Laptop Suggestions for School/Diablo III/FFXIV

*I do Understand this is the wrong Area for this post.... I do not see a decent place to post this with as many active posters.

FFXIV takes a decent machine to run so i am propelled to post here under the impression most people here have decent laptops they use to play this and can reccommend one to me.

I would also like to recommend to Forum administrators to add a Computer Tech forum for questions like these.

Hello all, The Blazed here...

I have a Desktop customized for gaming so im not looking for a decked out powerful laptop.

Here is my desktop --> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...180&CatId=4928

GPU Upgraded --> GTX 460
Power Supply Upgraded -> Corsair 750

(This is my future Gaming rig for right now... if any suggestions to make it better please post)


- I am looking for a Decent/Gaming/School work laptop.
-I hate slow processors and i prefer a decent graphics card.
- Must be able to play Diablo III (with recommended specs)

I will Mainly play games on my Desktop but i want to have the option of going on my laptop (obviously with a small performance decrease) for when i go to girlfriends house, in-between classes, etc. I like Big 17" screens, for those days when i set it on my chest and watch a movie... like a ghetto movie theater.


My budget is 400-650. 700 is the Ultimte Max.

I don't care for new or refurbished...
I just want a laptop with my requirements met and ill be a happy guy.

Thank you in Advance.
Blazed

That was my budget for a laptop that could play FFXIV at a playable pace, but I gave up. Though I'm rooting for you and I'll be watching this thread like a hawk >_>

No way ur gonna fine a rig to play XIV on a LT for 700. :( Sorry but unless something CRAZY happens and a particular brand has a sale or something... getting a LT with a GFX card like a GTX 460 right now on Newegg is starting at 869$ and maxing at 1.6k. Nice card and all but to really enjoy the game as close as it should be will cost you 1.4 min 1.8k max. Best bet would be to wait until 2.0 launches and the issue regarding powerful GFX cards will be corrected/addressed. ;)

Good luck!

http://www.powernotebooks.com/Sager-...-sys-3784.html

Here you go.

your budget + ffxiv = can't happen

your budget + ffxiv = low settings = ugly game = not worth the trouble

but it'll play d3 fine

for 700 bux you might be able to find something used check craigs list. id say ebay but laptops tend to sell high on there but on Craigslist might be able to find a deal.

i3/i5/i7 CPU
3gb + RAM
SSD if you can afford it
a good mobile GPU.

Not much to it.

Can probably pick up a use ASUS G73 for about $700 cdn if you look around. New they are about $1000 right now.

Few of my friends sold their G73 for about that price and upgraded to a G74

You should buy a desktop.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16834230111

Could just splurge on the extra couple hundred bucks and.. not eat out for a month?

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/c...B6&action=init

$700 off coupon: WKLYDEALSY470P


Lenovo Y570

14 inches. Solid GPU and Quadcore processor

Quote:

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Originally Posted by auritribe

http://www.powernotebooks.com/Sager-...-sys-3784.html

Here you go.

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Only issue with this LT is it starts more than what he really wants to spend and the addition of the GT 540M Nvidia GPU put's him over his max Budget. Also, the GT 540M will run Skyrim at low settings which will most likely mean XIV at the lowest settings which is not worth spending 700 or ANY money on really. Nvidia GT540m

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geesus

Only issue with this LT is it starts more than what he really wants to spend and the addition of the GT 540M Nvidia GPU put's him over his max Budget. Also, the GT 540M will run Skyrim at low settings which will most likely mean XIV at the lowest settings which is not worth spending 700 or ANY money on really. Nvidia GT540m

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I've run FFXIV on a 555m on standard settings just fine. Just turn shadows off. My impression was that the 540m wasn't significantly weaker than the 555m. I have heard the gap between a 555m and 560m is greater than the former two.

Of course, I run on a 570m but that's not within the budget.

I'm impressed with the lenovo pick though. I'd probably choose that one over the NP5160 given the choice, myself.

FFXIV is a strange creature though, it doesn't handle specs like other games do because the engine itself is so fubar'd.

I've seen FFXIV running "playable" on a M11X R1 , at native resolution. I was as shocked as anyone could expect me to be. That's on a 335m if I recall.

5400rpm hdd you're gonna experience a lot of stutter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rau

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/c...B6&action=init

$700 off coupon: WKLYDEALSY470P


Lenovo Y570

14 inches. Solid GPU and Quadcore processor

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Again same issue with video card. AMD Radeon HD 7690

If it can run a game like Skyrim at low or medium setting okish, it's gonna make XIV look like old school 16 bit graphics. Personally I would not tell someone to "waste" money on a LT with such crap GPUs; whether Nvidia OR ATI/AMD.

You're going to need to save or just stick to a desktop. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ninesunz

5400rpm hdd you're gonna experience a lot of stutter.

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At a budget of roughly 650$ he's not exactly giving us much to work with . . . :P

hell, with just a little bit more he could have all sorts of easy picks for the game.

http://www.powernotebooks.com/Sager-...-sys-3726.html

or the one I personally use,

http://www.powernotebooks.com/PowerP...-sys-4273.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by auritribe

I've run FFXIV on a 555m on standard settings just fine. Just turn shadows off. My impression was that the 540m wasn't significantly weaker than the 555m. I have heard the gap between a 555m and 560m is greater than the former two.

Of course, I run on a 570m but that's not within the budget.

I'm impressed with the lenovo pick though. I'd probably choose that one over the NP5160 given the choice, myself.

FFXIV is a strange creature though, it doesn't handle specs like other games do because the engine itself is so fubar'd.

I've seen FFXIV running "playable" on a M11X R1 , at native resolution. I was as shocked as anyone could expect me to be. That's on a 335m if I recall.

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Depends, you running a GT or GTX version of that card cause it makes a HUGE difference.

I will completely agree about XIV being a fubar'd engine but I also stated it may be best for the OP to just wait it out for 2.0 when the requirements to play the game are changed/corrected to allow a normal LT or desktop to run the game nicely.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geesus

Depends, you running a GT or GTX version of that card cause it makes a HUGE difference.

I will completely agree about XIV being a fubar'd engine but I also stated it may be best for the OP to just wait it out for 2.0 when the requirements to play the game are changed/corrected to allow a normal LT or desktop to run the game nicely.

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Truth, but yeah, with the budget mentioned it'd take a miracle to get a card that ran this game at anything over 30fps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by auritribe

Truth, but yeah, with the budget mentioned it'd take a miracle to get a card that ran this game at anything over 30fps.

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LOL inoRITE!?

Funny, is TheBlazed too blazed up to reply? O.o I mean, we have given them some options but no replies yet. /sadpanda

http://finderscheapers.com/product-p...1eed88dcedf905

I bought this one from newegg. It works great for all my needs, and runs the game great for me. Been playing on it for over a year now and I play play near daily, and I never have any trouble when I am on it, playing this game.

Don't think newegg still has this particular model, but it seems they have its slightly newer counterpart for $600ish range.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Coglin

http://finderscheapers.com/product-p...1eed88dcedf905

I bought this one from newegg. It works great for all my needs, and runs the game great for me. Been playing on it for over a year now and I play play near daily, and I never have any trouble when I am on it, playing this game.

Don't think newegg still has this particular model, but it seems they have its slightly newer counterpart for $600ish range.

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Wow on 128 bit Memory Bus for the GPU? O.o Hard to believe but I'll take your word for it Coglin. ;) What settings are you running on?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geesus

Wow on 128 bit Memory Bus for the GPU? O.o Hard to believe but I'll take your word for it Coglin. ;) What settings are you running on?

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I run everything on the upper end of medium settings. Never have any trouble

Nice. I run my GTX260m at medium -low which is why I asked.

I could look up the exact setting I am on if you like, but I will have to wait till later to check, I am on a crafting binge atm.......1/2 level from 50 GSM.

haha no worries I believe ya. ;)

I believe it too. However, at 17.3 inches it'll be a pretty crappy laptop to lug around for school. Just another thing to consider.

However, if that computer can run it so can a 540m I'm pretty sure.

They have the same computer on the site I purchased this one from in a smaller version, but I am getting old and I thought the bigger screen would be best. Though I transport it around alot with me on my travels, It hardly fels like I am "lugging around", nor do I feel like its a "crappy laptop". Although I don't believe you were intending to refere to the laptop as crappy, I believe you were refering to the "lugging" as crappy.

Perhaps its the fact that I am oa bit on the older side of the average player, but if this laptop is considered "incovnienent", because of its size and weight, then this is most certainly a spoiled crowd....lol

I had a Lenovo Y470 with i5 and Nvidia 550M. It can play the standard - (graphic 6 and background low), but it heat up a lot. The only reason I bought it is because it's cheap~ $700 total with tax. However, I do not suggest anyone to buy it. it's a very cheap built... tried to sell and can't get rid of it

so I'll say 540 is around graphic 5 and background low

now I have ASUS G53sw. I got it new $850 with tax and shipping. it can run at standard with no problem.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Coglin

They have the same computer on the site I purchased this one from in a smaller version, but I am getting old and I thought the bigger screen would be best. Though I transport it around alot with me on my travels, It hardly fels like I am "lugging around", nor do I feel like its a "crappy laptop". Although I don't believe you were intending to refere to the laptop as crappy, I believe you were refering to the "lugging" as crappy.

Perhaps its the fact that I am oa bit on the older side of the average player, but if this laptop is considered "incovnienent", because of its size and weight, then this is most certainly a spoiled crowd....lol

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Yes. I mean to say that It'd be crappy to have to haul a 17 inch notebook all over the place.

It's mostly a subjective thing, if 17" works for you and you don't mind the extra size, all the power to you. Even better if that 17" comes with a really nice high resolution screen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deli

I had a Lenovo Y470 with i5 and Nvidia 550M. It can play the standard - (graphic 6 and background low), but it heat up a lot. The only reason I bought it is because it's cheap~ $700 total with tax. However, I do not suggest anyone to buy it. it's a very cheap built... tried to sell and can't get rid of it

so I'll say 540 is around graphic 5 and background low

now I have ASUS G53sw. I got it new $850 with tax and shipping. it can run at standard with no problem.

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Yeah, Asus, sager, ans MSI at good spec are solid built notebooks.

It's a shame that Lenovo couldn't bring their thinkpad build quality to their ideapad consumer line. I really wanted to get an ideapad a few years back.

Asus K53SD

Intel Core i5 2.450ghz
NVIDIA GeForce 610M with 2GB DDR3 VRAM
750GB 5400rpm/7200rpm

I paid around $740 for mine and it runs the game on standard settings. I keep shadows turned off. Weather effects will make you a bit laggy, but other than that the frame rate is decent.

http://www.asus.com/Notebooks/Versat...specifications

If you're from the UK go to novatech.co.uk they do power gaming desktops and laptops cheap :D i got laptop of there for only £450 :D and it plays ffxiv in ultra with ease as well it's a 19in

i only use it for work,

i prefer the desktop i build myself.

dont listen to these people. You can play it. It will look REALLY REALLY bad though.

Wait til version 2.0 (September/October) that should have some chance of playing on a laptop.

Just find something that will play Diablo III for now and FF14 should work when the new engine is released.

lenovo Y570 meets OPs specs.

Bump your budget up to $850 and your ideal rig is much more realistic.

Asus
Nvidia 540m
Intel i7 2.20GHz

With that, you should have a PC that runs FFXIV with normal settings. My shadows and draw distance are high, 4xMSAA, and everything else is Standard/Medium. I can edit this with specifics if you really care.

Theres plenty of laptops equiped with a 540m for 599-699. You dont need an i7 for ff14 specialy with a card that cant keep up with it. A low end i5 and a 540m can run the game on medium settings at a very playable frame rate 30+. Friend of mine has a laptop with a 540m and i find the game completely playable. For comparation i play the game on max settings on my desktop and i dont think the game looks bad at all on the 540m.
This is his laptop: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16834230185 which he bought for 599Euro.