What's the best new gaming laptop I can get for $400?

[Wizzam]

Please answer the question as literally stated. Don't bother suggesting desktops. I need mobility.

 

[rgd1101]

get a ipad or something.

 

[jaguarskx]

17.3" HP - Pavilion 17-e016dx = $400

A8-5550m
Integrated Radeon HD 8550g
1600x900 resolution screen

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/pavilion-17-3-laptop-4gb-memory-750gb-hard-drive/2287004.p?id=1219071221794&skuId=2287004&st=categoryid$pcmcat247400050000&cp=1&lp=4#tab=specifications


I have not seen the Radeon HD 8550g in a laptop that is below $400 other than the HP I linked to.

 

[Wizzam]

17.3" HP - Pavilion 17-e016dx = $400

A8-5550m
Integrated Radeon HD 8550g
1600x900 resolution screen

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/pavilion-17-3-laptop-4gb-memory-750gb-hard-drive/2287004.p?id=1219071221794&skuId=2287004&st=categoryid$pcmcat247400050000&cp=1&lp=4#tab=specifications


I have not seen the Radeon HD 8550g in a laptop that is below $400 other than the HP I linked to.

Isn't the Intel HD 4600 better than the 8550g?

 

[jaguarskx]

Isn't the Intel HD 4600 better than the 8550g?

Yes it is.

The Intel HD 4600 is ranked between the Radeon HD 7660g (most powerful Trinity iGPU) and the Radeon HD 8610G (2nd most powerful Richland iGPU). The Radoen HD 8550g is below the HD 7660g which means it is weaker than a desktop Radeon HD 5570 graphics card.

If you see a link for a laptop with the Intel HD 4600 for $400, then post the link since for some reason I have seen a lot of posts for a $400 "gaming" laptop.

 

[Wizzam]

Isn't the Intel HD 4600 better than the 8550g?

Yes it is.

The Intel HD 4600 is ranked between the Radeon HD 7660g (most powerful Trinity iGPU) and the Radeon HD 8610G (2nd most powerful Richland iGPU). The Radoen HD 8550g is below the HD 7660g which means it is weaker than a desktop Radeon HD 5570 graphics card.

If you see a link for a laptop with the Intel HD 4600 for $400, then post the link since for some reason I have seen a lot of posts for a $400 "gaming" laptop.

http://m.bestbuy.com/m/e/product/detail.jsp?skuId=2854029&pid=1219079079760&pcatId=abcat0502000

It's basically the same laptop you linked me to, except it has an i3 CPU with Intel HD 4600. A better deal for $400, don't you think?

 

[jaguarskx]

Interesting, I would not have thought a Haswell generation Core i3 would be this inexpensive so quickly.

Yeah, I would say it is a better deal. I have seen many video benchmarks that have shown laptops with weaker CPUs and stronger GPUs perform better than laptops with stronger CPUs and weaker GPUs. The Core i3 is only "weak" compared to the A8-5550m because it only has two cores, but each Intel CPU core is more powerful than each AMD CPU core . However, I have to say that the GPUs are typically dedicated graphic chips, not integrated graphics cores.

The Intel HD 4600 is definitely a bit more powerful compared to the Radeon HD 8550g, but those video benchmark typically compares something like a dual core i5 and GTX 760m vs. a quad core i7 and the GT 750m. Hint... the i5 + GTX 760m wins.

 

[ddub]

You would be much happier if you saved up and got a laptop with at least a GT 750m.