Laptop Deals Master Thread

[mevinyavin]

Some of the reviews say it's a refurb

No personal knowledge (except what the listing says - which it doesn't say refurb) - but apparently the reid on Slickdeals says it is not (when they originally thought it was). If anyone gets one, post back here. You can always return it.

[searchingFire]

@searchingFire
This is a "feature review" in case you haven't seen it. Also decide if worth returning to BB and buying for $100 less at Amazon.

ASUS VivoBook 16 Laptop, 16” WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:10 Display, AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU, AMD Radeon™ Graphics, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Windows 11 Home, Cool Silver, M1605XA-EB96 ($799.99 )

The laptop came back!
It has been a joy to use so far. Windows 11 starts up in around 5 seconds or less, not more!

The speed in which applications open is incredibly. I usually wait 2 seconds so far and a program opens.

The machine is very fast and performative. When I want to game, I just turn on "standard" mode because most of the time I am in "whisper" mode and everything just runs so smoothly in "whisper" mode. I can play GTA V around 50 fps in "whisper" mode on high settings!

If I turn on "standard" mode then it is 60 FPS. I use AFMF (AMD Fluid Motion Frames) and a lot of games become playable and some even on high settings!

It's incredible, AFMF is available for this processor (7940HS iGPU). ROBLOX on the "automatic" preset runs on 60 FPS so far for most of the games that I have played, even on "whisper" mode!

As for fan noise which is the most important: as I suspected, it produces LESS noise than a gaming laptop. On idle, the fan is practically off (it's lightly breathing and it is very hard to hear whereas a gaming laptop would be blowing air out even during idle-normal usage, quiet mode operation and you can hear it if you're in a high focus session like coding). It feels like a fan less machine when you are on "whisper" mode and just doing normal tasks (not gaming). When you are gaming, you can hear the machine breath but it's just that: breathing. It's not like gaming laptops where it blows air out. When I want more fire power, I use "standard" mode which adjusts the fans according to what you are using and it will be blowing air out similar to a gaming laptop. In most normal cases, I still don't hear the fan at all. Virtually fan less.

Compared to a gaming laptop, this is so portable and discreet. No one knows it has gaming power. It looks like a business laptop whereas you don't really get that benefit with the traditional gaming laptop. I definitely think with the noise profile, the weight, and performance that this processor makes a ton of games very playable (and if the games have modders modding on them, you can even play in high settings from what I've seen). It seems like iGPU will become even more powerful in the future with AMD investing heavily into the technology, I predict most people are going to want an iGPU laptop in the future. The noise, heat, performance, discreet look, weight profiles and much more is just so hard to beat with this iGPU setup.

Compared to the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 laptop that I had previously, it appears this laptop seems better for me so far.

I don't really have much complaints. The HDMI thing, I haven't experienced at all. I don't really use an external monitor though, the laptop screen is so good. I can see everything. The colors don't seem any different to me (I don't know, maybe I'm not color sensitive? NTSC looks beautiful so far or could it be due to the high resolution and screen real estate?) The screen is amazing. I have  so much room and screen real estate with 16" that I am practically immersed in pretty much everything that I do. The keyboard is something else. When I play GTA V in it, in a past Vivobook (5600H) I would be able to feel the heat on the keyboard. I don't seem to feel heat on the keyboard here (but maybe I will notice it later?)

All in all, when I use the laptop it feels like a premium experience. It might be because of the processor making everything so smooth. The surface of the laptop is slippery and cool to the touch, not sure if that's normal in a Vivobook but I remember my past one being more ruggy like a carpet. I enjoy the feeling.

10/10 so far, I may update later but I don't seem to run into any issues so far??? It seems like I may have received a perfect unit or something because when I look at my screen, I do not notice any artifacts or backlight bleeding or even IPS glow??? 

[mevinyavin]

The laptop came back!

Happy that you are happy with it.
Two questions (for my own notes): Can it run RDR2 smoothly? Is it made out of metal or plastic (or both)?

[mevinyavin]

Gram 17 back at $1000. 13th gen i7, 32GB RAM, TB SSD.
Currently out of stock by my area/shipping, but worth checking back if in the market for a 3lb 17" laptop with great battery life. (OPBx doesn't seem worth it IMHO.)
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-gram-17-laptop-intel-evo-platform-13th-gen-intel-core-i7-with-32gb-ram-1tb-nvme-ssd-black/6559122.p?skuId=6559122

[mevinyavin]

15.6" Galaxy Book2 Pro 2-in-1, 12th gen i7, 16GB RAM, TB SSD, $850 at BB. One of the lightest 15.6" 2-in-1s you can find, and Evo certified for battery life.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-galaxy-book2-pro-360-2-in-1-15-6-amoled-touch-screen-laptop-intel-12th-gen-evo-core-i7-16gb-ddr5-memory-1tb-ssd-silver/6501593.p?skuId=6501593

[searchingFire]

Happy that you are happy with it.
Two questions (for my own notes): Can it run RDR2 smoothly? Is it made out of metal or plastic (or both)?

Seems like it can run RDR2 smoothly:

&t=23s

This is 680M on low settings. Keep in mind the laptop has the current 780M.

Also, my laptop RAM has speeds of 4800 mHz (still faster than DDR4, I believe?) while other models have something faster like 5600 mHz. It can still run GTA V on pretty much high settings.

Also keep in mind, the RDR2 benchmark in the video above is not modded. If you install a modded version of it, it might be able to pull out more performance in terms of an increase in FPS since PC games usually have modders that optimize the game even further so maybe 60 fps is possible on low-medium settings?

Another thing to note is that I don't have RADEON overlay for some reason. I cannot get RADEON overlay to work but I can see my FPS when I alt tab back to the Radeon software. It also seems like I cannot use ReLive feature/record feature (or whatever it is called) of RADEON since this is an APU.

This seems to have an aluminum surface (the part where you touch the keyboard, interact with the laptop) and back cover but I could be wrong but the material feels smooth and slippery to the touch. I had an all plastic laptop before, this laptop surface definitely feels different and much cooler to the touch.

 


 

[mevinyavin]

Inspiron 15 with i3-12th gen is down to $250. https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3520-laptop/nn3520grzxs?ref=variantstack
Metal 16 with i5 and 16GB RAM is down to $500. https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-16-laptop/spd/inspiron-16-5630-laptop/usichbts5630gkgh?ref=variantstack

[bhoaem]

Hi, any recommendations for a laptop? 15"-16" Mainly web based use. Good battery is a plus. Budget $500-$600
Thank you

[mevinyavin]

Hi, any recommendations for a laptop? 15"-16" Mainly web based use. Good battery is a plus. Budget $500-$600
Thank you

Please use this template when asking for laptop purchase help:
https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=135662.msg2794782#msg2794782

[yfr bachur]

@mevinyavin maybe give us a few examples of what you want the questions to look like? We get the long winded exhaustive explanatory version but how do you want us to write it compactly?

[mevinyavin]

@mevinyavin maybe give us a few examples of what you want the questions to look like? We get the long winded exhaustive explanatory version but how do you want us to write it compactly?

sample answer, based exactly on the template:

Usage: basic word processing, web browsing
Size: 15.6-16
Build quality: I'm willing to settle for basic but I want to know how much a metal build will cost me
Shop: Only places that ship to NY (10970) by March 27th
Budget: I wouldn't spend more than $600 no matter what the benefit is
Other: Prefer a backlit keyboard. Battery life should be better than six hours for browsing/word processing, and I would spend up to my budget for better. Strongly prefer non-touchscreen. My mother-in-law thinks Dell is the best company in the universe so I would get a Dell for brownie points (unless the price difference is ridiculous). My friend's cousin gets a 4.375% discount at Schmendrix Computers, in case that matters.

[hide4]

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3525-laptop/nn3525ghhvs

Ryzen 7 16gb 1TBssd $399 very decent deal

I have one in Lakewood for $350. Arrived with damaged box.

1 sold. I have one more with a slightly damaged box for sale at $350 in Lakewood.

[bhoaem]

How's this?

Usage: primarily web. Lots of tabs. MS office. Some light programs.
Size: 15 - 16
Build quality: plastic is fine. Better build could be a perk but wouldn't necessarily pay more for it.
Shop: ship to NJ.
Budget: $500 would pay a bit more.
Other: Long Battery life, performance and Matte screen are important . Touch screen is a small bonus but not necessary.

I definitely got more specific using the formula. Hope that helps.
Thanx

[Chuchum Ainer]

Hi, any recommendations for a laptop? 15"-16" Mainly web based use. Good battery is a plus. Budget $500-$600
Thank you

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lenovo-Ideapad-5-15-6-FHD-IPS-Laptop-AMD-Ryzen-7-5825U-16GB-RAM-512GB-SSD-Abyss-Blue-Windows-11-Home-82SG00BLUS/1147612552?athbdg=L1103&adsRedirect=true

Lenovo Ideapad 5 15.6" Ryzen 7 5825U 16 GB RAM 512GB SSD - $500
Very good price for metal chassis

[mevinyavin]

How's this?

Usage: primarily web. Lots of tabs. MS office. Some light programs.
Size: 15 - 16
Build quality: plastic is fine. Better build could be a perk but wouldn't necessarily pay more for it.
Shop: ship to NJ.
Budget: $500 would pay a bit more.
Other: Long Battery life, performance and Matte screen are important . Touch screen is a small bonus but not necessary.

I definitely got more specific using the formula. Hope that helps.
Thanx

Best I could find is this but I think you will be very happy with it. Two thoughts: it is almost impossible to confirm matte, and also, asking for matte touchscreens seems to be almost a contradiction (not quite but close enough). This is also a metal build. $500 and the listing says ant-glare/matte by the screen (only listing I saw today that says one way or the other).
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1772712-REG/lenovo_82xf0065us_16_ideapad_slim_5i.html/specs
The one @Chuchum Ainer posted above should get better battery life but who knows regarding the screen?

Consider this but do your own screen research, for $400. This is metal except for a plastic bottom. The Ram is upgradeable if required and it is easy to get in (just opened one last night). It is a darkish blue.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-vivobook-16-laptop-amd-ryzen-7-5800hs-with-12gb-memory-512gb-ssd-quiet-blue/6535990.p?skuId=6535990

If you want you can research the screen on this touch-screen model, for $515. But it is plastic. Also blue.
https://www.costco.com/lenovo-ideapad-slim-3-15.6"-touchscreen-laptop---amd-ryzen-5-7530u---1080p---windows-11---abyss-blue.product.4000154162.html

Probably not available for follow-up questions because today is a Mir meat order day. Ask the other users if you have further questions.

[points 99]

These laptops are on sale now on Dell.com Any recomendations which one is better (same price)? I dont know anything about processors etc I see that 1 is smaller, and 1 had double the SSD space

[Yo ssi]

2nd one

[points 99]

2nd one

Thanks

[DaasTora]

https://www.costco.com/acer-swift-go-14%e2%80%9d-touchscreen-laptop-intel-evo-edition-powered-by-intel-core-ultra-7-processor-155h---lcd-1920-x-1200---windows-11.product.4000237600.html
$699. Seems like a decent price for an Ultra 7 touchscreen laptop.

[DaasTora]

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-14-2-in-1-laptop/spd/inspiron-14-7430-2-in-1-laptop/usi2hbts7430gghh
Down to $679. Lowest I've seen.