Hows this for a laptop?

[mrapoc]

http://www.ebuyer.com/479907-lenovo-ideapad-z580-laptop-m81jpuk

My current one is having usb dropouts (bad for djing!) and is generally a slow old dear (centrino 2!)

Very decent spec for the price no?

 

[SPS]

It looks like a pretty decent spec for £500. It is however relying on Intel HD for graphics.

 

[mrapoc]

I can get it vat free via work too.

True that but mobile graphics are almost always terrible unless you are spending around the 1k mark. Doubt I'll be gaming on it anyway - unless I can find anything else with that performance with a different gpu solution.

 

[Feronix]

I can get it vat free via work too.

True that but mobile graphics are almost always terrible unless you are spending around the 1k mark. Doubt I'll be gaming on it anyway - unless I can find anything else with that performance with a different gpu solution.

Tbf, especially if you're not gaming on it, you won't need any dedicated GPU.
The screen resolution is pretty low (standard for laptops, but you get what I mean) so it won't ask for too much GPU power. I have a mate who just bought a laptop with an i5 + HD4000 graphics and a GT640M and he says that he barely even needs the GT640m. The nub plays CoD, which runs more than fine on the HD4000 chip.

Nice specs for the price and it looks pretty nice as well

 

[iBeInspire]

i7 for £500..?
Sounds pretty good to me, especially if you're using audio (DJ) related software that can use all the cores
Windows 8 is pretty iffy to say the least though... Having said that, it wouldn't be hard to stick Win7 on it

 

[SPS]

Tbf, especially if you're not gaming on it, you won't need any dedicated GPU.
The screen resolution is pretty low (standard for laptops, but you get what I mean) so it won't ask for too much GPU power. I have a mate who just bought a laptop with an i5 + HD4000 graphics and a GT640M and he says that he barely even needs the GT640m. The nub plays CoD, which runs more than fine on the HD4000 chip.

Nice specs for the price and it looks pretty nice as well

I very much doubt anyone plays games on the HD graphics, they are outright terrible.

The only way it would use the HD4000 graphics instead of the 640M is if he forced it to which I can't believe.

But yeah as long as the OP doesn't plan on playing games, then go for it.

 

[Feronix]

I very much doubt anyone plays games on the HD graphics, they are outright terrible.

The only way it would use the HD4000 graphics instead of the 640M is if he forced it to which I can't believe.

But yeah as long as the OP doesn't plan on playing games, then go for it.

I was surprised as well. Must admit that he does like bragging....
And CoD4 isn't really what you can call demanding

 

[mrapoc]

In all fairness, even if I did get a proper graphics chip, for £500 mark its not gonna be worth using

 

[Feronix]

In all fairness, even if I did get a proper graphics chip, for £500 mark its not gonna be worth using

True.

That's a great laptop in your OP and I see no reason not to go for it with the things that you use it for.

 

[mrapoc]

Time to ask the boss to order it for me

 

[jamesriley94]

In all fairness, even if I did get a proper graphics chip, for £500 mark its not gonna be worth using

Actually not true at all.
I got my Toshiba one last year for £530 (then had to buy a battery and SSD for it) but that's managed to play any game I've wanted it too.

I'm getting a new one today - one of the MSI gaming laptops for £450. It's 3 months old, in perfect condition and retail for about a grand. Ivybridge i7, with a GTX650m, 8gb of RAM and a 17inch 1080p screen.

I'd strongly suggest having a look on gumtree/ebay for something used to broaden your options. You can definitely do better for the money.

 

[SPS]

In all fairness, even if I did get a proper graphics chip, for £500 mark its not gonna be worth using

Something important to point out here is that it's not all about hardware.

Intel's graphics drivers are notoriously horrendous, just to have the ability to use AMD or Nvidia drivers is worth it IMO.

 

[mrapoc]

Kind of like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lenovo-Z5...t=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item5d3f66a401

 

[jamesriley94]

I'd definitely take that over the ones you first linked.

Something like that would be decent for gaming too. Always worth having a look on ebay for some things.

 

[mrapoc]

Would make LANs easier I suppose! I'll keep an eye out and avoid Intel HD then even if it means a lower CPU

 

[jamesriley94]

Would make LANs easier I suppose! I'll keep an eye out and avoid Intel HD then even if it means a lower CPU

Yeah, as I said earlier, I got one of these today for £450:
http://www.msi.com/product/nb/GE70-0NC.html

He said it was 3 months old but it's in new condition and was fully boxed. Considering that's saving like £500 from the cost of these new I reckon I got a good deal there.

Just have a big look around, you have loads to choose from so don't rush into buying anything.

 

[mrapoc]

I'll probably go for that £500 one on ebay. Works out better for me to buy new and claim vat rather than buy 2nd hand and not be able to claim vat

 

[mrapoc]

Just thought id update

Got one on dell outlet, vat free: £360.

i5 3230
8gb
1tb
7730m gpu
1080p screen
backlit keyboard

arriving soon

 

[NeverBackDown]

Lenevo Y500 series are extremely price/performance competitive here in the US, there's no reason not to get them for the performance they offer and the price they ask for. I suggest looking into them if battery life is less important to you.

 

[SPS]

Lenevo Y500 series are extremely price/performance competitive here in the US, there's no reason not to get them for the performance they offer and the price they ask for. I suggest looking into them if battery life is less important to you.

Lol, he just said he ordered a refurbished Dell.