Sam
Specs of laptop:
3rd generation intel core i7-3632QM (2.20GHz, 4MB Cache)
8GB DDR3 RAM
Intel® HD graphics 4000 (integrated)
NVIDIA GeForce GT630 (2GB)
If needed, should I upgrade the RAM to 16gigs?
Answer
The laptop you are looking at is not a particularly good choice, because it comes with a 17.3" 1600x900 display. 1600x900 resolution in a 17.3" display makes things onscreen large, and 17.3" displays that have 1600x900 resolution tend to be low-grade LCD panels with very poor image quality due to low contrast. You should make a point to avoid displays like this when it is reasonable to do so, unless you require the larger text for eyesight-related reasons.
Second, keep in mind that RAM and CPU, while among the most marketed specs, are actually two of the least important things to be concerned with, generally speaking. The CPUs and amounts of RAM that come with most computers are plenty enough for the majority of users. And you're interested in gaming, right? Gaming depends a lot more on the GPU than it depends on anything else. (No you shouldn't upgrade your RAM to 16GB unless you have a specific application that it'll help)
So the two specs you should focus on are the GPU and the display. Seek to do well in these parts before you start trying to go overboard in things that don't matter as much to focus on.
----------------------------
A much better alternative would be this Lenovo IdeaPad Y500. Compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad G780,
- It has a much faster GPU. The NVIDIA GT 650M is a lot more likely to get you your desired performance in BF3 as well as other games, than the GT 630M.
- It has a significantly better display. You're looking at a 15.6" 1920x1080-resolution display in this one versus a 17.3" 1600x900-resolution display in the G780. This means that, even though it's smaller, you can still fit more onscreen on this display than you can on the G780's. And of course the quality itself of the Y500's display is much better too. Nothing to do with the resolution, that's just how the higher resolution displays come in almost all cases.
**Lenovo IdeaPad Y500** (NVIDIA GT 650M or GT 650M SLI, 15.6" 1920x1080 glossy display) - **$839 + tax**
- Sign up and sign in here: http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/con⦠(Barnes and Noble Gold discount page)
- http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/barnesnoblegold/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/config.workflow:ConfigureMtmAsItem?mtm-item=:000001C9:00009E58:&category-id=5B0116E237099FA0FCA012D9B20ED2FB (1TB + 16G SSD + DVD, single GT 650M, $839 + tax)
- Click the activate coupon button in the cart.
- Avoid any models that come with the 1366x768 display and not the 1920x1080 display.
----------------------------
Or, another model available is this one here. At sacrifice of not having the mSSD, not having the optical drive, and having lower battery life, it comes with two NVIDIA GT 650Ms in SLI rather than a single GT 650M (two "graphics cards" working together). Depending on your budget and how much of a gamer you are, you may like this one better than the one above.
- http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Lenovo+-+IdeaPad+15.6%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+6GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive/7900057.p?id=1218862009712&skuId=7900057&st=y500&cp=1&lp=1 (1TB, SLI GT 650M's, $899 + tax)
----------------------------
GT 650M SLI benchmarks:
- http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-650M-SLI.84953.0.html
single GT 650M benchmarks:
- http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-650M.71887.0.html
----------------------------
The laptop you are looking at is not a particularly good choice, because it comes with a 17.3" 1600x900 display. 1600x900 resolution in a 17.3" display makes things onscreen large, and 17.3" displays that have 1600x900 resolution tend to be low-grade LCD panels with very poor image quality due to low contrast. You should make a point to avoid displays like this when it is reasonable to do so, unless you require the larger text for eyesight-related reasons.
Second, keep in mind that RAM and CPU, while among the most marketed specs, are actually two of the least important things to be concerned with, generally speaking. The CPUs and amounts of RAM that come with most computers are plenty enough for the majority of users. And you're interested in gaming, right? Gaming depends a lot more on the GPU than it depends on anything else. (No you shouldn't upgrade your RAM to 16GB unless you have a specific application that it'll help)
So the two specs you should focus on are the GPU and the display. Seek to do well in these parts before you start trying to go overboard in things that don't matter as much to focus on.
----------------------------
A much better alternative would be this Lenovo IdeaPad Y500. Compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad G780,
- It has a much faster GPU. The NVIDIA GT 650M is a lot more likely to get you your desired performance in BF3 as well as other games, than the GT 630M.
- It has a significantly better display. You're looking at a 15.6" 1920x1080-resolution display in this one versus a 17.3" 1600x900-resolution display in the G780. This means that, even though it's smaller, you can still fit more onscreen on this display than you can on the G780's. And of course the quality itself of the Y500's display is much better too. Nothing to do with the resolution, that's just how the higher resolution displays come in almost all cases.
**Lenovo IdeaPad Y500** (NVIDIA GT 650M or GT 650M SLI, 15.6" 1920x1080 glossy display) - **$839 + tax**
- Sign up and sign in here: http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/con⦠(Barnes and Noble Gold discount page)
- http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/barnesnoblegold/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/config.workflow:ConfigureMtmAsItem?mtm-item=:000001C9:00009E58:&category-id=5B0116E237099FA0FCA012D9B20ED2FB (1TB + 16G SSD + DVD, single GT 650M, $839 + tax)
- Click the activate coupon button in the cart.
- Avoid any models that come with the 1366x768 display and not the 1920x1080 display.
----------------------------
Or, another model available is this one here. At sacrifice of not having the mSSD, not having the optical drive, and having lower battery life, it comes with two NVIDIA GT 650Ms in SLI rather than a single GT 650M (two "graphics cards" working together). Depending on your budget and how much of a gamer you are, you may like this one better than the one above.
- http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Lenovo+-+IdeaPad+15.6%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+6GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive/7900057.p?id=1218862009712&skuId=7900057&st=y500&cp=1&lp=1 (1TB, SLI GT 650M's, $899 + tax)
----------------------------
GT 650M SLI benchmarks:
- http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-650M-SLI.84953.0.html
single GT 650M benchmarks:
- http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-650M.71887.0.html
----------------------------
What is a good gaming laptop with vibrant display? Lenovo Y470?
dxuxcxk
Hi, so I am about to buy a laptop -think desktop replacement. Budget is < $800.
I like to game on the PC and was looking for some higher tech specs (i7, dedicated graphics, 8GB ram capacity) but I also am very concerned about the screen display quality.
I like doing photography and design work so a clear, bright display with good resolution is key.
I know Sony is considered to have nice "glossy" screen displays but they are a bit more expensive for the build I was looking for.
Lenovo has the Y470 out with really good specs (kindof a clunker though). I just don't know about if the display will suit my purposes.
Anyone out there with suggestions?
I don't want a mac.
Answer
The Lenovo may or may not suit your needs photo wise. I know gaming wise it is great. I'd say get a laptop with a 17.3 screen so it has beastly resolution for high quality photos. Finding a laptop around 800 like that is a bit of a challenge. Unless you wish to settle for a weaker graphics card. I'd recommend a Lenovo with an i7 2630qm and 555m Nvidia or better for gaming. Just watch out for the Y560p it's a hell of a deal but the screen won't suit your photography needs.
The Lenovo may or may not suit your needs photo wise. I know gaming wise it is great. I'd say get a laptop with a 17.3 screen so it has beastly resolution for high quality photos. Finding a laptop around 800 like that is a bit of a challenge. Unless you wish to settle for a weaker graphics card. I'd recommend a Lenovo with an i7 2630qm and 555m Nvidia or better for gaming. Just watch out for the Y560p it's a hell of a deal but the screen won't suit your photography needs.
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