i5 and GT630M or i7 and HD4000

GeX

GeX

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Hi all. What do you reckon. Looking at Lenovo Z580s.

Specifically, M81GCUK or M81HQUK.

One has an i7 3520M, 2.9Ghz, HD4000, 8Gb and 750Gb and the other is an i5 3210M, 2.5Ghz, HD4000, 8Gb, 1Tb and a GT630M. The i5 version is around £40 cheaper.

It won't be used as a heavy gaming laptop, just playing things like The Sims. Other use will just be browsing/word processing etc.

Straight away I'm thinking GT630M - it must be better than the HD4000, right? However once I've looked around more, that's maybe not the case. The GT630M is Fermi instead of Kepler, and reading through threads like this - it seems that it's very close to call. What do you guys reckon?
 
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Hi all. What do you reckon. Looking at Lenovo Z580s.

Specifically, M81GCUK or M81HQUK.

One has an i7 3520M, 2.9Ghz, HD4000, 8Gb and 750Gb and the other is an i5 3210M, 2.5Ghz, HD4000, 8Gb, 1Tb and a GT630M. The i5 version is around £40 cheaper.

It won't be used as a heavy gaming laptop, just playing things like The Sims. Other use will just be browsing/word processing etc.

Straight away I'm thinking GT630M - it must be better than the HD4000, right? However once I've looked around more, that's maybe not the case. The GT630M is Fermi instead of Kepler, and reading through threads like this - it seems that it's very close to call. What do you guys reckon?

If all you want to do is light gaming the HD 4000 will do in a pinch, however you will never beat dedicated graphics power:

Computer Games on Laptop Graphic Cards.

If you go here you can restrict it to just show the GT 630M and HD 4000.

The i5 + GT 630M is a winner for me as you get a more versatile platform for £40 less.

Regards.

C.
 

GeX

GeX

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Location
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Thanks for the replies guys.

If all you want to do is light gaming the HD 4000 will do in a pinch, however you will never beat dedicated graphics power:

That has always been my opinion, but as I say the GT630M is Fermi and was targeted at the HD3000 integrated GPU (which it out performs, but it does seem to get closer when it's next to an HD4000). I have a MBP and that spends a lot of time using the HD4000 instead of the GT650M. I'm worried it'll just sit there, take up space, generate heat / use the battery and not offer much over the HD4000.

Plus if you are really desperate the CPU is upgradable in the future where as you cant add a GPU.

Do you know the scope on upgrading GPUs - it isn't something I've ever needed to look into.

how much is it? There may be better options available.

I'm open to suggestions on this :)

The i7 machine is £513 and the i5 is £475 or there is an i5 3210M 2.5ghz (HD4000), 6Gb, 1Tb and that is £422.

They all have 15.6" 1366x768.. which I think is a travesty but my OH will be happy with that.
 
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hmm in my experience the 630m will run most games on medium at 720p as its not much slower than a 555m. hd4000 will still struggle with a lot of games on low!
 
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