Support NeoGAF

[sephi22]

Hey guys. I usually use my MSI GS70 stealth pro for Dota 2 and work, but I dabble in more intensive games once in a while.
I recently bought Dark Souls 3 and was running it on High performance and sport mode in dragon gaming center, and my in game settings were all high except for lighting which was low.

After a while I checked my CPU temperature and it was 93 degrees. This is the first time my laptop's been this hot. Is this standard for gaming laptops under heavy load? And if so, is this really bad? Should I invest in a cooling pad?

 

[K.Jack]

Hey guys. I usually use my MSI GS70 stealth pro for Dota 2 and work, but I dabble in more intensive games once in a while.
I recently bought Dark Souls 3 and was running it on High performance and sport mode in dragon gaming center, and my in game settings were all high except for lighting which was low.

After a while I checked my CPU temperature and it was 93 degrees. This is the first time my laptop's been this hot. Is this standard for gaming laptops under heavy load? And if so, is this really bad? Should I invest in a cooling pad?

93 is technically "hot", but I wouldn't be very concerned with it. You'd have to be over 100C, for sustained periods, to do any damage.

Thin gaming laptops will run hotter with some games, it's simply unavoidable.

 

[luffeN]

Country: Austria/Germany
Maximum budget: 500 Euro
Max size: 15.4 inches
Planned usage: Translation and gaming. 1080p60 Rocket League / Overwatch.

Sooo, I'll be moving to Poland for three months and would like to play RL and OW while being there. I cannot take my newly built PC with me. I was wondering if the budget would allow for such a laptop. Ideally, I would like to buy this machine on Amazon due to the gift cards I got. If 500 is not enough, then go as far as you need to go to reach the goal. Games can be on middle graphics settings. I will be leaving on May 15th.

Win10 would be nice.

Cheers!

 

[K.Jack]

Country: Austria/Germany
Maximum budget: 500 Euro
Max size: 15.4 inches
Planned usage: Translation and gaming. 1080p60 Rocket League / Overwatch.

Sooo, I'll be moving to Poland for three months and would like to play RL and OW while being there. I cannot take my newly built PC with me. I was wondering if the budget would allow for such a laptop. Ideally, I would like to buy this machine on Amazon due to the gift cards I got. If 500 is not enough, then go as far as you need to go to reach the goal. Games can be on middle graphics settings. I will be leaving on May 15th.

Win10 would be nice.

Cheers!

I don't know why this laptop is going for so cheap, but I'd buy it ASAP. Like, right now.

Review.

 

[illusionary]

I don't know why this laptop is going for so cheap, but I'd buy it ASAP. Like, right now.

Review.

I hope that luffeN did - it's now showing as "Currently unavailable." How much was it?

 

[K.Jack]

I hope that luffeN did - it's now showing as "Currently unavailable." How much was it?

Was 340-something Euros, new. I hope he's the one who sniped it.

 

[Soi-Fong]

Just wondering regarding my Dell XPS 15, can a 960m handle Quantum Break you guys think at min settings?

 

[illusionary]

Was 340-something Euros, new. I hope he's the one who sniped it.

Wow... yes,indeed, that was a superb price!

Just wondering regarding my Dell XPS 15, can a 960m handle Quantum Break you guys think at min settings?

This suggests that you should be fine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5CFPa1Sllo

 

[luffeN]

I don't know why this laptop is going for so cheap, but I'd buy it ASAP. Like, right now.

Review.

Sadly it says unavailable ( I was already in bed nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Thanks though!

 

[Juanfp]

Do somebody know a good place where I can send a laptop to be clean (remove dust)?

 

[Arthea]

Go MSI all day. It's just the better built machine.

Aren't all laptops made in China nowadays anyway? Or do you mean it has better parts?

Was 340-something Euros, new. I hope he's the one who sniped it.

how's that even possible? it's like 4 time less than usually such laptops cost, isn't it?
Can it be a price mistake or something?
that price is literally mindblowing

 

[Magnus]

Is most of the OP still a valid read two years later? I'm considering a laptop purchase for this Spring and am looking for a good primer to get me caught up on the state of things.

 

[X05]

Is most of the OP still a valid read two years later? I'm considering a laptop purchase for this Spring and am looking for a good primer to get me caught up on the state of things.

"Last edited by K.Jack; 01-17-2016 at 07:12 PM"

Yes, yes it is.

 

[luffeN]

How is this one http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00U1PP3FQ/ compared to the Asus N551JW? What hardware should I look for to run Rocket League and Overwatch in 1080p60? Is a GTX 960M the minimum?

Or this one: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B016QB9IHM/

EDIT: The old one is back for 340 but it was a used one: http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00U0X2P78/ The seller does not have any reviews yet so not sure what to do.

 

[K.Jack]

Do somebody know a good place where I can send a laptop to be clean (remove dust)?

Kitchen table.

Aren't all laptops made in China nowadays anyway? Or do you mean it has better parts?

Better speakers, better keyboard, better touchpad. That kind of stuff MSI spends more on vs other manufacturers.

How is this one http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00U1PP3FQ/ compared to the Asus N551JW? What hardware should I look for to run Rocket League and Overwatch in 1080p60? Is a GTX 960M the minimum?

Or this one: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B016QB9IHM/

EDIT: The old one is back for 340 but it was a used one: http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00U0X2P78/ The seller does not have any reviews yet so not sure what to do.

Well yeah I was going to point out the Y50, I did actually.

I've never bought a used laptop, so I don't want to push you in either direction. It's on Amazon, so you'd be pretty protected form any wrongdoing.

Bottom line is, you need a GTX 960M for the needs you listed.

 

[illusionary]

In general, how worthwhile is it to invest in a fan cooling pad? Can anyone recommend a good one, that's not too expensive (somewhere around £10 would be good)? I've seen a few listed on Amazon (similar on eBay), but I'm not sure what to look for to choose between them. Quiet running would be a key factor for me.

 

[K.Jack]

I'm of the opinion that no laptop worth buying needs a cooling pad.

 

[madmaxx350]

I am in the market for a new laptop after my alienware finally gave out after 7 years. I am interested in the new razer and the form factor is exactly what i am looking for (14in and very powerful), now the question i have before I pull the trigger on this 2k investment is regarding cooling. Current razer owners any opinion regarding this?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Gruso]

In general, how worthwhile is it to invest in a fan cooling pad? Can anyone recommend a good one, that's not too expensive (somewhere around £10 would be good)? I've seen a few listed on Amazon (similar on eBay), but I'm not sure what to look for to choose between them. Quiet running would be a key factor for me.

I'm of the opinion that no laptop worth buying needs a cooling pad.

I have one, but its main function is as an angled stand when I'm hooked up to external periphs at my desk. It makes me feel better to switch on the fan on hot days, but I have no evidence that it actually helps with internal temps. I should do some tests.

This is mine, which I got for 10AUD on sale: http://www.jaycar.com.au/IT-Product...re/COOLING-PAD-NOTEBOOK-DUAL-FAN-BLK/p/XC5211

The fans are cheap and noisy. If anything I would be more inclined to install quiet fans in a cheapie like this, than drop a packet on a brand name cooler/stand... but I probably won't even do that.

 

[GunslingerVit]

but I have no evidence that it actually helps with internal temps.

It depends on where the fans are located underneath your laptop, i.e. right under your air intakes.

I got this one here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPZJP7M/?tag=neogaf0e-20

You can adjust the fans accordingly and I have measured with CPUID HWMonitor and with Speccy differences of 5-10°C - and lower RPM of the system cooling fan. However, the cooling pad itself produces some (low) noise as well.

 

[illusionary]

I'm of the opinion that no laptop worth buying needs a cooling pad.

I have one, but its main function is as an angled stand when I'm hooked up to external periphs at my desk. It makes me feel better to switch on the fan on hot days, but I have no evidence that it actually helps with internal temps. I should do some tests.

This is mine, which I got for 10AUD on sale: http://www.jaycar.com.au/IT-Product...re/COOLING-PAD-NOTEBOOK-DUAL-FAN-BLK/p/XC5211

The fans are cheap and noisy. If anything I would be more inclined to install quiet fans in a cheapie like this, than drop a packet on a brand name cooler/stand... but I probably won't even do that.

It depends on where the fans are located underneath your laptop, i.e. right under your air intakes.

I got this one here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPZJP7M/?tag=neogaf0e-20

You can adjust the fans accordingly and I have measured with CPUID HWMonitor and with Speccy differences of 5-10°C - and lower RPM of the system cooling fan. However, the cooling pad itself produces some (low) noise as well.

Cheers, that's very helpful to hear the opinions. I think I'm happy without one for now, but I've never used one before and do see the occasional person advocating their use.


On another matter, this issue that I mentioned briefly in an earlier post with my wifi dropping at random intervals seems to be ongoing. It's odd, as Windows still reports the connection as active, but I don't get any response from websites. If I have a streaming video playing (via the same browser), though, often that continues uninterrupted. Resetting my wifi adapter temporarily resolves the problem, but I can't seem to find a permanent fix. I've removed and reinstalled the original driver from PC Specialist, and, with that seeming not to help, re-updated the driver to the latest available.

I think (though I couldn't guarantee) that this stated after an update to my Windows 10 build and so I've also tried rolling that back (no luck). Anything else that I could try, short of reinstalling Windows?

 

[Saren is Bad]

Can someone provide me with a recommendation please?

Need a portable laptop (15 inches max) for business purposes. I prioritize battery life really over everything. I'll be doing mostly Excel and Powerpoimt work, no gaming. I was thinking the Dell XPS 15" as I've read good reviews on it. Any ideas?

 

[RumblingRosco]

Non-gaming laptop question.

Father-in-law wants a laptop for simple emailing and web browsing. I advised him to find something with the following specs:

SSD with 128-256 GB
4-8 GB RAM
Intel i3

He found this ASUS Zenbook. He like the size/screen size.It seems basically perfect for him. My only concern is that I'm not familiar with the M3 processor; I get the feeling from looking around that it is just Intel's mobile equivalent to the i3, which seems fine for his purposes. Anything I'm missing?

 

[Gruso]

Can someone provide me with a recommendation please?

Need a portable laptop (15 inches max) for business purposes. I prioritize battery life really over everything. I'll be doing mostly Excel and Powerpoimt work, no gaming. I was thinking the Dell XPS 15" as I've read good reviews on it. Any ideas?

For straight up business it's hard to argue with an XPS.

He found this ASUS Zenbook. He like the size/screen size.It seems basically perfect for him. My only concern is that I'm not familiar with the M3 processor; I get the feeling from looking around that it is just Intel's mobile equivalent to the i3, which seems fine for his purposes. Anything I'm missing?

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-m3-6Y30-SoC.149455.0.html

Looks like a respectable little Skylake unit for his purposes. Even for light gaming.

 

[RumblingRosco]

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-m3-6Y30-SoC.149455.0.html

Looks like a respectable little Skylake unit for his purposes. Even for light gaming.

Thanks. Nice to have a second opinion!

 

[Gumbie]

Got a friend selling a 14 Razer Blade with the QHD+ screen and 512SSD for $1400. Good deal or nah?

Thinking really hard about pulling the trigger and buying this. Quick question since it's the 3200x1800 screen is it better to set demanding games to 1600x900 or 1920x1080?

 

[BHR-3]

not really knowledgeable in laptop tech but was thinking about getting the Sager NP7258 i can get it for just under $900 was just wondering if we are going to be getting any new gpu tech soon, noticed that the gtx 960-970 have been the top gpus for at least 2 years now i dont want to buy this and then in a few months a new gpu releases

 

[K.Jack]

Cheers, that's very helpful to hear the opinions. I think I'm happy without one for now, but I've never used one before and do see the occasional person advocating their use.


On another matter, this issue that I mentioned briefly in an earlier post with my wifi dropping at random intervals seems to be ongoing. It's odd, as Windows still reports the connection as active, but I don't get any response from websites. If I have a streaming video playing (via the same browser), though, often that continues uninterrupted. Resetting my wifi adapter temporarily resolves the problem, but I can't seem to find a permanent fix. I've removed and reinstalled the original driver from PC Specialist, and, with that seeming not to help, re-updated the driver to the latest available.

I think (though I couldn't guarantee) that this stated after an update to my Windows 10 build and so I've also tried rolling that back (no luck). Anything else that I could try, short of reinstalling Windows?

May want to try reseating the wifi module.

Can someone provide me with a recommendation please?

Need a portable laptop (15 inches max) for business purposes. I prioritize battery life really over everything. I'll be doing mostly Excel and Powerpoimt work, no gaming. I was thinking the Dell XPS 15" as I've read good reviews on it. Any ideas?

I'd go with the XPS in your case.

Thinking really hard about pulling the trigger and buying this. Quick question since it's the 3200x1800 screen is it better to set demanding games to 1600x900 or 1920x1080?

Below native resolution never looks great. I'd stick to 1080p though.

 

[K.Jack]

not really knowledgeable in laptop tech but was thinking about getting the Sager NP7258 i can get it for just under $900 was just wondering if we are going to be getting any new gpu tech soon, noticed that the gtx 960-970 have been the top gpus for at least 2 years now i dont want to buy this and then in a few months a new gpu releases

Well, we know new GPUs are releasing in a few months, so....

 

[Gruso]

Thinking really hard about pulling the trigger and buying this. Quick question since it's the 3200x1800 screen is it better to set demanding games to 1600x900 or 1920x1080?

Below native resolution never looks great. I'd stick to 1080p though.

I was thinking that 1600x900 would be the go, as the perfect pixel doubling will keep it crisp. Presumably the laptop will have a hardware mode for this?

Bummer gaming at sub-1080p, but then again it's only a 14" screen.

 

[Pics_nao]

Hey guys. Been looking into getting a gaming laptop recently since I don't have any space to build a PC at the moment.

Max Budget: $1000

Requirements:
Not asking for much but if it can play Overwatch on High then I'm all fine and dandy.
Preferably something 13" - 15" and isn't more than 5lbs. If not then oh well.

 

[shockdude]

I was thinking that 1600x900 would be the go, as the perfect pixel doubling will keep it crisp. Presumably the laptop will have a hardware mode for this?

Bummer gaming at sub-1080p, but then again it's only a 14" screen.

If it's an Nvidia Optimus laptop, it'll use Intel GPU scaling, which is pretty good (looks like lanczos scaling to me) but it won't do nearest neighbor pixel-perfect scaling. Might as well stick with 1080p.
For some games you could do nearest neighbor scaling using GeDoSaTo iirc.

 

[Kamaji]

A bit OT maybe but couldn't find any other good laptop thread. Either way i'm currently looking for a new laptop.

Country: Sweden (but never mind that, main difference is prices are 20-30% higher)

Budget: 11000skr (1350usd)

Size: 12-15"

Weight: Not over 5.5 lbs/2.5kg

Usage: Word/Chrome/1080p videos/Retro gaming

Graphics Card: Integrated or one with really really conservative energy consumtion.

Battery life: Currently have 8-9h w/ regular usage (Thinkpad X230)

Other priorities: Durability, Good display (i like matte more than glossy but if the display is good glossy is ok) and a really comfortable keyboard.

Is there anything other than Thinkpads which fit my description. For some reason they have a really high markup in my country but still thinking about T460 or T560 if I can't find a better option.

 

[illusionary]

May want to try reseating the wifi module.

Hmmm... thanks. Despite being a little apprehensive about doing so, I'd give it a shot - if only it was clear how to open up the laptop! It's a Clevo N150RF, for which I can't find any sort of guide for disassembly (and it seems that I'm not the only one)! I think I'll try to get in touch with the PCS support, as while I'm generally very pleased with the laptop, the wireless connection drops are getting very frustrating.

Any particular reason why you think that it's hardware-related rather than a software issue?

 

[Gruso]

Mine's an N150RF too. I've had it open, but can't remember if I saw the wifi module. Must admit, I my old P150HM was a better design in terms of serviceability - everything was accessible via one of several small covers, whereas you have to take the whole bottom off the N150.

 

[Chris R]

That Dell with the 960 still the best $800 option?

 

[hyelife]

Looking for a Gaming Laptop

Location: USA
Budget: 1500-1600
Size: 17"
Resolution: 1080p

Games to be played
The Division, Age Of Empires, Black Desert, etc..

 

[illusionary]

Mine's an N150RF too. I've had it open, but can't remember if I saw the wifi module. Must admit, I my old P150HM was a better design in terms of serviceability - everything was accessible via one of several small covers, whereas you have to take the whole bottom off the N150.

Ah, so it's just a matter of unscrewing the lot? Fair enough... can you recall how straightforward that was, including reassembly?

 

[Gruso]

Quite straightforward! 15-ish screws and the whole thing comes off. It's just a little fiddly where it wraps around ports on the side etc. But still one of the easier ones I've opened.

 

[illusionary]

Quite straightforward! 15-ish screws and the whole thing comes off. It's just a little fiddly where it wraps around ports on the side etc. But still one of the easier ones I've opened.

Thanks - that's a little reassurance at least!

 

[UberTag]

That Dell with the 960 still the best $800 option?

It's really tough to top that 4 GB of RAM on that graphics card with anything in the same price range.

 

[SwiftDeath]

That Dell with the 960 still the best $800 option?

It's on sale right now for $700 for the i5 version, $850 for i7

Both have the 4GB 960m

Have to use coupon code 50OFF699

Think the max ram is only 16GB as it's ddr3 but that probably wouldn't bother most people

It's a great price

 

[Aurizen]

Just a question, but is it normal to buy a powerful laptop that would be considered for gaming for just watching HD video and getting a longer use out of it?

 

[K.Jack]

A bit OT maybe but couldn't find any other good laptop thread. Either way i'm currently looking for a new laptop.

Country: Sweden (but never mind that, main difference is prices are 20-30% higher)

Budget: 11000skr (1350usd)

Size: 12-15"

Weight: Not over 5.5 lbs/2.5kg

Usage: Word/Chrome/1080p videos/Retro gaming

Graphics Card: Integrated or one with really really conservative energy consumtion.

Battery life: Currently have 8-9h w/ regular usage (Thinkpad X230)

Other priorities: Durability, Good display (i like matte more than glossy but if the display is good glossy is ok) and a really comfortable keyboard.

Is there anything other than Thinkpads which fit my description. For some reason they have a really high markup in my country but still thinking about T460 or T560 if I can't find a better option.

How much is the Dell XPS over there?

That Dell with the 960 still the best $800 option?

Yep.

Looking for a Gaming Laptop

Location: USA
Budget: 1500-1600
Size: 17"
Resolution: 1080p

Games to be played
The Division, Age Of Empires, Black Desert, etc..

There's this.

Just a question, but is it normal to buy a powerful laptop that would be considered for gaming for just watching HD video and getting a longer use out of it?

Waste of money. It takes nothing to run HD videos.

 

[Kamaji]

How much is the Dell XPS over there

The XPS 13 starts at 1830$. The XPS 15 starts slightly over 2000$. Will look into them though!

 

[Aurizen]

How much is the Dell XPS over there?



Waste of money. It takes nothing to run HD videos.

What sort of laptop would be great for heavy use, stays in the house, can run any program from editing videos, watching HD movies, streaming, game emulation, and possibly futureproof.

 

[Johnny Cage In The Shower]

I have an important question about displays: UHD vs FHD.

I am looking to buy a new laptop, I have to admit not for gaming, but for everyday casual use and for some graphic (art) work. I will mostly run adobe Flash and photoshop on it, for illustrating and photo editing etc.

I will also use it a lot on the go, coffee shops, outdoors etc. So a good battery life is important to me.

So my question is, what are the pros and cons of having a 3840 x 2160 UHD, vs a 1920 x 1080 FHD Screen.

So far the cons I learned,

1) the Ultra HD res screens eat up "waay more" battery during use.

2) Most websites and browsers and even apps, show blurry and wonky text and formatting when things are not in their native res and it's a pain to simply read stuff online on a 3840x2160 screen.


Are the above true? Is there quick fix for the second issue? I hear there are application you can run that changes the laptop res according to the current app being used ( a'la running a game on your PC)

As far as Pros ( advantages) Well I would get more out of using a stylus pen and drawing and using Photoshop on a higher res screen, right?

Any thoughts would be appreciated, should I buy the 3840x2160 or the 1080p? the price difference is only 60 bucks more for the UHD. so the price isn't an issue but I am concerned about battery life and natural crisp presentation of text and photos. Also this Laptop wont be used for gaming...

 

[Karish]

I have an important question about displays: UHD vs FHD.

I am looking to buy a new laptop, I have to admit not for gaming, but for everyday casual use and for some graphic (art) work. I will mostly run adobe Flash and photoshop on it, for illustrating and photo editing etc.

I will also use it a lot on the go, coffee shops, outdoors etc. So a good battery life is important to me.

So my question is, what are the pros and cons of having a 3840 x 2160 UHD, vs a 1920 x 1080 FHD Screen.

So far the cons I learned,

1) the Ultra HD res screens eat up "waay more" battery during use.

2) Most websites and browsers and even apps, show blurry and wonky text and formatting when things are not in their native res and it's a pain to simply read stuff online on a 3840x2160 screen.


Are the above true? Is there quick fix for the second issue? I hear there are application you can run that changes the laptop res according to the current app being used ( a'la running a game on your PC)

As far as Pros ( advantages) Well I would get more out of using a stylus pen and drawing and using Photoshop on a higher res screen, right?

Any thoughts would be appreciated, should I buy the 3840x2160 or the 1080p? the price difference is only 60 bucks more for the UHD. so the price isn't an issue but I am concerned about battery life and natural crisp presentation of text and photos. Also this Laptop wont be used for gaming...

I love my 4K XPS 15 but why don't you split the diff and get a 2K laptop

 

[malcher]

My sister will need a laptop for her work. Main usage will be AutoCAD. I have no idea what would be good for her since 1) AutoCAD's site isn't very detailed in regards to requirements 2) I could recommend her a gaming laptop, but I suspect that would be an overkill

Can you guys recommend something not higher than 900EUR? That's her budget, because it will be partially covered by a grant, but I think she won't even need it all.
So to recap:
budget: 900EUR
location: Europe (Poland specifically)
usage: AutoCAD, design work

I don't even need specific models, just a rough hardware specification (CPU, GPU, RAM) would be enough.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Vigilant Walrus]

My sister will need a laptop for her work. Main usage will be AutoCAD. I have no idea what would be good for her since 1) AutoCAD's site isn't very detailed in regards to requirements 2) I could recommend her a gaming laptop, but I suspect that would be an overkill

Can you guys recommend something not higher than 900EUR? That's her budget, because it will be partially covered by a grant, but I think she won't even need it all.
So to recap:
budget: 900EUR
location: Europe (Poland specifically)
usage: AutoCAD, design work

I don't even need specific models, just a rough hardware specification (CPU, GPU, RAM) would be enough.

Thanks in advance!

AutoCAD really likes beefy CPUs for computational processing?

Maybe one of these; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mXMTjZy5M