Gaming Laptop or Desktop: $400 and under, need help- Incompetent with computers

Shorm

Estimable
Nov 11, 2014
2
0
4,510
I am a VERY casual "gamer", by which I mean I really just need a computer that will run SPORE, Darkspore, simple 3D simulators/games, and 3D online games. I am woefully incompetent when it comes to computers, so I need help finding a laptop that is under or around $400 to suit my needs. Clearly, it does not need to be a true gaming laptop (they're quite pricey for my budget), just something that works. Also: I am willing to consider a desktop, if that were to work better for the price. Do you know any that fit the criteria? Thank you.
 
Solution
Those are very basic system requirements and they are actually old requirements.

The game was released back in 2008. A modern Intel CPU @ 1.7GHz is more powerful than a 1.7GHz Intel CPU from 2008. The game actually list Intel "P4" which means a Pentium 4 CPU released from about 2004 which is a decade old now. A current Intel CPU compared to an Intel CPU from 2008 is approximately 40% more powerful assuming the same clockspeed. Compared to a Pentium 4 @ 2.0GHz a current generation Intel CPU is much more power than 40% especially considering the P4 they are referring to only has one core vs a Core i5-4210u CPU with 2 cores. Also the Core i5 clocks up to 2.7GHz when only one core is used or 2.5GHz when both cores are used.

The Intel HD...


This is probably your best bet right now.

You can wait for Black Friday / Cyber Monday to see what sales are in local stores or online. This laptop could drop $50 to $100 during that time. But for $450 is actually looks like a good deal now.
 

Shorm

Estimable
Nov 11, 2014
2
0
4,510


Thanks- it looks like a good deal. But don't you think 1.7GHz is kind of slow, even for basic and older games?

These are the specs for spore: http://www.spore.com/what/specs_spore

This laptop won't run it (well) Do you know of any good desktops?
 
Those are very basic system requirements and they are actually old requirements.

The game was released back in 2008. A modern Intel CPU @ 1.7GHz is more powerful than a 1.7GHz Intel CPU from 2008. The game actually list Intel "P4" which means a Pentium 4 CPU released from about 2004 which is a decade old now. A current Intel CPU compared to an Intel CPU from 2008 is approximately 40% more powerful assuming the same clockspeed. Compared to a Pentium 4 @ 2.0GHz a current generation Intel CPU is much more power than 40% especially considering the P4 they are referring to only has one core vs a Core i5-4210u CPU with 2 cores. Also the Core i5 clocks up to 2.7GHz when only one core is used or 2.5GHz when both cores are used.

The Intel HD 4400 is vastly more powerful than the Intel GMA 950, GMA X3000, GMA X3100 listed as part of the requirements. Click following link of Youtube videos of games played on a laptop with an Intel HD 4400. If you want better performance in a laptop then you need to spend more money.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=intel+HD+4400+games
 
Solution