Advice on a laptop

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
29,151
5
36
London, Ontario
Yeah, there are no oopses in Apples.

There are of course, lol. They rush things out before they're 'ready' just like Microsoft does. But six of one, half a dozen of the other. They aren't for everyone but for me I think it was a good choice.

I've no doubt I could learn my way around the Mac OS, but I don't want to. I've seen enough of it to know I don't like it, I don't like what it hides from me and the things it won't let me find out about it, the machines are designed not to be upgradeable, and I can't write my own software for it.

Then it isn't for you. I just found it interesting that what compels you to keep to PC is the exact thing that drove me to Apple. Each to their own right?
 

Retired_Can_Soldier

The End of the Dog is Coming!
Mar 19, 2006
12,399
1,371
113
60
Alberta
Buy a laptop for 500 clams and when it dies in a couple years buy another one. Best advice I can give. I will never own a desktop again. I love my lappy.
 

Goober

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 23, 2009
24,691
116
63
Moving
Buy a laptop for 500 clams and when it dies in a couple years buy another one. Best advice I can give. I will never own a desktop again. I love my lappy.

Yep- i have been bouncing it back and forth- have a good laptop for traveling - general use at home. Just want something that is not on WiFi and secure.
That way I can upgrade my RAM on the good laptop - I believe you get what you pay for but I am a tad parsimonious.

I like a dollar in my pocket vice some companies.
 

Goober

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 23, 2009
24,691
116
63
Moving
Uhuh. Once I load an OS into my computer, it becomes a part of it, too.Yeah, there are no oopses in Apples. Meh. I like the choice of what goes into my computer, hardware AND software. I don't have to stick with any particular brand and I can tailor it to what I want.

This is what I got for a desktop. Comments are welcomed.

With Intel's Z77 platform, Core i7 3770K processor, NVIDIA GTX 560 Ti 448 Core graphic card, 2x4GB of 1600MHz DDR3 RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit, the GT2050I is a powerful machine right out of the box. It still has lots of expansion room to upgrade down the road in the future as upcoming games demand more...

Built by our in-house team of experienced builders, this Gaming Rig is backed by a solid 1 year Parts and Labour Warranty.
Features
Intel® Core i7 3770K Quad-Core Processor

Faster

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 intelligently and automatically boosts processor speed just when you need it for performance that adapts to you—it's that smart.
Intel® Quick Sync Video, part of our built-in visuals, integrates video conversion hardware into the processor to accelerate performance of editing, burning, and sharing your videos in a snap. Now your videos are waiting for you, not the other way around.
Intel® HD Graphics, in the 3rd generation of Intel® Core™ processors, integrates the graphics engine and media processing right on the chip to deliver life-like graphics for a better gaming experience. Intel HD Graphics delivers up to 3X performance over previous-generation Intel HD Graphics—with additional headroom for tomorrow's games. Best of all, no additional hardware is required.

Richer

Intel® Wireless Display lets you easily stream your favorite content wirelessly to your HDTV so you can enjoy all the things you love about your Ultrabook™ or PC on your big screen.
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology gives you eye-popping, true-to-life visuals—the way they were meant to be seen. A suite of technologies in Intel Clear Video HD Technology delivers sharper and smoother images with richer colors, making every image picture perfect.
Intel® Insider™ unlocks a world of premium HD movies and shows on your Ultrabook™ or All-in-One or Standard PC so you can watch high-definition programming previously unavailable on your screen—or stream it wirelessly to your HDTV with Intel® Wireless Display.
Intel® InTru™ 3D Technology adds a new dimension to your viewing experience so you can game, watch 3D movies with Blu-ray* Stereo 3D* playback and shutter 3D glasses, and more in 3D. Enjoy it all in 1080p full, high-definition resolution on your TV over HDMI

Smoother

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology lets each processor core work on two things at once—that's up to 8-way smart multi-tasking in Intel® Core™ i7—so you can effortlessly move between your applications.

EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti SuperClocked

2048MB GDDR5 memory interface
1344 CUDA Cores
PCI Express 3.0 x16 bus interface
DirectX 11 with Direc Compute 5.0
OpenGL 4.2 and OpenCL
PhysX, SMX Engine, Adaptive Vertical Sync, NVIDIA Surround, 3D Vision, TXAA, FXAA, and PureVideo HD Technology
HDMI Output
SLI support
Four concurrent displays.

Windows 8 64-bit (x86)

Specifications
Processor Intel® Core™ i7 3770K Processor
CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
Motherboard Asus P8Z77-V Motherboard
Graphics EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti SuperClocked
Memory G.Skill 2x4G Ripjaws 1600MHz DDR3 Memory
Hard Drive Seagate 500G SATA
Optical Drive 24x DVD+/-RW
Chassis Cooler Master CM 690 II Advanced
Power Supply Cooler Master Silent Pro 850W Power Supply

Future Upgradability

Supports 32nm Intel 2nd/3rd Generation Core™ i7, i5, i3 Processors (Socket 1155)
4 memory slots support 8GB DDR3 2200 (OC) RAM Sticks for 32GB Total
Stock 850 Watt power supply keeps upgrades running
Supports Quad GPU SLI™ or Quad GPU CrossfireX™ (dual cards run x8 + x8)
Cooler Master CM 690 II Advanced Mid Tower is ready for expansion:
Add up to 5 more 3.5" Hard Drives, etc.
Add up to 2 more 5.25" Devices
Includes 1 x 2.5" to 3.5" adapter for SSDs or Hybrid Drives
Room for up to 10 cooling fans!
 

L Gilbert

Winterized
Nov 30, 2006
23,738
107
63
71
50 acres in Kootenays BC
the-brights.net
This is what I got for a desktop. Comments are welcomed.

With Intel's Z77 platform, Core i7 3770K processor, NVIDIA GTX 560 Ti 448 Core graphic card, 2x4GB of 1600MHz DDR3 RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit, the GT2050I is a powerful machine right out of the box. It still has lots of expansion room to upgrade down the road in the future as upcoming games demand more...

Built by our in-house team of experienced builders, this Gaming Rig is backed by a solid 1 year Parts and Labour Warranty.
Features
Intel® Core i7 3770K Quad-Core Processor

Faster

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 intelligently and automatically boosts processor speed just when you need it for performance that adapts to you—it's that smart.
Intel® Quick Sync Video, part of our built-in visuals, integrates video conversion hardware into the processor to accelerate performance of editing, burning, and sharing your videos in a snap. Now your videos are waiting for you, not the other way around.
Intel® HD Graphics, in the 3rd generation of Intel® Core™ processors, integrates the graphics engine and media processing right on the chip to deliver life-like graphics for a better gaming experience. Intel HD Graphics delivers up to 3X performance over previous-generation Intel HD Graphics—with additional headroom for tomorrow's games. Best of all, no additional hardware is required.

Richer

Intel® Wireless Display lets you easily stream your favorite content wirelessly to your HDTV so you can enjoy all the things you love about your Ultrabook™ or PC on your big screen.
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology gives you eye-popping, true-to-life visuals—the way they were meant to be seen. A suite of technologies in Intel Clear Video HD Technology delivers sharper and smoother images with richer colors, making every image picture perfect.
Intel® Insider™ unlocks a world of premium HD movies and shows on your Ultrabook™ or All-in-One or Standard PC so you can watch high-definition programming previously unavailable on your screen—or stream it wirelessly to your HDTV with Intel® Wireless Display.
Intel® InTru™ 3D Technology adds a new dimension to your viewing experience so you can game, watch 3D movies with Blu-ray* Stereo 3D* playback and shutter 3D glasses, and more in 3D. Enjoy it all in 1080p full, high-definition resolution on your TV over HDMI

Smoother

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology lets each processor core work on two things at once—that's up to 8-way smart multi-tasking in Intel® Core™ i7—so you can effortlessly move between your applications.

EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti SuperClocked

2048MB GDDR5 memory interface
1344 CUDA Cores
PCI Express 3.0 x16 bus interface
DirectX 11 with Direc Compute 5.0
OpenGL 4.2 and OpenCL
PhysX, SMX Engine, Adaptive Vertical Sync, NVIDIA Surround, 3D Vision, TXAA, FXAA, and PureVideo HD Technology
HDMI Output
SLI support
Four concurrent displays.

Windows 8 64-bit (x86)

Specifications
Processor Intel® Core™ i7 3770K Processor
CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
Motherboard Asus P8Z77-V Motherboard
Graphics EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti SuperClocked
Memory G.Skill 2x4G Ripjaws 1600MHz DDR3 Memory
Hard Drive Seagate 500G SATA
Optical Drive 24x DVD+/-RW
Chassis Cooler Master CM 690 II Advanced
Power Supply Cooler Master Silent Pro 850W Power Supply

Future Upgradability

Supports 32nm Intel 2nd/3rd Generation Core™ i7, i5, i3 Processors (Socket 1155)
4 memory slots support 8GB DDR3 2200 (OC) RAM Sticks for 32GB Total
Stock 850 Watt power supply keeps upgrades running
Supports Quad GPU SLI™ or Quad GPU CrossfireX™ (dual cards run x8 + x8)
Cooler Master CM 690 II Advanced Mid Tower is ready for expansion:
Add up to 5 more 3.5" Hard Drives, etc.
Add up to 2 more 5.25" Devices
Includes 1 x 2.5" to 3.5" adapter for SSDs or Hybrid Drives
Room for up to 10 cooling fans!
Sounds great, Goob! Have fun with it. :D

(Betcha don't have to replace anything for years.)
 
Last edited:

L Gilbert

Winterized
Nov 30, 2006
23,738
107
63
71
50 acres in Kootenays BC
the-brights.net
Next I get that box for the TV to watch from the comp. That I need help with. And is it worthwhile.
I can't really say. Let me know whatcha think of it when you try it. :) Our tv is already prepped for it but wifey doesn't want to rearrange the house to put the tv near the computer. Sides, it's kinda cozy sitting in front of the monitor watching what we want to watch. lol
 

Goober

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 23, 2009
24,691
116
63
Moving
I can't really say. Let me know whatcha think of it when you try it. :) Our tv is already prepped for it but wifey doesn't want to rearrange the house to put the tv near the computer. Sides, it's kinda cozy sitting in front of the monitor watching what we want to watch. lol
Don't have to move a thing- WiFi.