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Question

Are there any good gaming laptops in the $800-$1100 range?

Feb 21, 2015 2:04AM PST

My current laptop is falling apart, and I want to upgrade to something that can actually play games. Right now I'm running on 128mb vram. I want something that will run current games, and still be relevant in the next few years. I'm eyeing the...

(Toshiba Satellite S55-B526Cool
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1058316-REG/toshiba_pspq6u_01600t_s55_b5268_i7_4510u_12gb_1tb_windows8_1_15_6.html

and the (Toshiba Satellite P55T-B51540
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1111411-REG/toshiba_pspnvu_04505e_satellite_p55t_b5154_15_6_touchscreen.html

...but don't know enough about graphics cards or ratings to be able to tell whether these two choices would be good for current games. I also purchased a (Lenovo y50)... then immediately returned it after hearing about it's superfish malware.

I am also looking at the ( <span style="font-size: 14.4799995422363px;">Acer Aspire V Nitro VN7-591G-73Y5),<span style="font-size: 14.4799995422363px;">which seems to ideal based on it's specs... but I've heard that the build quality of Acer laptops isn't that good, and I want something that'll last if I'm paying that much.
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I would prefer to run games at 1080p, but the framerate is not a huge deal. Ideally, I would like something capable of running current games at a decent 30fps... that would remain relevant for the next few years.

Does anybody have recommendations for a decent gaming laptop within the $800-$1100 range?
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Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
First we have to ask what you mean by gaming.
Feb 21, 2015 4:09AM PST

Let's take a look at the GPU in your first model.

-> http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-R7-M260.122208.0.html

Wow, that's a sea of red for many games on low settings. Yes, the games ran but the gamers I know would be very upset after they blew their budget and got this!

Because that was pretty bad I went to look at the next model.

-> http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-R9-M265X.114535.0.html

Much better but what if you wanted to run Thief? You'd still be upset.
Bob

PS. Did you check out a Lenovo y50?

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..
Feb 21, 2015 6:51AM PST

What I mean by gaming, is I want something that can handle relatively substantial games, but still be good as a work laptop. In terms of functionality, I want the laptop to be able to handle about just about every moderately detailed current-gen game you throw at it... and also want something that'll be future-proofed a bit. I am not a hardcore graphics junky that obsesses about getting a silky smooth 60fps framerate out of high/ultra settings. 30fps at Med to High detail would be more than enough.

I have checked out the Y50, and actually purchased one a few days ago, but refused delivery on it and returned it after hearing about Lenovo and Superfish security scares.

Do you know anything about the general quality of Acer's laptops? I recently found the...

(Acer Aspire V Nitro)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1116056-REG/acer_nx_mtdaa_001_vn_591g73y5_i7_4710hq_8gb_1tb_windows_8_1_15_6.html,

Based on it's specs, would you say it's a laptop that will remain "future-proofed" for a good long while>

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Superfish is no more.
Feb 21, 2015 7:05AM PST

While they did set their brand on fire, our office has a few and would buy again.

As to quality it varies with each model or series. I will never write a gaming laptop will last past a few years. Once you've been around you know folk's expectations. Also, you're cramming all that in a small space and the higher heat takes its toll.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-860M.107794.0.html scores pretty well but Ghost Recon took a dive there. Wonder if it's something too heavy.

As to 30 FPS. No gamer I know lives with that. They want to see closer to 60.
Bob