looking for a gaming laptop 500

[yoyoman1212]

I'm looking for a gaming/programming laptop. I'm on a 500 Canadian budget, and can go into local stores to get laptops and such. I mostly play Minecraft, Terraria, wizard101, TF2 some skyrim and dishonored. Skyrim and dishonored don't have to play on high settings, I'm fine with low, but for tf2 and Minecraft I want high settings. I NEED the computers to be from Canadian websites.
Thanks

 

[i7Baby]

You aint gonna get much for 500cad. Try -

Cheapest Gaming Laptop - $890 - http/www.ncix.com/detail/msi-gp60-leopard-i5-4200h-82-96301-1349.htm

A $500 laptop - http/www.ncix.com/detail/acer-aspire-e5-571-3205-core-i3-4030u-75-97251-1303.htm

 

[NotANerd]

Is there a reason you need a laptop? just like i7Baby indicated, you get more bang for your buck going the desktop route.

A friend got a laptop with i5 haswell cpu, 750 GB 5400 HDD, 8GB Ram (ithink) for $950 US.

 

[drapacioli]

You won't get a "gaming" laptop for $500CA. I was able to find a 17" HP refurb with a Radeon 8650G GPU for $479 on newegg CA, but there are a lot of games it won't run on playable settings: http/www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-8650G.87916.0.html

Laptop: http/www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834259163

17" isn't all that portable either...There was a $499 15" option but it's currently unavailable.

 

[yoyoman1212]

I was looking at a desktop, but I want something portable. I also REALLY want to stay away from HP

 

[drapacioli]

Unfortunately if you're not willing to go with HP (I don't blame you, by the way), there's nothing else in this range. That was already a refurb, new stuff will just have lower end graphics. If you were willing to go an extra $100, you could get the same specs in a different brand: http/www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834313719

This has the same graphics as the HP, still integrated but can handle more than the Intel HD 4000 graphics. You would be able to play older games only, new stuff like Assassin's Creed IV won't run well, if at all. Most games from prior to 2012 will likely be playable though on low settings. You can check out the benchmark fps ratings here for those graphics: http/www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-8650G.87916.0.html

If you're stuck with $500 and don't want HP, here's the best I could find: http/www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834314622CVF
Expect most games to not run well at all though. Intel HD 4000 and Radeon 8650G graphics are both the same entry-level class, but Intel is the bottom of that class and radeon is closer to the top.

 

[jaguarskx]

If you need to be able to go to a local store, then your choices will be rather limited. For under $500 CAD your best choice is probably the 15.6" Acer Aspire E15. It has a Core i3 running at 1.8GHz and the Intel HD 4400 graphics core. It will be fine for Minecraft, and TF2 should not be problem. Skyrim should be playable with low settings since I have seen it played on low settings with the slower Intel HD 4000 graphics core.

http/www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/acer-acer-aspire-e15-15-6-laptop-silver-intel-core-i3-4030u-1tb-hdd-8gb-ram-windows-8-1-e5-571-33ur/10300404.aspx?path=093a8b24463551dbc4c5e3332220b71een02

There is also the Lenovo G505 which is on final clearance. It has a quad core AMD A8-5550m APU with the Radeon HD 8550g graphics core. The graphics core is a bit more powerful than the Intel HD 4400, but not by very much.

http/www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/lenovo-lenovo-g505-15-6-laptop-black-amd-a8-5550m-1tb-hdd-8gb-ram-windows-8-1-g505s/10285041.aspx?path=9a2ea2c7729b533589457544f5bd2870en02

 

[hang-the-9]

You won't find anything for gaming class for $500 that you will be happy with. you can look around for used systems locally so you can test them out. Craigslist has a Canadian version I think, look on there.

For engineering you can use a moderate laptop for since all you really need is a mid-grade CPU for that, i5 or AMD A6, for gaming you need that plus a good video card which will push you into the $700 USD range.

 

[yoyoman1212]

Also, it doesn't need to be in stores. I was just suggesting I could go and if they have that computer, great. And it doesn't need to be a tiny laptop, I've been using a 17 inch for the past 2 years (HP Envy M6-1184ca). I really do not like it, terrible with overheating, common in HP laptops.

 

[yoyoman1212]

I would consider getting a gaming desktop, but I want something that is portable because I go between my mom and dad's houses every other day (walking).

 

[drapacioli]

Well, there are small form factor desktops, but you still wouldn't want to carry it around. If the laptops already suggested aren't what you were expecting in terms of specs, my best advice to you would be to try and save up a little more money, that way you can get something with better specs that you will be happier with.