Laptop for gaming programming

[luketoajojo]

My son, who has ASD is first year computer game design and development degree. I’d like to buy him a laptop with decent core i7
RAM: at least 16Gb
HDD or SSD
- GPU - Nvidia 5xxM recommended
CPU: minimum core i7
Virtualization support required - I think he will be running a virtual machine at some point
- (multiple) VirtualBox VM
- IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate
- Webstorm
- etc. In other words, heavy duty full-stack business application development

It might sound as if I know what I’m talking about but I’ve just copied this from a student forum! Normally my husband would sort this but he’s not well. I’d really appreciate some ideas. Budgetwise I’d probably go to about £1200. Thanks

 

[samer.forums]

5th generation nvidia is very old

get 10xx generation (1050 and up)

 

[luketoajojo]

5th generation nvidia is very old

get 10xx generation (1050 and up)

 

[luketoajojo]

Thanks for the info...but as my son would say..I’m a complete noob! Would you be able to tell me what laptops have this in? I know it’s terribly cheeky and I’m asking everyone to do my homework for me, but I really don’t know what to buy. And if my kids have taught me anything and that’s no to go to computer shops as they’ll sell you anything!

 

[samer.forums]

Thanks for the info...but as my son would say..I’m a complete noob! Would you be able to tell me what laptops have this in? I know it’s terribly cheeky and I’m asking everyone to do my homework for me, but I really don’t know what to buy. And if my kids have taught me anything and that’s no to go to computer shops as they’ll sell you anything!

Things to know :

1- maximum weight you want ? 1Kg ? 2Kg ? 3 KG ? or more ?

2- Screen size ? 13 or 14 or 15 ?

3- is battery life important ? or the wall plug is near all the time ?

4- does he need a touch screen ?

5- does he need a digitizer pen ? (to draw on screen or write text?)

 

[luketoajojo]

Thanks for the info...but as my son would say..I’m a complete noob! Would you be able to tell me what laptops have this in? I know it’s terribly cheeky and I’m asking everyone to do my homework for me, but I really don’t know what to buy. And if my kids have taught me anything and that’s no to go to computer shops as they’ll sell you anything!

Things to know :

1- maximum weight you want ? 1Kg ? 2Kg ? 3 KG ? or more ?

2- Screen size ? 13 or 14 or 15 ?

3- is battery life important ? or the wall plug is near all the time ?

4- does he need a touch screen ?

5- does he need a digitizer pen ? (to draw on screen or write text?)

 

[luketoajojo]

I suppose not too heavy, as he has to carry it to uni. And I think screen size would be better slightly larger. I don’t think a touch screen is important...isn’t that like Apple Mac? And my other son said that wouldn’t be suitable for his brothers programming...I think he’s doing c++ and python? He’s more writing the programmes...so it’s more computer science but for games, so the pen probably wouldn’t be of any use either...but hey what do I know?! I’m sorry for being so ignorant.

 

[SoggyTissue]

virtualbox vm (at least the version i have <old>) runs on few cores and i dislike hearing my fan spinning at maximum. also the way vm box works would mean you want a standard HDD, not a ssd! since it is very write orientated, it will shorten an ssd life quite drastically, especially if youre running several boxes. - in this instance i would actually reccomend a sshd ... where windows/whatever os loads into the ssd partition, and all those boxes will be writing to the hdd part.

yes, i do agree 16GB minimum on a laptop to help with power consumption due to the hdd choice.

so to sum up:
i7 do NOT get a U on any generation intel below 6, that stands for ultra low power and means its a 2 core cpu.
16GB ram
1060 6GB gpu
2tb sshd

something like > https://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-GS70-2QE16SR51S-i7-4710HQ-Processor-Dedicated/dp/B06Y1X836F/ref=sr_1_6?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1509545711&sr=1-6&refinements=p_n_feature_eleven_browse-bin%3A7472678031#productDetails

or > https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HU6EBWY/ref=twister_B01IVL89PW

though i dont really like anything lenovo, i would just use that as a reference and not buy anything from them.

 

[samer.forums]

no sorries , the one who asks to learn is never an ignorant. the ignorant is the one who does not ask , and does not try to learn more . I am sure I am ignorant in things you know and I dont know as well .

Give me some time will be back soon .

 

[luketoajojo]

virtualbox vm (at least the version i have <old>) runs on few cores and i dislike hearing my fan spinning at maximum. also the way vm box works would mean you want a standard HDD, not a ssd! since it is very write orientated, it will shorten an ssd life quite drastically, especially if youre running several boxes. - in this instance i would actually reccomend a sshd ... where windows/whatever os loads into the ssd partition, and all those boxes will be writing to the hdd part.

yes, i do agree 16GB minimum on a laptop to help with power consumption due to the hdd choice.

so to sum up:
i7 do NOT get a U on any generation intel below 6, that stands for ultra low power and means its a 2 core cpu.
16GB ram
1060 6GB gpu
2tb sshd

something like > https://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-GS70-2QE16SR51S-i7-4710HQ-Processor-Dedicated/dp/B06Y1X836F/ref=sr_1_6?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1509545711&sr=1-6&refinements=p_n_feature_eleven_browse-bin%3A7472678031#productDetails

or > https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HU6EBWY/ref=twister_B01IVL89PW

though i dont really like anything lenovo, i would just use that as a reference and not buy anything from them.

 

[luketoajojo]

Thanks for your reply...think we’re going to go with the dell Inspiron that you suggested.

 

[samer.forums]

dont worry about shorting the SSD life in notebook usage . I never saw an SSD on a notebook out of life because of writing usage below 5 years of use anyways . it is okay .. this is not a server , this is a notebook.

and for his work get true four cores CPU. dont get 2 cores .

one question for the OP , are you buying from UK ? UK shops have less products as I can see ...

 

[luketoajojo]

dont worry about shorting the SSD life in notebook usage . I never saw an SSD on a notebook out of life because of writing usage below 5 years of use anyways . it is okay .. this is not a server , this is a notebook.

and for his work get true four cores CPU. dont get 2 cores .

one question for the OP , are you buying from UK ? UK shops have less products as I can see ...

 

[luketoajojo]

Yes I am UK - and the computer shops are awful with staff who aren’t really knowledgeable...and people like me are easy prey! Better deals online - if you know what to buy. Two of my sons have built their own PC’s, with the help of their dad, but unfortunately he isn’t well so isn’t able to help this time.
Thanks again

 

[samer.forums]

Yes I am UK - and the computer shops are awful with staff who aren’t really knowledgeable...and people like me are easy prey! Better deals online - if you know what to buy. Two of my sons have built their own PC’s, with the help of their dad, but unfortunately he isn’t well so isn’t able to help this time.
Thanks again

I did not recommend a notebook yet

wait

 

[samer.forums]

okay , here is the best I could find .

1- OMEN by HP OMEN 15-ce001ng

CPU : i7-7700HQ, 4x 2.80GHz
RAM: 16GB DDR4
HDD: 1TB
SSD: 256GB M.2 NVMe-support
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
Screen : 15.4 inch IPS

1299 pounds

https://www.alternate.co.uk/OMEN-by-HP/OMEN-15-ce001ng-2-8GHz-i7-7700HQ-15-6-1920-x-1080pixels-Black-Red-Notebook-Notebook-/html/product/1359134?campaign=Notebook/OMEN+by+HP/1359134

2- Gigabyte Sabre 17

CPU: i7-7700HQ 4x 2.80GHz
RAM: 16GB DDR4
HDD: 1TB
SSD: 128GB M.2
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
screen : 17 inch IPS

price : 1233 pounds

http://www.ksn-online.co.uk/gigabyte-sabre-17k-cf1-173-windows-home-7700hq1tb256gb16gb-ddr4-p-19481.html

3- Lenovo Yoga 720

this one is touch screen , accepts pen digitizer , has tablet mode , and light , and flips.

CPU : i7 7700HQ 4x2.8
RAM : 8GB (could not find 16 but this can be upgraded)
SSD : 256GB
Graphics : GTX 1050
Sceren : 15 inch ips , 360 rotating
Price : 1299

https://www.intel.co.uk/buy/uk/en/product/laptops/lenovo-yoga-720-28ghz-i7-7700hq-156-1920-x-1080pixels-touchscreen-platinumsilver-hybrid-2-in-1-598760#tech_specs

you can read about it here

https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/yoga/700-series/Yoga-720-15/p/88YG7000828


Those are the best you can get in UK so far near your price .

dont get old stuff or cheap stuff.

show this to your son and he will choose.

have a nice day