New Laptop for FM & Internet

Hi

I currently have a HP G7000 which is a relatively slow computer that I've had for about 3 years and the charger keeps breaking I seriously think I have spent over £150 on new chargers after they have stopped working. So I decided I'd spend £80 on a proper charger that will last for ages and not be like the normal chargers and until 2 weeks ago I thought so to and then same again its not working. So this is the last straw I'm going to buy a computer that I don't have to waste money on chargers every couple of months and doesn't take half an hour to open football manager and another half an hour to close it.

I have a budget of £400 and I want a fast, reliable computer/laptop that I don't have to buy a new charger every couple of months.

I'd appreciate advice and guidance on which computer'd be a good buy

Thanks

Full Time Legend

You want to look out for an i3 or i5 processor for that price. The i5 is better. But it depends on the model. Make sure you get a model with i3 2xxx or i5 2xxxx.

FM is a processing game, so the better the processor the better and faster your FM experience will be.

You will need a minimum of 4gb of RAM. 6gb is plenty. And 8gb is way too much. But you definitely don't want to go below 4gb of RAM (memory).

And if you can get a Graphics card then all the better. But with the i3 and i5 processor the graphics can be handled quite well with the integrated one. If it has a graphics card it will probably have a very low end graphics card - because of the price rage you're shopping in. If it doesn't have a graphics card it's not that big of deal.

Some good places to look are:

dabs.com

overclockers.co.uk

dell.co.uk

pc specialist

and I'm sure others will have other suggestions.

ET is correct on all counts, ideal is an i3 2XXX with 4gb ram and intergrated graphics, that should suffice for FM and internet

Was looking and would this computer be a good idea

http://www.very.co.uk/mobile/acer-aspire-5742-core-i5-processor-6gb-ram-640gb-hard-drive-156-inch-laptop---black/926715658.prd?aff=google&affsrc=froogle&cm_mmc=froogle-_-ELECTRICAL_AND_SEASONAL_ELECTRICAL_COMPUTING_LAPTOPS_RANGE-_-PR364-_-Aspire_5742_Core_i5_Processor_6GB_RAM_640GB_Hard_Drive_15.6_inch_Laptop__Black&istCompanyId=3bdc6c74-7f2d-4594-839e-e5b39b2661fb&istItemId=wipiiqtp&istBid=t

Thats an old i5, those things were dreadful! i5s and i3s are pretty poor until the 2XXX series

Was looking and would this computer be a good idea

http://www.very.co.uk/mobile/acer-aspire-5742-core-i5-processor-6gb-ram-640gb-hard-drive-156-inch-laptop---black/926715658.prd?aff=google&affsrc=froogle&cm_mmc=froogle-_-ELECTRICAL_AND_SEASONAL_ELECTRICAL_COMPUTING_LAPTOPS_RANGE-_-PR364-_-Aspire_5742_Core_i5_Processor_6GB_RAM_640GB_Hard_Drive_15.6_inch_Laptop__Black&istCompanyId=3bdc6c74-7f2d-4594-839e-e5b39b2661fb&istItemId=wipiiqtp&istBid=t

You see that one has the i5-480M

You want to look at the models that start with i5 - 2xxx or the i3-2xxx

Like I said at the start.

i3 2310

i3 2330

i3 2350

i3 range http://www.dabs.com/products/msi-cr640-235uk-i3-2310m-4gb-320gb-dvd-sm-hdmi-w7hp-7SML.html?refs=473150000&src=3

http://www.dabs.com/products/toshiba-satellite-pro-c660-255---core-i3-2310m---ram-6-gb---hdd-500-gb---w7hp-64-bit---15-6--7S2V.html?refs=473150000-54950000&src=3

http://www.dabs.com/products/asus-k53e-sx962v-core-i3-2330m-6gb-500gb-15-6-w7hp-7T6W.html?refs=478040000&src=3

http://www.dabs.com/products/lenovo-ideapad-b570-core-i3-2330m-6gb-750gb-dvdrw-15-6-w7hp-7VMV.html?refs=478040000&src=3

http://www.dabs.com/products/lenovo-thinkpad-l420-7854---core-i3-2350m---ram-4-gb---hdd-500-gb---windows-7-pro-64-bit---14--7TDH.html?refs=478550000&src=3

or

i5 2430

i5 2410

i5 2520

i5 2540

i5 range http://www.dabs.com/products/lenovo-ideapad-b570-i5-2430m-4gb-500gb-dvdrw-15-6-w7hp-7T44.html?refs=477890000&src=3

i5 range with graphics card (graphics card is low end but it will do for FM) http://www.dabs.com/products/msi-cx640-core-i5-2410m-4gb-ram-500gb-hdd-supermulti-nvidia-gt520m-15-6--w7hp-7KG1.html?refs=466560000&src=3

These are just guides - have a look around for similar models. I always shop around when looking for a new computer. You will pick up a really good computer for a good price if you look at many different sites.

Remember you want processing power. The i5 range is much better than the i3 range.

I just had a quick look over on the Dell website. And I found this computer - which in my opinion is excellent.

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=n00q1542&c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&model_id=inspiron-15r-n5110

Included in this system:

4096MB 1333MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [1x4096]

2nd generation Intel® Core™ i3-2330M processor (2.20 GHz, 3M cache

640GB (5,400rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive

1 GB nVidia GeForce GT 525M

This has a good processor - good amount of hard disk space - and a mid range graphics card.

If that's all you are going to need it for, I'd go for i5. The graphics card won't make any difference. That's the cheapest I can find an alright laptop with new i5 is:

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/10804284/art/samsung/series-3-np300e5a-a02dx-1.html?srcid=9689&Partenaire=idealo&CodePromo=oui&clickref=3077051

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005TPRVQM?m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=iduk-21

If you don't need good battery life you can do with an old i5 + separate graphics card combo.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5084870/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7COffice%2C+PCs+and+phones%7C14418968/c_2/2%7C14418968%7CLaptops+and+netbooks%7C14419039.htm?storeId=10001&referredURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fstatic%2FProduct%2FpartNumber%2F5084870%2Fc_1%2F1%7Ccategory_root%7COffice%252C%2BPCs%2Band%2Bphones%7C14418968%2Fc_2%2F2%7C14418968%7CLaptops%2Band%2Bnetbooks%7C14419039.htm&jspStoreDir=argos&_%24ja=tsid%3A11674%7Cprd%3A2498002&referrer=COJUN&cmpid=COJUN

As I said - the last option is OK only if you don't need good battery life (these last on 2-3 hrs browsing, while options 1 and 2 can go up to 5 hrs). All of those would be OK for your needs.

for anyone interested - idealo.co.uk is THE site for comparing laptop deals, excellent filtering capabilities (haven't seen such for UK -based cites elsewhere, most are made for monkeys so I guess that's how these companies perceive their clients) and compares almost all of the online shops. Still it's worth shopping aournd to see if you can find a better price but in most cases they have most shops covered.

Thanks for the advice I have a shorlist of 6 laptops and I will let you know my decision once I've bought the laptop

Full Time Legend: How about you tell us what the 6 are and we'll let you know what one? Please don't buy one without posting the links that you have.

Alexy foot - it of course does matter if you have a graphics card. A mid range graphics card would make all the difference, an entry level will not.

And one of the computers you pointed to was a Intel Core i5 460M - which is an older generation processor.

Only the Amazon and Pixmania one had a modern processor.

I know - I did point that out and said what the main disadvantage is I have 480M myself and it has no trouble with FM12 with the obvious downside being loss of battery life, the older-gen are powerful but they are simply not as efficient as the new Sandy-s and only get half the time running on battery. Graphics card for FM is not a must. HD3000 handles it more than well and 310m in the MSI is more or less the same as the HD3000. I am just giving the guy some options. Hope he likes a model as his old machine seems to have given up

The benchmarking thread shows that newer generation processors are significantly better than the older generation when it comes to i3/5/7 series.

The first generation i5s and i3s were subject to very negative criticism IIRC, the i7s being the only ones worth buying until intel brought out the 2XXX series where i5s and i3s really came into their own, more than rivaling 1st generation i7s!

Alexyfoot - every time you respond to a new laptop thread, you always seem to recommend a random bunch of computers and I don't think you're really looking at the parts as much as you are looking at the prices. Every time you seem to recommend something at the complete opposite of what I've said. And the danger there is someone might go "that one is £20 cheaper I'll get that one".

Seriously what was the point in recommending a computer with the 480m? It's nowhere near the standard of the computers have already been recommended. And even two of the other computers you recommended were a lot better than the 480m... all you have to do is discard the one with the worse processor. And you never do, you recommend it anyway. It's so frustrating.

It's not about if the computer can run the game now at the present time. That is not what should be recommended. You can buy a computer with a much better processor for the same price. No need to recommend it.

There really is no justification for your recommendation of the 480m. And I wouldn't mind if it was a one off, but you do it all the time. Just recommend the computers with the best possible processor, enough ram, and if it has a mid-range graphics card recommend that over the one that doesn't. It comes in at the same price anyway.

Why even give someone the option of buying a worse computer than the best one that you've found?

The benchmarking thread shows that newer generation processors are significantly better than the older generation when it comes to i3/5/7 series.

The first generation i5s and i3s were subject to very negative criticism IIRC, the i7s being the only ones worth buying until intel brought out the 2XXX series where i5s and i3s really came into their own, more than rivaling 1st generation i7s!

Exactly the i5 480m is worse processor than the i3 2xxx versions. You'd be much better off going for an i3- or i5- 2xxxx.

How is it worse than the others, except in battery life? MSI is a good brand, the design is not bad although admittedly not the most rigid one, the processor is good for FM12, the Graphics card is good for FM12 and movies. If he is going to use more on AC power like I do and likes the design, why not buy it? Give me a good reason, please. I had the option of going for Sandy but didn't simply because battery life doesn't matter that much to me...If you can get a good deal on a slightly older gen hardware, it is a good buy for me. You discard it simply because it is not the latest processor without giving any meaningful reason for doing so. Having said that, I still prefer the Samsung and the Lenovo, but I don't want to give someone 1 option and say go buy that - who am I to do that?

As I already said I am giving the guy options, that is why I put this one, too. It is not a bad buy for me, it just isn't a great one due to the actual design (chassis rigidness and cooling) - but that isn't due to the processor, but simply MSI did not do their best with it

And I haven't seen many good options for him before my post - some of the suggestions had i3 + external graphics, which for his use is the wrong option for me. I am not saying all that for the sake of arguing, this time it is you that is arguing for nothing...I am just trying to help by giving options in his price range If he doesn't like it, he doesn't like it - it isn't like I've not warned him what the main downside is of using Arrandale vs Sandy Bridge.

I have my machine in the benchmarking thread: find me an MOBILE i3 that would top my result there, please do. Why are you talking without even knowing what you are talking about - for pure perfomance refer to - http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html. End of.

OH, AND BTW IN THE LINK I'VE GIVEN YOU MANY OF THE OLD I3s ARE BETTER THAN THE SANDY I3s FOR PERFORMANCE.

It is not the case for i5, but you started giving examples with i3s so I thought I'd let you know.

Next time educate yourself before posting rubbish, ok?

Comparing the i5-460M with a Sandy Bridge i3 is a bit like apples and oranges... They are two different architectures.

The most important to note is that Sandy Bridge i3s have the Intel HD 3000 as their onboard graphics, which is miles better than what is on the onboard chip on the i5-460M. There's videos out there of people who can run Crysis on Low on the Intel HD 3000, which is how good it is. Consequently, it will be better at things like watching videos. In terms of true grunt performance, the i5-460M is better than most of the Sandy Bridge i3s (I don't think the i3-2370M has been properly reviewed yet... It was released earlier this month, but will probably run it close, if not better it) - as demonstrated by the wPrime scores - but this isn't the full picture nowadays.

Heat and power consumption will be lower on the Sandy Bridge chips, too.

So the i3-2310M, say, trades lower processing power for less heat, less power consumption, and much better graphics. This is usually why the newest generation is better, as it is more efficient and performance-wise closer to what a consumer really needs.

- http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-HD.23065.0.html

- http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-HD-Graphics-3000.37948.0.html

Sorry for the delay just back went on a few days holiday with my girlfriend

6 Laptops on my shortlist

http://www.dabs.com/products/lenovo-ideapad-b570-i5-2430m-4gb-500gb-dvdrw-15-6-w7hp-7T44.html?refs=477890000&src=3

http://www.dabs.com/products/msi-cr640-235uk-i3-2310m-4gb-320gb-dvd-sm-hdmi-w7hp-7SML.html?refs=473150000&src=3

http://www.dabs.com/products/asus-k53e-sx962v-core-i3-2330m-6gb-500gb-15-6-w7hp-7T6W.html?refs=478040000&src=3

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=n00q1542&c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&model_id=inspiron-15r-n5110

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/10804284/art/samsung/series-3-np300e5a-a02dx-1.html?srcid=9689&Partenaire=idealo&CodePromo=oui&clickref=3077051

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005TPRVQM/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=iduk-21

Thumbs up for the last option (and, if unavailable, then the first).

A few alternatives in terms of brand and design with the same hardware but slightly higher price:

http://www.eshopbrokers.co.uk/products/Computers/Laptops/Asus/ASUS-K53E-SX963V-Core-i5-2430M-2-4-GHz-15-6-T?prodid=763970

http://www.premone.net/vpceh2p0e.html

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/10790920/art/toshiba/satellite-l750-1e8-15-6-l.html?srcid=9689&Partenaire=idealo&CodePromo=oui&clickref=3021765

All these are roughly the same in quality and hardware but differ in design, which is very personal so I can't tell you which to buy

I have this http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavilion-g6-1241sa-15-6-laptop-red-11361456-pdt.html for just the reason of playing FM.

I have 27 leagues loaded and 43K players and it runs smooth as anything, 3D graphics are on pretty low but it still looks good!

Not bad for under 400 eh?

I have this http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavilion-g6-1241sa-15-6-laptop-red-11361456-pdt.html for just the reason of playing FM.

I have 27 leagues loaded and 43K players and it runs smooth as anything, 3D graphics are on pretty low but it still looks good!

Not bad for under 400 eh?

How's the charger though i currently have a HP laptop and the chargers break every month and cost a fortune to replace 12 times per year

Thumbs up for the last option (and, if unavailable, then the first).

A few alternatives in terms of brand and design with the same hardware but slightly higher price:

http://www.eshopbrokers.co.uk/products/Computers/Laptops/Asus/ASUS-K53E-SX963V-Core-i5-2430M-2-4-GHz-15-6-T?prodid=763970

http://www.premone.net/vpceh2p0e.html

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/10790920/art/toshiba/satellite-l750-1e8-15-6-l.html?srcid=9689&Partenaire=idealo&CodePromo=oui&clickref=3021765

All these are roughly the same in quality and hardware but differ in design, which is very personal so I can't tell you which to buy

just been looking at reviews for the lenovo G570 and it said it isn't the best for gaming and you will have to sacrifice some detail if you want it to run fast

How's the charger though i currently have a HP laptop and the chargers break every month and cost a fortune to replace 12 times per year

Well the wife has had a few HP laptops over the years and not had a problem so I am hoping it continues on that vein.

Its not moving around much atm as I have bought it to play FM while I am at the inlaws as my wife is living there while I work away. Im here every weekend pretty much, far far away from my gaming PC.

Full time legend - they are all the same - they have the same processor, RAM, graphics card - the only differences will be in stuff like input devices, design, hinges, build quality, screen quality, etc (and thus price!) - to judge those you'll have to go to a shop and have a feel for them

Oh and depends on what kind of games you want to run. Here is my guide to hardware and stuff I compiled a few days ago. Have a read and if you still have any questions, post them here or there:

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/293509-The-Ultimate-quot-What-Laptop-specs-do-I-need-Can-I-run-FM12-on-this-quot-Thread

Think i am going to buy the Dell Inspiron 5050 from tesco

thoughts?

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.215-1022.aspx

would this do a job for FM and general internet surfing?

After advice from my cousin who works for dell he said the best dell computer for my budget for the purposes i use it for the Dell Inspiron B5050 would be my best bet and it was on offer at John Lewis and I got it for £382 thanks for all your advice and i look forward to more Football Manager when it arrives on Tuesday

Full Time Legend

I will give you one tip......don't buy a Dell.

Dell laptops are fine (not Alienware, however)... Their desktops, however...

The HP g6 is the same price as that dell one, but with more RAMm if they are still doing it for 399 somehere its better specs for the same price.