Please Help Me Out

John2090073

Honorable
Mar 10, 2013
7
0
10,510
I could really use some help in getting my girlfriend a new laptop for Christmas. It is just time for an upgrade. This was her old one. http://www.toshiba.com/us/computers/laptops/satellite/L500/L505-LS5021

I would like to get her something that is better then this. I am looking to spend at most $600. Though I would like to stay under that. Looking for something that is going to be faster, Can do some gaming (nothing to extreme). I know she plays Lord of the Rings online. So if it can run it that is fine. Watch movies online. Going to need something with storage as well. I would say at least 320GB. She is also in college right now. Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks,
John
 
Solution
Of the laptops you listed the MSI with the 820m is best for games because it is the most powerful GPU from the laptops you selected. But it is still considered a weak GPU. Additionally, while it is a bit more powerful than the Radeon R5 iGPU of tha A10-7300 APU in the Lenovo Z50 laptop, it is certainly not $220 more powerful. But the i5-4200m is considered more powerful than the A10-7300 as well.

The following Acer laptop with a core i5-4210u and the GT 840m GPU is a better deal for $630. Acer laptops are merely considered average in terms of overall quality, but it varies depending on the model; some being above average and others below average. Some people do not buy Acer laptops because they are only considered average...
If she has been playing LotRO with that thing, then the following 15.6" Acer laptop with the Core i5-4210u and the Intel HD 4400 is a major step up for only $350.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-aspire-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i5-4gb-memory-500gb-hard-drive-midnight-black/8274088.p?id=1219321335266&skuId=8274088


Some people do not like the Acer brand name so the next best thing is the following Asus X550LA-SI50402W with basically the same specs for $430.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i5-4gb-memory-500gb-hard-drive-dark-gray-blue-gray/6643023.p?id=1219229364828&skuId=6643023

The following video is LotRO being played on a laptop with the slightly older Intel HD 4000. The current Intel HD 4400 is generally about 25% more powerful so performance will be higher.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYE4ROClZQQ



The least expensive laptop that I know with a dedicated graphics chip is the following Acer Aspire V3-572G-54S6 with a core i5-4210u CPU and the nvidia 840m for $630. The 840m is a mainstream graphics chip, but it is a lot more powerful than the Intel HD 4400; there is no comparison. However, it is $200 more for this laptop compared to the Asus I recommended; the hardware is basically the same with the exception of the graphics chip.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834314535
 

John2090073

Honorable
Mar 10, 2013
7
0
10,510
What about lenovo? I'm looking for a good laptop for around $600. I want my moneys worth. Any other thoughts?




 

John2090073

Honorable
Mar 10, 2013
7
0
10,510
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232215
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834231973
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G1S91652
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834317602
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152586
Now the MSI one is probably the most I would go. Im thinking that is my winner though. Thoughts?




 
Of the laptops you listed the MSI with the 820m is best for games because it is the most powerful GPU from the laptops you selected. But it is still considered a weak GPU. Additionally, while it is a bit more powerful than the Radeon R5 iGPU of tha A10-7300 APU in the Lenovo Z50 laptop, it is certainly not $220 more powerful. But the i5-4200m is considered more powerful than the A10-7300 as well.

The following Acer laptop with a core i5-4210u and the GT 840m GPU is a better deal for $630. Acer laptops are merely considered average in terms of overall quality, but it varies depending on the model; some being above average and others below average. Some people do not buy Acer laptops because they are only considered average.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834314535&cm_re=gt_840m-_-34-314-535-_-Product
 
Solution