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Computer buying help

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wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jan 17, 2011 6:17 PM
My kid's netbook took a shit, so I am looking for a quick, budget replacement. I was hoping to get something with a dedicated graphics card...so he could game a little if he wanted to. I found this one...which seems like a good deal, but has the integrated card. I thought the bluray drive instead of the card was a decent trade off...opinions.....

http://www.amazon.com/Gateway-NV55C19u-15-6-Inch-Laptop-Cashmere/dp/B003ZUXXO2/ref=sr_1_8?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1295305577&sr=1-8

Side note, $550 is pretty much the top tier of what I am willing to spend.


This is the original one I was thinking about....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834146853
Jan 17, 2011 6:17pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Jan 17, 2011 6:31 PM
Would you/he prefer one that is smaller like a netbook or are you going for a more full sized notebook this time around?
Jan 17, 2011 6:31pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jan 17, 2011 6:34 PM
He is turning 15 in February, so I think we are going with either a 15.6 or a 14. I am trying to stay away from the desktop replacement 17 inch computers though.
Jan 17, 2011 6:34pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jan 17, 2011 6:40 PM
One other thing....I suck when it comes to graphics card knowledge...

I see a lot of computers that have the ATI 4250 card, which I am assuming is the entry level card. Anyhow, there are plenty of I3 computers for right around 500 bucks with that card. I guess I am wondering if the 5470 card is that much better than the 4250.
Jan 17, 2011 6:40pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jan 17, 2011 7:15 PM
He has said that he wouldnt mind trying some WOW. He has a PS3 and a 360, so I am not worried about getting something that he can really "game" on. A grand for a computer just isn't in the budget.

That Lenovo is the same one I was looking into. The CPU benchmarks about half of what the I3's do....so that is why I was hesitant. I am leaning that way though.
Jan 17, 2011 7:15pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Jan 17, 2011 7:30 PM
True the I3s do outperform them but unless he's doing things that are really CPU intensive the Intel video cards really hindor those for gaming.

Does he do anything else with the computer other than web, etc? (Thinking like serious Photoshopping, video editing, etc?)

And yeah I wouldn't worry about the gaming too much when he already has those. The real question then is if he'd prefer the better gaming performance or the Blu-Ray drive. Mind you the Blu-Ray would probably only be useful if he had a tv to hook it up to as it'd be sort of a waste to watch on such a small, non-1080P screen.

Either machine we've posted would probably work just fine though.
Jan 17, 2011 7:30pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jan 17, 2011 7:42 PM
Not really any CPU intensive stuff....I am really leaning towards the lenovo, unless I can find a ASUS with the same basic specs in the next day or so. I do agree that the Bluray would be a waste...his tv in his room is only 720p anyhow.
Jan 17, 2011 7:42pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jan 17, 2011 7:54 PM
nice find...it also has the 7200rpm hard drive....a good bit quicker.
Jan 17, 2011 7:54pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Jan 17, 2011 7:59 PM
ib4 Mac suggestion
Jan 17, 2011 7:59pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

Senior Pwner

23,151 posts
Jan 17, 2011 8:50 PM
I'd look on craigs list for a used Macbook. I'd bet you could find one in the same price range that you're looking. lolz.
Jan 17, 2011 8:50pm
DeyDurkie5's avatar

DeyDurkie5

Senior Member

11,324 posts
Jan 17, 2011 9:11 PM
as gay as it sounds, I stick by the "once you go mac, you don't go back" motto
Jan 17, 2011 9:11pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Jan 17, 2011 9:34 PM
Might have some good deals but you could be fucked if something is wrong.

Which is why I almost always stick to Newegg.
Jan 17, 2011 9:34pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Jan 18, 2011 5:46 PM
Buy a MAC.
Jan 18, 2011 5:46pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Jan 18, 2011 9:24 PM
wes_mantooth;642990 wrote:I ended up buying this one...
http://www.amazon.com/Gateway-ID49C11u-14-Inch-Laptop/dp/B003Y3BFHW/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I32KHDS36R4KXQ&colid=18SGSXENPOXGC

A little more portable and he said that he would do virtually no gaming, so it seemed to fit a little better. Thanks for your input I Wear Pants.
That's a pretty good machine. Almost bought one earlier in the year. Very good build quality.
Jan 18, 2011 9:24pm
Go_Fast_Sports's avatar

Go_Fast_Sports

Senior Member

390 posts
Jan 20, 2011 1:16 AM
Gateway.... exactly what it says... Gateway to a shithole piece of junk. I fix them all the time. Good luck........
Jan 20, 2011 1:16am
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Jan 20, 2011 2:05 AM
I know a bunch of people with broken Macs. I've dealt with a ton of shitty Dells, HPs, Acers, Toshibas, etc. There are shit machines from every company and most company has some really nice machines. The key is finding the nice ones that you like. The Gateway in question felt really nice when I used it.
Jan 20, 2011 2:05am
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jan 20, 2011 3:12 AM
I Wear Pants;645017 wrote:I know a bunch of people with broken Macs. I've dealt with a ton of shitty Dells, HPs, Acers, Toshibas, etc. There are shit machines from every company and most company has some really nice machines. The key is finding the nice ones that you like. The Gateway in question felt really nice when I used it.

Yeah, I have dealt with a lot of computers....all of them have duds. I usually try to find a bunch of user reviews to see if there is a common problem. Everyone seemed happy with this one.
Jan 20, 2011 3:12am
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
Jan 20, 2011 8:25 AM
sleeper;643001 wrote:Buy a MAC.

Yeah, I'm sure that Mac will allow his son to do some serious gaming. :rolleyes:
Jan 20, 2011 8:25am