Sub-£350 powerful laptops discussion

JDPower

witchypoo wrote: »

AMD Athlon dual core M300 2.0GHz processor
4GB DDR2 RAM
1366 x 768 resolution
250GB hard drive
Multi format dual layer
ATI RADEON HD4330 graphics 256MB

I'm thinking this is pretty powerful, but is it ideal for running Sims 3 at high detail graphics? The only reason I feel unsure is that processor types confuse me, but graphics card and speed/memory look pretty good.

It'll certainly run Sims 3, not sure it'll run it smoothly at full detail though. Care to share a link for anyone else who might be interested in it.

witchypoo

Thanks for that. So the Athlon M300 2.0Ghz dual core processor should be pretty fast do you reckon? When you say probably not at full detail graphics is this because of the ATI RADEON HD4330 that you would suggest that?

It's actually preowned by a friend, otherwise I would have linked to it. I forgot to ask what make it is, but would £350 sound a good price? They paid £500 ish for it from Comet I think about 4 to 6 months ago.

chaucer

Please can I have a quick pros and cons of these laptops all from argos clearance. My budget is low and I want to buy based on my requirements in this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2408797

Samsung R519 15.6in Laptop V2. £280
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350341037252&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

MSI X410 Widescreen Windows 7 14in Laptop. £280 (was £260 but they put it up this week)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360253023111&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Medion Akoya E5211 15.4in Laptop V2. £260
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360253023052&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Asus X58L £240
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330426109819&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Medion Akoya E5211 15.4IN WIDESCREEN LAPTOP V1. £230
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330424147193&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT



many thanks for any help you can give

redvanman

I bought a refurbished Samsung R519 from Argos for 266 pounds, not a mark on it ,everything seems to be running fine, so far looks like a bargain buy.

RussJK

chaucer wrote: »

Samsung R519 15.6in Laptop V2. £280
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350341037252&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Easily this one. Good CPU for the price, and will have a nice screen. Technically any of them would do the job for you, but the Samsung has the best value for money.

The MSI X410 is a nice ultraportable, but even my MSI U230 (got for £214 from Argos Clearance) has better specs than it. It would be noticeably underpowered for its size, but it would be very stylishly thin and easy to take around. Noisy fan apparently, as if that matters while you are playing music. I don't know how good its audio is, as the main weakness of the MSI U230 as a multimedia device is the audio (even with good headphones).

Medion Akoya are just lower build quality. I don't know the specs of the V1, and the V2 is similar on paper to the R519 except with a slightly worse graphics. The screen won't be as nice on Medion Akoya, and it will feel cheap.

The Asus is quite underpowered as well. It'll be a little faster than the X410, but not great value for money.

chaucer

Thanks Russ for a concise, informative and direct reply which makes it so much easier for someone like me to make a decision ... it raises one further question ....

between this Samsung R519 for £320 (with Win 7 premium and 4gb ram)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360253023178&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

and the Samsung in my previous post that you pick out as the best
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350341037252&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

.... which is better value?

there's £40 difference

many thanks

RussJK

chaucer wrote: »

between this Samsung R519 for £320 (with Win 7 premium and 4gb ram)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360253023178&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

and the Samsung in my previous post that you pick out as the best
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350341037252&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

You've basically picked out the important difference - it has Windows 7. Windows 7 is much nicer than Windows Vista. The £320 R519 does have a ever so slightly better CPU (T4300 vs T4200), but it won't make much of a difference. Some tests even show that the T4200 comes out better. The extra GB of memory (4gb vs 3gb) won't be used anyway, so no real difference there either (unless you get a 64bit operating system).

There was a thread on these forums on how to optimise Vista. It is not as though Vista is the kiss of death. Further, if you have access to the update disc or a full install disc of Windows7, there are OEM codes easily searchable for Samsung. It would be the same as having Windows7 pre-installed. I found a list in 5 seconds.

chaucer

RussJK wrote: »

You've basically picked out the important difference - it has Windows 7. Windows 7 is much nicer than Windows Vista.

£40 nicer?

RussJK wrote: »

There was a thread on these forums on how to optimise Vista. ... Further, if you have access to the update disc or a full install disc of Windows7, there are OEM codes easily searchable for Samsung. It would be the same as having Windows7 pre-installed. I found a list in 5 seconds.

I really don't understand this but am willing to do some homework and searching

Reading between the lines, I think what you're basically saying is that I could spend £40 less and then, if I wish, improve things in the future anyway.

There are not many of the £280 model left so I think I'm going to have to make a decision pretty quickly.

RussJK

chaucer wrote: »

I really don't understand this but am willing to do some homework and searching. Reading between the lines, I think what you're basically saying is that I could spend £40 less and then, if I wish, improve things in the future anyway.

Yes basically, sorry if I didn't explain it properly.

chaucer

Russ
many many thanks for the great help you've provided
I have now ordered the £280 model
and there's now only one left