low end laptop graphics help pls

[dimm]

i'm buying new laptop for under 500$ and i don't know much about graphics except not to get intel.
the big question is how correct is this ?:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-G ... 849.0.html

I have the ati mob. Radeon HD 4250 atm and i can play AFF (UT3) in 800x600. it also ran civ5 without any trouble.

Also does http://www.onlive.com/ work as advertised?

[hoijui]

the rule is actually: do not get ATI or Intel (if you care about Spring)
ATI is shit when it comes to OpenGL, and spring is OpenGL based (as are most other OpenSource/Free 3D games). ATI is even more shit on Linux (though i guess you don't care about that).
if it is about commercial games on windows only, then ATI is probably ok, as i heard it is slightly cheaper for the same performance there.

[Prominence]

If you definitely want to avoid using Intel integrated graphics, then your left with three options:
1. Integrated graphics that comes with AMD APU
2. AMD discrete graphics
3. Nvidia discrete graphics.

By looking at the price requirement that you have listed, your choice narrows down to AMD APU or AMD discrete graphics since laptop with Nvidia discrete graphics is generally more expensive. Your best option is to get laptop with AMD APU since most laptop equipped with AMD discrete graphics is dual core Pentium models. You get more for the money when you get quad core APU.

And as always stick to brands names that are known for quality to avoid planned obsolescence.

http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/lapt ... 5V5A-A06US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834131152

[Prominence]

And as for Onlive, you need good internet connection with good upload and download speed which most parts of US doesn't have compared to other countries. And this is done over the internet, there always be more latency than games run on your own hardware.

My preference is to always use my own hardware to run game because I don't like how the control of the digital contents that one purchase is in the hands of other party. Most of time whether it's energy, communications, or other things that require monthly billing usually come up with most ridiculous excuse to raise prices.

[dimm]

how about:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavili ... Id=3668202

pavilion's card:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon ... 685.0.html

samsungs:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon ... 734.0.html

still gonna onlive demos and console games.

[Prominence]

Well, first you should understand how these personal computer brands promote and brand their product well as how the price of the product reflect the quality of the product.

Personal computer brands like Dell, HP, Compaq, Acer, etc. are appealing in price compared to other reputable brands. These manufacturer often utilize planned obsolescence which means, the product break right after warranty period is over. If you absolutely sure that your going to replace computer after warranty period is over which is one year for laptop you shown me, then it's good buy.

You might think that your getting good deal because they have parts from reputable electronics company like Intel and Samsung at lower price. Well your not. HP for example can demand a manufacturer to make battery that rapidly decrease the energy retention rate after one year of use which is what they did when lithium battery were at infancy because it was expensive new technology.
Another example would processor clocked at lower speed. The Intel i5 2500K for example that goes on HP laptop is not same as Intel i5 2500K processor that goes on Samsung laptop. The clock speed is rounded because every silicon is not same, and so Intel meet customer demand by supplying cheaper i5 2500K clocked at lower speed to HP. So you get what you pay for.

I gave Samsung laptop link because they make most of parts that goes into their laptop, so you can make baseline comparison and it's a reputable brand for quality. Samsung supply parts for brands like Dell, HP, Sony, Apple, etc. So if some other brands price their product considerably lower at same spec, then assume planned obsolescence.

In conclusion, I would always stick to brands that promote and brand their products as quality products because poor quality PC plus price of extended warranty or after service is way higher priced than buying quality products.

[smoth]

I'd love to hear about how dell cuts corners on their laptops. Got any info on that?

what are the "other reputable brands?"

[dimm]

Is there a site that catalogs these planned obs. ? Someplace that notes brand failures like these, hopefully for more than laptops.

Btw i cant find cheaper laptops with nvidia cards though the cards exist. Y?

[Prominence]

Make sure you fully understand the two middle paragraphs which is the meat of the whole content.

Wow, Smoth you read so fast or skimmed over and read few sentences.

I don't know where those sites are, and product reviews from customers is not the place to go since most customer tend to review right after they buy their product.

And as for Nvidia GPU, Nvidia GPU is pretty much brand name like Intel is and has much more quality and features. You get what you pay for.

[smoth]

your middle paragraph spoke only about hp.

you didn't list "other reputable brands" for laptops

[Prominence]

That was just an example of how some PC brands implement planned obsolescence.

And as for your question, I don't know whether you want me to list brands that use planned obsolescence and/or use poor quality components or brands that are known for quality, so I will list both.

I actually found sites that had statistics of laptop malfunction by brands.

Brand that make some or most of their components and is known for quality (These are good brands to use for comparison because they actually makes components that goes into their product rather than purchasing from another manufacturer thereby eliminating the extra transportation cost that other brands may charge for.)

Samsung Electronics (makes LCD display, RAM, Flash NAND, SSD, HDD, ODD, etc.)
Asus (makes motherboards and laptop barebones)

Brands known for quality

Samsung
Asus
MSI
LG
Sager
Sony
etc.



Brands that use cheap components and/or malfunctions a lot

Dell
Alienware
HP
Voodoo PC
Compaq
Acer
Gateway
Lenovo
eMachines
Toshiba (because Smoth said so.)
etc.

Of course, there are many laptops brand throughout the world, so I can't list them all.

[smoth]

I was just curious, I have an old laptop I am looking to replace(8600 era) with something more serious for gaming.

I was asking about dells because I wanted to scrutinize my dells(both of which run as good as the day I got them). I have 2 laptops. My dad has something like 5 laptops for different purposes. Personally I found toshiba to be as shitty as acer.

[Anarchid]

Going to replace mine in a few months, though probably going for a bit higher price (about $750 or so).

Someone suggested dell might actually be a nice option; with evidence to support the thesis being that my 2-year-old asus currently falling apart to pieces (literally; mechanical failure of casing) while that person's old inspiron being good as new even despite it being more than twice the age.

Hence, puzzled.

[smoth]

My old inspiron is like new beyond some minor wear from years of programming

[Prominence]

I had 5 laptops so far, 2 HP, 2 Dell, and 1 Asus. I had 2 HP desktop replacement laptop that had failed battery right after warranty was over and graphics card that crashes often.

I had 2 Dell that had keyboard fall apart and had lower spec hardware like 40GB hard drive 256MB RAM although at the time of purchase 512MB to 1GB RAM and 80GB hard drive were standard. So it ran way too slow to be used for most software at the time. Probably had lower approximated specs for processors as well because it was so slow.

And Asus which ran for 4.5 years for almost everyday without any problem other than few minor case wear that doesn't affect the function of the computing.

Brand name for quality can too have problems to when exchanging quality for lower price to meet customer's demand. That's why it's best to stick with mid to high end laptop so you know that they put in some quality components.

[AF]

Macbook + student discount ( HUGE ) + Windows 7 x64 + SSD + Half decent mouse = win

[smoth]

I had 5 laptops so far, 2 HP, 2 Dell, and 1 Asus. I had 2 HP desktop replacement laptop that had failed battery right after warranty was over and graphics card that crashes often.

I had 2 Dell that had keyboard fall apart and had lower spec hardware like 40GB hard drive 256MB RAM although at the time of purchase 512MB to 1GB RAM and 80GB hard drive were standard. So it ran way too slow to be used for most software at the time. Probably had lower approximated specs for processors as well because it was so slow.

And Asus which ran for 4.5 years for almost everyday without any problem other than few minor case wear that doesn't affect the function of the computing.

Brand name can too have problems to when exchanging quality for lower price, that's why it's best to stick with mid to high end laptop so you know that they put in some quality components.

is it possible that mostly I go for the high to mid models(my other laptop is a studio) that I don't run into the issues? So if I get you and can have the liberty to go further on my presumptuous thought here, you are saying to avoid the dell low end machines? Like I said, I am looking at getting a new gaming laptop and honestly, I will be spending 1-2k on it. So yeah, if that helps with the framing, I see buying anything lower than 1k as pissing money away on a paperweight the moment you buy it.

[smoth]

I will never purchase a mac...


I should state clearly that I think the mac keyboards are ass and hate the way they make the keys. I fucking loathe everything about the way a mac is design and while I can afford one, I am not paying that much for BADLY designed keyboards.

Since keyboards are my central interface, tactile is no mere qualm.
is the feel of keys that I prefer.

so the latest dell laptop:

pisses me the fuck off and I don't want it. Pretty much been bitching at them for months about it. (they are trying to be like mac, GODAMNIT DELL, if I want a mac I will buy one, esp if I am buying your top o' the like shit)

INBEFOREIGNORANTPCUSER, I ACED half of the digital art curriculum in college. ALL ON MACS, I was top of the class. I Hate them they are shitty computers with fucking pretentious assholes pretending like they are the holy grail of design. No it is fucking garbage and you are a giant dripping twat if you try and tell me they are "better." They are different and while some people like to have their nutts stepped on as a sexual fetish, I do not think it works for the whole population.

tl;dr. smoth haets rounded keys.

[smoth]

This laptop has been my favorite design of all time. Just that it isn't strong enough to run gundam at the settings I want. It still will be my travel companion, I love using it and it is just so nice looking. The larger battery gives it an elevated angled keyboard and man I fucking love it.

[AF]

Actually, that keyboard design wasn't an Apple innovation, it was first seen on a Sony Vaio. Apple copied, and so did everyone else. Sony as usual ditched everything it learnt and started from scratch for the next laptop as it usually does.

Still those types of keys weren't added for their looks...