Help Finding a Computer for Programming and Gaming

[Guymiso]

Hello there!

 

I'm heading into university and I'm looking to get a new laptop that would support the work I might have to do (I'm in computer science) as well as some gaming. Thanks to graduation & birthday gifts and my own savings I've been able to amass what I think is a sizeable budget.

 

 

Total budget (in local currency) and country of purchase.

 

2000-2500 CAD (Canada)

 

How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life?

 

Performance, Build Quality, Battery Life, Form Factor. I want something that would be able to keep up with my working on classes and project throughout the day (especially when I travel between classes). It's likely that I'll always be plugged in when gaming. For my purposes, I weight productivity over gaming performance.

 

How important is weight and thinness to you?

 

I'd need to be able to carry the laptop around with me, but it doesn't need to be the lightest laptop to ever exist or anything. 

 

Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A.

 

I would prefer something around 15 inches, but I'm not against something bigger or smaller.

 

Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run.

 

I will be doing some gaming, and I would need to be able to run reasonable programs.

 

If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want?

 

Beyond the lighter games that I run, I'd like to be able to run games like Destiny 2 or Witcher 3 at reasonable levels (Somewhere between the highest settings and the basic, I guess?)

 

Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)?

  

Ideally the input devices would be good quality, as well as a reliable build. I don't need anything fancy like a touch-screen or a finger-print reader)

 

Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.

 

I don't now how long laptops are generally expected to last, but I would like this to be my machine for at least 4-5 years (which doesn't feel to far-fetched). Ultimately I want something that I can use as a solid workstation while also being able to get some entertainment out of it.

Thanks for your help!

[Radium_Angel]

6 minutes ago, Guymiso said:

sizeable budget.

 

6 minutes ago, Guymiso said:

2000-2500 CAD (Canada)

That's like, what? 40$ in real money? 

(I kid, I kid)

 

Personally, I'd skip the "gaming laptop" field, they depreciate rather badly and IME aren't built all that well. I'm assuming you want it to last the entirety of college, yes?

I'd look into the workstation line of laptops from Dell, for example. Or, if you are feeling adventurous, go here:

https://www.theportablepc.com/

(warning, extreme prices ahead)

 

[514_AppleGuy]

23 minutes ago, Guymiso said:

Hello there!

 

I'm heading into university and I'm looking to get a new laptop that would support the work I might have to do (I'm in computer science) as well as some gaming. Thanks to graduation & birthday gifts and my own savings I've been able to amass what I think is a sizeable budget.

 

 

Total budget (in local currency) and country of purchase.

 

2000-2500 CAD (Canada)

 

How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life?

 

Performance, Build Quality, Battery Life, Form Factor. I want something that would be able to keep up with my working on classes and project throughout the day (especially when I travel between classes). It's likely that I'll always be plugged in when gaming. For my purposes, I weight productivity over gaming performance.

 

How important is weight and thinness to you?

 

I'd need to be able to carry the laptop around with me, but it doesn't need to be the lightest laptop to ever exist or anything. 

 

Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A.

 

I would prefer something around 15 inches, but I'm not against something bigger or smaller.

 

Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run.

 

I will be doing some gaming, and I would need to be able to run reasonable programs.

 

If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want?

 

Beyond the lighter games that I run, I'd like to be able to run games like Destiny 2 or Witcher 3 at reasonable levels (Somewhere between the highest settings and the basic, I guess?)

 

Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)?

  

Ideally the input devices would be good quality, as well as a reliable build. I don't need anything fancy like a touch-screen or a finger-print reader)

 

Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.

 

I don't now how long laptops are generally expected to last, but I would like this to be my machine for at least 4-5 years (which doesn't feel to far-fetched). Ultimately I want something that I can use as a solid workstation while also being able to get some entertainment out of it.

Thanks for your help!

With that budget, on the PC side I would go with something like a Dell Precision mobile workstation... from my experience, they are absolute TANKS in terms of durability and reliability. If you're okay in working with a Mac, I would also definitely recommend the M1-powered 13" MacBook Pro (up the RAM to 16GB) as well.

[Stygian Zenith]

@Radium_Angeli dont think OP would like something um.. that big? (IMO)

[Radium_Angel]

Just now, Stygian Zenith said:

@Radium_Angeli dont think OP would like something um.. that big? (IMO)

I know, I post those for fun, they look neat, can be fully upgraded but of course are insanely priced....

but the best of both worlds!