{updated} Looking for $800-$1300 Gaming Laptop

[IceColdNed]

edit-Decided to raise the budget a bit.

Budget?: $800-$1300

size?: max of around 7 lbs

screen res?: doesn't matter.

portable or desktop replace?: Whichever has better hardware.

gaming quality?: While I'd like high quality, I don't need it for every game, medium is acceptable.

tasks?: College stuff (papers, etc.), programming, and gaming.

storage?: 500GB at least.

lifespan?: I'll probably keep it for 4-5 years.

Optical drive?: I don't really need DVD or Bluray or anything like that.

Country?: USA


Ok, now that all that's out of the way, here are some of the laptops I've been looking at so far.

MSI Computer Corp. GX60 1AC-021US
Now, my only concern with this one is the processor. Does it affect performance to the point where I'm better off with a less powerful GPU? (I've heard a lot of conflicting information about this.)

The other laptops I've been looking at are the Lenovo Y-Series.
I have a friend who is buying the y510p w/ Dual graphics, [strike]but that's outside my price range.[/strike]

I'd like to get a gaming laptop that has better (even if it's just a little) or equal to the capabilities of his . Or if his is the best deal, I'll end up getting that.

In other news, I am seriously leaning towards the MSI GX60. If anyone has anything negative to say about the specific model, please let me know.

 

[letsrelax]

I have had a couple of gaming laptops a MSI and ASUS and to be honest they work mediocre and they both broke on me within 4 months both of them. I first got an ASUS and it broke every 3 to 4 months because the port where you charge your battery would break and I would get replacement laptops (not my old one repaired) and I had the same issue. After the 3rd one I got a MSI the screen went out on a couple two of them. I am just trying to make the point that through my experience laptops are terrible for gaming because they break, they work ok but for $1200 I was expecting a lot.

I just want to let people know this when they want a gaming laptop because even when you spend $1200 it doesn't always mean great quality.

Also I would wait because a lot of laptops will switch over the next month or couple of months there will be 4th gen processors which will dramatically lengthen battery life and they shouldn't cost more then what the original price of the laptop is. Some laptops have 4th gen intel processors in them, but not very many so if I were you maybe wait a month or two. It would be smart idea just so you can get a lot longer battery life for no extra cost.

 

[IceColdNed]

Also I would wait because a lot of laptops will switch over the next month or couple of months there will be 4th gen processors which will dramatically lengthen battery life and they shouldn't cost more then what the original price of the laptop is. Some laptops have 4th gen intel processors in them, but not very many so if I were you maybe wait a month or two. It would be smart idea just so you can get a lot longer battery life for no extra cost.

Doesn't the Y500 series already have the 4th gen Haswell? I've got a month until school starts for me, and since I'm going to be using some grant money to help pay for it I won't have it for a week or two after semester starts, but I'd like to figure it out now so I'm not doing any last minute floundering for a computer. I might be able to get it before school starts but I'm not sure. When's the best time to buy one then? Plus, not every laptop uses Intel CPUs, (Like the GX60 I mentioned above.)