Where did I go wrong and what should buy next?

[signaljacker]

I need a new laptop with good graphics to handle current games and video graphics software like Adobe After effects.

My laptop is not able to handle new games very well and is pretty rubbish with Video work. Where did I go wrong and what would you recommend for my next laptop purchase?

Ths is what I have:

Current Specs: Lenovo

Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core i5 4210U @ 1.70GHz
Haswell ULT 22nm Technology

Intel Core i5 4210U
Cores 2
Threads 4
Name Intel Core i5 4210U
Code Name Haswell ULT
Package Socket 1168 BGA
Technology 22nm
Specification Intel Core i5-4210U CPU @ 1.70GHz
Family 6
Extended Family 6
Model 5
Extended Model 45
Stepping 1
Revision C0
Instructions MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, Intel 64, NX, VMX, AES, AVX, AVX2, FMA3
Virtualization Supported, Disabled
Hyperthreading Supported, Enabled
Bus Speed 99.8 MHz
Stock Core Speed 1700 MHz
Stock Bus Speed 100 MHz
Average Temperature 49 °C
RAM
8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 798MHz (11-11-11-28)

RAM
Memory slots
Total memory slots 4
Used memory slots 2
Free memory slots 2
Memory
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Channels # Dual
DRAM Frequency 798.1 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 11 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 11 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 11 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 28 clocks
Command Rate (CR) 1T
Physical Memory
Memory Usage 61 %
Total Physical 7.89 GB
Available Physical 3.08 GB
Total Virtual 16 GB
Available Virtual 11 GB
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules 2
Motherboard
LENOVO Lancer 5A2 (U3E1)
Graphics
Generic PnP Monitor (1366x768@60Hz)
Intel HD Graphics Family (Lenovo)
2048MB ATI AMD Radeon R5 M230 (Lenovo)
CrossFire Disabled

ATI AMD Radeon R5 M230
Manufacturer ATI
Model AMD Radeon R5 M230
Device ID 1002-666F
Subvendor Lenovo (17AA)
GPU Clock 300.0 (850.0) MHz
Driver version 16.300.2101.0
Memory Type DDR3
Memory 2048 MB
Bandwidth 14.4 GB/s
Storage
931GB Western Digital WDC WD10JPCX-24UE4T0 (SATA )
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GUA0N
Audio
Conexant SmartAudio HD

 

[hang-the-9]

Don't buy systems with low end video cards and CPUs for low power use for gaming and video processing.

Since you did not list a budget, for gaming any system with a mid-range or higher setup will work, say the nVidia 1060 video card. Any system with that video card will have a good enough CPU to work with.

 

[signaljacker]

Don't buy systems with low end video cards and CPUs for low power use for gaming and video processing.

Since you did not list a budget, for gaming any system with a mid-range or higher setup will work, say the nVidia 1060 video card. Any system with that video card will have a good enough CPU to work with.

My apologies, My budget is between £500 to £600 UK, I want an off the shelf model, like a Lenovo maybe?

 

[J_E_D_70]

That will buy a very low end gaming one at best. Need to be in the 1k pound for mediocre, 1.5k or higher for good gaming.

 

[hang-the-9]

Don't buy systems with low end video cards and CPUs for low power use for gaming and video processing.

Since you did not list a budget, for gaming any system with a mid-range or higher setup will work, say the nVidia 1060 video card. Any system with that video card will have a good enough CPU to work with.

My apologies, My budget is between £500 to £600 UK, I want an off the shelf model, like a Lenovo maybe?

Unless you get a used system you won't get one that is hugely better than yours now. Is that a budget without selling your current system? You should be able to maybe get 200 for yours.

If you can up your budget a bit you can get into a system with a 1050 or 1050Ti, that would be enough for new games on low settings. But getting a low spec laptop is a bit of a waste for gaming since you are buying a slower system for today. In 2-3-4 years it will be bellow spec for games, so unless you are planning to replace it every few years, spend a few 100 today to get a system that will run tomorrow.

 

[signaljacker]

Don't buy systems with low end video cards and CPUs for low power use for gaming and video processing.

Since you did not list a budget, for gaming any system with a mid-range or higher setup will work, say the nVidia 1060 video card. Any system with that video card will have a good enough CPU to work with.

My apologies, My budget is between £500 to £600 UK, I want an off the shelf model, like a Lenovo maybe?

Unless you get a used system you won't get one that is hugely better than yours now. Is that a budget without selling your current system? You should be able to maybe get 200 for yours.

If you can up your budget a bit you can get into a system with a 1050 or 1050Ti, that would be enough for new games on low settings. But getting a low spec laptop is a bit of a waste for gaming since you are buying a slower system for today. In 2-3-4 years it will be bellow spec for games, so unless you are planning to replace it every few years, spend a few 100 today to get a system that will run tomorrow.

Thanks Hang the 9. . OK, I should be looking at around £1000 then. So If I got an nVidea 1050 / 1050i based system, will that also become out dated shortly?

 

[hang-the-9]

Thanks Hang the 9. . OK, I should be looking at around £1000 then. So If I got an nVidea 1050 / 1050i based system, will that also become out dated shortly?

Depends on what you mean by shortly and what games you are looking to play. Since no way to know what games you want to play in the future or what the requirements will be, the best way to avoid posts like yours in a few years is to get at least a mid range or mid-high system. However budget will limit things. 1050 Ti is not bad for 1080 resolution, but you will likely be on low settings in games in several years. For laptops, get the best you can afford now, will save you headaches and regret later. I paid $300 for a speaker system 25 years ago, never once did I say "I wish I bought the $100 set", but if I bout the cheaper one, in weeks I would be wondering what the better one would be like. Peace of mind and satisfaction of owning a quality item has it's own value also or Apple would not be selling $1,000 cell phones LOL