Laptop recommendations

[btmc22]

Hey all, so I'm looking for a laptop for school in the fall. I'm looking to spend up to $1000 for the laptop and I would be doing some light gaming on it. Preferably I would want the 3rd gen i7 processor (ivy bridge), with a dedicated graphics card, and a HDD with 500gb+ that is preferably 7200rpm. I would also like to purchase this laptop within Canada, whether it's online or in-store. Thanks in advance!

[george__]

Hmm. The light gaming kind of throws off my recommendations but still.

a) Lenovo Thinkpad T4xx or T5xx
b) HP Business grade laptops

They are super durable (can survive drops, and general wear and tear very well).
You are going to get better specs though with a consumer grade laptop. This is because the Thinkpad T series and HP Business grade laptops are more $$. But the consumer grade laptop might not survive time as well.

My experience.
I have a Thinkpad T43p which I've had for upwards of 4+ years and it still works with original parts (like CPU heatsink, battery, etc) -> The battery also lasts ~1 hour. I also have a HP NC6000 which I've had for also about 4+ years and it still works but the CPU heatsink has broken. Battery wise, it also lasts ~1 hour. Both laptops were dropped more than once and rarely cleaned :P...
On the other hand, I had a HP DV9000 which broke, literally, months after I had it fixed due to a GPU recall because my dog jumped on it by accident >< from the couch. <--- Dog did this a lot with the Thinkpad and HP too and it's a tiny dog (Bichon). I was freaken shocked. Laptop survived almost a year?

Most recent - Thinkpad T510... For the most part I'm happy but the quality compared to the T43 was a little worse. Dropped it on carpet and wood more than once and still no cracks on the case :D but the lid is starting to tear? (Like the black finishing is tearing off)

edit: the dv9000 had a broken lcd after the dog jumped on it from the couch.

[Mazman08]

I have one of the HPs you speak of for work and man can it take a beating.

[george__]

I have one of the HPs you speak of for work and man can it take a beating.

The NC6000 or DV9000?

[Ben31]

I'm in the market for a laptop as well....not sure which to choose. Leaning towards a 3rd gen...i5 or i7?...which brand?....mainly its to replace my aging desktop....the laptop would be used for general purpose, some multimedia projects(although I have a MBP where I do most of my work) and maybe some gaming but not too much since I have consoles.(please don't use this thread to debate on this, I'm more of a console gamer than a PC gamer).

thanks in advance.

[george__]

@ben31 - what type of gaming / what's your budget?

The i5 would be more than adequate...

Sager laptops are expensive but they are supeer configured, literally. You can get laptops with SLI! Or more light gaming?

[cloakster]

If you can go a little over your budget, get this Asus for $1050: http://ncix.com/products/?sku=74585&vpn=N56VM-RB71-CA&manufacture=ASUS

[btmc22]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Right now, I'm leaning towards the Asus that was posted, but I'm also open to other suggestions because preferably I'd like to spend under the $1000.

[george__]

@btmc22 - The linked Asus looks like a Macbook :P. But is this a HD or full HD model?

Spec wise it is pretty decent. The graphics card is on the lower end of the graphics spectrum though, it's not even mid level. The mid level would be a 650m(ish). So even with the powerful i7, you might not be able to play a lot of games at medium/high settings.

[btmc22]

@btmc22 - The linked Asus looks like a Macbook :P. But is this a HD or full HD model?

Spec wise it is pretty decent. The graphics card is on the lower end of the graphics spectrum though, it's not even mid level. The mid level would be a 650m(ish). So even with the powerful i7, you might not be able to play a lot of games at medium/high settings.

Thanks for your replies! After looking on dell and checking out their 12 day sale, I saw this laptop on sale. Here are the specs:


Intel Core i7-3612QM Processor (6MB cache, up to 3.1 GHz)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
8GB 2 DIMM (4GB x2) DDR3 1600Mhz
AMD Radeon HD 7730M DDR3 2GB
15.6" FHD Anti-glare (1920x1080)
Skullcandy Speakers (2x 2W)
Up to 1TB SATA hard drive (5400RPM)
6-cell 48WHr Li-Ion Battery
(3) USB 3.0 + (1) USB 3.0 PowerShare
1.19” ~ 1.34” (H) x 14.88” (W) x 9.92” (D)
6.098lbs (starting weight)

This is only going for $900, and it seems to be a bang for its buck.

[george__]

Thanks for your replies! After looking on dell and checking out their 12 day sale, I saw this laptop on sale. Here are the specs:


Intel Core i7-3612QM Processor (6MB cache, up to 3.1 GHz)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
8GB 2 DIMM (4GB x2) DDR3 1600Mhz
AMD Radeon HD 7730M DDR3 2GB
15.6" FHD Anti-glare (1920x1080)
Skullcandy Speakers (2x 2W)
Up to 1TB SATA hard drive (5400RPM)
6-cell 48WHr Li-Ion Battery
(3) USB 3.0 + (1) USB 3.0 PowerShare
1.19” ~ 1.34” (H) x 14.88” (W) x 9.92” (D)
6.098lbs (starting weight)

This is only going for $900, and it seems to be a bang for its buck.
Better deal, in my opinion... Graphic card is still lacking and you won't get a 7200 rpm hard drive though.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-7730M.72678.0.html <-- take a look at this for graphic card comparison

[btmc22]

Better deal, in my opinion... Graphic card is still lacking and you won't get a 7200 rpm hard drive though.

My apologies, I copy and pasted off of another website, and the one that dell is selling is 750gb with 7200 rpm. The graphic card is really a non-issue because I'm not a heavy gamer and will not do a lot of gaming. It's just that in case I do play some games in the future, I at least of a decent one. Thanks for your help!

[george__]

My apologies, I copy and pasted off of another website, and the one that dell is selling is 750gb with 7200 rpm. The graphic card is really a non-issue because I'm not a heavy gamer and will not do a lot of gaming. It's just that in case I do play some games in the future, I at least of a decent one. Thanks for your help!

Do they offer a 9 cell battery? Might be heavier but your looking for a laptop for school and with that kind of specs the 6 cell might die rather quickly :D
Also -- check around forum for the $20 off coupons. It might work.

[btmc22]

Do they offer a 9 cell battery? Might be heavier but your looking for a laptop for school and with that kind of specs the 6 cell might die rather quickly :D
Also -- check around forum for the $20 off coupons. It might work.

I don't think I can change the battery, but I did get a $25 off coupon which is great!

[Mazman08]

The NC6000 or DV9000?

I guess Im not talking about the same book. I just checked and it's an Elitebook 6940p.

[george__]

I guess Im not talking about the same book. I just checked and it's an Elitebook 6940p.
Yeah, the NC6000 is reallly old. Uses a Intel Pentium M processor :|. But those elitebooks are very very nice machines.

[Mazman08]

Yeah, they're not the prettiest looking machines but otherwise I'm really happy with it (not that I'd have a choice :P).

[cloakster]

The Asus has a 1366x768 display, so if you can get that Dell for ~900, go for it.

[george__]

The Asus has a 1366x768 display, so if you can get that Dell for ~900, go for it.

I think OP did. Pretty sad that the ASUS for that price only has that resolution display

[btmc22]

Yup, I got the Dell! Thanks for the suggestions guys!