Gaming laptop recommendations - $1,000 budget

Hey there,

So, like you guys mentioned in the mandatory starter thread, picking out a laptop is a pretty big deal and a huge investment, so I was hoping to grab some advice from people who are probably way smarter than me.

I’ve got about $2333
I definitely want to go with an IPS screen (either 15 or 17 inches, though maybe 17 might be better for cooling purposes)
Speed is obviously super important too, so I'm kind of torn between going for a beefier processor or maybe settling for a slightly weaker one just so I can throw in an SSD?

Right now, my first pick is this one:

I'd love to hear if anyone has a better suggestion... maybe something with a Nvidia GTX 960?
I'm having a hard time finding them within this budget...

Honestly, I don't really care where I buy it from, I don't need Windows pre-installed, and the longer the warranty, the better...

This one looks interesting too, since it has a better graphics card:

But it says it was returned from a repair center, and it shows 2 units available, which makes me wonder if more than one had to be fixed?

This one caught my eye, but I'm not sure how long the wait would be, has anyone here ordered from there before? It looks like they might ship stuff in from overseas?

Thanks for the help...

I don't get it: they claim it's an RMA unit and then try to sell it at full retail? A brand new one over at Best Buy costs this much:

MSI makes solid laptops, sure, but this one feels like an older model because of the GPU... Once you factor in the shady vibes from that company and the mediocre price tag, I don't see the point in overcomplicating things. There are plenty of other options out there:

Found what I was looking for, thanks!

lonemarlin2 said:
Found what I was looking for, thanks.

If you don't mind me asking, what did you end up going with?

😁 This guy practically ran out the door, absolutely stoked about grabbing a new laptop.

darkowl72, looking at these remaining links from the Aquarium—which one should I actually prioritize: the GL series or the N series?
I’m hunting for something for my kid with a budget of roughly $700, since this was a totally unplanned purchase, but it needs to handle some gaming—even if the little one isn't some hardcore gamer glued to the screen 24/7.
I was thinking at least an Intel i5, 8GB of RAM (but please, nothing with soldered RAM on the board), and an Nvidia GTX 950 or better. A 15-inch screen is plenty because it’ll mostly be hooked up to an external monitor anyway. Oh, and the keyboard definitely needs to be backlit.🙄
I've been eyeing the Asus GL552jX and the N550 JX. I honestly have no clue what the F series is like.
Is there anything else in that price range that would be a smarter buy? Asus is offering a 2-year warranty, which is a plus.

Whether the memory is soldered to the board or not doesn't actually matter; what matters is if the laptop has free expansion slots if you need them later. Personally, I think Asus is the way to go because they pack the most punch in terms of internal specs (CPU, GPU), making it the most logical choice. Aiming for the N or G (GL) series is also smart since they don't cut corners on build quality. So, you're making a good call regardless of which one you grab. The F series is a step down from those, lacks a backlit keyboard, and honestly, I don't see many models in that line offering decent CPUs or GPUs. Also, Asus gives a 2-year warranty plus some Asus promotions during the first year, though I think you have to register for that within 7 days of purchase.

Now for the nitpicks. Obviously, an IPS screen is better, but you pay a premium for it. As for the processor, the Intel i5 4200h is plenty, no question there, but for the money you're spending, you could find an Intel i7 4720HQ, an Intel i5 6300HQ, or an Intel i7 6700HQ. All these chips stay under 50W. The 6300 and 6700 are newer, so in terms of raw power, the weakest would be the Intel i5 4200h, then the Intel i5 6300HQ, then the Intel i7 4720HQ, and finally the Intel i7 6700HQ—though the gap between the last two is pretty minor.

Regarding graphics, the Nvidia GTX 950 is really the only option unless you want to blow your budget by about $167, in which case you can get the Nvidia GTX 960 in this
new GL model. Oh, and don't forget to mention the new GL series; it was supposed to be the successor to the G series, but that didn't happen. The G-series is still being sold and is priced slightly higher than the GLs. What's the catch? From what I can see, the G-series has an LCD panel covering 72% of the NTSC profile and a metal-plastic chassis, while the GL uses a 60% panel and a plastic body. Basically, they did a quick redesign using cheaper materials and a cheaper LCD panel to create the GL series for budget gamers—or as a sales manager would put it, "filling a market niche they identified."

That doesn't mean the new GLs are bad, just that they are "optimized" and built more economically. Regardless, I only see two models available: a cheaper one with the 4200h which is a pretty modest setup, and the one I linked that's over budget. And that cheaper one is still more expensive than the N-series with the same specs. You could say the price difference of about $117 is just paying for a "gamer" chassis. And even then, it's plastic, whereas the N-series should have aluminum.

If you ask me, the best move is this N-series model, unless looks are everything to you, because the N-line doesn't look particularly "gamer" 😬

I've been talking about the higher-end laptops with IPS screens, but like I said at the start, there are cheaper options with similar power in the K series. If build quality and materials aren't dealbreakers for you, and you don't care about an IPS screen, you could save some cash with something like this:

http://www.architect.com/shop/index.php...ducts_id=12349
http://www.architect.com/shop/index.php...ducts_id=12841

or similar models coming soon.

The only thing that could give Asus a run for its money is Acer, because their new Nitro models in the V5-591 series are coming out with new processors and Nvidia GTX 950m graphics. They are priced quite competitively, though it's worth noting that in the description for the V5 LCD panels...Probably a typo saying it's got that ColorBlast panel with 90% NTSC coverage, since those screens are usually reserved for the VN7 and G9 series. If you want to check out my review on the V5, it's [URL='http://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-Aspire-V5-591G-71K2-Notebook-Review.156375.0.html';]here, where I mention that specific LCD panel isn't exactly anything to write home about—but honestly, those Acers will still get the job done for what you need. Plus, Acer comes with the standard two-year warranty in the US.[/URL]

Thanks a million for such an incredibly detailed response.
In the meantime, I’ve been doing some digging on PC Connection, and they strongly suggested we definitely aim for the Nvidia GTX 960.

We already pretty much settled on the N550 JX for $6,250 at home, but that recommendation really gave me pause. I need this laptop to last at least three years—if it can't even handle running Battlefront 4 properly right now, what's going to happen with all the new games coming out down the road? (The kid is also looking at stuff like GT 5, that's his kind of thing.)

Also, in the interim, the little guy decided he doesn't actually care about how the laptop looks as long as it's "good." He says whether the keyboard is backlit or not doesn't matter because he'll just be using an external keyboard and an external monitor anyway. He only uses the actual laptop during our summer trips to the coast. (And I have to give him credit here—he's planning to pay for half of it with his own savings.)

The N series caught my eye specifically because of that metal chassis, and when you compare the specs to the GL series (those JX models), it seems logical to me that the N should be more expensive. This N model for $2367 is interesting too, even if it does have the "weaker" graphics card. From what I can gather about the K series, they don't bother putting the 960M in there because the weaker graphics are apparently enough for whatever that specific series is intended for.

Before I stumbled upon your post, I was seriously considering the Asus GL552VW for $2500.
So, the dilemma basically boils down to:
The N series: Intel i7 4720HQ and Nvidia GTX 950m, or
The GL series with an Intel i5 6300HQ and Nvidia GTX 960.

There is, admittedly, an N series option that packs an Intel i7 and a 960M for $2600, but aside from being way outside our planned budget, I'm guessing it's probably overkill anyway.

I'll write more on my PC (and on some other forums) once I'm back. You can find my top threads on laptops and tablets there, but I barely have time because work is killing me here and I can't spend all day hanging out on forums. Like I said, the Nvidia GTX 960 uses basically the same chassis as the Nvidia GTX 950, just with different core and memory clock speeds. The real kicker is the video memory; the 960 exclusively uses GDDR5, whereas you sometimes run into slower GDDR3 versions with the 950. Fact is, the 960 will squeeze out a few more FPS, but it really comes down to what the game prefers: some titles will take advantage of the GPU, while others would much rather have a beefier processor.

You can check the FPS comparisons for both cards in various games right here:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-....138026.0.html
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-....138006.0.html

For GTA5, the 960 definitely pulls ahead, so it would be nice to have. But again, I'll repeat: the Intel i7 4720HQ has 4 physical cores but 8 virtual cores via hyperthreading, plus higher base and turbo frequencies—things some games value more than raw graphics power. The Intel i5 6300HQ is an i5 and only has 4 physical cores with no hyperthreading support.

So, what should you pick? I already mentioned my preference leans toward the Nvidia option, and I laid out why in my previous post. Since you're taking your time to buy this laptop and weighing your pros and cons, if you can swing it, I’d recommend stretching your budget to that more expensive Nvidia model:


http://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-N5....145820.0.html

Because it's the best combo of CPU, GPU, and display, plus it comes with an SSD. An SSD is a total game changer—everything loads instantly, everything is snappy, and you don't have to deal with a grinding hard drive or endless waiting times...

If you're worried about storage, just manage your space better (meaning don't install every single random app or game you see just to let them sit there untouched for months). 256GB is plenty. And if you're one of those people who hoards movies and music, external drives are dirt cheap.

It feels like a "two birds, one stone" situation (CPU and GPU), but honestly, in this case, it's more like two and a half birds 😬, because for only a 10% price difference, you're getting an SSD, a metal chassis, and a much better screen too...

It feels to me like that selection method is what people call "mic po mic." 😁
After we initially set the budget at $7,000, we realized we could actually get away with spending just $6,200—but then it turned out it would have been smarter to bump it back up to $7,000 or even $7,500, and if we added just a tiny bit more, we’d be looking at $7,800.

In the end, we pulled the trigger on the Asus GL552VW. I was hell-bent on getting this sorted today before the snow hits—which actually played a part in the decision since so many local shops were closed for inventory today, making everything unavailable.
Even though the chassis is plastic, it’s still a gaming laptop, so it should be built well enough for what it's meant to do.

If I were picking for myself, an SSD would be an absolute must-have, but I’d honestly prefer to look around for a Fujitsu somewhere out there—you can only find those basic models my kid has used before around here—because I’ve had nothing but great experiences with their gear.

On Monday, we’re cracking open Windows, and then the little guy is jumping straight into Battlefront 👍
so he can blow off some steam while the holidays are still going, otherwise his grades might start slipping later on.

Huge, huge thanks for all the detailed answers, examples, and guidance. I actually learned quite a bit along the way.

👋

👍 My boy is gonna love this!