Do I need a dedicated gaming laptop?

Millez171

Millez171

Millez171

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Joined
17 Dec 2019
Posts
17
Hi all

I know next to nothing about integrated graphics and laptop graphics cards. I've come seeking your wisdom.

I want to get my Mrs a laptop that she can use to start her own business and also game on. It doesn't have to run everything on max. My Mrs eyes are bad which brings me onto my next point. I need a big screen. My budget is around 1500max. The Less I can spend the better really.

Can you guys advise where we should start looking? Maybe make a suggestion if you have time please and if you do. If you could be kind enough to explain why you suggested it so I can understand please? Much appreciated

Cheers
Ben
 
Yes you would need to buy a laptop with a discreet GPU if you want to play games at reasonable frame rates and quality settings. Some laptops now have pretty decent APUs (graphics on the CPU) but you would still need to turn the settings down quite a bit.

What are some of the games you hope to play?
 
Well we are not to sure about game. I'd like to get her playing schedule 1 or it takes 2. I've not looked to much into what we can play. I feel like after what you said. We definitely need a dedicated Gpu
 
When you say a large screen is that something around 18"? You lose a lot of portability when you go bigger than 16" in my opinion. Obviously it's easier to move about than a desktop but it's not the kind of thing you would want to carry about in a backpack every day.
 
Millez171 said:
I want to get my Mrs a laptop that she can use to start her own business and also game on.
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Is the laptop choice instead of a desktop because she will sometimes need to use it elsewhere?

Millez171 said:
I need a big screen.
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If you do go with a laptop why not get a PC monitor, keyboard mouse etc and stick the laptop on dock / laptop stand for gaming when at home and use accessabillity tools when out and about depending how bad her eye sight is?

Even a relatively small 22" PC monitor is going to be a lot bigger than a laptop screen for eye comfort.
 
18 inches would be preferable. She has a 16" Mac that's ancient that she uses to us

The reason for laptop over pc is space due and portability. We are not worried about easy portability. As long as it's not a full tower case with a monitor ducked tapped to the side we should be fine. Later down the line we can look into getting her a desk with a monitor she can plug in to it. We just don't have space in our tiny flat
 
Are the issues with the laptop entirely due to a lack of space or the need for portability + gaming?

You could get a higher spec with a smaller screen and still hook it up to a larger monitor for when home/gaming, laptops come with HDMI/DP out etc.
 
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The issue currently is space so attaching it to a monitor is a no go. Maybe in a few years when I get a desk top. It also needs to be a laptop as it needs to be taken to my Mrs work now and again.
 
What about a TV you already have?

A big screen "gaming" laptop is going to have a ton of negatives, primarily price but it'll drain the battery like there's no tomorrow too, and be far less portable.

What sort of games does she play exactly? If it's low power 2D indie games like Stardew Valley etc you'd probably be fine with onboard graphics, but anything remotely modern in the AA-AAA market is going to be a no-go.
 
She is a sims 4 gamer but I'd like to drag her onto more demanding titles like balders gate 3. She will always be able to plug the laptop in so battery is not an issue

The TV is a good idea but due to her bad eye sight she won't be able to read the small text. I tried to get her to play the outer wilds but she couldn't read what the text said so it ruined the experience
 
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Millez171 said:
She is a sims 4 gamer but I'd like to drag her onto more demanding titles like balders gate 3. She will always be able to plug the laptop in so battery is not an issue
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BG3 has relatively low system requirements by modern standards, if that's the most "demanding" title you're considering you should be fine without a dedicated GPU on certain laptops.

For reference:

MINIMUM:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10 64-bit
  • Processor: Intel i5-4690 / AMD FX 8350
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Nvidia GTX 970 / AMD RX 480 (4GB+ of VRAM)
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 150 GB available space on an SSD
  • Additional Notes: Default API is Directx11. Vulkan 1.1 API also provided.
RECOMMENDED:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10 64-bit
  • Processor: Intel i7 8700K / AMD r5 3600
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Nvidia 2060 Super / AMD RX 5700 XT (8GB+ of VRAM)
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 150 GB available space on an SSD
  • Additional Notes: Default API is Directx11. Vulkan 1.1 API also provided.
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The minimum hardware requirements are from hardware that's 14 years old, but you'd probably be looking at low settings.
 
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Balders gate 3 is on geforce now but sims 4 isn't; it might be worth trying a geforce now day pass or the free ad supported account on your TV to see if there are games she would like.

Some smart TV's will have the Geforce now App but I believe its available on some of the amazon firesticks as well if you need a cheap device.

Then she could get a basic laptop for work and use Geforce now on the TV until you get a desktop in the future.


Millez171 said:
The TV is a good idea but due to her bad eye sight she won't be able to read the small text.
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Laptop screens are quiet small even in relation to PC monitors, if she struggles with a TV won't she also struggle with a laptop screen?


Edit:

Also have you used Overclockers search filter to see what latops are within your budget to see if there's anything you like the look off e.g

Laptops and Accessories Available from Overclockers UK

Overclockers UK has an extensive range of laptops perfect for gaming, streaming, and editing from industry-leading brands such as MSI, Corsair, and more.
www.overclockers.co.uk www.overclockers.co.uk
 
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Gforce now is not for me for reasons I won't get into
NetMan said:
Laptop screens are quiet small even in relation to PC monitors, if she struggles with a TV won't she also struggle with a laptop screen?
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Yes but my Mrs can lean forward to get a closer look at a laptop but it's a lot harder to do with a TV due to relative distance.

Also it all stops at My Mrs wants a laptop. I need a laptop that will run a few games but be as inexpensive as possible. What's the cheapest laptop that could run balders gate 3?

Also would it be worth trying second hand?
 
Definitely worth trying second hand you'll likely get more for your money.
Hands are kind of tied here as far as sending links goes as we're not allowed to link to competitors on the forum.
 
Millez171 said:
Gforce now is not for me for reasons I won't get into

Yes but my Mrs can lean forward to get a closer look at a laptop but it's a lot harder to do with a TV due to relative distance.

Also it all stops at My Mrs wants a laptop. I need a laptop that will run a few games but be as inexpensive as possible. What's the cheapest laptop that could run balders gate 3?

Also would it be worth trying second hand?
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Second hand is fine as long as you trust the seller or it comes with some warranty, just be careful they are not trying to pass you a laptop with known issues, so check for known issues for the model you maybe interested in online, by typing model name and adding issues.
 
On FB market place I've seen a Katana GF76 11UC for £500 and a katana 17 b13vgk for £570 which seems a steal. I have no preference for MSI. Its just two that ive seen in my area. I've googled known issues but can only one pertaining to crashing during gaming due to graphics but can be fixed by putting the graphics in "discrete mode" or something like that.

obviously its a risk buying from market place. It seems that you can get a lot of Value providing the laptops work buying second hand.
 
Millez171 said:
Hi all

I know next to nothing about integrated graphics and laptop graphics cards. I've come seeking your wisdom.

I want to get my Mrs a laptop that she can use to start her own business and also game on. It doesn't have to run everything on max. My Mrs eyes are bad which brings me onto my next point. I need a big screen. My budget is around 1500max. The Less I can spend the better really.

Can you guys advise where we should start looking? Maybe make a suggestion if you have time please and if you do. If you could be kind enough to explain why you suggested it so I can understand please? Much appreciated

Cheers
Ben
Click to expand...

Is your budget fixed at £1500 max ? can you go say £400 more as I found a decent 18" for the price and currently on sale :-

Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 WQXGA IPS 165Hz Ryzen AI 9 RTX 5070 Ti Gaming Laptop NH.QYEEK.001 £1899.98​


18" Acer Nitro 18 AI, 165Hz WQXGA, Ryzen AI 9 365, 32GB DDR5, 2TB SSD, 12GB GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, USB4, Win 11 Home


Nothing else really fits your price range and what you have asked for new currently, 18" models are £2000 + starting even one above has a £200 deduction currently.

I also wouldn't buy anything with 16GB RAM and one above has 32GB and 2TB SSD and a 5070ti 12GB VRAM and 18" nice screen from a company that will provide updates and good support, stay away from Medion laptops they may look cheap and they are cheap for a reason, zero support and updates and not what you want with a laptop.
 
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Millez171 said:
On FB market place I've seen a Katana GF76 11UC for £500 and a katana 17 b13vgk for £570 which seems a steal. I have no preference for MSI. Its just two that ive seen in my area. I've googled known issues but can only one pertaining to crashing during gaming due to graphics but can be fixed by putting the graphics in "discrete mode" or something like that.

obviously its a risk buying from market place. It seems that you can get a lot of Value providing the laptops work buying second hand.
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Yes second hand as I said can save some money but you need to be aware of issues and if the seller is genuine and can be trusted with what they say regarding the real condition of the laptop and if it is fully working. This is what worries me buying from unknown people, I have purchased a used laptop before but from someone on these very forums I trust and a long time member and he sold it to me with warranty too and has been spot on since buying it but again as I said from a trusted member of our community members market.
 
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