Laptop Suggestions

[briodan]

in the market for a gaming laptop and looking for some suggestions

 

This is what i'm thinking for specs:

- I7 - 9th gen

- 16GB of RAM (although something that comes with a 1 x 8GB ram stick (DDR4 2666) would work as i have a spare to use)

- HDD/SSD drive size not critical as i have a 512Gb one to slide in if needed

- ideally supports an M.2 NVME drive even if it does not come with one

- Graphics RTX 2060 for some longevity

 

Although i'm looking for a laptop its most likely never going to be used as such it will just be more or less a desktop i can easily switch out accessories on. I work from home and during the day I need to have my work laptop connected to my monitors etc. but after i'm done work i'd like to switch to my personal laptop. although i'm using a USB-C docking station i have the option to switch to a thunderbolt dock if needed (work laptop support thunderbolt). I also have a sit/stand desk which makes a desktop difficult to manage even if i came up with a different solution to switch between both devices (switching inputs on the monitors etc.)

I've sort of had my eye on a Lenovo Y540 which I've seen in the $1400-$1500 CAD range on the odd sale, but as it does not have thunderbolt i'm not sure I will get the graphics working via the USB-C docking station and i need to look at a thunderbolt model laptop. My monitors only support 1080p so i think the USB-C dock will work.

 

Lastly i'm looking for some recommendation of online stops to keep an eye on for sales etc. I'm checking RFD hoping they catch most other sales but you never know.

[SavageNeo]

https://www.amazon.com/Gaming-GeForce-i7-9750H-Windows-G531GV-DB76/dp/B07S3L9LPT/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=gaming+laptop&qid=1585547389&refinements=p_n_intended_use_browse-bin%3A9647497011%2Cp_89%3AASUS%2Cp_36%3A-150000%2Cp_n_feature_seven_browse-bin%3A18107822011&rnid=3012494011&s=pc&sr=1-3

 

Rog strix scar series is awesome. 120-240hz ips panel. All with rtx 2060 and i7 9750h. 16 gigs of ram and 1tb ssd

[Likwid]

Ryzen 4000 laptops are month or a two away from hitting stores, I would wait for that

[briodan]

On 3/30/2020 at 12:10 AM, Likwid said:

Ryzen 4000 laptops are month or a two away from hitting stores, I would wait for that

i have heard this since January but have not seen any release dates/announcements.

With supply chain disruptions from China i don't know if 1-2 months is still realistic. Lots of enterprise clients are buying every stock of laptops manufacturers have and production seems to be geared towards popular enterprise platforms at the moment.

 

[Egad]

Sager normally has a rotation of deals going on.  They also have some pretty solid, both in terms of thickness and general quality laptops that can be had around 1,400 CAD.  Right now their lower tier on sale laptop is a GTX 1650 based one though, the 1660Ti and 2060 based ones are above your budget.  Worth monitoring though.  

 

Since you mention you plan to never or almost never move it, even with the sit/stand desk, what exactly is the issue with going:

 

1. Non thunderbolt KVM switch (well two of them, one per monitor since 2x single outputs is normally cheaper than a dual monitor supporting one)

2. Long (10' +) USB and HDMI cables to run from switch to the desktop that sits on the floor or anywhere not the desk.

 

Sure you have a bit of a cable snake going on, but you can get a sheath or ties, and now to swap to gaming you just need to hit one button per KVM switch.  No swapping out the laptop attached to the dock or fussing with input options on monitors.  Overall it's cheaper, quieter, etc.  Or just go with something like a Cryorig Taku and set your work laptop on top of it.  Also I think going desktop and long cables is going to let you hit your pricepoint.  Getting an RTX 2060 with Thunderbolt for ~1000 USD/1400 CAD will definitely take some deal hunting.  As long as you're willing to cable up something that isn't Thunderbolt (since you have to go optical for better length) you can have enough slack in there to handle a run from your desktop to your desk.

 

[briodan]

4 hours ago, Egad said:

Quote

Sager normally has a rotation of deals going on.  They also have some pretty solid, both in terms of thickness and general quality laptops that can be had around 1,400 CAD.  Right now their lower tier on sale laptop is a GTX 1650 based one though, the 1660Ti and 2060 based ones are above your budget.  Worth monitoring though.

 If thunderbolt is what i need i don't mind going above the CAD 1500 range, the Lenovo Y740 (RTX 2060 and thunderbolt) has been on sale in the 1600-1700 range (although not since i have been looking sadly)

 

4 hours ago, Egad said:

Since you mention you plan to never or almost never move it, even with the sit/stand desk, what exactly is the issue with going:

 

1. Non thunderbolt KVM switch (well two of them, one per monitor since 2x single outputs is normally cheaper than a dual monitor supporting one)

2. Long (10' +) USB and HDMI cables to run from switch to the desktop that sits on the floor or anywhere not the desk.

Switching a single cable from one device to another is pretty easy and i don't need to have additional gear on my desk. haven't looked into it too deeply but i would be spending another $150 on KVM's and cables for this setup money that can go to a better device, when i already have both a USB-C and a Thunderbolt docking station i can use. Lastly and probably should have added this i have a toddler who loves to push buttons so something on the floor would not work out that well.