What is the best gaming laptop for under $700 in 2011?

Alex Leitn

Hey, I'm going to be in Japan for 6 months and I need to purchase a laptop for the trip.
The problem is since I will be in Japan for so long I need a laptop that will be able to play all the new games that come out on steam on at least average settings.

Does anyone know of a cheap laptop that can run games such as:
Borderlands, L4D2, Minecraft, and Just Cause 2
on decent settings for under $700?

Another problem is that I CANNOT buy anything ACER, used, refurbished, re-manufactured, or opened.

Answer
Check out http://procompare.com/best-laptops

I think it's the best place to get personalized, reliable and quick advice. They rank the best laptops in different categories based on both experts and users' reviews. They also have a cool personalization slider that lets you optimize the results based on the criteria that are most important to YOU.

Should I buy this Acer or Sony laptop?

Ruair� K

Hi, I'm looking at buying a laptop and was wondering whether I should go for a cheaper Acer with seemingly more impressive specs or a more expensive Vaio.

The models in question are the Sony VAIO SVE1511K1EW (white) and the Acer Aspire V3-571.

Both have i3 processors and 750GB of hard drive space, but the Acer has 8GB of RAM while the Sony only has 4GB. The Acer is also better priced, at â¬479 compared â¬529 for the Sony.

Here are some links
http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/12681326/art/acer/aspire-v3-571.html
http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/12653549/art/sony/vaio-sve1511k1ew-white.html

On the other hand the Sony ''looks'' sleeker, (in my opinion). But what do you think?

Also is it worth paying more for a supposedly better brand such as Sony compared to Acer? Are they generally more reliable/better? etc. Many thanks!
Mainly I'll be using it for typical activities such as web browsing, word processing along with listening to music, watching movies. That kind of thing. But I don't want it to be slowed down by numerous tabs open etc. and I want it to run smoothly and consistently fast

Answer
Will browse through Pixmania and PCworld UK in a moment. For now, note that ALL laptops are Chinese designed and produced other than Lenovo Thinkpad with a Japan design team. It is a procurement, sales, and support process.
Sony specifies better screens and keyboards, and generally cuts the CPU and graphics power to make up for it. Acer goes as cheap as possible on parts allowed, but assures those cheap parts don't fail. So, Acer actually has a better reliability, and Sony the better up-front product received unless using the laptop for something more than casual (such as gaming or design) in which you need more CPU and Graphics.
Average in the table is alphabetical. Read the article:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/244419/laptop_reliability_and_satisfaction_macbooks_rule.html
and Macs plain cost far too much for what they offer.
Now, will look at your two, and edit, and then look at what else is around that is probably a better deal.
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php
GPU and CPU on other tab.
Acer: i3-2310M lower end value CPU, RAM8 GB, a good amount, Intel HD 4000, OK for basic use, 750 GB average plus in size and probably 5400 rpm, has USB 3.0, Webcam1.3 megapixels, Windows 8 ready touchpad, Std battery ignore "life" numbers completely as bogus with wireless off, dimmed screen, minimal apps running, Height: 2.52 - 3.32 cm, Width: 38.16 cm, Depth: 25.3 cm
Weight 2.6 kg and the standard combo of both useful and bloatware of software.
Sony: weird on the CPU why it shows HD 3000 vs HD 4000, so it is old inventory of a slightly faster CPU, minimized RAM, kind of similar otherwise.
Neither excites me as a great value. They are just plain basic but more than the cheapest possible, and I think I like the Acer better, because the Ram and HD 4000 is more than the slight CPU upgrade. They could even be made by the same supplier in China.
Will look around for you for ⬠500 laptops at two sources.
Wasn't thrilled with any Pixmania offer. Looking at PCWORLD instead.
What do you think of the color red?:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/asus-a53e-sx1339s-15-6-laptop-red-11884685-pdt.html
i7-2670 = the power of both the Acer+Sony if working together.
RAM6GB adequate, is the same HD 3000 graphics of the Sony, a standard HDD at 500GB, No USB 3.0, and not as clear at web cam, but this is the speed demon of CPU in the same price and the good Asus brand.
This 350 pound is about the same as the 480 pound, in case that interests you:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/acer-aspire-v3-571-15-6-laptop-15254169-pdt.html
A bit smaller in RAM and HDD
And here is another winner - this is the type you should see:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/samsung-series-3-300e5c-15-6-laptop-black-15119696-pdt.html
Get this laptop for £399 after cashback. i5-3210M, a deserving CPU to the deserving buyer much better than i3, Samsung is lighter weight. It's a nice laptop.
If you love the Sony, buy it for less:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/sony-vaio-e-series-sve1511k1ew-15-5-laptop-white-14732477-pdt.html
How about with a discrete graphics chip:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/lenovo-ideapad-z750-15-6-laptop-silver-12377721-pdt.html
And a core i5 2nd gen. Looks OK by me also. You never know when you want to try gaming.
GT 630M far outdoes HD 4000, and i5-2450M outdoes the i3's,
So, each of these sparks me in different ways, instead of the bland products you found.

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Good laptop games....?

Got a question for those pc gamers...
I've always been a console gamer... however in about a week and a half, I'm going to Japan and need something to entertain me on the plane

What are some good laptop games that will run on these specs:
intel i3, 2.something Ghz
4gb ram (1066Mhz)
1.5 gb shared video mem.

Answer
Depends of the graphic card. You need to mention that because that's what matters the most.

If the v/c is from ATI or Nvidia then Sims 3. :)

Trading old laptops in Japan?

Crayon Toe

I've been living in Japan for 2 months now, and I bought a laptop when I got here that I thought was okay. I want to play graphics-intensive games and unfortunately I didn't realize this laptop had an integrated graphics card when i bought it, as I was desperate for something at the time.

I have obviously encountered problems opening lots and lots of games, and I'm wondering if there's any trading system set up in Japan where you can trade in an old Laptop to get a new Laptop a bit cheaper. There is nothing actually -wrong- with this laptop, except it isn't what I wanted and because of the language barrier I couldn't properly explain what I wanted.

Any info would be greatly appreciated, or if anyone knows any other way I could possibly get a better laptop without just buying a new one and owning two. Thanks in advance!

Answer
I don't think there is trading system in Japan. But you can sell the old one at an used computer shop or online auctions to get money to buy a new one.

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What is a good gaming laptops to get?

best gaming laptop japan image

Angel

I know ASUS and Alienware are supposed to be good, but lately Ive been hearing Alienware is not that great anymore and ASUS certain parts break down pretty fast and their customer service is bad. Are there any good ASUS or Alienwares out now? in the 1,500-1,600 or less range.

Can some people name some good gaming laptops as well as brands, I keep coming across some but then they'll be some sort of error with them.

Memory 8 GB or more with ability to upgrade
Hard drive 750 GB or more
CPU i7 3r d gen.
Graphics Card 2-3 GB or more
Windows
Display 15-17 inch etc.

Although i want a gaming computer i wont be gaming on it much, I just want a gaming computer because they tend to have more memory, and hard drive space etc.

thanks
Thank you both..Alex i had checked that laptop out and i read reviews about freezing and touch pad issues...have you experienced any issues with that? and what yr is your ASUS? are there any others you would recommend?
Also anymore suggestions are appreciated thanks

Answer
The most important factor of a gaming laptop is the graphics processor. The stronger the graphics, the better the gaming unless particularly slowed by the CPU or a ram shortage or other factors.
Video editing needs a lot of ram and a faster CPU. Stronger CPUs and graphics power take more battery power, so if they still have a standard 6 cell lithium ion, a faster laptop has a shorter battery life.
Weight is also a factor in the portability, and many people are more interested in the portability. You get a much more powerful desktop PC with a bigger monitor at the same price as a gaming laptop.
For brand quality and reliability in general, I use the customer survey published annually by PC World magazine. December 2011 is the latest, with this year due out soon.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/244419/laptop_reliability_and_satisfaction_macbooks_rule.html
Although Macbooks are known as more reliable, their price to performance is terrible. They cost a lot for the CPU and graphics performance level, and the OSX operating system has a smaller list of compatible software. Also, Lenovo has 3 product lines; Essential, Ideapad, and Thinkpad. Thinkpads are considered the most robust and best keyboards and have other excellent characteristics, but they do not get high level graphics because they are business systems.

Most laptops have 2 slots for DRAM. 8GB laptops are generally 2x4GB, and that is usually plenty. The graphics ram is more important to be GDDR5 instead of DDR3 type rather than how much ram. The graphics level is important, but the ram can be shared system ram as DDR3 and so having 2 GB dedicated graphics ram is only really good if it is GDDR5 ram. In DDR3, just add it to the system ram.
You can see a reported CPU and graphics score average at this site on two tabs:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php

One of the bargains in the industry is the Lenovo Y580 at Lenovo.com, but shipments are now delayed and prices were increased. They were perfect during black friday sale with $900 price on what is now $1,039.20. There are a few left at resellers.
3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3630QM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX660M 2GB GDDR5, backlit keyboard, 15.6" screen in 1080p, 8.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz, 1TB 5400RPM+16G SSD, Blu-ray/DVD-RW, 6 Cell Li-Polymer, 2x2 wireless, bluetooth, HD CAM, HDMI, and a good set of extra features like one button recovery. You would have to wait for delivery. The only thing some people don't like is the screen has glare of overhead or lights behind you, but it has an extra wide color gamat with more accurate reproduction. In stock at Newegg for $1110 is DVDRW instead of bluray and a 750GB with 16GB acceleration SSD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834310661

The only manufacturers of laptops selling under their own name is Asus and MSI. Laptops are designed and produced by them and Clevo, Wistron, Quanta, Invertec, and a few other manufacturers all in China. The brands are actually just sales and service and procurement organizations doing selection of keyboards, HDDs, LCDs, and other sub-components made by other companies. Lenovo Thinkpad still has design teams some formerly of IBM and a lab for reliability testing in Japan.

At $1210 is an MSI with similar specs to the Lenovo Y580, but in a 17.3" anti-reflective screen, no SSD, and is DVDRW:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152369
You can see gaming performance here:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-Games-on-Laptop-Graphic-Cards.13849.0.html
If not gaming heavily, there would be no need to spend more as it is mostly only moving up the graphics power. Extra ram over 8+2GB is not very important.
I show the full HD 1920x1080 resolution since you are at the price point to get it.

This is a nice choice at Amazon of a Samsung:
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Series-NP700G7C-T01US-17-3-Inch-Laptop/dp/B0098O6FIU
It's only flaw is bluray and DVD player, but does not show DVD writing. It may have it, but does not state it so probably does not. The color is yellow/orange. The screen is a 17.3" extra bright 400 nit. The HD 7870M is a little better than NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M. It has a 1TB HDD. The Samsung brand is a high quality one. It is heavy at 8.4 pounds.

You can browse around, but if you like the color (see it at various sites for sale by google of the model number), and don't miss DVD writing (you can buy an external one), the Samsung is an excellent choice. Just browse around Newegg by looking at laptops sorted by price at 100 per page, and then select at left the i7, and slidebar for 1920x1080, and parameters of GB of ram and HDD. You can also check Amazon, but they are harder to search.

With the article about quality, a site that shows reported CPU and graphics power and another with gaming by GPU and the places to buy being Newegg, Amazon, Tigerdirect, BHPhoto.com
it is just a matter of deciding what suits you.

Are there any gaming laptops with solid battery life?

James Harr

I'm looking for at least a minimum of 5 hours of battery life. Is that even possible at this day and age?
The best result I have found is the Sager NP6175 that gives 3-5 hours of life. I could always purchase an extra battery if the demand is too steep to meet. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in Advance!

Answer
I hate to bust your balloon, but you need an education. It is impossible to do high level gaming for any length of time running on a battery. You had better look at what the 3 to 5 hours refers to because it is NOT while gaming with the GT 650M and a CPU and fans running to their max. I see a 62 watt hour battery in 6 cell, versus a standard 6 cell that barely watches a 2 hour movie on DVD. The battery tests are always with integrated graphics, screens set to low, wireless off and doing minimal tasks. The stronger the components using the battery, the shorter the battery life. On batteries, the systems default to integrated graphics and it's a challenge to force the override. You can get a monster sized 12 cell battery and it still doesn't last 4 hours of gaming.
Look at the Sager: http://www.sagernotebook.com/images/Image/NV_Optimus_3.jpg
If you weren't gaming, you can get a Lenovo X series with an all-day standard use special battery configuration, but do not expect gaming for more than an hour or two with any battery.
Where does it say 3-5 hours of gaming with the NVidia and CPU and fans running?
And expect it at 3 at best.
My Thinkpad T series uses a high grade standard 6 cell. It shows 5.2 amp hours, 57 watt hours 10.8V. That sager is only slightly stronger at 62 watt hours. No way to get 3 hours gaming. Period. There are 9 cell battery pack options at at 7.2 Amp hours. That's maybe 78 watt hours. The i7 operating at full is about 40 watts. The GT 650M hardly discusses watts, but it is about 45 watts. Then you have the screen and fans and RAM. If you got an hour out of a 9 cell running at max on batteries, you are doing well. Just consider the numbers. In light use with the crappy graphics and CPU of netbooks, sure, get lots of battery life.
It is rare to get a commit in the data. It always says "up to" because after a few months of use and if you are actually doing anything useful on the system, it is nowhere near those numbers.
Also, with only one charger, you need to have a few batteries if you want 4 hours and charge each and take a bag with you to pop one in every hour or so.
That's the way it is, my friend. I worked with Thinkpad in Procurement since it started as a brand, and am now retired. They worked hard at having the most efficient designs in the industry about power usage. They are a Japan based team. Even they can't keep active graphics cards running for hours.

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Is there any way to reduce xbox live lag when others are on the internet?

best gaming laptop japan image

Joseph

When anyone gets on any of the computers to do anything such as watch videos it causes the games I play to lag. I was wondering if there was anyway to get around this. I figured there should be, because my ps3 has a wireless connection and never lags (even when all the computers are being used to watch videos and such) but the 360 lags constantly and has a wired connection.

Answer
That's because your PS3 online games often play in only 720p whilst most 360 games play in 1080p... that's results in a huge difference in data transfer. Even though the PS3 is the more powerful machine PSN don't have the income from subscriptions to offer the same levels of service as Xbox Live.

But that does mean you need a better connection to run multiplayer games on the 360 if you want to continue using other pieces of equipment online simultaneously. If you are not willing to invest in faster connection, you'll just have to turn off a computer or two when you play.

I live in Japan and I have a relatively slow service by Japanese standards (Hey! It's free!!) but I rarely have any problems with lag despite having lots of torrents running on my laptops (downloading and uploading at crazy speeds) and 2 360s on Live at the same time playing across servers (with UK and US hosts).

getting a new laptop what kind and where?

Ashley

I want to get a new laptop. I don't make that much so it cant be a really expensive one. I would like one that's extremely durable, has at least 2 USB ports and 2 SD slots, Microsoft word already downloaded, a good anti-virus software, a camera, and spell check on everything. If there is a laptop out there that meets or comes close to the things I want for a cheap price (under $900) please tell me.

Answer
Assuming you are for real (So many general questions are spam IDs to match up with a different mating spam ID), to do well you need to learn the basics to know what you are getting. Will try to be simple.
Here is laptop quality:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/244419/laptop_reliability_and_satisfaction_macbooks_rule.html
MacBooks are outrageous in price for the CPU+graphics you get. Average is alphabetical in the table. You also note Compaq is now HP, and Gateway is an Acer. Asus and MSI are designer-manufacturers, and Lenovo Thinkpad has a Japan design team.
For cpu+graphics power look here on the two tabs:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
For gaming if interested, here:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-Games-on-Laptop-Graphic-Cards.13849.0.html
Check size, weight, ethernet (hardwire port download+streaming) as gigabit 10/100/1000 or fast 10/100. Fast is slow and gigabit is fast. USB 3.0 is nice for the future use. web cam megapixels. bluetooth for cell phone links. hard drive speed and size. Amount of ram for stability in running more things at once and a separate graphics with its own ram is a premium.
That is your education.
Microsoft includes a Word starter now excel starter in almost every Windows system, and you can get Openoffice for free as a Microsoft office compatible freeware or buy Microsoft Office for a full version. Antivirus will have a starter subscription and you decide later about freeware or paid versions. Spell check is normal in most text software. Apple Macs run OSX and have less compatible software and missing key things like USB 3.0, Bluray, HDMI, and need special versions of software.

Where to shop:
Newegg.com, Lenovo.com (on sale models only), tigerdirect.com
Bestbuy occassionally has a special, as does Bhphoto.com, and ncix
Amazon sometimes is OK, but is a slow process to shop because the specifications are hidden until you read the whole data set. They are a pain in the rump.

Will suggest one to start, and then you compare around to do better.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.details?action=init&current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=C46D71ACFD7C4475B8E490358F8CA8C3
10% off first order with email signup.
Lenovo Ideapad Y570 and Y580
Y570 08626FU gets you 15.6" screen standard 720p, 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2670QM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 1GB GDDR5 (but reduced GT 555M version a little), 8GB of 1333MHz RAM, 2.0mp cam, USB 3.0, Bluetooth, 500GB 7200 rpm storage, DVDRW and after the 10% off, $630 plus tax and windows 8 upgrade for $15 when released. Has veriface and 1 key rescue, multitouch pad, numeric keypad. There are a few GT 640M laptops now coming in reach around the same price point at a similar performance, but usually step down to the i5 to do it.

Y580 - 209945U is $900 plus tax after 10% off and there is a Y580 within your budget, but I'll show the good one.
Takes the Y570 and raises the CPU to 3rd generation Intel Core i7-3610QM, raises the graphics to NVIDIA GeForce GTX660M 2GB, raises the DRAM to 1600 MHz speed, raises the display to 1080p
15.6" FHD LED Glare Wedge 1920x1080, makes it a bluray combo drive from the DVDRW, raises the wireless to Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2200BGN, does cut the camera to 1mp, adds a bit to the weight 2.8 kgs (6.15 lb), now at 2 USB 3.0 and 2 USB 2.0, changes the top shell to aluminum and the battery to polymer type. It is an impressive system for the price, but is a little over budget when adding tax. Not sure you can get all the bells and whistles anywhere else at this price.

With these two, and the tools I provided to compare systems, shop to your heart's content to do better. [add: compared to the HP at the same $900+tax, they downgrade graphics a lot, hard drive is the 640 at standard speed instead of 500 7200 so you need $10 to raise it to 750 7200, battery is the standard lithium ion (phony hours shown from HP), display is the standard 720p, webcam is a 0.3mp, no bluetooth, inferior wireless, inferior shell, not sure of the RAM frequency. The only thing they do is add 2 speakers and boost the bass. This system is a Y570 equivalent with faster CPU but lower graphics so should be $630; not $900.]

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