Laptop Vs PC for Work and Casual Gaming < $1k to $1.5k

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  ZachBlasphemy on 30/06/2021 - 12:15

  +4

  If you don't need the portability of a laptop, there's no reason to choose one.

  Too easy for one component to die then the whole machine becomes too costly to fix. Try to get a machine that uses standard parts so repairs are easy and affordable, this will make sure the computer will actually last for how long you need it to and to allow any upgrades later on.

  I wouldn't even worry about RTX either, a newer card will feature it but you won't use it.

  I'd just decide on a budget then keep an eye on here for pre-builts (read the comments on them) that fit that and factor in other peripherals too.

  • 

    Succulent on 30/06/2021 - 12:46

    Thanks for your input. When you said not to worry about RTX, what are the alternate cheaper option?

    All i see in the latest comp deals are all RTX, so I assume no other brand/model comes close to it. Much like back then when everyone is using Intel Pentium only as the best processors.

    Oh and.. is i5 sufficient or i7 would be the new standard nowadays?

    • 

      TheBird on 30/06/2021 - 13:03

      Oh and.. is i5 sufficient or i7 would be the new standard nowadays?

      I wrote you a reply below. I run an i7, but for the vast majority of what I do, an i5 would be sufficient. That being said, the current i5 setups run with about the same power as my i7.

    • 

      ZachBlasphemy on 30/06/2021 - 13:10

      +1

      I mean Raytracing sorry, it's the actual feature that RTX refers to. Hopefully I haven't confused you. If you buy an RTX 2060, it can do raytracing but you probably won't use that feature.

      i5 vs i7 is a very basic way of comparing products and doesn't really mean anything, just a way to put processors in the same generation into separate categories. Check the actual numbers and what the games you want to play recommend.

      • 

        Succulent on 30/06/2021 - 13:59

        Got it thanks!

• 

  Sturt on 30/06/2021 - 12:25

  +4

  Pros Laptops:
  • Portable
  • All in one - Display, keyboard, mouse, webcam, processing
  • Operates in a power outage
  Cons:
  • Thermal throttling
  • Processing specs lower than desktop equivalent
  • Limited inputs and outputs
  • Limited upgrading options

  Pros Desktop:
  • More powerful - Hardware is usually higher spec to laptop equivalent
  • Superior cooling
  • Many I/O options
  • Can swap internals hardware easily for increased performance (Less limited in the games you can play due to performance drops)
  Cons:
  • Limited portability
  • Requires other hardware to be purchased such as Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse.

  My opinion for your use case is to go a desktop. You will feel less hamstrung as the product ages and once you are setup with your monitor, keyboard and mouse, that space becomes a little sanctuary for productivity or games.

  • 

    Succulent on 30/06/2021 - 12:44

    Thank you appreciate your inputs! My peripherals are all sorted apart from the extra monitor to cater for dual screens. I have been using a separate keyboard and mouse with my laptop anyway in the last 15 years.

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  TheBird on 30/06/2021 - 13:01

  At a quick glance, it's your graphics card that's causing your xcom lagging but I'm not quite sure (I haven't played xcom since it first came out, probably 25 years ago and surely my PC back then didn't have the grunt yours has).

  For the kind of stuff you're running, you don't need much of a video card. a 1050 ti would be heaps. I took a quick look at the price for a GTX 2060 and it's $750 on special with most at about the $900 range (at Umart), so if your budget is $1000 for the whole setup, you're going to blow that budget.

  for the next 5-10 years) to play games at the highest setting

  It's hard to know what games will appeal to you and their specs, but considering your motion sickness kind of of thing, you wouldn't need too much. The games you play are similar to the ones that appeal to be and I'm running on an 8th gen i7 and a 1050ti and it mostly idles even in games…. but as I said, it's hard to have a clue. I'm thinking of picking up a RTX 3060ti when prices move back to reasonable, but this kind of thinking leads to spending way too much.

  Personally, if I were you, I'd pick up an i5 (i7 if you can stretch the budget), 16gig ram, 1050ti, M.2, decent power supply and cooling, monitor etc… and upgrade individual parts as your needs change.

  • 

    Succulent on 30/06/2021 - 13:35

    Thank you this is very informative.

    That Acer Nitro laptop link with RTX 2060 for $999 at HN was my benchmark, thinking i could get machine with RTX 2060 easily for under $1k. Haha..

    • 

      TheBird on 30/06/2021 - 13:50

      One thing to also note. Laptop CPU's tend to be underpowered compared to their desktop counterparts.

• 

  Drakesy on 30/06/2021 - 13:11

  I'd personally stick to the RTX 2060 minimum, could squeeze in a 3060 in that price range as well.
  Even if you're looking at it from a resale point of view the 1660 would depreciate like a rock given it's age.

  • 

    Succulent on 30/06/2021 - 13:36

    Good point, thanks!

• 

  benstella on 30/06/2021 - 18:07

  I'm in similar situation, OP.
  I'm looking for a laptop with following configuration:
  Ryzen 4800H or equivalent intel one
  16 GB RAM
  Display 300 nits
  Grpahic Card RTX 2060 or RTX 2060 Max q
  500GB SSD or 1 TB HDD
  Budget $1500

  I do have access to Lenovo Education, Dell Student Purchase, HP Aus Student Store
  I found good deals here. Thanks to Ozb community for posting great deals but 250 nits screen or 8gb ram doesn't fit my criteria :(
  Dell G5 and G7 are big no due to heating issues mentioned in forums.
  I don't want to risk installing separate RAM or disk drives to void warranty.

  So far I looked at Asus TUF 15, HP Omen, Lenovo Legion 5.
  Hopefully, I get one before EOFY.
  Also, I believe laptop needs to be delivered before 30 June to claim for this financial year?