Computer Geeks - I Need help

[NorthernVike 2,080]

My son's laptop took a shat. Looking to get a gaming laptop and spend in the $1,000 range. Way too much out there for me to figure out what is a decent deal and give him what he needs. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

My buddy just bought a gaming laptop for $5000. Go big

[NorthernVike 2,080]

My buddy just bought a gaming laptop for $5000. Go big

He's 12. There's no way I'm spending that kind of jack on a focking laptop.

[tubby_mcgee 686]

I'd say Sams Club, Costco or .... www.slickdeals.com often has good deals pop up for gaming computers.

[porkbutt 861]

why a laptop? for gaming id build a sweet desktop. so much more for money

[wiffleball 4,639]

Isn't alien the go-to when it comes to building a gaming laptop?

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

why a laptop? for gaming id build a sweet desktop. so much more for money

Laptop is much more convenient.

[fandandy 3,311]

If you're not in a huge hurry I would just keep checking here: https://slickdeals.net/laptop-deals/

 

You will want a graphics card and at least 8 GB of ram. Either a 2nd generation Ryzen 5 or 7 or an 8th generation Intel 5 or 7

 

It depends on what games he plans to play. I would keep looking there and read the comments and see what these guys think.

 

I personally wouldn't pay tons extra for an SSD. The prices are dropping fast and they are super easy to install yourself after the fact. I just bought and installed a Crucial 500 GB for like 70 bucks.

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

https://laptop.ninja/finding-the-best-gaming-laptops-under-1000-dollars/

 

 

Idk how much you will really get for 1000 when it comes to gaming

[Djgb13 2,338]

Maybe Alienware? They are about be only gaming laptop/PC I know of

[wiffleball 4,639]

Maybe Alienware? They are about be only gaming laptop/PC I know of

Yep. That's what I was talking about. You can build a monster without spending a fortune.

[NorthernVike 2,080]

Laptop is much more convenient.

This, we are on the run a lot. He'll take it to the lake every weekend.

[mobb_deep 917]

why a laptop? for gaming id build a sweet desktop. so much more for money

Exactly. And no way you can fit a good card into a laptop anyways. Even the top of the line gaming laptops have integrated video cards.

 

At any rate, Id start here... couple good options in the $1000 range.

 

https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2020688,00.asp

[NorthernVike 2,080]

If you're not in a huge hurry I would just keep checking here: https://slickdeals.net/laptop-deals/

 

You will want a graphics card and at least 8 GB of ram. Either a 2nd generation Ryzen 5 or 7 or an 8th generation Intel 5 or 7

 

It depends on what games he plans to play. I would keep looking there and read the comments and see what these guys think.

 

I personally wouldn't pay tons extra for an SSD. The prices are dropping fast and they are super easy to install yourself after the fact. I just bought and installed a Crucial 500 GB for like 70 bucks.

This is one of the things I was wondering about. So a 256GB SSD would be ok to start with?

 

 

I'm thinking of this one here.

 

Acer Predator Helios 300 15.6" Full HD Gaming Laptop PC, Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, 32GB RAM, 256GB SSD, MicroSD Card Reader, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10

 

Amazon has it for $1,399

 

Or they have the 16GB RAM with 2T + 256GB SSD for $1,379

[wiffleball 4,639]

In my day, we had Pong. And we liked it! And eventually burned into the screen on the television and we liked it!

 

[NorthernVike 2,080]

In my day, we had Pong. And we liked it! And eventually burned into the screen on the television and we liked it!

 

 

#metoo

 

 

 

That's why I need help.

[porkbutt 861]

This, we are on the run a lot. He'll take it to the lake every weekend.

no focking laptops at the lake!!!!

[NorthernVike 2,080]

no focking laptops at the lake!!!!

Not during the day. But at night we let them have an hour or two of screen time.

[fandandy 3,311]

This is one of the things I was wondering about. So a 256GB SSD would be ok to start with?

 

 

I'm thinking of this one here.

 

Acer Predator Helios 300 15.6" Full HD Gaming Laptop PC, Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, 32GB RAM, 256GB SSD, MicroSD Card Reader, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10

 

Amazon has it for $1,399

 

Or they have the 16GB RAM with 2T + 256GB SSD for $1,379

How old is your son? Depending on what games he plans on playing that might be overkill and it's like 1500 bucks after tax. Here's one for about half that from MSI. It's the newer gen i5 but less RAM and a step down in the graphics card and no SSD.

 

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-GV62-8RD-200-Performance-Steelseries/dp/B07D4ZML7M/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1536589949&sr=1-4&keywords=msi+gaming+laptop

 

Here's a comparison video of the two graphics cards.

 

[NorthernVike 2,080]

How do you tell if one is VR ready?

[fandandy 3,311]

How do you tell if one is VR ready?

I think they will be advertised as such and I think it has to do with the graphics card.

[NorthernVike 2,080]

I think they will be advertised as such and I think it has to do with the graphics card.

 

 

Cool. Thanks for your help.

[Drizzay 645]

Here are some basic specs to look for. This will bee a "good enough" laptop:

 

i5 7500 processor (could also do i5 8500)

16gb RAM

256 ssd

1TB secondary drive

1060 gtx graphics card

 

 

If you want an upgraded laptop:

 

i7 7700 processor (or i7 8700)

32gb RAM

500gb SSD

2TB secodary drive

1070 or 1080 gtx graphics card

 

 

Of the 2nd options, I've bolded the ones that would worth the extra money:

- The extra RAM will help (although graphics cards have their own RAM)

- The 1070 (or 1070ti - the souped up version) is a great card and probably worth the extra bucks. You shouldn't have to splurge on a 1080 card.

 

Upgrades you don't really need:

- An i5 7500 (7th generation) or 8500 (8th and newest generation) processor should be enough for any game out there

- You don't need more than 256gb for a solid state drive. The idea is you have the operating system on that drive, and save all media files on the secondary drive.

- 1TB for the secondary drive is plenty, unless he will be storing a ton of movies on there as well.

[iam90sbaby 2,125]

What games does he plan on playing? Some games are extremely CPU dependent and an i5 wont cut it.

 

cyberpowerpc.com always has some good deals and you can finance.

[fandandy 3,311]

What games does he plan on playing? Some games are extremely CPU dependent and an i5 wont cut it.

 

cyberpowerpc.com always has some good deals and you can finance.

Dude, he's a geek. Finance?? Pfffftt

[lickin_starfish 1,480]

For a 12 year old, I would skip the laptop and tell him to go outside and play. Save the $1,000.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

Get an SSD and you don't need more than 256GB for it.

[RLLD 3,455]

The circuits are dirty, if you place it in the dishwasher on rinse cycle it will clean that puppy right up.

[wiffleball 4,639]

Get an SSD and you don't need more than 256GB for it.

I think the kids sounds a little young for Social Security disability.

[wiffleball 4,639]

I'm sure this goes without saying, but make sure you get the extended warranty.

[fandandy 3,311]

Just saw this Slickdeals. $880

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dell-G5-Gaming-Laptop-15-6-Full-HD-Intel-Core-i5-8300H-NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-1060Ti-6GB-16GB-RAM-256-GB-SSD-1TB-Storage-G5587-5542BLK/117583685?u1=f29d9366b6ca11e8b5148e7a0d52cbc40INT&oid=223073.1&wmlspartner=lw9MynSeamY&sourceid=06419452572121965896&affillinktype=10&veh=aff

 

• 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-Glare, LED-Backlit Display
• 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8300H Processor (Quad-Core, 8MB Cache, up to 3.9GHz w/ Turbo Boost)
• 16GB (2x8GB) 2666MHz DDR4 up to [32GB], (additional memory sold separately)
• 256 GB (SSD) Boot + 1 TB 5400 RPM [sATA] HDD Storage
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, with NVIDIA Max Q Design technology, 6GB GDDR5 video memory
• No Optical Drive
• 802.11ac + Bluetooth 5.0, Dual Band 2.4&5 GHz, MU-MIMO/160Mhz, 2x2
• 56 Whr Battery, 4-Cell (Integrated)
• 1 X HDMI, 4 X USB 3.1 [3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C]
• 1 x combo headphone / microphone Jack
• 2-in-1 SD (UHS50) / MMC
• Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet Port
• Height: 0.93" X Width: 15.32" X Depth: 10.82" (TBC)
• Starting at 5.76 lbs (TBC)
• Backlit Keyboard, English

[iam90sbaby 2,125]

<p>

 

Just saw this Slickdeals. $880

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dell-G5-Gaming-Laptop-15-6-Full-HD-Intel-Core-i5-8300H-NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-1060Ti-6GB-16GB-RAM-256-GB-SSD-1TB-Storage-G5587-5542BLK/117583685?u1=f29d9366b6ca11e8b5148e7a0d52cbc40INT&oid=223073.1&wmlspartner=lw9MynSeamY&sourceid=06419452572121965896&affillinktype=10&veh=aff

 

• 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-Glare, LED-Backlit Display
• 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8300H Processor (Quad-Core, 8MB Cache, up to 3.9GHz w/ Turbo Boost)
• 16GB (2x8GB) 2666MHz DDR4 up to [32GB], (additional memory sold separately)
• 256 GB (SSD) Boot + 1 TB 5400 RPM [sATA] HDD Storage
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, with NVIDIA Max Q Design technology, 6GB GDDR5 video memory
• No Optical Drive
• 802.11ac + Bluetooth 5.0, Dual Band 2.4&5 GHz, MU-MIMO/160Mhz, 2x2
• 56 Whr Battery, 4-Cell (Integrated)
• 1 X HDMI, 4 X USB 3.1 [3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C]
• 1 x combo headphone / microphone Jack
• 2-in-1 SD (UHS50) / MMC
• Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet Port
• Height: 0.93" X Width: 15.32" X Depth: 10.82" (TBC)
• Starting at 5.76 lbs (TBC)
• Backlit Keyboard, English

You can build that same PC for like $500-$600. The i5-8300H only has 4 cores and base frequency is under 2.5GHz. Itll look pretty when its running but itll bottleneck really bad every few minutes.

 

If you are going to spend a $1,000 or less do an AMD pc if you are spending over $1,000 go Intel.

[NorthernVike 2,080]

You can build that same PC for like $500-$600. The i5-8300H only has 4 cores and base frequency is under 2.5GHz. Itll look pretty when its running but itll bottleneck really bad every few minutes.

 

If you are going to spend a $1,000 or less do an AMD pc if you are spending over $1,000 go Intel.

I wish I knew enough to build one.

[nospk 230]

ask HT, he knows everything about everything, and thinks everyone else is an idiot

[NorthernVike 2,080]

ask HT, he knows everything about everything, and thinks everyone else is an idiot

Thanks, I'll pass.

[fandandy 3,311]

You can build that same PC for like $500-$600. The i5-8300H only has 4 cores and base frequency is under 2.5GHz. Itll look pretty when its running but itll bottleneck really bad every few minutes.

 

If you are going to spend a $1,000 or less do an AMD pc if you are spending over $1,000 go Intel.

He wants a laptop.

[NorthernVike 2,080]

He wants a laptop.

Yes. And I do appreciate your help.

[tanatastic 2,061]

Acer Predator Helios 300

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1410563-REG/acer_nh_q28aa_005_predator_helios_300_g3_571_77kb.html?ap=y&gclid=CjwKCAjw8uLcBRACEiwAaL6MSSSgO9fyQ9OpqsjByTsf_R21DMXfTuEVkcgjxjYlbq2tQ2s8aa1GNBoC9CMQAvD_BwE&smp=y

[Hardcore troubadour 12,627]

Thanks, I'll pass.

Good move chump. And oh yeah, look at me.

[NorthernVike 2,080]

Acer Predator Helios 300

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1410563-REG/acer_nh_q28aa_005_predator_helios_300_g3_571_77kb.html?ap=y&gclid=CjwKCAjw8uLcBRACEiwAaL6MSSSgO9fyQ9OpqsjByTsf_R21DMXfTuEVkcgjxjYlbq2tQ2s8aa1GNBoC9CMQAvD_BwE&smp=y

Im looking at suped up version of that.