# Help me choose a laptop? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop/691912 "2014-06-29T03:52:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop/691912/1 "2014-06-29T03:52:09Z")
It’s officially for utility, but playing shall occur. I’d like it to run at least games like Diablo III. Games such as Skyrim and Bioshock Infinite would be a bonus. I will not be buying any of the latest greatest games any time soon. (Twins will turn 18 in 16 years, maybe then.) Maybe I’d like to try the newest Total War game but if that’s not going to happen, I won’t cry about it. Here are two I’m looking at. One is $777, 4th gen core i7, Intel HD 5000 graphics. The other is $675, 4th gen core i5, Intel HD 4600 graphics. From comparison sites, I know the three games I named above will run on both of these computers. I’m just wondering how much better the i7 one will be (if at all) for the extra $100. It’s hard to tell, because i7 is better than i5, but (I just learned today) 4600 is better than 5000! What say you? Alternatives welcome as well. > **[Best Buy: Lenovo 17.3" Laptop Intel Core i5 6GB Memory 1TB Hard Drive Black...](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-17-3-laptop-intel-core-i5-6gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-black/7513027.p?id=1219276504850&skuId=7513027&st=intel%20hd%204600&cp=1&lp=2)** > > Shop Lenovo 17.3" Laptop Intel Core i5 6GB Memory 1TB Hard Drive Black at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee. [http://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-dark-gray/1309869381.p?id=mp1309869381&skuId=1309869381&st=intel%20hd%205000&cp=1&lp=9#](http://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-dark-gray/1309869381.p?id=mp1309869381&skuId=1309869381&st=intel%20hd%205000&cp=1&lp=9#) In a perfect world I wouldn’t be looking at integrated graphics of course but that $777 one is at the tippy top of my budget for this. Plus integrated graphics are way better these days than they once were (like i said, thees’n’s will run the games I want, as attested to by comparison sites and my investigation of my wife’s laptop which runs on an AMD A8 chip with its associated integrated graphics.) ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop/691912/2 "2014-06-29T03:53:26Z")
What people say about 4600 vs 5000 is that the 4600 turns out to give better performance, but takes more power. I don’t know what difference it would make to me that it “takes more power.” And I don’t know how it turns out to give better performance since just comparing specifications makes it look like it _would_ do _worse_ than the 5000, but the benchmarks seem to bear everyone’s judgment out on this. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop/691912/3 "2014-06-29T05:09:34Z")
Found a better one for cheaper: > **[Amazon.com: Acer Aspire V3-572G-587W 15.6-Inch Laptop (Platinum Silver) :...](https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Aspire-V3-572G-587W-15-6-Inch-Platinum/dp/B00K81O3PY)** > > Amazon.com: Acer Aspire V3-572G-587W 15.6-Inch Laptop (Platinum Silver) : Electronics ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop/691912/4 "2014-06-29T05:54:41Z")
Frylock From the picture is looks like the ASUS has 2 USB 3.0 ports and 1 USB 2.0 port. "If it’s not blue or identified by [this logo,](http://www.comprehensivecable.com/learningcenter/images/usb%20images/500px-USB_3.0_Icon.svg.png) it’s not USB 3.0." The ASUS also has an: HDMI port VGA out port RJ45 Ethernet port. 2GB more memory than the Lenovo and a little over a pound lighter. The Lenovo may have a nicer/usable keyboard. If you need a USB 3.0 hub, I use [this,](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GTMFVDY/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)which works well. The ASUS has less screen real estate and screen resolution than the Lenovo. Despite its naming, the HD5000 performance is worse than Intel HD 4600. (“Worse” is a relative word depending what you are doing.) [Site.](http://www.game-debate.com/hardware/index.php?gid=1851&graphics=Intel%20HD%20Graphics%205000%20Mobile) I have a Lenovo T430 for work. Solid and dependable. I didn’t catch what you wanted to use your new computer for. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-laptop/691912/5 "2014-06-30T07:25:46Z")
get a solid state drive. Seriously. the difference when I replaced my old hard drive was substantial. Way above anything a faster processor could accomplish.