Need help choosing a light gaming/video editing laptop - Preferably under $1500

[wiipros]

Hello all.
I'm a currently looking to upgrade from my current laptop to something more fit for some light gaming and video editing, but I just don't know exactly what I need. I'm not too terribly savvy with all the parts and pieces so please forgiven my computer noobness. =P

Things I'm looking to accomplish with the new laptop:
- Run League of Legends (preferably at max settings) while recording/streaming
-- Recording would be done with Open Broadcaster or XSplit --
- Do light editing work with Adobe products (Premiere, Photoshop, After Effects)

In the future, I may be interested in playing more graphic intensive games, but I'm not necessarily looking for something that's going to play the big titles on ultra settings.

I have a couple specific questions, but any recommendations would be much appreciated.

How much RAM do I really need?
Basically I'm looking at some light video editing, maybe a little work in After Effects, but nothing too monumental. Is 8 GB enough or should I be looking into 16 GB?

What graphics card should I be looking at?
I feel like the higher GTX models would be over kill, but I really know next to nothing about graphics cards. Is it worth it to invest the money in a 880 or can I get a way with a lower model?

Should I be looking to get a SSD for the OS?
I'm definitely looking for a HDD with a decent amount of space, probably 1 TB. I just wasn't sure if it is worth it to also look for a SSD to keep the operating system on.

i5 or i7 Processor?
I thought the i7s were worth getting, but I've had a couple people tell me I could get away with an i5.

Basically, I'm looking for the best bang for my buck without sacrificing a lot of quality or power.
The closer I can get to $1000 the better, but I'm willing to spend up to $1500 if necessary.

Here are a couple laptops I've been looking at.
Any feedback on them or suggestions for better products would be much appreciated.

MSI GE60 Apache
http/www.ibuypower.com/Store/MSI-GE60-Apache-Gaming-Laptop
DISPLAY: MSI GE60 Apache, 15.6" FHD, Anti-Glare 1920x1080
CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-4810MQ Mobile Processor (4x 2.8GHz/6MB L3 Cache)
RAM: 16GB [8GB x 2] 1600MHz DDR3 SO-DIMM Laptop Memory G.SKILL
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M 2GB GDDR5 [GE60 2PF Apache]
HDD: 1 TB 7200rpm Super Slim Laptop Hard Drive Single Drive
Price: $1365

Battalion 101 W650SJ
http/www.ibuypower.com/Store/Battalion-101-W650SJ-Gaming-Laptop
DISPLAY: Battalion 101 W650SJ 15.6" Full HD Display 1920x1080 Laptop
CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-4810MQ Mobile Processor (4x 2.8GHz/6MB L3 Cache)
RAM: 16GB [8GB x 2] 1600MHz DDR3 SO-DIMM Laptop Memory - G.SKILL
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 850M 2GB GDDR3 Video w/ NVIDIA Optimus [W650SJ]
SSD: 256 GB mSATA SSD - OS Drive (Primary Drive)
HDD: 1 TB 7200rpm Super Slim Laptop Hard Drive Single Drive
Price: $1293

Lenovo Y50
http/shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/lenovo/y-series/y50/
DISPLAY: 15.6" FHD LED AntiGlare Backlight (1920x1080)
CPU: 4th Generation Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (2.50GHz 1600MHz 6MB)
RAM: 16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3L SDRAM 1600 MHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M 4GB
HDD: Hybrid 1TB 5400 RPM+8GB SSHD
Price: $1249

 

[Intel Celeron]

"How much RAM do I really need?"
8gb is enough for heavy gaming and light editing.

"What graphics card should I be looking at?"
A GTX 760 wll be enough to play current games.

Should I be looking to get a SSD for the OS?
An SSD WILL speed up boot times and in terms of recording gameplay make much of a difference since most programs place recorded footage straight to your drive.


i5 or i7 Processor?
An i3 is an i7 with two cores. An i5 is an i7 without hyperthreading. i3 and i7 both have hyperthreading. i5 and i7 both have 4 cores. So basically:

i3
Hyperthreaded
2 Cores;4 Threads.

i5
4 Cores;4 Threads

i7
Hyperthreaded
4/6 Cores;8/12 Threads

Then again all this is based on desktop hardware.

 

[g-unit1111]

"What graphics card should I be looking at?"
A GTX 760 wll be enough to play current games.

I think you missed that the OP wants a laptop and not a desktop.

I would go with the Lenovo Y50 or the MSI GE60 personally.

 

[dasulman]

OP genuinely serious question, why don't you pick up a chromebook and build a seperate desktop? you'd get a better range of options.
but if you wanted to stick to a laptop that does everything then definitely the y50.

 

[wiipros]

OP genuinely serious question, why don't you pick up a chromebook and build a seperate desktop? you'd get a better range of options.
but if you wanted to stick to a laptop that does everything then definitely the y50.

It really just comes down to moving around a lot currently and I don't want to deal with the hassle of trying to cart around a desktop depending on where I'm at. Someday I'll get a good desktop =P

Thanks for the input.

 

[wiipros]

"How much RAM do I really need?"
8gb is enough for heavy gaming and light editing.

"What graphics card should I be looking at?"
A GTX 760 wll be enough to play current games.

Should I be looking to get a SSD for the OS?
An SSD WILL speed up boot times and in terms of recording gameplay make much of a difference since most programs place recorded footage straight to your drive.


i5 or i7 Processor?
An i3 is an i7 with two cores. An i5 is an i7 without hyperthreading. i3 and i7 both have hyperthreading. i5 and i7 both have 4 cores. So basically:

i3
Hyperthreaded
2 Cores;4 Threads.

i5
4 Cores;4 Threads

i7
Hyperthreaded
4/6 Cores;8/12 Threads

Then again all this is based on desktop hardware.

Thanks for the info!

 

[wiipros]

"What graphics card should I be looking at?"
A GTX 760 wll be enough to play current games.

I think you missed that the OP wants a laptop and not a desktop.

I would go with the Lenovo Y50 or the MSI GE60 personally.

Thanks for the input =)