Help Choosing Between These GREAT Laptops

[Potential]

Hello Tomshardware community . I'm looking for a decent laptop that handles my needs fairly well. I will be using it for school, web browsing, youtube/movies, and finally gaming. I'm also getting a $1500+ desktop so I don't need a top of the line laptop so keep that in mind. My budget is in the $300 - $500 range with $400 being the sweet spot. 15 inch screens are also my sweet spot but would be glad to go with anything else. I have already chosen a few laptops that I think are pretty decent so let me know. Thanks guys!

Laptops I'm leaning towards


ASUS A55A-AH31 15.6-Inch LED Laptop ($429.99 @ Amazon)
Specs:Intel Core i3-3110M 2.4 GHz, 4 GB DDR3, 750 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive NOTE: Doesn't show GPU...

HP Pavilion g7-2238nr 17.3-Inch Laptop ($439.99 @ Amazon)
Specs:AMD A-Series Dual-Core A6-4400M 2.7 GHz (1 MB Cache), 4 GB DDR3, 500 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive, AMD Radeon HD 7520G
NOTE:I'm REALLY leaning towards this so especially let me know what you think about this laptop. Thanks

Sony VAIO E11 Series SVE11125CXW 11.6-Inch Laptop (White) ($449.99 @ Amazon)
Specs:AMD E-Series Dual-Core E2-1800 1.7 GHz, 4 GB DDR3, 750 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive, AMD Radeon HD 7340M

Acer Aspire AS5560-83524G50Mnkk 15.6' LED Notebook - Black ($454.99 @ Newegg)
Specs:AMD A8-3520M 1.60 GHz, 4GB memory, AMD Radeon HD 6620G, 500GB HDD, Windows 7

lenovo IdeaPad Z580 Notebook i5 3210M(2.50GHz) 15.6" ($629.99 @ Newegg)
SpecsIntel Core i5-3210M 2.5GHz, 6GB DDR3, 500GB HDD, NVIDIA Geforce GT 635M 1GB Video Memory, 720p HD Webcam, Windows 8
NOTE: This looks like an amazing laptop but the price-tag isn't in my range. If this laptop truly is worth $629.99 then I might make something happen and grab this laptop. Let me know guys!

These are just a few laptops I could find that interested me. I'm not sure which one I should pick so help me out. If you guys can suggest any other laptops that are not listed here then please do so. I'm getting a laptop mainly for online classes and Youtube but I will occasionally be gaming (League of Legends, Battlefield 3, WoT, etc). I'm sure you guys can help me out and greatly appreciate any posts. I recently built a gaming rig and that wouldn't of happened if it wasn't for everyone who's helped me out on this great website. Thanks guys!

(Prices don't include shipping)

 

[Potential]

Bump?

 

[avenseth12]

Get the HP it has a 17 inch screen and is in your budget. It will suit your needs.

 

[Brett928S2]

Hi

I sell Laptops in my shops...

Take my word..NO laptop is GREAT for $400... think more like $2400...

Oh and you are NOT GOING TO BE GAMING on a $400 lappy, unless you like slide shows...

All the best Brett

 

[Potential]

Get the HP it has a 17 inch screen and is in your budget. It will suit your needs.

Yeah definitely thinking about that one.

 

[Potential]

Hi

I sell Laptops in my shops...

Take my word..NO laptop is GREAT for $400... think more like $2400...

Oh and you are NOT GOING TO BE GAMING on a $400 lappy, unless you like slide shows...

All the best Brett

I see I see. But of the laptops I listed which one would you go for? The 17 inch HP laptop? 2.7 ghz seems pretty decent for a $400 laptop. But like I said I'm buying a $1700 desktop. Heres the link for that - http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/375167-31-high-gaming#t2835870

 

[azathoth]

I would recommend the first ASUS laptop you have listed.
The HD4000 graphics is only about 10% slower than the 7520G of the other laptop.
The screen size is slightly smaller, but I feel that unless you're packing some serious hardware into a 17.3" to be used as a desktop replacement, 15" screens are just fine.

The processor in the 17.3" is a single core 2.7Ghz processor too, two bulldozer modules is essentially a more powerful hyperthreading, but still single core.

The ASUS laptop has a quite powerful Dual core Ivy Bridge chip which will make all of your applications very snappy.

HOWEVER, if you wish to have a better gaming experience, the Z580 has a pretty decent Graphics chip, that is capable of gaming on medium/high settings for modern games.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-635M.66964.0.html

If you think you will be playing games on the go frequently, the Z580 would be the best purchase.

If you don't want to spend another $200, I highly recommend you choose the ASUS laptop.

 

[Potential]

Best answer selected by Potential.

 

[Potential]

I would recommend the first ASUS laptop you have listed.
The HD4000 graphics is only about 10% slower than the 7520G of the other laptop.
The screen size is slightly smaller, but I feel that unless you're packing some serious hardware into a 17.3" to be used as a desktop replacement, 15" screens are just fine.

The processor in the 17.3" is a single core 2.7Ghz processor too, two bulldozer modules is essentially a more powerful hyperthreading, but still single core.

The ASUS laptop has a quite powerful Dual core Ivy Bridge chip which will make all of your applications very snappy.

HOWEVER, if you wish to have a better gaming experience, the Z580 has a pretty decent Graphics chip, that is capable of gaming on medium/high settings for modern games.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-635M.66964.0.html

If you think you will be playing games on the go frequently, the Z580 would be the best purchase.

If you don't want to spend another $200, I highly recommend you choose the ASUS laptop.

Thanks man. I'm going to get the lenovo laptop. I hate how I have to have the more expensive stuff. I told myself I was going to get a cheap laptop $400 range but oh well ;( LOL. Maybe thats a good thing. Who knows.

 

[mhsamsim]

Thanks man. I'm going to get the lenovo laptop. I hate how I have to have the more expensive stuff. I told myself I was going to get a cheap laptop $400 range but oh well ;( LOL. Maybe thats a good thing. Who knows.

That lenovo is a great laptop, but if you happen to wanna stay in that 450-500 range you can check out this Hp with A10 4600m cpu and 7660g graphic card. for 493 after tax
http://www.walmart.com/ip/HP-Midnight-Black-15.6-Refurbished-Pavilion-m6-1035dx-Laptop-PC-with-AMD-Quad-Core-A10-4600M-Accelerated-Processor-and-Windows-7-Home-Premium/22081776