Which laptop should I get?

[Nineshadow]

My budget is ~$1200. Max $~1300.

 

Now, of course, comes what I expect of the laptop.

 

Size : 13"-15"

I want it to have a good 1080p display(probably IPS). Don't want any higher resolution. Don't see the point since it also comes with an increased cost.

Also , I'd like a rather good build quality and good aesthetics. 

 

So far, I have 2-3 choices :

• If I wanted an overall good machine, I'd go with an Asus UX303LB. Specs : ULV i5/i7 , 940M , FHD 13" display, 256GB SSD. It's probably the most powerful ultrabook out there. It looks amazing IMO, but the GPU horsepower is the only thing that could turn me away from it. The 940M is esentially an overclocked 840M, and the 840M came close to the performance of the 750M. It should allow me to play all games, but I don't know at what settings and what resolution. If it could play almost everything at low 1080p, then I'd sure as hell buy it, but it probably won't. Some demanding games (Witcher 3 maybe?) will probably require going down to 1366x768. Don't know for sure though. Even if that were the case, I already have a good gaming desktop (I do need upgrade my 560 soon enough however), and all the demanding games I would probably play on it. On my laptop, I would most probably play not-so-demanding games, like LoL, Warframe, platformers, etc. Maybe even some Planetside 2. I wonder how that game will be handled by the ultraportable. Anyway, I think that I don't need that much GPU horsepower. Would it be nice? Yes. Do I need it? No, not really. Overall , the UX303LB has fantastic battery life, build quality , screen, and even though it lacks a little bit of graphical performance, it seems like a very solid choice.

 

 

 

• Ah, now come the actual gaming laptops, in the case that I actually need the extra performance. 

1. Lenovo Y50 (2015 refresh) : I think we all know this laptop by now. The only bad thing that would stop me from recommending it to people was the terrible screen that came with the FHD model, and since the QHD model isn't worth it, if you were to buy this laptop, you'd have to deal with the bad screen. Now,however, the Y50 has been upgraded with a 1080p IPS display! Not the best one of course, rather lacking in color gamut and accuracy, but it's a good screen nevertheless. Also, they upgraded the GPU from the 860M to the 960M, although this one is, as well, just an overclocked previous model (860M). The model in my price range also comes with the 256GB SSD, which is always nice. It also comes with a full-mobile Intel chip, so it will deliver better CPU performance, which I won't notice all that much, but which will lead to quite a significant battery life difference compared to ULV ones. The keyboard is also very nice. I have one question that worries   me : does this laptop thermal throttle?
2. Asus G551 : Ah yes, another classic choice. Specs-wise, it's the same as the Y50(there's an updated model with the 960M). However, the price is slightly higher (not by all that much), and is bigger and thicker. Don't know how it handles cooling either. Looks uglier IMO.

 

 

In the end, my choice will be influenced by what I think the laptop should do. Do I need a gaming laptop? Not really. I just want a good all-around laptop that can do anything I throw at it, whether it is programming (which isn't demanding at all), video editing, photo editing,  some Blender from time to time, watching movies, surfing the web, casual gaming(LoL esentially), as well as maybe some other games, but none extremely demanding, since I've got my gaming dekstop for the demanding ones.

 

So far, I'm leaning more towards the ultraportable. It has everything I want(even more), but I don't know about what I WILL WANT in the future(games will get more demanding and the GPU will probably not be able to handle them all that well is what I am talking about). Second comes the Y50. I really like it. Last, there's the Asus G551. Can anyone suggest getting this over the Y50 now that the Lenovo comes with an IPS display on the FHD model?

 

What are your thoughts? Which one should I go for? Do you have other suggestions?

[NationsAnarchy]

I'd go with the Lenovo one actually. Seems suitable for you

[ZetZet]

Lenovo Y50 is good. Acer Nitro is good too, dunno how much it costs.

[pinksnowmanshandle]

I don't have any suggestions, however those gaming options are too flashy imo. 

So my vote goes to the first Asus.

[Nineshadow]

Lenovo Y50 is good. Acer Nitro is good too, dunno how much it costs.

Slightly more. I don't like it however (even saw it IRL).

 

Also, I currently have an Acer, albeit a crappy $500 one from 2007. Haven't liked it too much. People have always said Acer didn't make good laptops (quality-wise). Wonder how much they've changed in the last while.

[ZetZet]

Slightly more. I don't like it however (even saw it IRL).

 

Also, I currently have an Acer, albeit a crappy $500 one from 2007. Haven't liked it too much. People have always said Acer didn't make good laptops (quality-wise). Wonder how much they've changed in the last while.

Acer improved, they offer 3 year warranty too which is insane by todays standards.

[Nineshadow]

Acer improved, they offer 3 year warranty too which is insane by todays standards.

Seriously?

Wow.

 

Nevermind. They only offer 2 year warranty on the Nitro. (where I live)

[ZetZet]

Seriously?

Wow.

 

Nevermind. They only offer 2 year warranty on the Nitro. (where I live)

rip.

 

[Nineshadow]

Update 1 :

Added a pool.

 

I have no idea how I forgot to add it at first.

 

Also, @ZetZet

[razor767]

If your going to be doing heavy Video Editing, I would go with the Y50 or V15 with a core i7 CPU. Otherwise I would go with the UX303LB.

[Nineshadow]

If your going to be doing heavy Video Editing, I would with the Y50 or V15 with a core i7 CPU. Otherwise I would go with the UX303LB.

I counted video editing in because I used to do it...like 3 years ago.

[exercutor5]

Has anyone noticed that is a picture of the Y40?

[Nineshadow]

Has anyone noticed that is a picture of the Y40?

I just googled lenovo y50 and got one of the first pictures that popped up.