Buying Laptop

Hello guys and girls

First of all: Happy New years
Secondly: I am not sure if I am in the right place for this, but if it's not - please relocate it?

I am looking to buy a new laptop, and I'd like to use it for games as well. Now, I know I won't be getting a heavy duty gaming laptop (far too expensive), but a nice all-rounder would be fun.
For specs I've been thinking along the line of my own standard PC. He can easily handle the games I make it run and it never failed me (aside of the random BSoD it still throws at me). not sure if comparing is a good idea, since I never owned a laptop before. Hence why I come to you guys, in the hope you can inform me.

I've been looking at a few laptops that fit in my price range. I will put their specs down below (at least, the specs that I know). I'd like to hear your advice on this, as I said before, laptops are a whole new ball game for me

1:
Asus F541A-X60198T
Intel N3060 (dual core)
HD display
WLan, VGA, HDMI, BlueTooth 4.0
1 x USB 2.0, 1 x 3.0 and 1 x 3.1 Type C (not sure what this is about)
500 GB SATA HDD
4 GB DDR3 Ram
Built in webcam, DVD-burner, card reader.

2:
Asus F751SA-TY118T
Intel N3060 (dual core)
HD display
WLan, Gigabit LAN, VGA, HDMI, BlueTooth 4.0
2 x USB 2.0, 1 x 3.0
1 TB SATA HDD
4 GB DDR3 Ram
Built in webcam, DVD-burner, card reader.

3:
Acer Aspire ES 15
Intel Pentium N3700 (quad core)
HD display
WLan, HDMI, Gigabit LAN
2 x USB 2.0, 1 x 3.0, Bluetooth 4.0
1 TB SATA HDD
8 GB DDR3 RAM
Built in webcam, card reader and DVD burner

All 3 come with Win10 installed.

Any tips / advice is appreciated and most welcomed.
Whole new adventure here ^_^

 

What games? There's a difference between Candy Crush and Gears of War.

 

Oh, certainly not Candy Crush.
I'd like to play some StarCraft (if possible II ) and comparible games. Not sure if this helps much.

 

It looks to me like choice #3 is the way to go since it's got a quad-core and 8 GB of RAM already. But, display size will also play a role as smaller screens are more difficult to see.

 

... and higher resolution screens take a lot more graphics power to drive at a useful frame rate.

 

1 & 3 are 15", the second is 17". I am used to my 20" monitor, but I often watch over my friend's shoulder when he is explaining games on his laptop. Thnk it is a 15". Is not too bad.
So the size matters as well? Hmm...

 

Resolution matter when it comes to games, higher res = more power needed to prevent stuttering. Size is down to personal choice

Full HD (1920 x 1080, 1080p, p for Progressive) has a lot more pixels to push than 1080i (i for Interlaced, can be very flickery, esp on live broadcasts ) which pushes more pixels than HD ready 720p (1280 x 720).

Most serious gamers would spend a lot of money for a high end CPU and discrete video card, regardless of screen size, which might be more of a portability, weight and size, thing.

For us mere mortals, we need to make do with what's on offer in our price bracket.

I'm fortunate enough to be using a 1200p, 1920 x 1200 monitor here with a very good CPU/GPU desktop combination, the game I'm in currently uses ~120 Watts at the lowest 1200p graphics settings (all pretties turned off, 60FPS maximum), A few hours ago, I decided to release the beast - but only by turning off the 60FPS cap - as well as the obvious noise increase (cooling fan on the GPU), my meter also showed a doubling of power used, hitting 235W but playing noticeably smoother and more responsive.

Your prospective CPU/GPUs are designed to use ~6W maximum = designed for long battery life, not performance.

Notebooks are a compromise, low resolution screen plus low expectations (few or no pretties in game) and you might have something playable for little money. High res plus high expectations, look at spending 4-8 times as much and still be wanting more with more demanding, recent, games.

Sit in with your friend and discuss/test some of the many variables. Starcraft II isn't very demanding graphically, iirc, you might be ok with the quad core #3 machine - but I haven't checked the game's requirements.

 

I will happily settle for less, since I thankfully still have my stubborn tantrum throwing pc *chuckles*

What would the dual cores roughly be able to manage?
I have the specs of my friend's laptop somewhere.. have to look them up. Come to think of it...should've done that to begin with and compare.
It is an i5 or i7, and Acer...but the rest I do not memorize.

 

Found the details of my friend's laptop. Specs of his are here
Is quite comparable to the Acer I posted above, with the difference his has 4GB less DDR *chuckles* Or at least that's what I think / see anyway.

 

Was talking to a friend, who sent me a link to another possible candidate (page is in Dutch, sadly, but the specs should be understandable).
I think it's not too bad, but then again; I am a newbie in the laptop world

 

Your friend's notebook is very capable, a discrete GPU plus a very good 45W CPU, easy to drive screen res., probably cost ~1000 Euro.

The latest option seems to be slower than #3 above, which should be capable of playing SCII (https://eu.battle.net/support/en/article/StarCraft-II-System-Requirements) but at very low settings (troubleshooting/tweaking PDF guide here).

I'd suggest saving for a few more months and buying something better, esp. if you can still use your desktop to play.

 

He got a power-puppy, so to say xD

So, for the time being, no3 is still the better option?
The question of use of the PC is a bit tricky.. it's being shared as there is only one PC left (and a cadaver of one..). So, am gunning for a laptop: as an extra work station (or gaming, which ever comes first ), and being able to carry my game with me for a little private LAN-game with my friend. Not much comfort in dragging around a midi tower, with all the peripherals xD

 

Final candidate to be added is this one From a Dutch site again, but specs are universal
Downside, it has no DVD drive.. I still do consider those handy, especially for some older games / programs that don't come as digital downloads..

 

Same CPU/GPU as #1 and 2 above

 

Late reply, apologies!!
I got a laptop from dad. Not a high-end one, but good enough for the online games I run The heavy stuff can be run on my trusty, yet somewhat tired PC
Found it at a good price at a store we frequent
I thank you, all, for your tips and advice !!