Suggestions on New Laptop

[calvinhobbeslik]

My current laptop (a Lenovo G570) has stopped working (it refuses to start up), so I need to get a new laptop. I looked on Amazon and found this not-so-expensive laptop: http://www.amazon.com/HP-15-p030nr-...&sr=8-1&keywords=laptop+gaming#productDetails

Will it be able to run EU4 with AoW?

 

[FrosT37]

Will it be able? Yes.

Will it be fast? No.

If you want a gaming laptop, you will have to spend a lot more bucks to get something decent.

Although with $600, you could build a lower end desktop computer that would run EU4 smoothly.

 

[TheDanish]

This is what I run. I bought it in August of 2013 for about $1500. It runs EU4 flawlessly and only experiences a bit of slowdown at speed 5 and/or in late game. The fan is noisy as hell but heat only becomes an issue if I'm playing a game for half a day at a time.

Sager NP 8250 (aka Clevo P157SM)

Windows 8.1
Intel core i7-4700 MQ CPU @ 2.40 ghz
8 GB RAM
NVidia GeForce GTX 770M

The particular model I have suffers from poor speakers, but I use headphones frequently anyway.

 

[Peanutcat]

Build a stationary PC, much better and more cost effective.

 

[Fabiano79]

Build a stationary PC, much better and more cost effective.

Desktops are better, but laptops had huge improvements on the last years. Overheating, which was the main problem, is a lot more manageable now.

OP, I advice you not buy that one, despite having a very nice GPU, it has a weak processor.

I play on an i5 2,5GHz - 8GB - GeForce GT 750 (2GB). It cost me around US$ 1200 here in Brazil, probably is a lot cheaper on the US. I think my configuration should be the minimun you should aim for if you want to play other modern games. I can run Shadow of Mordor with very good FPS.

 

[Gustav91]

Build a stationary PC, much better and more cost effective.

They don't fill the same function ^^
Some of us transport the computer everyday or a few times a week.
My computer costed ~€780 in 2012 and it handle EUIV pretty well. Hard time gettin BF4 work but meh... BF3 goes fine. (but not if you compare to good stationaries)

 

[TolHydra]

Build a desktop, and run it on an SSD. If you have to buy a laptop.. Well, I bought an MSI GE60, it's good.. not great, just does the job, and was reasonably cheaper in comparison. (not 600$ though)

Also you really don't need hyperthreading, i5's are perfectly sufficient.

 

[calvinhobbeslik]

Yeah, the one I linked has a slow processor...how about this: http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-IdeaPa..._sim_pc_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=17ESZA357V21W1REK4WK

My current laptop is a Lenovo G570 (http://www.cnet.com/products/lenovo-essential-g570/specs/), and EU4 runs well on it, so anything that's equal or better is good with me.

 

[Ciaphas Cain]

Also you really don't need hyperthreading, i5's are perfectly sufficient.

As desktop cpus. The mobile i5s are only dual cores with hyperthreading.

 

[calvinhobbeslik]

Or what about this one: http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-17-3-i7-...p/B00DXFF6EO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

It seems to have everything except possibly a good graphics card? Is this good enough?

 

[unmerged(463662)]

For gaming I really think a desktop is better. That way upgrading becomes much cheaper.

If gaming is only one thing you want to do, I strong recommend getting a mega-pixel retina screen. Reading, working etc. become so much easier.

It seems that we need to wait to find out what the new requirements of EU4 are before making any new purchases anyway

 

[nicechinos]

Desktop is better. However, if you need gaming laptop I'd save some bucks and go for the cheapest available ROG Asus. Mine is 2 years old already but is doing great all-round job.

 

[Ciaphas Cain]

Yeah, the one I linked has a slow processor...how about this: http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-IdeaPa..._sim_pc_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=17ESZA357V21W1REK4WK

If the intel graphics solution is enough for you and you don't plan on any game that needs more power in the graphics department that's probably fine. But that one has a glossy display (like every touchscreen) which could be a problem if there's any light behind where you're sitting.

 

[Osman Pasha]

I have Asus N550JK EU4 runs smoothly on the highest resolution. its not expensive too.

 

[ChildeR]

My current laptop (a Lenovo G570) has stopped working (it refuses to start up), so I need to get a new laptop. I looked on Amazon and found this not-so-expensive laptop: http://www.amazon.com/HP-15-p030nr-...&sr=8-1&keywords=laptop+gaming#productDetails

Will it be able to run EU4 with AoW?

Or what about this one: http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-17-3-i7-...p/B00DXFF6EO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

It seems to have everything except possibly a good graphics card? Is this good enough?

Intel GPUs are technically unsupported, I think. At least system requirements on Steam don't mention them. Still often work fine, though.

If you are interested in also being able to play upcoming Paradox games, I'd recommend some GPU headroom. Focus on the GPU specs, since any Intel CPU and most AMD ones are basically good enough.

For example, this seems decent in that price range. That GPU is basically equivalent to a $70 desktop GPU, but that's what you pay for portability I guess.

 

[ChildeR]

Although with $600, you could build a lower end desktop computer that would run EU4 smoothly.

Hell, if you are willing to compromise in everything not directly related to gaming (silence, optical drive, SSD, etc.), $600 can build a mid tier gaming computer that beats any non-crazy laptop in gaming. Just buy a $150 CPU, cheapest everything else and add as good a discrete GPU as fits the budget (probably R9 280).

 

[unmerged(463662)]

Or go all out and build the Ars Technica God Box

 

[panionios]

Stop telling him to buy a desktop. The man wants a laptop. And laptops these days are just as good as desktops. Though, not this one. Too weak of a processor.

 

[calvinhobbeslik]

Stop telling him to buy a desktop. The man wants a laptop. And laptops these days are just as good as desktops. Though, not this one. Too weak of a processor.

Yeah, I need it to be a laptop because I'm in college and need to carry it around to do stuff outside my room. Anyway, I ended up getting this one, even though its processing speed is a bit too low: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KCT41VS/ref=pe_385040_121528360_TE_dp_1

 

[ChildeR]

Yeah, I need it to be a laptop because I'm in college and need to carry it around to do stuff outside my room. Anyway, I ended up getting this one, even though its processing speed is a bit too low: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KCT41VS/ref=pe_385040_121528360_TE_dp_1

That's not a bad choice. Significantly better for gaming than either of the previous ones you linked.