Looking to buy Laptop $600-$750ish range

[ShadoSgt]

I've posted on the forums a couple of times and have had great luck in getting some solid advise, so figure why not come back and get ya'lls input. The laptop that I'm using is an Asus from I think 2012 or so... Not fast by any stretch of the imagination and heck it crashed on my trying to play some rocket league a few years ago lol. Honestly though it wouldn't be used for a ton of gaming, but I do like playing Teamfight Tactics, LoL, and some various other random things that catch my interest. I do though want the capability of playing some games with out it absolutely sounding like a jet engine revving up. I am a professor and use my laptop a lot for teaching and prior to covid I would cart it around daily, so I'm not looking for a mammoth 17 incher or anything max would be 15. I do run alot of simulations, programs for analytics and such. I ran an excel simulation on my current laptop and it seriously took 2 hours to complete. So pretty much anything will be an upgrade lol. I would like to have the ability to hook up a USB-C docking station as then I could just easily swap my work provided laptop for my personal laptop when it's time for me to teach, or play games or do other work.  I would like to stay in the 6-750ish range as the topic suggest. I was looking at the Gateway that LTT reviewed and bang for buck it seemed like it would suit my needs, albeit adding some RAM would be ideal. It's gone to the $850 mark and honestly that would be a stretch but we will make it work if it truly is worth it. 

 

Look forward to hearing ya'lls thoughts and opinions and yes I know I'm not going to get a truly spectacular laptop for the price range I'm looking at, I am realistic but also would like it to last me another 5+ years. 

[GDRRiley]

if you can wait a few more weeks new AMD powered laptops will be out.

If HP releases the probook on the earlier side the 445 G8 or 455 G8 would be a decent model starting at around that price. They have so far announced it

 

Right now there is a 445 G7 in stock from HP with a 4500U 8gb of ram and a 250gb SSD. I'd move the system to 16gb with a 2x8gb kit (assuming HP is actually shipping 2x4 and not 1x8) You could move to 32gb in the future

 

I've got their last gen 445R G6 and my 2 biggest complaints are I wish they dropped the 2.5in bay for a larger batter/ no HDD in 2020. Which it lokos like for the G8 they've dropped the HDD but still not a larger battery.

Edited January 23, 2021 by GDRRiley

[ShadoSgt]

19 hours ago, GDRRiley said:

if you can wait a few more weeks new AMD powered laptops will be out.

If HP releases the probook on the earlier side the 445 G8 or 455 G8 would be a decent model starting at around that price. They have so far announced it

 

Right now there is a 445 G7 in stock from HP with a 4500U 8gb of ram and a 250gb SSD. I'd move the system to 16gb with a 2x8gb kit (assuming HP is actually shipping 2x4 and not 1x8) You could move to 32gb in the future

 

I've got their last gen 445R G6 and my 2 biggest complaints are I wish they dropped the 2.5in bay for a larger batter/ no HDD in 2020. Which it lokos like for the G8 they've dropped the HDD but still not a larger battery.

I appreciate the feedback. How has the HP held up for you? I've always tended to stay away from them due to past horrid experiences. 

[ShadoSgt]

Would yall think this setup for $699 would be a good one to go for???

https://www.costco.com/lenovo-legion-5-15.6"-laptop---10th-gen-intel-core-i5-10300h---geforce-gtx-1650---1080p.product.100695450.html

[GDRRiley]

2 hours ago, ShadoSgt said:

I appreciate the feedback. How has the HP held up for you? I've always tended to stay away from them due to past horrid experiences. 

I've nothing but good experiences with probooks with the 2-3 I've used over the last 10 years

[ShadoSgt]

2 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

I've nothing but good experiences with probooks with the 2-3 I've used over the last 10 years

hmmm, thank you for the input. I'm looking at that new hp or the one I just posted. they both seem like they would do all the work I need. Don't know much about the Lenovo legion line though

[ShadoSgt]

or the have the ryzen 5 4600 version same specs as all the rest for that lenovo.

[GDRRiley]

you can edit posts to add more.

 

1 minute ago, ShadoSgt said:

or the have the ryzen 5 4600 version same specs as all the rest for that lenovo.

I'd go  R5 4600 for its extra cores and threads. I'm not sure on that model if you can swap ram if not get it with 16gb from the factory

[ShadoSgt]

1 minute ago, GDRRiley said:

you can edit posts to add more.

 

I'd go  R5 4600 for its extra cores and threads. I'm not sure on that model if you can swap ram if not get it with 16gb from the factory

Thank you. I appreciate the help. I looked it up and it looks like it comes with a single 8gb ram but does have 2 slots. So think i will pick up a second stick to get it to 16.