as fuck. Plus, like you said, there are overheating issues, among other things. Bottom line, don't get HP.

Next, don't sacrifice anything just for Microsoft Office, and don't wait to get your computer just for a newer version of office. There are free alternatives to Microsoft office that are just as good as it, if not better (I, personally, use OpenOffice). If you really need to use Microsoft Office (like if you need to save in docx format for some reason) anything after Office 2007 should serve you just fine.

If you want to get Windows 8 for whatever ungodly reason, an upgrade from Windows 7 really won't cost very much, so there's really no reason to wait for it.

As far as the hardware in this goes, you really, really should get at least an i5 if you care about performance (not just in games, but in general day to day tasks). Laptop processors tend to be watered down versions of their desktop counterparts, so even going as low as lower end i5s might be risky. Other than that, you really don't need more than 8 GB of RAM (hell, you probably don't even need that much, but good luck finding a laptop with less than that), and your choice hard drives strictly depends on whether speed or storage space is more valuable to you.

Finally, and I cannot stress this enough, do not buy a laptop from HP!

 

[thesilentman]

I think, in one sentence, I'm after a laptop with great graphics and the ability to surf the Net as fast as possible.

Let me see what I can do for you, kind sir/madam.

I've been using HP's, and I'd like to stick with them, but they hav a habit of putting the fans for their machines on the very bottom of the computer, making overheating an issue.

Try Samsung. Their laptops are pretty well done when it comes to the overall package.

OS: Gonna use Windows. Probably can hold out to get 8.

Windows 8 will seem like a tablet on a laptop. I've used it on a desktop and the interface wasn't exactly the best in design choices. The speed of Windows 8 was really good on the other hand, and I ran it in a virtual machine. And if Windows doesn't fit your fancy as a true speed machine, consider a Linux distrubition (Ubuntu is good for beginners...) as an option. Though I said Ubuntu, I really would recommend something like Arch, Gentoo or Slackware for a true speed machine. Problem is that all are pretty hard to learn, but after you make the system yours, you'll enjoy it much more.

Processor: The first upgrade is "3rd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-3110M." I really don't know how to distinguish whether an upgrade on this would be worth it. Any tips?

i7 Quad Core 2.4 Ghz. There's no kill like overkill. You'll appreciate the speed when you throw the fast HDD with it.

Memory: I can go from 8GB to 16GB. I imagine 8 will be enough if I'm not planning on d/ling movies or anything. What's your recommendation?

Take 6 gigs as a reasonable compromise. You won't need 8 unless you play something demanding like Witcher 2 or Battlefield 3 on the laptop.

Microsoft Office: Ugh, 2013 is rumored to come out in December. Will I have to wait that long? Skip this.

Use LibreOffice. It's free and does everything Office does with some other features that I can't remember at this point. There are other alternatives too, so keep looking. I myself use LibreOffice and it suits me well.

Hard Drive: Do I want a terabyte at 5400 RPM or 750 gigs at 7200?

Your choice on this one, but I recommend getting the 750 at 7200 rpm as a speed thing.

Is this "32GB mSSD Hard Drive Acceleration Cache" worth it? ($50)

No fucking clue on what that is. To Google!

...

Yeah, OP; go for it if you like a speed machine, but I don't see the difference if you're going for an i7 and a 7200 RPM drive and layering Win8 on top of it.

If you haven't noticed yet, money isn't much of an object. Even choosing for the high-end, this all comes out to less than a grand, but I've heard you can build an awesome laptop for a lot cheaper. Any thoughts?

So, yeah, that's what I'm thinking of. If you want to guide me in some of these smaller choices or throw it all out and build a laptop of your own design that you think will serve me better for cheaper, I'm all ears. If you can, please list some experience or expertise so I know how to judge your ideas. Thanks for helping!

Now I'm going to be that guy and say (puts on +5 intelligence glasses) build a desktop. "Rereads OP" Never mind then. (Takes glasses off) Another thing is that for your graphics card, DON'T go for integrated graphics. Game performance will take an insane hit with those things. And NVidia and AMD are pretty equal, so just see which one suits you more.

Hope I helped.

 

[Hazy992]

These are the options HP gives for its graphics cards:

Intel(R) HD Graphics

NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GT 630M Graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory

NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GT 630M Graphics with 2GB of dedicated video memory

NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GT 650M Graphics with 2GB GDDR 5 video memory

Don't see anything related to GPU. Perhaps you could weigh in on the thing overall or suggest another route for me to take in building a laptop to do what I want?

well out of those the 650M is the best card by far but I imagine the1GB 630M should be sufficient for playing games like LoL. I'm not sure what its requirements are though so I can't be sure.

8GB of RAM is plenty, 16GB is overkill for what you're wanting to do with it.

I'd rather get Windows 7 personally

 

[Supertegwyn]

Don't buy HP. HP are awful.

Out of all those graphics cards, I would pick the 650M. Still a bad graphics card, but it should be able to play LoL (don't quote me on that, it might not)

8 GBs is good. I have an 8 GB laptop and it works great. I wouldn't get anything under.

Get at least a i5 processor, i3 is terrible.

Get Windows 7 now, if you want to upgrade to 8 it will only be $15.


Just my thoughts.

 

[mrblakemiller]

I've heard not to buy HP, and I've done a little digging and noticed a few things:

On all the websites, no one lets me customize what I'm buying more than HP. Point in their favor, I'd say.

Even when I pile on big hard drives and processors, HP is still cheaper than most. Samsung is extremely expensive, and they won't let me customize as much.

Some review sites have given HP pretty good reviews, and I've run across tips for removing the HP bloatware as well.

Anyone got some recommendations as to the company I buy from?

I'm typing this on a MacBook, apropos of nothing. It's like a death of a thousand cuts in terms of design choices. I keep reaching for a "page down" button that isn't there.

 

[Hazy992]

snip.

Are there any sites in the US like this [http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/] that lets you configure a custom laptop? Might have some better luck on a site like that?

 

[antidonkey]

While the brand catches a lot of flak, I really like Acer laptops. My last 3 have been Acers and they've all server me well and got sold to others when it was replacement time. My current one is a few years old and still handles everything I throw at it. Here's three that should do you good and they're not crazy priced either.

Go Go Newegg!!! [http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006740%2050001146%20600003988%20600004346&IsNodeId=1&name=17%22%20-%2017.3%22]