Laptop for Video Editing & Gaming at $500?

[dcointin]

Hey guys!

My aunt has asked me to help her choose a laptop for her teenage son, and it's going to be a tough recommendation. He wants the laptop to learn video editing and gaming, and she'd like to spend as close to $500 as possible. I warned her that at this price point I doubt we could find one that can do both of these things well, but I'd to try. What can you recommend for them? I've found two options so far that I'd love some feedback on:

HP ENVY dv6z-7200
- Windows 8 64
- AMD Dual-Core A6-4400M (3.0GHz/2.6GHz, 1MB L2 Cache)
- AMD Radeon(TM) HD 7600 Series Discrete-Class
- 6GB 1600MHz DDR3
- 640GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
- 15.6-inch screen
- DVD±R/RW
- 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- 802.11b/g/n WLAN

Lenovo IdeaPad G780
- Windows 8 64
- Intel Core i5-3210M 2.5GHz
- NVIDIA Geforce GT 635M
- 4GB 1600MHz DDR3
- 500GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
- 17.3" Screen
- DVD±R/RW
- 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- 802.11b/g/n WLAN

Any thoughts on which is a better value? Any other recommendations?

Many thanks!

 

[zycuda]

If he he absolutely needs a laptop then okay, but at that price range I really recommend a desktop. I know that isn't always an option and it isn't always what people want, but it will get the job done.

 

[dcointin]

I should have added that she also wanted it for school, so she did strongly prefer it be a laptop rather than a desktop.

 

[zycuda]

Well out of those 2 then I would pick the lenovo, spending more would help, its up to her though.

 

[jaguarskx]

Overall, the Lenovo offers much better performance (CPU & GPU) than the HP. However, it is a 17.3" laptop which means it will be heavier to carry around. That is the only real drawback.

 

[jtenorj]

For video editing purposes, the lenovo has less storage and less ram. Its cpu is faster, though(mobile i5s are hyper threaded dual cores with turbo and higher instructions per clock while the dual core A6 is one piledriver module with one floating point unit and 2 integer cores). I am fairly certain that the gt635m is faster for gaming than the integrated graphics in the A6 as well. You should be able to easily add more ram later in the lenovo. Not sure about extra hard drive space(unless you use a usb external drive or something).

 

[jaguarskx]

I am fairly certain that the gt635m is faster for gaming than the integrated graphics in the A6 as well.

It's like the difference between walking and jogging.

 

[jaguarskx]

Actually, scratch that.

It's like the difference between crawling and walking. I reserve "jogging" for GPUs faster than the nVidia GT 635m. Like the GT 650m.

 

[jtenorj]

Took a peek at newegg and found a few things you might be interested in. All have 6GB ram and a 640GB hdd.

The first is a new Toshiba Satellite with windows 8 and a A8 4555M APU for 499.99 and free shipping. DDR3 1600 ram helps the GPU in this one.

http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834216041

Next is a refurbished HP Pavilion with windows 7 and a A10 4600M APU for 479.99 plus 13.72 shipping. Fairly fast CPU and fast GPU

http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834256535

Another refurbished HP Pavilion with windows 7 and a A8 4500M APU for 479.99 and free shipping. Its somewhat slower than the 4600M.

http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834256633

Finally, a refurbished Samsung with windows 7 and a A8 3510MX APU for 429.99 and 13.72 shipping. Stars quad core for video editing and a decent GPU.

http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834131275

Search AMD Fusion on wikipedia for shaders and clocks on these APUs ( I will say these 4xxxM series APUs are dual module with 2 FPU and 4 integer).

Also, the newer integrated radeons in the 4xxxM series are VLIW4 versus the 3xxxM series with VLIW5(vliw4 is about 20% faster per clock than vliw5).

 

[dcointin]

Thank you so much everyone for the responses! It was a tough question and I knew the people here would provide the best answers.

 

[dcointin]

Best answer selected by dcointin.