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Hey, First, sorry if I'm posting in the wrong section, haven't really used the forum enough yet. Second, I need your help. I have to get a new laptop for university, but being a student I have a limited budget (£350 - £400) I have found a few laptops for my budget but I want to have other peoples opinions on them. When I (hopefully) go to university, I want to study computer science which involves programming and group projects. With the programming and the use of multiple OS', I also need a laptop that can handle all of my work and when I have free time, play the occasional game, (Portal 2, Minecraft) not to demanding of games. Anyway enough rambling, here are the laptops I wish to have your opinions on. www.ebuyer.com Quick find Code: 406981, 411061, 442261, 409379, 482039, 411060 Amazon http://amzn.to/11PX34z http://amzn.to/Yf8RA4 http://amzn.to/168ww7N http://amzn.to/ZWaii6 http://amzn.to/12FdC4q http://amzn.to/15SAtO3 Thanks for your help.

Hi everyone I just wanted some help, I'm thinking about putting a new HDD in my Laptop but the laptop didn't come with a Windows 8 disc or anything I have a Samsung 355V5C laptop its currently has a 750GB HDD in it and I'm thinking to put a HSSD in it from Seagate, I know the laptop has a recovery software on the computer was just wondering how would I be able to transfer data across to the HSSD I'm also thinking about getting an enclosure for the old HDD. Just wanted some advice Thanks.

Hello there guys! I have a bit of a cheap laptop that (someone) bought for me a while back for like ~250 USD. It is an HP 2000-something. But anyway, the point is it is really, really slow, i'm so used to my i5-3570k at home, but this e-450 from AMD makes me cry. Ive looked everywhere for overclocking methods for this particular chip. And I can't find anything, anywhere. The chip is clocked at 1.65 GHz and I would like to get it maybe up to like 2 GHz if its possible. The laptop surprisingly has good cooling, the maximum temp ive ever hit on Prime 95 with it is 60c. I do know the chip is locked, but there has to be some method of either getting around this or breaking through it.I do know the chip can be undervolted with a tool called Brazos Tweaker. It cannot be overclocked with this tool though. Guys please help me, as I do not have money for another laptop at the moment. And IM SICK AND TIRED OF THIS SLOW THING lol. thanks in advance, bcredeur97

The 17.3 inch Widescreen, Vortex III from PCSpecialist.co.uk (Service and Product Review) I would recommend this for nearly all laptop gamers with a good budget, more general gamers I’d tell them to put the money to a desktop for better performance (even with the same spec but desktop version). This is probably not a spec/price for a console gamer that needs converting. I would recommend PCSpecialist to anyone that wants a custom laptop as they are much cheaper than alienware. I would tell someone who wants a desktop to build it them self, but these guys are decent for someone who has no time to build their machine or is not willing to/can’t. PCSpecialist.co.uk Evaluation Pros They have a great forum to discuss anything, and answer any questions. Decent website layout, for easy navigation. Great range of base products to choose from, and upgrade. Upgrade options are plentiful. They are fast to build the system (results may vary per configuration). They show how long it took for systems in the past 5 days (from being ordered to dispatch). They have detailed info on each stage of production. Free insured delivery. Good laptop delivery finish protection, smothered in plastic sheets. Cons They email you your spec in a pdf, but only the first config that is saved, me looking to get the best for my money had multiple configs save, and they didn’t ever email it me when I finally ordered, (small touch but good for when checking your system when it arrives). Charges to use credit card (2% not much but at high cost machines adds a small chunk of cost on top). While packaging was adequate I think it could have had a bit more to the larger box to keep the product a little safer. Laptop Evaluation Pros (some relative to my 3 year old HP Pavilion DV7 4150ea) Stays quite cool under strain and also quiet. Decent battery life when not doing too many intensive tasks. (at least 3 hours). Never going back to a non-backlit keyboard (back lit keyboard looks amazing). Decent choice of display output ports (DVI-I, DPORT & HDMI). Ample storage for files and backing up. USB 3 is a god send for all my USB 3 devices. SSD is fully optimised/utilised with this laptop. Nice finish that feels good and looks good. No branding found on the whole laptop (not good if you like to brag to random strangers). All components are easy to get to. Fingerprint scanner and its software work extremely well and can be used on websites and other programs. WIFI is very strong and stable has reasonable range in a brick UK house, still get a good signal outside on the other side of the house. Speaker quality and sound card are quite reasonable, and don’t warrant a £30 upgrade for different one, and the bundled software for it has some good features. No bloatware on pc at all, when first arrived. Screen is 1080p and is very good; the matte option greatly reduces glace on display. Indifferent Windows 8, I like it, I updated my old machine to it and is great. A few flaws bring it down, like the big divide between ‘modern’ UI and older style desktop. Fingerprint scanner is not in the most optimal place, between the left and right click buttons, so left/right click takes a little getting used to Cons (small things really) Not a complete set of media keys. Some function buttons are useless as windows key combos take their place. Keyboard transition is difficult (Enter key is not a large key but a long ‘shift’ like key, and right shift is cut short by the arrow keys). Power lead, from laptop to ‘brick’, is a little short, so may hang when cable flows is from a desk. Not the most portable laptop, but I’m not too bothered about that as I don’t take it that far from my house, and I prefer the power over portability. Finish is an absolute finger print magnet. Touchpad doesn’t have a uniform feel; edges aren’t as ‘slick’ as centre, (well to me). Mic is just above the touch pad, bad positioning. Laptop Spec Based on a CLEVO P170EM Chassis & Display Vortex Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080) Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-3630QM 6MB (2.40GHz (3.4GHz turbo)) Memory (RAM) 8GB KINGSTON HYPER-X GENESIS 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 (2 x 4GB) Graphics Card NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680M - 4.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11 Storage - Hard Disk 500GB Samsung 840 SSD (Primary), 1TB 5400RPM/500GB 720RPM HDD (Storage) DVD/BLU-RAY Drive 2nd/3rd HDD HARD DRIVE OPTICAL BAY CADDY Memory Card Reader Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo) Thermal Paste ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND Sound Card Intel 5.1 Channel High Definition Audio + SPDIF/MIC/Headphone Jack Bluetooth & Wireless GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® ADVANCED-N 6235 (300Mbps) + BLUETOOTH USB Options 3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT AS STANDARD Firewire 1 X 1394a FIREWIRE PORT Battery Vortex Series 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (5,200 mAh/76.96WH) Power Lead & Adaptor 1 x UK Power Lead & 220W AC Adaptor Operating System Genuine Windows 8 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence Dimensions (weight is approx. 4kg) Thickness/length 45mm Width 410mm Depth 275mm Cold boot up time is 23s, un-optimised with a few of start-up programs Windows Experience Index of 7.2 (for the very few people that want that) Bioshock Infinite Benchmark Tool, Per Scene Stats: Scene Duration (seconds) 32.76 Average FPS 43.7 Min FPS 19.28 Max FPS 63.53 Scene Name Welcome Center Scene Duration (seconds) 21.93 Average FPS 43.63 Min FPS 14.01 Max FPS 52.4 Scene Name Town Center Scene Duration (seconds) 8.16 Average FPS 41.66 Min FPS 27.84 Max FPS 54.17 Scene Name Raffle Scene Duration (seconds) 9.12 Average FPS 61.9 Min FPS 40.71 Max FPS 71.14 Scene Name Monument Island Scene Duration (seconds) 81.64 Average FPS 47.72 Min FPS 14.01 Max FPS 71.14 Scene Name Overall 3D Mark (Only settings available on free trial) http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/6601501 Score P5790 with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M(1x) and Intel Core i7-3630QM Processor Graphics Score 5654 Physics Score 7568 Combined Score 4946 Prime 95 Benchmark Test Results Best time for 61 bit trial factors: 2.230 ms. Best time for 62 bit trial factors: 2.281 ms. Best time for 63 bit trial factors: 2.598 ms. Best time for 64 bit trial factors: 3.630 ms. Best time for 65 bit trial factors: 5.326 ms. Best time for 66 bit trial factors: 6.221 ms. Best time for 67 bit trial factors: 6.166 ms. Best time for 75 bit trial factors: 6.105 ms. Best time for 76 bit trial factors: 6.132 ms. Best time for 77 bit trial factors: 6.096 ms. all software installed by defualt temperatures when Prime95 benchmark tests were being conducted Settings for Bioshock infinites benchmark Version Info: 32Bit Exe - 1.0.1384116 2/28/2013 12:00:00 AM Commandline Used: DefaultPCBenchmarkMap.xcmap -ForceCompatLevel=7 -resx=1920 -resy=1080 -nosound -norumble -noPauseOnLossOfFocus -fullscreen -runfrombenchmarkbat -DEFENGINEINI=..\..\XGame\Config\DefaultEngineSteamworks.ini Settings Used: [systemSettings] StaticDecals=true DynamicDecals=true UnbatchedDecals=true DynamicShadows=true DirectionalLightmaps=true DepthOfField=true DiffusionDepthOfField=true Bloom=true Distortion=true FilteredDistortion=true DropParticleDistortion=false bAllowDownsampledTranslucency=true bUseMaxQualityMode=false OnlyStreamInTextures=false LensFlares=true OneFrameThreadLag=true UseVsync=false VsyncTo60WhenUnder30=false UpscaleScreenPercentage=true AllowD3D10=true AllowD3D11=true AllowRadialBlur=true EnableSoftwareOcclusion=false EnableGPUOcclusionQueries=true EnableDepthPrePass=false bAllowWholeSceneDominantShadows=true bForceCPUAccessToGPUSkinVerts=false bDisableSkeletalInstanceWeights=false EnableScreenSpaceAmbientShadows=true EnableSPUScreenSpaceAmbientShadows=true UseHighQualityLightShaftRendering=true EnableSM5ShadowSystem=true EnableSM5ShadowBlur=true EnableLightShafts=true EnableFXAA=true EnableSM5FXAA=false EnableHDAO=true HDAOHighQuality=true DisableAOFiltering=false UseLowPrecisionColorBuffer=false UseHalfResAmbientShadows=false UseComputeShaderAmbientShadows=true bInitializeShadersOnDemand=false bEnableParallelApexClothingFetch=false SkeletalMeshLODBias=0 ParticleLODBias=0 DetailMode=2 ShadowFilterQualityBias=3 MaxAnisotropy=16 MinShadowResolution=64 MaxShadowResolution=2048 MaxPerObjectShadowResolution=2048 CullCastersSmallerThanTexels=0 ResX=1920 ResY=1080 UnbuiltNumWholeSceneDynamicShadowCascades=3 ShadowFadeResolution=128 LightFadeResolution=0 LightMinResolution=0 GraphicsQualityLevel=5 DisplayMode=1 MaxPrecachePrimitivesPerFrame=300 ApexDestructionMaxChunkIslandCount=2147483647 ApexDestructionMaxShapeCount=2147483647 ApexClothingAvgSimFrequencyWindow=60 ScreenPercentage=100.000 SceneCaptureStreamingMultiplier=1.000 ShadowTexelsPerPixel=1.273 ShadowDepthBias=0.012 ShadowDepthBiasWorstCase=0.003 CSMSplitSoftTransitionDistanceScale=4.000 CSMSplitDepthBiasScale=0.500 UnbuiltWholeSceneDynamicShadowRadius=20000.000 ShadowFadeExponent=0.700 LightFadeExponent=1.000 DecalCullDistanceScale=1.000 SM5ShadowSunWidth=0.100 SM5ShadowSunWidthWorstCase=50.000 NewShadowPenumbra=8.000 NewShadowSplitPenumbraScale=0.500 NewShadowFilterWidth=2.000 ShadowCascadeScale=1.000 NewCSMSoftTransitionDistance=600.000 NewNonCSMSoftTransitionDistance=60.000 MassiveLODDistanceBias=0.100 CullDistanceBias=0.100 StaticMeshLODDistanceBias=0.100 SkeletalMeshLODDistanceBias=0.100 ParticleSystemLODDistanceBias=0.100 DistortionFadeResolution=1.000 DistortionMinResolution=0.000 SM5DiffusionNearBlurScale=0.600 SM5DiffusionFarBlurScale=0.350 OverallTextureStreamingBias=1.500 ParticleCountHardLimitScaleFactor=10.000 MaxDistanceToApplyOcclusionRotationalScaling=5000.000 ApexLODResourceBudget=1000000020040877300000.000 ApexDestructionMaxChunkSeparationLOD=1.000

Hello everyone I have a few questions for this community to answer/recommend for me. I am going to America for about 6 weeks and while I am over there I was thinking of buying a laptop to keep me entertained for my trip and also to take advantage of the cheaper prices compared to what they are here in Australia. I want a descent one they can play games and also will be powerful enough to do video editing as I will be using it for school as well. There are issues though. I know the 700 series of graphics cards have been launched and I don't want to get a laptop with a 600m series if I can wait and get a 700m series card. Also when will we see haswell showing up in Laptops. So far I haven't seen anything but I know that because they are very new. My budget is about $1500 AUD but I can be flexible. And one specifically for Australians, will I have any issues with warranty or licensing when I bring it back to Australia. Thanks and I hope someone can help.

Hey everybody, I have an interesting problem. I have a laptop with windows on it (the only partition). My plan is to shrink that partition, add a new one, and install linux onto that. I don't plan on dualbooting, so I need to retrieve the files off the windows partition and move them onto the linux one. Then I can erase the windows partition and enjoy the open-source goodness. Since this is a laptop, I only have one drive attached (I don't own an external one either). What would be the best way to move the files? Thank you in advance, Jacob

Hullo everybody, I've been waiting for Haswell to get a new gaming/3D modeling/schoolwork laptop, and I found the MSI GE60 2OE-003US. I wanted to share with you all in case anybody is in the same boat as me. It seems like a great deal (for the specs), so unless something even better comes along, I'll be buying this. The best part is, I can have XoticPC remove the HDD, save $50, and run linux (instead of Windows 8) while reusing the hard drive in my current laptop. Display: 15.6" FHD (16:9) Anti-Glare Matte-Type Screen (1920x1080) Processor: 4th Generation Intel® Mobile Core i7-4700MQ Haswell Processor (Upgradeable) Chipset: Intel® HM87 Chipset Standard Hard Drive: 750GB 7200RPM Hard Drive (Upgradeable) 1 Detachable 2.5" 9.5mm (H) SATA Hard Disk Drives Standard Optical Drive: 8x DVDRW/CDRW Super Multi Combo Drive (Upgradeable) 1 12.7mm (H) Optical Drive Bay, ATA Interface, Interchangeable with ±R/RW Combo drive Graphics: nVIDIA® GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 (2.0GB) Memory: 8192MB DDR3 1600MHz (Upgradeable - 16GB 1600MHz Max) Two 204Pin SODIMM Sockets 64-bit Wide DDRIII Data Channel Audio Features: Support Dolby® Digital Live 3D Stereo Enhanced Sound System S/PDIF Output 1 Built-in Microphone 2 Built-in HD Speakers + 1 Subwoofer Sound Blaster Compatible Network / Communication: 10/100/1000 Killer E2200 Series Gaming LAN Integrated 802.11 b/g/n wireless LAN + Bluetooth™ 4.0 Input / Output Ports: 3-in-1 Card Reader SD / SDHC / SDXC 2 x USB 2.0 Port 2 x USB 3.0 Ports 1 x HDMI 1.4a 1 x Killer E2200 Series Gaming LAN 1 x VGA Port/Mini D-sub 15-Pin for External Monitor 1 x Microphone 1 x Headphone Out Jack Battery: Input/Output: 6 Cells - Smart Lithium-Ion Battery Pack 100-240 V AC, 50/60Hz Universal | 19 V DC, 120W AC Adapter Size: 5.81” (L) x 2.50” (W) x 1.37” (H) | 1.25 lbs Cooling: Optional Cooling: Copper CPU Heatsink IC Diamond Thermal Compound Size: Weight: 15.09" (w) x 9.83" (d) x 1.27-1.46" (h) 5.28 lbs with 6-cell Battery Extra Features: Built-in 720P Digital Video Camera | Kensington® Lock Standard OS: Windows 8® (some custom drivers may be downloaded and not supplied with the system)

Forgive me if this is in the wrong thread, I wasn't sure where to post it. My dad gave me a laptop because he said it was "broken" My thought is that its something to do with the cpu's onboard video, but I would like a few different opinions. As you can see in the video, the display slowly turns green and then goes back to "normal" but the normal is the standard display with a red tint. After about a half hour this goes away and acts like a normal laptop should. Normal colors and all. This only happens on startup. (I'm using the laptop in the video to post this) Anyways I would like some solutions/opinions. And if it is the cpu, i would like to replace it. I know the cpu in this laptop is replaceable I just don't know the socket. Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mne0dthp7N4 Laptop Model: HP Pavilion DV4 i3 330m model

I just got a new laptop (new to me, at least, it was my dads for about 3 years) and I want to upgrade the CPU. The current CPU is a i3 330m. According to the intel website its supported on socket BGA1288 and PGA988 and has a TDP of 35W. I want to upgrade to a i7 740QM which has a TDP of 45w and is supported on socket PGA 988 only. Will this work? If not what would you suggest as an upgrade? Also, I'm not familiar with laptops but I also keep reading that both of these are socket G1, but the intel website says nothing about "G1" in supported sockets. Any ideas?

So I need some suggestions for a gaming laptop which cost around 900-1100 €€€€€€ not $ I'm in Europe! It doesn't have to be the best! I want like a gtx 650m and an i7 or i5.

My sister is having a problem with her laptop. every time she plugs it in, the screen decides that it wants to get so dim you can't read it. It's only when she plugs it in. so any ideas?