New Laptop SPECS Advice?

[Rusty1961]

Hello,

As the subject line says, I need to order a new machine.
I'm partial to DELLs and would like the input from the group as to what is affordable and what memory or card I should have?

Thank you.

[Korvar]

The answer as to what you should buy will be informed by the question: what's your purpose of use?

The first derivative question is: do you actually need a laptop over a desktop?

The reason I ask is that laptops are more expensive than desktops for equivalent capability, plus laptops are not as upgradeable / modifiable as desktops. You are paying a premium for the miniaturization a laptop needs to fit into a smaller form factor.

A laptop may very well be the best fit for what you need - just make sure that you really need the mobility.

[Rusty1961]

Yes, I need the mobility for a variety of reasons and I want the computer primarily for gaming.

[rwenstrup]

I would also like to benefit from the advice of those who know the current technology. In addition, are the 2-in-1 laptops like the Surface 2 potentially good for PC games and tablet applications?
Thanks in advance for any answers...

[Korvar]

What do you think are the most demanding games (graphically and/or computer resource-wise) that you play or intend for this laptop to be able to handle?

If you're not sure, just list what game you want to be able to play on it, and I can deduce it from that.

The build to play the 'late generation' first-person shooters (Battlefield, CoD, etc.), flight sims, or role-playing games (for example, Witcher 3), the build requirements will be a lot different than if you primarily intend to play WitPAE.

Of course, the budget will also be a determining factor. What do you have in mind for this build?

[rwenstrup]

Thanks for your response...not to take away from Rusty1961's request, in my case I am most interested in Matrix Games for the laptop. I've got a desktop for the fps games like ARMA3, etc. Most demanding would probably be Paradox and AGEOD games.

Not overly concerned about cost...want to solve the problem...

[Korvar]

Rusty1961,

My last post was intended for you - so go ahead and answer as well. Also, let me know if you'd like rwenstrup's request to be handled in a separate thread. I don't mind either way.

Rwenstrup,

If you are interested in touch capable displays, you might want to ask TheSosa about his experiences by posting in his thread or by PM'ing him.

I don't have any direct experience with the Surface Pro series other than playing with them in the MS stores. The Surface Pro 4 would certainly be able to play WitPAE resource-wise, but you should expect to use the stylus pen in addition to your fingers when in 'tablet' mode, as I believe the airfield/port/LCU icons in a hex would be hard to hit with fingers alone. Again, TheSosa would be able to give you a much more definitive answer.


For both of you - the most general advice to start is that you should be looking at i5 and i7 Intel processors, as much RAM as possible (since it is more difficult to upgrade later on), and definitely an SSD (solid state drive, as opposed to a 'hard drive' or HDD) as the main storage device.

Another consideration is what size of display you are looking for; in general, larger displays will make things easier to read (especially true in WitPAE) yet by definition it increases the footprint and weight of the computer/tablet.

I'm away on holiday for Labor Day (i.e. I'm not on my home desktop), so I'm less able to do research until I get back Tuesday - but we can gather information in the meantime.

[rwenstrup]

Thanks Korvar! I'll follow up on the thread you referenced and contact thesosa...

[Disco Duck]

ORIGINAL: Rusty1961

Yes, I need the mobility for a variety of reasons and I want the computer primarily for gaming.

Me too!

I have a Mac for most things. I need a pc for WITPAE and to update my Garmin GPS. I wan't to be able sit in the back yard with the dogs ( once it gets cooler) and play the game.

I don't need a response to this post. Just wanted to say that Rusty1961 is not alone in his requirements although I would prefer cheap.

[Korvar]

ORIGINAL: Disco Duck

ORIGINAL: Rusty1961

Yes, I need the mobility for a variety of reasons and I want the computer primarily for gaming.

Me too!

I have a Mac for most things. I need a pc for WITPAE and to update my Garmin GPS. I wan't to be able sit in the back yard with the dogs ( once it gets cooler) and play the game.

I don't need a response to this post. Just wanted to say that Rusty1961 is not alone in his requirements although I would prefer cheap.

Are there any other games besides WitPAE that you intend to play on this? If none of the other games are too graphics intensive, you can probably get away with a much less powerful graphics system, which will save you money.

For long session outdoor use I would also consider using a shroud of some sort - whether you craft your own or buy something like the following:
Laptop Shroud

FYI, I didn't research this model specifically - it's more just to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. THe ambient light during the day outdoors can really wash out even the best screens, so you'll be a lot happier filtering the sunlight out.

You can always get the laptop/tablet first, then see if the daylight is even an issue for you before you spend the extra money. Having the device in hand would also allow you to get exact dimensions to ensure a good fit with the shroud.

[zakblood]

ORIGINAL: rwenstrup

Thanks for your response...not to take away from Rusty1961's request, in my case I am most interested in Matrix Games for the laptop. I've got a desktop for the fps games like ARMA3, etc. Most demanding would probably be Paradox and AGEOD games.

Not overly concerned about cost...want to solve the problem...

as soon as anyone mentions money not a problem, i post of these bad boys

GT83VR 6RF-028UK NVIDIA SLI GTX 1080 8GB GDDR5 18.4" FHD IPS, Intel i7-6920HQ Gaming Laptop

Product specification:
- CPU: Latest 6th Gen. Intel® Core™ i7-6920HQ processor / i7-6820HK processor
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- Memory: 64Gb DDR IV
- Display: 18.4 Full HD (1920x1080), IPS level panel
- Graphics: 2 x Nvidia GTX 1080 GDDR5X SLI
- Storage: 512GB SSD + 1TB Storage (7200RPM SSHD)
- Optical Drive: BD Writer
- Audio: Sound by Dynaudio with Woofer, ESS SABRE HiFi audio DAC technology,
Nahimic Audio Enhancer

at £4400.00 it's not cheap, so that's $5852.00 give or take a few cents[8|][:D][;)]

[Korvar]

Two 1080s? [X(]

What are you going to do - play Star Citizen maxxed out? Operate a real-time counter of the national debt? [:D]

[zakblood]

keeps the room warm on a cold day[:D]

[rwenstrup]

Aw yes...the final solution!!!

[Korvar]

As everyone's exact requirements are different, I'm going to list some guidelines here that will at least narrow the field of devices you should consider:


Basic setup:
* Intel i5 or i7 processor, newest generation that fits your budget.
* At least 8GB RAM (this requirement will increase over time, as it always has)
* Heavy preference for solid state drives (SSDs) - these do so much to improve overall system performance, including WitPAE; there are many instances where I would pick an SSD over a dedicated graphics card, if I had to choose.

Where you can deviate:
* Your preference for a laptop vs. a tablet and/or a hybrid of the two
* Your preference for touch or non-touch screens
* Size of the device and screen, although you should consider that WitPAE already tends to have small text and wasn't written to resize it to accomodate small and/or high resolution screens.
* With an i5 or i7 processor, the integrated graphics system is actually quite capable - you'd be surprised at the games you'll be able to run; that said, if you want to maximize performance on resource-heavy games (something like Star Citizen when it is eventually released), you'll want a dedicated graphics card for the system. For WitPAE, integrated graphics will be perfectly fine and a dedicated graphics card is overkill if you are using it only for WitPAE.

Some general tips/considerations:
* Always try to test a device, where possible, before buying. Maybe a friend/coworker has something similar. Maybe the manufacturer or retailer has a generous try & return policy. Maybe there are stores with demo units. There are many ways to approach this.
* Research, research, research - besides actually trying them, read reviews, watch videos, ask on forums, etc. to make sure the device will be a good match to your wants. Keep in mind that heat generation and battery life are important considerations in addition to the particulars of the components.
* For non-desktop computers - whether they are laptops, tablets, etc. - assume that you won't be able to upgrade it at all. Yes, you may be able to in specific, limited ways, but there is a lot of customization / miniaturization on these devices that makes major upgrades impractical, if not impossible, in many cases. Don't consider them 'mini desktops' with the same modularity/customization - they are NOT.
* Given their general lack of upgrade-ability, I tend to lean towards buying the largest SSD possible, maximizing the RAM, etc. within the possibilities of my budget.
* To contradict myself a bit, don't go way overboard either - if you know for certain that you are not interested in playing demanding games, rendering video, or doing some other intensive application with the device, don't spend lots of money to buy an expensive dedicated video card just for the sake of having the technology. It will only drain your wallet, generate more heat, and drain the battery that much faster.
* Don't rush yourself - watch Slickdeals.net and Fatwallet for deals. They are good sites because not only do they tell you about particular deals, but those deals are put into a forum format where people can rate and comment on them - so you'll know if it is an exceptional deal or not.
* If you intend to play WitPAE on it, make sure the device actually runs the full blown version of Windows and is NOT Android based, Windows RT, etc.


Just my personal preference - if I had to buy a 'mobile' computer today, I would be taking a hard look at the Microsoft Surface Pro series for a touch-capable tablet device and probably ASUS for laptops. I've had good luck with DELL laptops in the past and would probably consider them too.

Here's a basic demonstration of what I look for when scanning device advertisements - these happen to be DELL but it is the same process for any manufacturer:



So, scan advertisements for basic requirements, get a collection of possible candidates, then start the process of looking at each closely. Apply more criteria to narrow the field until you arrive at the best fit for you.

[rwenstrup]

Korvar,

Thanks for taking the time to lay out your thoughts...I've copied them down and will use them as I pursue my purchase...

[Disco Duck]

Thanks Korvar. My only question is the Windows 10. I am running 8.1 so I have not really followed the Windows 10 threads but there seem to be a lot of issues.

[Korvar]

As far as Windows 10 and WitPAE - so far I've seen no evidence that there is an inherent issue between the two. All that is needed is some configuration with the game's executable switches for optimal performance. I run Win 10 with WitPAE and the game runs great.

From what I've seen, the Windows 10 issues have been machine-specific - a hardware issue, a bad setting, etc. Windows 10 is often a suspect, but from what I've seen it has acquitted itself well in the 'troubleshooting trials'.

That said, I do have some criticisms of Windows 10, mainly focused on privacy and power user concerns. I've modified my copy and am holding off on installing the Anniversary Update because of this. It's not a case of, "OMG, MS is stealing my ID!!!", but MS has certainly increased the reporting that Windows automatically does. I understand why MS has shifted in that direction (to increase the technical feedback received), but I believe that users should "opt-in" to data reporting and not have to "opt-out". All that said, with the modifications I made, I am happy that I upgraded to Win 10.

If you have a retail copy of Windows 7 or 8, it is possible to install that on a new computer. The retail bit is important because a retail license can be moved from one computer to another, unlike the pre-installed copies of Windows that are tied to a specific computer. I like Windows 7 as an OS, but if you have a touch-enabled device, keep in mind that Win 7 was not designed for touch features, so your mileage may vary as far as those are concerned.

[zakblood]

the Anniversary Update, same as all before it has the option






for me, it's the best gaming platform so far from any maker on any format, and with 25 years+ IT history from me that's saying a lot, i loved win98SE, then XP, then saw all others slowly improve, but windows 10 for me has from day one been a pleasure and on good hardware with well tested drivers, on a clean install, not a upgrade for me is the best of any O/S i've ever used, while most took time to get good and become better and great for gaming, win 10 out of the box has more going for it, than some of the past best after years of fixes, so for me they have learnt a lot, and the reporting that Windows automatically does, will help this get better still for those with issues hopefully in the future.

it spies on you no more than Apple does and has since day one, or any other version tbh, they are just more open about it now, than in other builds[8|][;)]

[rustysi]

Not overly concerned about cost..

that's $5852.00

So, with the above in mind. I had a Toshiba that was about 8 years old and in bad need of a replacement. I started looking and was leaning toward and Alienware machine. My first go through on selecting what I wanted came up with a cost of >$5000. Well I thought that a bit much even though I could afford it. So I downgraded to the level just below the 'top of the line' and by that alone saved ~$1500, and brought the machine. That was nearly 6 years ago and I have no regrets. That said I don't generally play intensely graphic games, yet I'm pretty sure the box I have could've handled the products of the day.

I too love the mobility of my laptops and will probably never have a desktop again. That said you could still probably get 'more bang for your buck' with the desktop though. Just my .02.