If you're going to buy the Lenovo IdeaPad Y580, follow this guide. You should make sure that you're buying it through the Barnes and Noble Gold discount (if buying through Lenovo), and you should generally make sure to avoid the versions that come with the 1366x768 display and not the 1920x1080 display.
The display is a double-sided issue. It's both an issue of not missing out on a great display (the 1920x1080), and also an issue of how bad the 1366x768 display is.
Lenovo IdeaPad Y580 (i7-3610QM, NVIDIA GTX 660M, 15.6" 1920x1080 glossy display) -
$939 + tax /
$999 no tax
- Sign up and sign in here:
http
/shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/na/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/Lenovo:EnterStdAffinity?affinity=barnesnoblegold (Barnes and Noble Gold discount page)
- http

/shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/barnesnoblegold/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/config.workflow:ConfigureMtmAsItem?mtm-item=:000001C9:0000393A: (500GB 7200RPM) - $939 + tax
- http

/shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/barnesnoblegold/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/builder.workflow:Enter?sb=:000001C9:00003943: (1TB 5400RPM + 32GB SSD) - $1029 + tax
- Click the green "Activate eCoupon" button in the cart.
- Alternatively, on Newegg:
http
/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834246630 (1TB 5400RPM, BDRW) - $1099 no tax- These models come with the 1920x1080 display. There are other models that come instead with a 1366x768 display, but those models are not recommended unless you need the larger text. 1366x768 resolution in a 15.6" display makes things onscreen large, and 15.6" displays that have 1366x768 resolution tend to have very poor image quality due to low contrast.
- Note: the NVIDIA GTX 660M is not significantly faster than a NVIDIA GT 650M.
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Sager NP9130 (i5-3210M, NVIDIA GTX 670M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte display) -
$1095 no tax
-
http
/www.xoticpc.com/sager-np9130-clevo-p151em1-p-4340.html?wconfigure=yes
- Select Windows 7 under Operating System if you cannot acquire your own copy for cheaper.
- Downgrade the memory to 8GB 1333MHz, unless you have a particular need for one of the higher memory options.
MSI GE60 (i7-3610QM, NVIDIA GT 650M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte display) -
$939 no tax after rebate
-
http
/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152339
Sager NP6165 (i5-3210M, NVIDIA GT 650M, 15.6" 1920x1080 glossy display) -
$920 no tax
-
http
/www.xoticpc.com/sager-np6165-clevo-w150er-p-4344.html?wconfigure=yes
- Select Windows 7 under Operating System if you cannot acquire your own copy for cheaper.
Sager NP6350 (i5-3210M, NVIDIA GTX 660M, 15.6" 1920x1080 glossy display) -
$999 no tax
-
http
/www.xoticpc.com/sager-np6350-clevo-w350etq-ships-midseptember-p-4897.html?wconfigure=yes
- Select Windows 7 under Operating System if you cannot acquire your own copy for cheaper.
- Recommended: Matte display upgrade.
- Note: the NVIDIA GTX 660M is not significantly faster than a NVIDIA GT 650M. But there are other differences between the NP6165 and NP6350.