COVID-19
Holiday Gift Guide 2020
Shop By Price
Best gifts under $30 Best gifts under $50 Best gifts under $100 Best gifts under $250 Best gifts under $500
Top Categories
Phones Laptops Smart Home Headphones TVs and Streamers
More Guides
Gifts that Give Back Gifts for Telecommuters Holiday Thrive Guide Black Friday Deals Cyber Monday Deals
Best Cyber Monday deals still available: AirPods, Amazon Echo, laptops and more
PS5 restock update: Check inventory at GameStop, Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon and Target
Xbox Series X restock update: Check inventory at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart and more
All the best products
Award Winners Versus Best Headphones Best Laptops Best Phones Best TVs Best Speakers Best Routers Best Smart Home Best Tablets Best Digital Cameras Best Hard Drives Best AV Receivers Best Media Streamers Best iPhone Apps Best Coffee Machines Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best TV Streaming Services Best VPN Service Best Massage Guns Best Mattresses
All reviews
Appliances Audio Cameras Cars Desktops Drones Headphones Laptops Media Streamers Monitors Networking Phones 5G Phones Printers Smart Home Speakers Tablets TVs VPNs Wearables & VR Web Hosting
All news
5G Apple Computers Culture Games Google Internet Microsoft Mobile Sci-Tech Security Tech Industry
More
Newsletters Now What Photo Galleries Special Features Videos
All how to
5G Mobility Appliances Computers Gaming Home Entertainment Internet Mobile Apps Personal Finance Phones Photography Security Smart Home Streaming TV Tablets Wearable Tech Q&A Forums
All personal finance
Credit Cards Taxes Budgeting Investing
All health and wellness
Fitness Sleep Healthy Eating Caregiving Personal Care
All smart home
Best smart home devices Guide to smart living Voice-powered smart home News Tour our smart apartment Tour our smart house
Product compatibility
Amazon Alexa Apple HomeKit Belkin WeMo Google Assistant Lutron Nest Philips Hue Samsung SmartThings Wink
Roadshow
Reviews Video News Pictures Recalls AutoComplete Carfection Cooley On Cars Car Audio Electric Cars Auto Buying Program
Best cars
Best Affordable Cars Best Crossovers Best Electric Cars Best Family Cars Best Fuel-Efficient Cars Best Hybrids Best Sedans Best SUVs Best Trucks
All deals
The Cheapskate Antivirus Deals Identity Theft Protection Deals Mattress Deals Meal Kit Deals Password Manager Deals Pillow Deals Prescription Glasses Deals Tax Service Deals VPN Deals Web Hosting Deals
All coupons
Adidas Coupons AliExpress Coupons DoorDash Promo Codes eBay Coupons ExpressVPN Coupons Nike Coupons Office Depot Coupons Overstock Coupons Postmates Coupons Samsung Coupons Staples Coupons Verizon Promo Codes Vistaprint Coupons Walmart Coupons
5G
Editions
English Español France Germany Japan Korea
Settings
My Profile Forums Sign Out
Join / Sign In
  • Forums
  • Laptops

Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Sad but.. Going from Desktop+MBA to 1 gaming laptop...

by reardoma Feb 17, 2015 4:33AM PST

I'm a recent PhD grad hopefully transitioning into the research sector soon, and once settled would like to upgrade my current laptop.

I currently have a desktop gaming pc i've built myself and a MBA (Macbook Air) for daily use, and although it's unusual, I'm one of the few whose situation leads them to a gaming laptop to replace a desktop+laptop combo which gave me the most portability/power for my $. I'd go into explaining why but i don't want to open the door to the suggestions i may get rather than focus on the question at hand...

First i'll explain what i'm looking, then i'll explain how i'm using it.

The specs listed below are non-negotiable, those left out are.

Screen size = No larger than 15.6"
Keyboard = Must be centered (no numpad, not even a squished one)
GPU+CPU = gaming caliber at night, support 1440p monitor (maybe 2) at work for light use.
Screen Resolution = greater than 1080p (loved my old rMBP)
Weight = Light - Medium


Usage -

This laptop will be used when at home, in the office (docking station) hooked up to one large 27" or multiple small monitors 2x22", and when traveling for site visits.


I'm looking for a lightweight laptop and my major contenders are:
(i've put a bit of research into this)

1. Razer Blade 14' (the new model with 970m)
2. rMBP (2014)
3. Asus GX501 (forthcoming)

Obviously the centered keyboard with no number pad and the screen resolution combined with my desire for a lightweight/portable laptop narrows the field tremendously.

Have I missed any other contenders I should consider if buying the laptop in the next few months (to the point i've ranked the Asus 3rd b.c i doubt i'll wait)?

Anything in particular i should know when deciding between the aforementioned laptops?

GPU demands - L4D, COD, CSGO on single monitor (1080p or 1440p @ 60z), light statistical work/data analyses on multiple monitors @ work when docked.

Thanks for your advice.
Cheers!

Discussion is locked

1 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Answer
Looks leading edge to me.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Feb 17, 2015 4:41AM PST

The office supplied me last years y510p and while some complain about the LCD, I never found it to be as bad as some reported. I've used it for many many hours.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Notebookcheck-s-Top-10-Lightweight-Gaming-Notebooks.126456.0.html

You may want to check that list since you are looking at the sub 15 models.
Bob

Back to Laptops forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows Legacy OS
  • Mac OS
  • Linux
  • Chrome OS
  • Android
Software
  • PC Applications
  • Mac Applications
  • Mobile Applications
  • Spyware, Viruses, & Security
  • Office & Productivity Software
  • Audio & Video Software
  • Photo Editing & Graphic Design
  • Browsers, E-mail, & Web Apps
Electronics & Gadgets
  • Cameras
  • Video Cameras
  • TVs & Home Theaters
  • HDTV Picture Setting
  • Smart Home & Appliances
  • Video Games & Consoles
Hardware
  • Desktops
  • Mac Desktops
  • Laptops
  • MacBooks
  • PC Hardware
  • Mac Hardware
  • Storage
  • Networking & Wireless
  • Peripherals
Tablets & Mobile Devices
  • Phones
  • Tablets
  • iPhones, iPods, & iPads
  • E-readers
  • Headphones & Mp3 Players
  • Wearable Tech
General Help
  • Computer Help
  • Computer Newbies
  • How To
  • Web Hosting, Design, & Coding
  • Internet Service Providers
  • Small business & Startups
Brand Forums
  • Avast & AVG
  • Dell
  • HP
  • LG
  • Samsung
  • Sony
Roadshow Autos
  • Car Buying Tips - Roadshow
  • Car Parts, Gadgets, & How-to's - Roadshow
  • Car News, Rumors, & Concepts - Roadshow
  • Auto Repair - Roadshow
  • Community Garage - Roadshow
Off Topic
  • The CNET Lounge
  • Speakeasy
  • Download.com Site Feedback
  • Tech Deals
  • Forum Feedback & Announcements
  • Test

Other Forums

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic

Forum Info

  • Real-Time Activity
  • Resolved Questions
  • My Tracked Discussions
  • FAQs
  • Policies
  • Moderators
English | Español
MORE FROM CNET
Upgrade to Windows 10 for free right now
The best games on Nintendo Switch
The best Wi-Fi routers of 2020
Windows 10 tips and tricks
The best VPN service for 2020
About
About CNET
Newsletter
Sitemap
Careers
Help Center
Licensing
Policies
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Cookie Settings
Do Not Sell My Information
Get the CNET app
App Store
|
Google Play
Follow
© 2020 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.