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Saephear

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Greetings. I'll start by saying that I am looking for a new portable computer, and I've done quite a bit of looking about and such already. Unfortunately, I can't quite decide on what I want so I'm here. Going to post the things I need my computer to be able to handle, my important things I want for it, and a couple I've found so you can give me advice on them and hopefully steer me in the right direction.

The Objective:
Programming - I'll be a new programming student in spring, and I need it to be able to handle anything I throw at it.
Graphic Design - My major has a couple of graphic design courses in it.
Gaming - Everyone enjoys some gaming. Generally I just play Dota 2, but if possible I'd like to be able to run something like Elder Scrolls: Skyrim on it.
Budget - Generally about $1000 USD. I could go a bit over, but I'm trying not to go too much higher than that.

Important Factors:
Hard drive and SSD: I'd prefer a terabyte of HDD, and some SSD to help with the booting.
Graphics: I heard a dedicated 4GB+ graphic card is the way to go for what I need.
CPU: Again, research has stated that "setting 2.0ghz as a baseline" is good, but I'd perfer around 3.0ghz. Don't know much about duo or quad core stuff.
RAM: I heard that having about 16GB of RAM is important for programmers?
PORTABLE
Battery: I'll be using this at school on long hours, I don't wanna have to plug it in every class.

Collection:
Potential #1:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-in...lack/4454002.p?id=1219749483916&skuId=4454002
Potential #2:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-in...lver/4202001.p?id=1219706550514&skuId=4202001
 
Well, for what you are looking for will be in the $1500 price tag.

One Dell you picked has Intel integrated graphics. You don't want that! The other Dell has an AMD Radeon R7 M270 and you don't want that as well. Compare that to the GTX 970m. http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-R7-M270-vs-GeForce-GTX-970M

And here is a laptop with a GTX 970m GPU with 3GB od RAM http://www.amazon.com/MSI-GE72-APACHE-PRO-242-17-3-Inch/dp/B014QSTWKK/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1448008910&sr=1-3&keywords=laptop&refinements=p_n_feature_seven_browse-bin:3012497011,p_n_feature_four_browse-bin:2289792011,p_n_feature_five_browse-bin:7817225011,p_72:1248879011

Here's a couple Asus's to consider. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01578ZK9A/ref=psdc_565108_t3_B011HNT9X2

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T7XRH2A/ref=psdc_565108_t2_B00NJVRTHE

Battery life depends on what you do. Expect 4-5 hours. Gaming You might get 2 hours if that. I would buy another battery to throw in the backpack.
 
Agent Smith, thank you so much for your opinion. Deeply appreciate you not only giving reasons for why my choices were bad, but for providing evidence for it as well, not to mention finding me three new possible choices. I did find a beautiful Asus ROG for $1300 USD but unfornately it's out of stock; http://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-ro...llic/4637103.p?id=1219785908443&skuId=4637103

So I disqualified the GL551JW due to repeated reports of blue screen issues that I don't wanna deal with, so I'll probably be going with the Asus ROG you provided at 128 SSD and a 4GB dedicated GPU, or something similar. Again, thank you for being so helpful.
 
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Saephear said:
but I'm not sure if the 2GB dedicated GPU will be enough. Advice?
Click to expand...

Unless you're doing something really intense with graphics design or rendering or you're wanting to play things in 4K or in 1080p on ultra settings that are un-optimized, 4GB on the GPU, especially in a what I'm assuming will be a 1080p laptop is going to be a bit wasteful. I can't think of much of a reason you would be making much use of anything over 2GB in any laptop in your price range or with the uses you listed, so I'd say not to worry about getting anything more than 2GB of VRAM.
 
Thanks for your quick reply Origin Saint. That was my only misgiving about the computer really, so overall I'll probably buy that one. Thanks for your input and advice.
 
2GB is not enough, regardless of laptop or otherwise. Most laptops are 1080p and games these days exceed 2GB VRAM consistently.
 
Okedokey said:
2GB is not enough, regardless of laptop or otherwise. Most laptops are 1080p and games these days exceed 2GB VRAM consistently.
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While I do agree in the sense that 4GB is certainly more optimal than 2GB of VRAM, I would argue, that given the OP's description of use, he wouldn't be able to make much use of 4GB in games, not to mention, finding a laptop with more than 2GB of VRAM within a reasonable price point from the OP's budget would be a stretch. Smith already mentioned one, but they're a bit of a rarity at that price point.

Secondly, I would argue that more than 2GB of VRAM in a laptop wouldn't net nearly as much performance as it would in the typical desktop, considering the overall difference in graphics card performances between desktop models and laptop models.

Lastly, I currently own a laptop with a GTX 650m with 2GB of VRAM that can run Skyrim admirably at 1080p, nearly maxed settings at 60fps consistently, as well as many of the other games in my library, which also happens to include DOTA 2, another game the OP mentioned. The only games I find that really benefit from the added VRAM are games that launched as un-optimized disasters (enter Assassins Creed: Unity, Far Cry 4, etc...) and very large games on very high settings (enter GTAV, Witcher III). Nothing that I currently own, benefits nearly as much as people put on from the added VRAM in my desktop card, and as such, I see no reason why a laptop card with less performance under the hood, comparatively, would make any better use of it than the desktop card would.
 
Okedokey said:
What makes you think laptops and desktops handle vram differently?
Click to expand...

Nothing, as they don't. Neither system form factor handles the VRAM any different than the other, but it would be disingenuous to not admit that desktop GPU's are objectively more powerful.

My point was that laptop GPU's are typically not powerful enough to even reach the threshold where the extra VRAM would make the difference. Typically high VRAM usage comes into play when the graphical quality is turned up quite high, or the game itself has been very poorly optimized. Laptop GPU's typically aren't going to be strong enough to handle turning the graphics up high enough on modern games to where the extra VRAM would become useful. The kinds of mobile GPU's you can obtain in laptops within a reasonable distance of $1000 aren't going to be the ones that can handle consistent 60 fps with settings up high enough in modern games so that the VRAM past 2 GB becomes useful; Maybe with a 980m, it would become useful. Not to mention, at 1080p, that extra VRAM rarely comes in handy.

With the GTX 960 4GB in my desktop, I barely squeek past using 2 GB of VRAM with the settings as high as they can go (with consistent 60 fps) in GTA V, using something like 2.3 GB, for an example of my point.

It isn't worth the extra money for the VRAM if the chip itself can't handle settings high enough to benefit from the VRAM.
 
GPU clock speed and VRAM are utilised independently, so the basis of your assumptions are incorrect. Plus the laptops are 4K so every bit of the extra VRAM will be needed. 2GB VRAM is a mistake.

Secondly GTAV uses much more than 2GB VRAM even at 1080p. At 4K or 2560p the usage will want 4GB minimum.

With 2x MSAA enabled up-to 1080P you'll reach roughly 2~3 GB of graphics memory. They balanced that out nicely.

Once you go to WHQD at 2560x1440 we'll pass 3 GB and since card in that resolutions often have 3 to 4 GB graphics memory, that's good as well. In Ultra HD you'll need a lot more memory as we jump towards 4 GB of VRAM usage. ...It's also indicative that say a GeForce GTX 780 Ti with its 3 GB of graphics memory will seriously run into issues. 4GB is the minimum, that or lower image quality settings and AA levels, in Ultra HD.
http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/gta-v-pc-graphics-performance-review,9.html
Click to expand...
 
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None of the laptops so far mentioned run at 4K, nor have I ever seen any. Not that they don't exist but they certainly aren't going in that price budget. But I digress. The OP will make his own decisions.
 
Both the listed laptops are 4K. Read the specs. Regardless, even at 1080p, VRAM is constrained at 2GB, has been for several years.
 
Read the OP

Collection:
Potential #1:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-15-6-4k-ultra-hd-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-black/4454002.p?id=1219749483916&skuId=4454002
Potential #2:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-15-6-4k-ultra-hd-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-12gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-silver/4202001.p?id=1219706550514&skuId=4202001
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[/QUOTE]

Capture10.png~original


...and unless you're using sub optimal textures, even at 1080p, most games will be bottlenecked by 2GB VRAM period.

http--www.gamegpu.ru-images-stories-Test_GPU-Action-Grand_Theft_Auto_V_-test-2-GTA5_vram.jpg


and

Capture11.png~original
 
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Okedokey said:
Read the OP
Click to expand...

My bad. Thanks for the call out. Could have swore those were 1080p when I looked. In any event, every suggestion and development afterwards were 1080p laptops. I'd suggest we leave the thread be unless the OP has anything to add further. Cheers for the debate friend!
 
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