New Laptop/PC- Help Needed

[Smurf]

Ya I've given up completely on finding a good deal in shops after looking at every option. I've done a search around and found a few sites that appear to have some decent choices and good prices in comparison to shops. I'm willing to pay upto €1,000 now as well if needed.

I went a bit over your budget, but it's worth it.

Chassis & Display

Cosmos Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)

Processor (CPU)

Intel® Core™ i5 Quad Core Processor 6300HQ (2.3GHz, 3.2GHz Turbo)

Memory (RAM)

8GB HyperX IMPACT 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 (1 x 8GB)

Graphics Card

NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 940M - 2.0GB DDR3 Video RAM - DirectX® 12

Memory - Hard Disk

240GB KINGSTON V300 SSD, SATA 6 Gb (450MB/R, 450MB/W)

Thermal Paste

ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND (€13)

Warranty

3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)

Delivery

2 - 3 DAY DELIVERY TO REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (€28)

Price: €1,055.00 including VAT and delivery.

Unique URL to re-configure: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/quotes/cosmosIV-17/KeKw7vq_Gv/

[Jack2121]

Hi Smurf,

Looking for a laptop between £500-£700.

I do normally play in 3D and would prefer to.

Game speed is important.

I don't load that many leagues normally 5-7 so game database size isn't large.

Cheers

[Smurf]

Hi Smurf,

Looking for a laptop between £500-£700.

I do normally play in 3D and would prefer to.

Game speed is important.

I don't load that many leagues normally 5-7 so game database size isn't large.

Cheers

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/CB-CZ5840-745MP-Cube-Chameleon-CZ-5840_1858924.html

[Jack2121]

Cheers mate

Which would be the better option, the one you linked or this one?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-Graphics-Dedicated-Geforce-Warranty/dp/B017JRLBTU/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1449223285&sr=1-1

[DWCallaghan]

Any advice ? FM16 was running fine on my laptop when I had windows 8.1, it has now updated to win 10 abd the game has slowed basically to a stop. It is unplayable today. Anything i can tweak in system to allow it to run ? Laptop isnt a world beater but game was running great last night b4 update to Win 10

[Smurf]

How about this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoostorm-7270-9040-15-6-Inch-Gaming-Laptop/dp/B017AYV7NC/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1449227370&sr=1-3

Zoostorm computers are by CMS Computers based in Warrington, UK.

[Jack2121]

Might go with this one. Cheaper and local to myself and come with warranty and lifetime support.

What do you think? http://dtec-computers.com/products/asus-x555-i5-nvidia/

[Smurf]

Might go with this one. Cheaper and local to myself and come with warranty and lifetime support.

What do you think? http://dtec-computers.com/products/asus-x555-i5-nvidia/

If that's what you want to do - I wouldn't recommend it.

Baffled by people who ask for help then ignore it...

This would be better http://dtec-computers.com/products/asus-n550-i7-nvidia/

[Jack2121]

I'm not ignoring it at all. Appreciate all of what you're saying...

[Smurf]

It's no reflection of you - it's just people come here for advice - then people post a computer in their budget - then the OP comes back and says...what about this one.. which is lesser value than the budget and lesser computer than the one they were pointed to.

It's Nick Barmby.

[cogden2]

Looking at a buying a new laptop/ultrabook after something portable and light how do people think this will run fm16? not sure if it will get really hot or the graphics will be enough?

HP ENVY 13-d008na Laptop - HP Store UK

HP ENVY 13-d008na Laptop

Processor

Processor family Intel® Core™ i5 processor

Processor Intel® Core™ i5-6200U with Intel® HD Graphics 520 (2.3 GHz, up to 2.8 GHz, 3 MB cache, 2 cores)

Memory

Memory, standard 8 GB DDR3L SDRAM (onboard)

Drives

Hard drive description 256 GB M.2 SSD

Dimensions

Minimum dimensions (W x D x H) 32.65 x 22.6 x 1.29 cm

Weights

Weight 1.36 kg

Price £699.00 but I can get it for £559.55 through work

Thanks,

Callum

[howhigh1337]

*edit* wrong thread, delete post pls

[3maldini3]

http://www.scorptec.com.au/systems/scorptec/27/290

Any thoughts about this one?

Have been playing on 2D until now and is like to try the 3D..

[Smurf]

Looks good.

[Jimmyrh94]

Hi all,

I am looking to purchase a new laptop for Christmas as my current one is now a few years old, massively slowing down and quite literally falling apart. I only have a slightly above basic understanding of computers and would be really grateful if anyone could offer assistance in finding a laptop suitable for my needs.

Generally the laptop will be used for word processing, browsing the internet, watching films, listening to music and some casual gaming (FM and Fifa). That said, I require a laptop that can run multiple applications without slowing down or overheating, store a large amount of media files and display the level of graphics necessary for games like Fifa and FM in 3d match mode without being jittery. I am willing to spend up to £750.

In terms of FM, I want something that can process quickly, save/load quickly, run the 3d match engine and cope with about 10 countries loaded with say 3 leagues each (I think i normally have around 15-20 playable leagues) - but it has to be able to do this with other applications open in the background.

From a quick google search and some assistance from the tech guys in PC World, I have been informed that I should be looking for about 6+ GB ram, i5 + and a dedicated graphics card.

Here are some I have picked out, so if you could have a look and see if these are laptops that match my needs as listed about i'd be very grateful.

HP Envy:

1. http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-envy-17-n060na-17-3-laptop-silver-10132864-pdt.html

2. http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-envy-15-ae065sa-15-6-laptop-silver-10132863-pdt.html

ASUS K501UB

1. http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/asus-k501ub-15-6-laptop-dark-blue-10137632-pdt.html

2. http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/asus-k501ub-15-6-laptop-black-10137633-pdt.html

Toshiba Satellite

1. http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/toshiba-satellite-p50-c-18j-15-6-laptop-brushed-metal-10138287-pdt.html

Acer Aspire v3574t

1. http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-v3-574t-15-6-laptop-silver-10137575-pdt.html

Also just a few more questions:

1. What is the difference and significance between SSHD and normal storage capacity?

2. Does FM require a dedicated graphics card of do the intel integrated graphics cards suffice?

3. When it comes to gaming is it best to keep away from 2 in 1 laptops (tablet and laptop)? I ask this because i've noticed that none of these 2 in 1 laptops have dedicated graphics cards or they have the intel iris

4. Is the intel iris a good graphics card compared to the NVIDIA graphics cards? What even is it ? lol

Thanks for your assistance!

[Smurf]

None of those

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/9S7-16J312-078-MSI-GP62-2QD%28Leopard%29-078UK_1837451.html

1. SSHD - Solid State Hybrid Drive, it's combination of a SSD and a HDD. Solid State Drives (SSD) faster for booting up your computer and loading and saving large files. Not much advantage for FM except fast load and saves.

2. No it doesn't, but it helps and you don't know what the future holds - so better to have one if you are thinking of playing 3D.

3. No need to keep away from them - they just don't have faster parts than a normal laptop. The CPU (processor) has a graphics chip built into them, and depending on the CPU it will have some level for the graphics. But don't expect to play on full high quality detail.

4. Again - the Iris is built into the chip and come in different varieties. Some are as good as an entry level graphics card, some are better. But if you're looking at playing games then a dedicated graphics card of mid-high quality is required.

[Jimmyrh94]

None of those

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/9S7-16J312-078-MSI-GP62-2QD%28Leopard%29-078UK_1837451.html

1. SSHD - Solid State Hybrid Drive, it's combination of a SSD and a HDD. Solid State Drives (SSD) faster for booting up your computer and loading and saving large files. Not much advantage for FM except fast load and saves.

2. No it doesn't, but it helps and you don't know what the future holds - so better to have one if you are thinking of playing 3D.

3. No need to keep away from them - they just don't have faster parts than a normal laptop. The CPU (processor) has a graphics chip built into them, and depending on the CPU it will have some level for the graphics. But don't expect to play on full high quality detail.

4. Again - the Iris is built into the chip and come in different varieties. Some are as good as an entry level graphics card, some are better. But if you're looking at playing games then a dedicated graphics card of mid-high quality is required.

Thank you very much for your response- incredibly helpful!

So, from the laptop you suggested I can see that I'm definitely in the right place looking at an i5 laptop minimum, with at least 8gb ram and a dedicated graphics card. I noticed that the one you suggested had 2.9 ghz processing speed, does that mean that a laptop with 2.2 ghz might be too slow for the things i require it to do as listed in my initial post? Also is there a major difference between the GeForce 930M and 940M?

Not entirely keen of the make or model of the one you suggested but stats-wise it certainly looks like it can do the job and it has given me an idea of what to look for. Just for knowledge sake, what was wrong with the ones i originally posted and which of them is more in line with my requirements? I'm asking as i'd like to have a wander into a pc world of curry's just to get some more information and have a feel for the laptops before i buy anything.

Correct me if im wrong, i have a very basic level of understanding but it would seem the Acer Aspire is the closest thing to what you recommended, and having just seen it on the website you posted using similar search parameters to the laptop you recommended it seems a good fit at about £80 cheaper than it is being sold for at pc world.

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/NX.G1TEK.031-Acer-Aspire-V3-574G_1838027.html

I really do like the look of the HP Envy, but it seems a bit pointless spending more money on something that looks nice that doesn't perform as well as a cheaper alternative. Again, correct me if i am wrong as im not totally clued up to the stats side of things. This version of the envy appears to be a slight upgrade performance wise http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-15-ab215na-intel-core-i7-8gb-2tb-dvd-sm-15.6-n9r35ea/version.asp

[Smurf]

Thank you very much for your response- incredibly helpful!

So, from the laptop you suggested I can see that I'm definitely in the right place looking at an i5 laptop minimum, with at least 8gb ram and a dedicated graphics card. I noticed that the one you suggested had 2.9 ghz processing speed, does that mean that a laptop with 2.2 ghz might be too slow for the things i require it to do as listed in my initial post? Also is there a major difference between the GeForce 930M and 940M?

Well 2.2ghz is slower than 2.9ghz.

Plus it's not only about the base speed - the 2.9ghz can processor even faster at 3.5ghz, compared to your suggestion which can overclock to 3ghz.

The processors are smart and when they can go faster they will.

Put it this way - the computer I suggest is just as fast at 2.9ghz base frequency compared to you computer suggestion where if it was overclocking at 3ghz.

In other words - the i5 4210H is a faster processor for what you want.

There's no major difference in the 930m and the 940m.

Not entirely keen of the make or model of the one you suggested but stats-wise it certainly looks like it can do the job and it has given me an idea of what to look for. Just for knowledge sake, what was wrong with the ones i originally posted and which of them is more in line with my requirements? I'm asking as i'd like to have a wander into a pc world of curry's just to get some more information and have a feel for the laptops before i buy anything.

MSI computers are very good make.

The one posted here isn't bad - http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/asus-k501ub-15-6-laptop-black-10137633-pdt.html

This one I didn't recommend to you because it has no graphcis card http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-v3-574t-15-6-laptop-silver-10137575-pdt.html

The rest - had slower processors and I knew I could find you a computer in your budget with a better processor.

Correct me if im wrong, i have a very basic level of understanding but it would seem the Acer Aspire is the closest thing to what you recommended, and having just seen it on the website you posted using similar search parameters to the laptop you recommended it seems a good fit at about £80 cheaper than it is being sold for at pc world.

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/NX.G1TEK.031-Acer-Aspire-V3-574G_1838027.html

Again that processor is slower than the one I posted.

I really do like the look of the HP Envy, but it seems a bit pointless spending more money on something that looks nice that doesn't perform as well as a cheaper alternative. Again, correct me if i am wrong as im not totally clued up to the stats side of things

You're not wrong. What's the point on spending money when there are other alternatives.

[thomit]

None of those

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/9S7-16J312-078-MSI-GP62-2QD%28Leopard%29-078UK_1837451.html

1. SSHD - Solid State Hybrid Drive, it's combination of a SSD and a HDD. Solid State Drives (SSD) faster for booting up your computer and loading and saving large files. Not much advantage for FM except fast load and saves.

2. No it doesn't, but it helps and you don't know what the future holds - so better to have one if you are thinking of playing 3D.

3. No need to keep away from them - they just don't have faster parts than a normal laptop. The CPU (processor) has a graphics chip built into them, and depending on the CPU it will have some level for the graphics. But don't expect to play on full high quality detail.

4. Again - the Iris is built into the chip and come in different varieties. Some are as good as an entry level graphics card, some are better. But if you're looking at playing games then a dedicated graphics card of mid-high quality is required.

The SSD part of a hybrid drive is only good for caching Windows startup files, and thus speeding up the Windows boot. However, you can't store (save) any files on the SSD part, so it doesn't speed up anything else, and is - with everything else - just as much of a bottleneck as a "regular" spin-disk is in a modern computer. To get the full SSD experience, a proper SSD is needed. A real SSD helps the processor use it's full speed, in that it (the processor) doesnt have to wait on a slow spin-disk when anything needs to be written to or read from the drive. A hybrid drive does not help with any of that, and will not speed up the loading or saving (or anything involving read/write) in FM. Except for the Windows boot-up, it's just as slow as a regular spin-disk.

[Smurf]

The SSHD will intelligently look at programs you open most often and store the cache for faster access to these programs, not just Windows startup files.

Good point about not being able to save to the SSD portion of the drive - I had forgotten about that - or forgot to post about that.

[Jimmyrh94]

Well 2.2ghz is slower than 2.9ghz.

Plus it's not only about the base speed - the 2.9ghz can processor even faster at 3.5ghz, compared to your suggestion which can overclock to 3ghz.

The processors are smart and when they can go faster they will.

Put it this way - the computer I suggest is just as fast at 2.9ghz base frequency compared to you computer suggestion where if it was overclocking at 3ghz.

In other words - the i5 4210H is a faster processor for what you want.

There's no major difference in the 930m and the 940m.

MSI computers are very good make.

The one posted here isn't bad - http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/asus-k501ub-15-6-laptop-black-10137633-pdt.html

This one I didn't recommend to you because it has no graphcis card http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-v3-574t-15-6-laptop-silver-10137575-pdt.html

The rest - had slower processors and I knew I could find you a computer in your budget with a better processor.

[/url]Again that processor is slower than the one I posted.

You're not wrong. What's the point on spending money when there are other alternatives.

Perfect response! So it seems the key factor then is getting the most out of the processing power for my money. I should be looking for a base speed of at least 2.5 then if not better as you posted?

Could I ask your opinion on these?

I think this is a slightly enhanced version of one of the ones i originally posted?

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-15-ab215na-intel-core-i7-8gb-2tb-dvd-sm-15.6-n9r35ea/version.asp

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/hp-pavilion-gamer-15-ak000na-intel-core-i5-6300hq-8gb-1tb-nvidia-geforce-n9r91ea/version.asp

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/toshiba-p50t-c-109-intel-core-i5-5200u-12gb-1tb-sshd-nvidia-geforce-gtx-950-psptue-00h005en/version.asp

Would it be possible to go through the pros and cons of these listed above as I'm trying to work out how you judge them against each other? For example I would have said the first one appears to be a slightly enhanced version of one of the links i posted earlier as it has 2.5 ghz processing frequency now, its i7 and has a dedicated GeForce 940M graphics card- but then it doesn't support full 1080p resolution I don't think. Then the gaming version of that first one with the back lit screen has 2.3 ghz processing frequency but its quad core so from what I've learnt that wold make it a better choice right? ( again the issue remains it doesn't support 1080p) The last one again doesn't look too bad but i'm not sure how to judge it as although it has a good graphics card (950 M) and a full hd resolution screen, it has a weaker processor and its dual core.

*Edit: Here is another version of the Pavillion, not sure what the difference is?

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/hp-pavilion-gamer-15-ak004na-core-i5-6300hq-8gb-1tb-128gb-ssd-nvidia-gefo-p0g82ea/version.asp

Sorry for so many questions- really just want to make sure I make the right choice.

https://gaming.msi.com/article/why-real-gamers-choose-real-quad-core-i7i5-but-never-u-series-cpu This little article has been quite helpful, i think it is saying i'm better off going i5 if it means it has a quad core than going for an entry i7???

Thanks btw, really very appreciative of your help!

[thomit]

That is true, and I was perhaps not really thorough enough with explaining what a hybrid drive does - but FM-related, I doubt that the FM startup files will ever be classified by the hybrid drive as files you use very often ... unless you start up FM several times an hour maybe. And the save/load of FM save files? Not likely, they would need to be stored on a proper SSD partition to get any speed boost. What is cached by the hybrid drive in addition to Windows boot files are typically things like icon files, quick links and menus, and a few of the programs/apps/services/processes that starts up simultaneously with the OS, automatically or by your own input. If you have set e.g. Steam to start up when you boot Windows, those files might be included in the SSD cache. My point was for anyone thinking "SSD hybrid drive? Great, the best of both worlds, I get SSD speed AND a spin-disk for storage". It isn't that. It is faster than a "pure" spin-disk when booting up and the start-up of a few other often used processes/apps, but it isn't the equivalent to a proper SSD.

[Bolek80]

Hi

I'm looking for a laptop to replace my very old one :-) Is now the right time to buy or am I better off looking for something after Christmas?

The laptop will be used for FM16, word processing, browsing the internet. I need a laptop that can run multiple applications without slowing down or overheating. I am willing to spend up to £500. That said I see you recommended http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/9S7-16J312-078-MSI-GP62-2QD%28Leopard%29-078UK_1837451.html and I'd be willing to (reluctently :-P) to go slightly over my budget for something a lot better than I can get for £500.

In terms of FM, I want something that can process quickly and cope with as many countries loaded and leagues possible. On my very old laptop I can only play around 5 leagues so I badly need an upgrade :-)

Thanks in advance for any replies :-)

[Smurf]

Perfect response! So it seems the key factor then is getting the most out of the processing power for my money. I should be looking for a base speed of at least 2.5 then if not better as you posted?

Could I ask your opinion on these?

I think this is a slightly enhanced version of one of the ones i originally posted?

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-15-ab215na-intel-core-i7-8gb-2tb-dvd-sm-15.6-n9r35ea/version.asp

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/hp-pavilion-gamer-15-ak000na-intel-core-i5-6300hq-8gb-1tb-nvidia-geforce-n9r91ea/version.asp

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/toshiba-p50t-c-109-intel-core-i5-5200u-12gb-1tb-sshd-nvidia-geforce-gtx-950-psptue-00h005en/version.asp

Would it be possible to go through the pros and cons of these listed above as I'm trying to work out how you judge them against each other? For example I would have said the first one appears to be a slightly enhanced version of one of the links i posted earlier as it has 2.5 ghz processing frequency now, its i7 and has a dedicated GeForce 940M graphics card- but then it doesn't support full 1080p resolution I don't think. Then the gaming version of that first one with the back lit screen has 2.3 ghz processing frequency but its quad core so from what I've learnt that wold make it a better choice right? ( again the issue remains it doesn't support 1080p) The last one again doesn't look too bad but i'm not sure how to judge it as although it has a good graphics card (950 M) and a full hd resolution screen, it has a weaker processor and its dual core.

*Edit: Here is another version of the Pavillion, not sure what the difference is?

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/hp-pavilion-gamer-15-ak004na-core-i5-6300hq-8gb-1tb-128gb-ssd-nvidia-gefo-p0g82ea/version.asp

Sorry for so many questions- really just want to make sure I make the right choice.

https://gaming.msi.com/article/why-real-gamers-choose-real-quad-core-i7i5-but-never-u-series-cpu This little article has been quite helpful, i think it is saying i'm better off going i5 if it means it has a quad core than going for an entry i7???

Thanks btw, really very appreciative of your help!

I had a look - and you seem to have the hang of this now.

Yes a Quad Core i5 top end is better than an entry level i7.

[shaggydo]

Hi there, just looking for a little guidance on buying a new laptop. It's got to be John Lewis - I know it's not necessarily the cheapest but I have vouchers - and due to the impending arrival of my second child, my budget is a feeble £500 (absolute max). I'll be doing a bit of work on it, but nothing too taxing so mainly it's about running FM16. My thinking is that I need 8gb ram and i5 or AMD A10 minimum - would a dedicated graphics card be important too? Anyway, I've found a few options - any advice on which of these would be best (and why) would be much appreciated.

http://www.johnlewis.com/acer-aspire-e5-552g-laptop-amd-fx-8gb-ram-1tb-15-6-grey/p2297350 - this is the one I'm erring towards at the moment due to it being quad-core and having a dedicated graphics card

http://www.johnlewis.com/lenovo-g505s-laptop-amd-a10-8gb-ram-1tb-15-6-black/p1639208

http://www.johnlewis.com/asus-x555la-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-ram-1tb-15-6-black/p2307189

Thanks in advance

[Jimmyrh94]

I had a look - and you seem to have the hang of this now.

Yes a Quad Core i5 top end is better than an entry level i7.

Thanks, well it's all down to you as otherwise I would have just gone straight to the store and bought the most expensive thing without really looking at what it does. I have made a shortlist of the ones I think are the best value for my money, do you mind taking a quick snapshot look just to make sure I'm not way off. I have put them in order of which ones I think are best value according to all the info you have given me so far. Will probably go out with this shortlist to the shops to have a feel for this laptops in person and then once I've picked one ill shop around for the cheapest place I can find it.

1. http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/hp-pavilion-gamer-15-ak004na-core-i5-6300hq-8gb-1tb-128gb-ssd-nvidia-gefo-p0g82ea/version.asp

This one looks to be the best all-round. The 8 gb ram and 1TB storage space are perfect for my needs. It comes with a slightly superior graphics card compared to the rest with the NVIDIA 950 M. The i5 processor only has 2.2 ghz base frequency but it can overclock to 3.2 ghz and I'd assume that it can deal with that better as it is quad core- so realistically it should deal better with multiple applications. Downsides are its not full hd and i really hate that green back lit keyboard- id hope you would be able to turn that off?

2. http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/asus-k501ub-15-6-laptop-black-10137633-pdt.html

This one was almost perfect for my needs i think. The downside is obviously the i7 dual core processor compare to the above- but it is at least a slightly newer processor and in terms of speeds it has a higher base at 2.5 ghz and can overclock to 3.1 ghz. Also, it won't make a massive or noticeable difference but at least the 12 gb will do a bit to help the fact the processor is slightly weaker. Lastly the 1TB storage is perfect and the graphics card is a suitable 940 M. The screen also supports full hd 1920 x 1080

3. http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-15-ab215na-intel-core-i7-8gb-2tb-dvd-sm-15.6-n9r35ea/version.asp

This and the above are pretty much the same tbh as they have the exact same processor. The reason this one is 3rd is because although it is cheaper it comes with less ram at 8gb so it doesn't help to negate the pressure on that weaker U series processor. It also is only 1366 x768 too so its not quite as glossy as the above. Its not a bad machine at £575 but id be willing to put slightly more money to get those extra features especially if i do go for a U series processor.

4. http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/NX.G1TEK.031-Acer-Aspire-V3-574G_1838027.html#DetailTop

This is 4th as again its the same as the laptop above but now with an even weaker U series processor and the ram is only a standard 8gb so processing power is getting significantly weaker. Base frequency down to 2.4 ghz and overclocking at 3.0 ghz. The only reason i include this is because it gives you a full hd screen where the one above doesn't.

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/toshiba-p50t-c-109-intel-core-i5-5200u-12gb-1tb-sshd-nvidia-geforce-gtx-950-psptue-00h005en/version.asp

Not sure if this one was even worth including. Massive degrade on the processor which is i5 5200u so base frequency 2.2 ghz and overclocking at 2.7 ghz. The larger ram at 12gb will help i suppose and it has a better graphics card with the 950 M- but i can't help but think that its only gone up to £740 because it has that ultra hd touchscreen in place of a better processor to match that graphics card. Not sure where this on ranks really but i feel i could get more important features for my money. Would rather pay that extra £100 for a processor than for HD touchscreen.

So that's the shortlist- I think from explaining this to myself those top two just seem massively better for my money than any of the other two. Major downside of the top one is just the screen and the keyboard and the major downside of the second is literally the U series processor although it is newer but for how long will it last compared to the quad.

Questions

1. Am I ripping myself off not going for a laptop that supports full 1080p hd for my money? There are a few other laptops I have seen that cut back on the graphics card to 930 M but then they give you a full hd resolution screen instead? I think my screen atm is 720p and tbh I'm not terribly bothered about it being any better- its good enough to watch films and play fm on and in any case I have my xbox one for my other games.

2. With that first laptop what is it on about where it says it has 1TB storage and 128gb ssd? Is that possible to have it additionally or is it saying its part of the 1tb? Might be a noob question- apologies

3. If i do go for a U series laptop am I really going to run into serious trouble in say anything less than 4 years time max? I need to know that if i go for a U I can play fm on it with no trouble for the next for years without it slowing down or that it will be able to handle multiple applications (i tunes, internet, media players, netflix apps etc.) without getting burnt out. They must have introduced U series for a reason and there must be some people using them out there for what im describing.

Thanks again for all your help mate- i assume after your next response I won't really have any more questions.

[thomit]

Jimmyhr94; Go here and configure that laptop as you wish. You'll get more for your buck. Including 1920x1080 IPS screen. Cheaper than your best number 1 option if you configure it as close as you can ... or better specs if you configure it to the max within the same price as your number 1 option ... all the time giving you a better screen. You can even fit a 1TB hard-drive PLUS a SSD within the same budget ....

As an example, I configured it with: 1920x1080 IPS screen, Intel Core i5-6300HQ, 8 GB Kingston RAM, Nvidia GeForce GT 940M, 250GB Samsung 850 Evo SSD + 1TB WD Blue disk, DVD 8x writer, 120 Watt power adapter and Win 10 Home 64 bit ... £681.

[Welshace]

Questions

1. Am I ripping myself off not going for a laptop that supports full 1080p hd for my money? There are a few other laptops I have seen that cut back on the graphics card to 930 M but then they give you a full hd resolution screen instead? I think my screen atm is 720p and tbh I'm not terribly bothered about it being any better- its good enough to watch films and play fm on and in any case I have my xbox one for my other games.

2. With that first laptop what is it on about where it says it has 1TB storage and 128gb ssd? Is that possible to have it additionally or is it saying its part of the 1tb? Might be a noob question- apologies

3. If i do go for a U series laptop am I really going to run into serious trouble in say anything less than 4 years time max? I need to know that if i go for a U I can play fm on it with no trouble for the next for years without it slowing down or that it will be able to handle multiple applications (i tunes, internet, media players, netflix apps etc.) without getting burnt out. They must have introduced U series for a reason and there must be some people using them out there for what im describing.

Thanks again for all your help mate- i assume after your next response I won't really have any more questions.

1. You've answered your own question here really, it's just a matter of choice, personally, i've never seen the need to spend more to upgrade from 720 to 1080.

2. 1TB is your standard HDD storage space.. where you'll keep the bulk. The 128gb SSD is where you'll probably have your OS and you can also fit any applications etc you want to prioritise... i.e help with loading/saving etc due to the much faster speeds. And to answer your question, it will be a separate drive. There are hybrid drives but this isn't one of them.

3. The U's are just low powered versions of intels other cpu's and as such, you'll find they are significantly slower under heavy loads (such as FM after a few seasons). I would stay clear from them unless you really wanted a notebook rather than a laptop. The U's are designed for ultrabooks and small notebooks, and while they will play the game fine, they will be under a lot more stress.

[Jimmyrh94]

1. You've answered your own question here really, it's just a matter of choice, personally, i've never seen the need to spend more to upgrade from 720 to 1080.

2. 1TB is your standard HDD storage space.. where you'll keep the bulk. The 128gb SSD is where you'll probably have your OS and you can also fit any applications etc you want to prioritise... i.e help with loading/saving etc due to the much faster speeds. And to answer your question, it will be a separate drive. There are hybrid drives but this isn't one of them.

3. The U's are just low powered versions of intels other cpu's and as such, you'll find they are significantly slower under heavy loads (such as FM after a few seasons). I would stay clear from them unless you really wanted a notebook rather than a laptop. The U's are designed for ultrabooks and small notebooks, and while they will play the game fine, they will be under a lot more stress.

Thanks. Just been to pc world and even the shop assistant there suggested I go for the quad core pavilion from laptops direct. Although he said that their own i7 acer wasn't too far behind and was rightly next best. The only downside he pointed out that although the price was great for what I am getting the lack of that 10 80p screen was a bit of a let down and the decision was basically this: If im not doing any major gaming other than Fm really, and the rest of the focus is on watching films and browsing the net etc. simultaneously then it might be better to go for the better screen at the expense of the quad core, especially when the i7 6500u is slightly newer, has hyperthreading and clocks at 2.5 ghz base (3.2turbo) anyway.

So I guess my final question is, if the only game I'm really playing is Fm is there a noticeable difference between the i7 6500u and the i5 6300hq ? Bear in mind the i7 has 12gb so it might slightly relieve some of the workload. Also, Fm aside, will the i7 6500u be able to cope with multiple tasks and applications?

Any opinions?

[Welshace]

First thing is, extra ram will make no difference at all on FM over 8gb when multitasking, unless you plan on encoding some video's or do some major image editing.

The 6500u will certainly handle FM and watching some movies or browsing the web at the same time no problem...

But however you spin in.. the 6300 will be better overall, fm included..

Here's a handy comparison.

https://game-debate.com/cpu/index.php?pid=2391&pid2=2383&compare=core-i5-6300hq-2-3ghz-vs-core-i7-6500u-2-core-2-5ghz

[Jimmyrh94]

First thing is, extra ram will make no difference at all on FM over 8gb when multitasking, unless you plan on encoding some video's or do some major image editing.

The 6500u will certainly handle FM and watching some movies or browsing the web at the same time no problem...

But however you spin in.. the 6300 will be better overall, fm included..

Here's a handy comparison.

https://game-debate.com/cpu/index.php?pid=2391&pid2=2383&compare=core-i5-6300hq-2-3ghz-vs-core-i7-6500u-2-core-2-5ghz

Cheers that clears a lot up!

I've actually found a model of that HP that has a full 1080p screen without the SSD memory for £700 so that solves it for me. Also, seen another version of it with the full 1080p screen, and the SSD memory, and a bit more Ram, and with a quad core 17 processor for £800.

Thanks, again for all your help, will probs purchase one of the two tomorrow

[Jackson Mourinho]

Probably a stupid questions chaps but would like to share a few screenshots in relation to my Plymouth career .. Anyone give me an idiots guide on how to get them on this thread? I've got them saved in my pictures on laptop ..but can't see an option to insert a picture in post .. only through a link ??

Sorry if not quite the right thread

[evanz89]

Not played FM nor a while now due to my laptop not being up to scratch well I'm looking at treating myself for Christmas

I'm not fussed about the 3D gameplay and I'd only be using the laptop for FM, general browsing and possible Microsoft word... That's about it really. Wanting the game to run smoothly with the main European leagues really. Now my budget is pretty low at around 400-450 so I know I haven't got much to play with.

I've found this http://www.ebuyer.com/727649-hp-pavilion-x360-13-laptop-silver-m0r72ea-abu and wondered what you guys thought.

Many thanks

Ross

[Al Bundy]

Any suggestions for a desktop computer? Budget between 800-1000€. I'm totally out of loop with new configurations. I will only play FM with 3d matches. Moved to Ireland recently and looking for a good place to buy. Thanks.

[beechy85]

Bought my laptop saturday got a dell, I7 processor, 8gb DDR3 RAM, 180GB SSD for £200 off gumtree, went and bought FM for £20, bargain price for the laptop I have got could do with graphics card update as that drops the rating to 6.3 everything else is 7.1-7.5

[shaggydo]

Hi there, just looking for a little guidance on buying a new laptop. It's got to be John Lewis - I know it's not necessarily the cheapest but I have vouchers - and due to the impending arrival of my second child, my budget is a feeble £500 (absolute max). I'll be doing a bit of work on it, but nothing too taxing so mainly it's about running FM16. My thinking is that I need 8gb ram and i5 or AMD A10 minimum - would a dedicated graphics card be important too? Anyway, I've found a few options - any advice on which of these would be best (and why) would be much appreciated.

http://www.johnlewis.com/acer-aspire-e5-552g-laptop-amd-fx-8gb-ram-1tb-15-6-grey/p2297350 - this is the one I'm erring towards at the moment due to it being quad-core and having a dedicated graphics card

http://www.johnlewis.com/lenovo-g505s-laptop-amd-a10-8gb-ram-1tb-15-6-black/p1639208

http://www.johnlewis.com/asus-x555la-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-ram-1tb-15-6-black/p2307189

Thanks in advance

Sorry to repost, but can anyone offer any advice on the above?

[shaggydo]

Sorry to repost, but can anyone offer any advice on the above?

Actually, I've just noticed this is on offer for today only - seems the best bet, no?

http://www.johnlewis.com/lenovo-z51-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-ram-1tb-8gb-sshd-15-6-black/p2279114?sku=235024311&kpid=235024311&s_kenid=de19751e-f4a1-4d91-ad24-27a5bf98fdfb&s_kwcid=402x1504392&tmad=c&tmcampid=73

[aditya]

You cannot beat Asus ROG gaming laptops. they have eitther 14" and 17" models, with various different specifications. I'm currently running 7-8 nations (large databse) on my Asus g74 (HD5870 NVIDIA) which i bought in 2010 and its playing Football Manager 2016 smoothly after 2 seasons, so far.

If you buy the newer models, you would behaving an awesome machine. Could play several other games on very good fps. Definetly reccommend ASUS ROGs.

[aditya]

^To add on, its affordable. Starting from $900 USD - $3000 USD for top models.

[le_crab]

Hello, looking for some help! Looking for a PC to play FM16 on with 3D engine. Will this get the job done.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/desktop-pcs/desktop-pcs/hp-pavilion-550-153na-desktop-pc-exclusive-white-10138663-pdt.html

[timtim11]

http://www.very.co.uk/hp-pavilion-17-g102na-intel-core-i3-8gb-ram-1tb-storage-173-inch-hd-laptop-blizzard-white/1600020597.prd

Is this any good please

[JordanBlackpoolFC]

Hello, looking for some help! Looking for a PC to play FM16 on with 3D engine. Will this get the job done.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/desktop-pcs/desktop-pcs/hp-pavilion-550-153na-desktop-pc-exclusive-white-10138663-pdt.html

You shouldn't have any problems with that.

[luke4387]

I appreciate there is a 'laptop' thread but I have not got the time to go through a ton of pages and posts.

I would just like to know, can anyone recommend a good laptop for FM16 and onwards at the value of £600 max (less would be better!)

I don't play with loads of leagues, but a smoother match experience would be great!

Any help would be appreciated!

Cheers!

[Matspur]

If it's SSD and not worried about graphics I recommend this one

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/N0Z48ESABU-HP-ProBook-450-G2_1868143.html

The SSD will load and save your game faster, won't really have an effect on the performance of the game.

The above has a slightly better processor and an SSD.

Got this through the post today, thanks for your help:)

[Delvi]

I'm thinking about switching from Macbook Pro to a good windows laptop and I've some questions:

Which are the requirements for running FM 2016 with 3D full details on laptop with 17" monitor? Especially I'm thinking about the graphic card.

There is any difference in performance between i5 and i7? Especially running with several leagues, DDT and huge database.

Over 8GB of RAM there is really no difference in performance?

[Hakes-GS]

I need your help because I want to buy a new computer and I want to know if this one will correctly run FM 2016:

http://www.darty.com/nav/achat/informatique/ordinateur_portable-portable/portable/asus_r511lj-xx263t.html (All the Technical specifications are on the bootom of page)

[brookes]

So just to confirm you got this one and recommend it? I'm happy to play in 2d just as long as I can have a few leagues loaded and it run at a decent speed.

Thinking of ordering it tonight, off work from Thursday for four days would be great if I could spend them playing FM

how was the probook for playing fm16? which model probook did you buy?

[Kuji]

Hey guys. I have come here for guidance in the matter of buying myself a laptop.

Amount of a leagues/clubs. Not many. 3-4 leagues at most.

Are 3d graphics important? I tend to play 3D but I can manage with 2D

What other tasks do you do when playing FM? Probably listen to music or web browse

Is game speed essential? Reasonable, I think

Fast load and save times? Yep

Screen size important? 11-14 inches would be the sweet spot.

Does it need to be portable (light) or do you want it as a desktop replacement (heavier and not ideal for carrying around but ok for situated in your house a various locations (bedroom, sitting room etc.) - Ideal to carry with me for school work or coffee shop/library visits

So I need to a laptop that is lightweight (I intend to use it for school work and would like to be manageable) but I don't need it to be a workhorse either. I am still in FM15 and not considering buying FM16. Will most likely wait until FM17. I live in Puerto Rico, so even though the UK links seem to be extremely useful, i can't use 'em

The laptops I have seen so far:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014VHW24Y?keywords=laptop&qid=1450032877&ref_=sr_1_2&refinements=p_n_size_browse-bin%3A3545275011%2Cp_n_feature_five_browse-bin%3A7817224011%2Cp_n_feature_twelve_browse-bin%3A9521908011&s=pc&sr=1-2

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=9635894&CatId=4935

Just need a finger pointing in the right direction, I am pretty sure the above links are not the best options. My budget would be preferably between $500-800. Thanks in advance!

[Welshace]

The tigerdirect one is a definite no no... that cpu is barely for notebooks and have seen it in tablets and massively overpriced.

the Amazon one is better but still overpriced for your needs....

This one for instance is cheaper by quite a bit and much more suitable for your needs imo.. and that was just the first one I saw..

It's hard to suggest a good deal for you without knowing the Puerto Rico market really.

But as a base to build on..

Look at i5's and i7's (we can advise if you find them)

Look at 8gb ram minimum with your budget and multitasking needs

a dedicated graphics card would help on your budget

an SSD is always a bonus.

[Kuji]

You didn't post the link xD

Well, the market in Puerto Rico is similar to the US but a tad bit overpriced. There aren't a lot of computer shops and the good ones have vanished due to people being idiots and getting overpriced stuff at other stores (Office Max, Walmart, etc). Could check in costco to see if something appears.

http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Latitude-E7250-Kaspersky-Anti-Virus/dp/B018SR08C6/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1450050387&sr=1-6&keywords=laptop&refinements=p_n_feature_eighteen_browse-bin%3A6819965011%2Cp_n_feature_five_browse-bin%3A7817224011%2Cp_n_size_browse-bin%3A3545275011|7817231011%2Cp_n_feature_twelve_browse-bin%3A9521908011

This one seems promising --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G3FG8314