Laptop Graphics: Older Discrete vs. Newer Integrated

[CTX-SLPR]

Howdy y'all,

 

It's time to think about a new travel laptop as my current system is so over taxed it is constantly in max fan mode just checking email or watching YouTube.  I could uprade the RAM to address the constant hitting of the paging file but that won't fix the bottom drawer integrated graphics.  It chokes on The Long Dark, as in slide show, single digits FPS on low settings.  It's not capable of playing even the older title (Mass Effect, Supreme Commander, Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, etc) games at much more than lowest settings.  I also use it to remote desktop back to my work SolidWorks battlestation so it's tiny screen size is also an issue.

 

I'm not going to spend a lot on a laptop that I only use on the road so I'm looking over Craigslist systems mostly.  On a $350 Max budget for a 15.6in screen system, should I be looking for a newer i-5 class system with integrated graphics or an older workstation type system with discrete graphics (K series Quadros or maybe even older FX series units, I honestly don't see any gaming spec discrete graphics)?  I could see going down to a 14in screen system if it was a much longer-term solution like a discrete graphics in a pretty new system, but in general I prioritize screen size over performance at an age tier.

 

Thoughts and thanks

[zombienerd]

You should be able to find an older i7 3xxx or 4xxx system with a GTX 850 or 860 for your price range.

 

I just recently sold my Asus N550 that was a  4710hq and GTX 850m for about 350, and it could play just about any AAA title at 720p or 900p medium settings.

[Cyracus]

dedicated graphics tend to be better than integrated even when several years older. Your current laptop with fans always at max indicates the thermal paste is probably dried out, if you want a backup or you want to sell it it may be as simple as replacing the paste and cleaning the fans to get it usable again.

[CTX-SLPR]

1 hour ago, Cyracus said:

dedicated graphics tend to be better than integrated even when several years older. Your current laptop with fans always at max indicates the thermal paste is probably dried out, if you want a backup or you want to sell it it may be as simple as replacing the paste and cleaning the fans to get it usable again.

I have left over Artic 5 from my desktop build, I feel up to addressing that.

[CTX-SLPR]

Been watching Craigslist and finally after giving up trying to search by 85* and other wildcards just popped in NVIDIA and got results. If I keep to my $350 budget, all I’m finding is NVS or FX series Quadros.  If I got up to $400 you start getting K1000M/1200M results with anything from 870M to 940M system.  Increase to $500 and there is the occasional low end gaming system with a 1050M.  

 

Those $500 are solidly out of budget for something like this (even at 7 series i7 and a 17.3in screen). Better to go cheaper and older with the NVS Quadros or setup it up to get a 4 series process?

 

Thoughts?

[CTX-SLPR]

Another thought hit me today... DirectX 12.  While nothing I currently play uses it nor do any of the titles I’ve been interested in support it.  It’s something that will only become more and more common.  Is it worth restricting myself to Kepler GPUs to gain this support or by the time DX12 is a requirement for something I’ll be replacing a laptop that fits in a $400 budget anyway?

 

Thanks