Looking for a compromise computer

In My Humble Opinion
1

Looking for a new computer to replace what I used to have before the world’s worst fire sale. I had a decent desktop, but now I am considering an 18 or 19 inch laptop for under $2000. Later version I7 or better, RTX 4070 or better, if possible. Watcha got?

2

I know you said you’re looking for a laptop, but in case that’s flexible, I’ve just been shopping for a new desktop myself so have done some research over the last few days. Quite a few reviews recommended the Dell XPS. You can get one with an i7 20-core processor, RTX 4070 and 32 GB RAM for just under $2000. I just ordered one today, although I got an i9.

3

Would you be willing to consider a smaller laptop with an external monitor? 15.6/16" is the sweet spice in terms of price vs performance, and the money you save could get you an amazing external monitor. If so, here’s a few options from a recent thread: Please help me find a Gaming Laptop. I come to you for aid(again!) - #14 by Reply

PS: You might want to avoid Intel CPUs for the time being. The company is on fire and their recent chips have been crashing, especially the high-end gaming ones. More discussion in yet another laptop topic: Advice needed on laptop purchase

Also, you probably know this, but the desktop 5080 just came out (with a new DLSS version that can do multi-frame generation), and the laptops launch in March – if that matters to you. DLSS frame gen helps tremendously in recent games that support it. Without the multi-frame gen, it’s an inconsequential boost over the previous generation (i.e. it won’t be a big improvement for games that don’t support it). And presumably that’d be after everything becomes ridiculously expensive anyway.

Because of those discussions, I ended up getting a HP Victus 16 for about $900 (it goes on sale frequently, and is also available open-box), but ended up returning it after a week. One of the worst laptops I’d ever had: flimsy build, incredibly noisy, terrible adware (including McAfee), came with a broken USB port, awful screen & hinge… etc. But, at the time and for a few months after, it was the cheapest 4070 laptop by quite a large margin. If you don’t mind owning crap and want a compromise, that may be one (whenever it goes on sale again). I definitely wouldn’t pay $1400 for that thing; even at $900 it didn’t feel good. Back to GeForce Now for the time being (Nvidia’s game streaming service, which works superbly – much better than any laptop I’ve had).

Edit: Second sentence should read “sweet spot”, not “sweet spice”, lol. But the typo is too enjoyable to change :slight_smile:

4

I am looking for a larger laptop I can take to conventions and other places that could double as a home computer.

5

Costco has a MSI one for $2k, there’s an Alienware one for $1.9k (Dell’s gaming brand), and an Asus one for $2.2k. Beware that they all have 13/14th gen Intel CPUs, so it might die on you after a couple years.

6

What is the Ryzen equivalents to the 13th and 14th generation of the Intel I7 and I9 processors?

7

Unless the laptop manufacturer is doing something spectacularly unwise (using desktop CPU parts for a laptop), they’re not affected.

8

Mm, I wouldn’t just blindly trust Intel’s word on that. Didn’t they lie and try to cover up the initial crashes? There’s a class-action suit now. That company is quite the dumpster fire right now.

Also, using desktop-grade CPUs (or overclocked/overvolted laptop CPUs) isn’t really that uncommon in the gaming world.

In particular, the HX CPUs used in ALL three of those laptops is, I believe, a desktop-grade CPU that suffers from the crash bug.

See:

Buy one at your own risk…

Probably the 7000 / 8000 series? See benchmark:

But I think it’s going to be very hard to find an in-stock 18"/19" AMD laptop (of any model) with a 4070+ under $2k. People are avoiding Intel right now so all the fire sales are for Intel machines. Here’s a 17.3" AMD one from BB.