EDIT: Instead of spamming a new thread I posted in this one again with the specs of a new computer I have found (again, help is apreciated) and the now relevant post would be starting at #23... so please disregard every thing before that.


I had a thread a couple weeks ago asking for spec help but this is a bit difference, I have pegged down two computers I may want to buy and they both look good. This isn't meant to be a "which is a better brand" but more specificly what are the pros and cons. don't worry either, I will post the spec info below. thanks for the help.

Acer AS5742Z-4459 2.13GHz P6200 4GB/ 500GB 15.6-inch Laptop

Manufacturer: Acer, Inc
Manufacturer Part Number: LX.R4P02.142
Manufacturer Website Address: us.acer.com
Brand Name: Acer
Product Line: Aspire
Product Series: 5742
Product Model: AS5742Z-4459
Product Name: Aspire AS5742Z-4459 Notebook
Product Type: Notebook
Processor Manufacturer: Intel
Processor Type: Pentium
Processor Model: P6200
Processor Speed: 2.13 GHz
Processor Core: Dual-core
Cache: 3 MB
Standard Memory: 4 GB
Maximum Memory: 8 GB
Memory Technology: DDR3 SDRAM
Hard Drive Capacity: 500 GB
Optical Drive Type: DVD-Writer
Optical Media Support: DVD-RAM/±R/±RW
Dual-Layer Media Support: Yes
Screen Size: 15.6"
Display Screen Type: Active Matrix TFT Color LCD
Display Screen Technology: CineCrystal
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Screen Mode: WXGA
Display Resolution: 1366 x 768
Graphics Controller Manufacturer: Intel
Graphics Controller Model: Graphics Media Accelerator HD
Graphics Memory Accessibility: Shared
Ethernet Technology: Gigabit Ethernet
Wi-Fi: Yes
Wi-Fi Standard: IEEE 802.11b/g/n
Webcam: Yes
HDMI: Yes
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium
Operating System Architecture: 64-bit
Number of Cells: 6-cell
Maximum Battery Run Time: 3.50 Hour
Color: Black
Height: 1.30"
Width: 15"
Depth: 10"
Weight (Approximate): 5.70 lb
Package Contents:
Aspire AS5742Z-4459 Notebook
Lithium Ion Battery
AC Adapter
Green Compliance: Yes
Green Compliance Certificate/Authority: Energy Star
Dimensions:15 x 10 x 1.3
Materials:Electronics
Model No:LX.R4P02.142

Gateway NV55C38u 15.6-Inch Laptop (Satin Black)

15.6-inch LED-backlit widescreen display
2.13 GHz Intel Pentium P6200 dual-core processor (3 MB L3 cache) enables you to run your favorite office and educational software, stay in touch with friends through social networks, and enjoy PC games.
500 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1066 MHz)
Intel HD Graphics (with 128 MB of dedicated system memory) deliver turbo-charged performance and fast throughput and provides support for Microsoft DirectX 10 games.
8x SuperMulti DVD±R/RW drive can also write to CD, DVD-RAM, and dual-layer (DL) DVD±R discs--which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data.
Multi-gesture touchpad enables you to pinch, flick and swirl your fingers for an intuitive navigation of web pages, photos and more.
Dedicated Gateway social networks key makes connecting to your favorite social networking sites a snap by instantly launching Facebook, YouTube and Flickr with a single log-in to all three sites.
Dedicated numeric keypad helps you to quickly key-in numbers and streamline productivity.
Mono speaker
1.3-megapixel webcam integrated into the display bezel for easy video chats and conferencing (1280 x 1024 resolution)
Gateway MyBackup makes it easy to back up your data without a hassle. Duplicate files to another location quickly and easily with a single press of the Gateway MyBackup Key.
Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) for ultra-fast connectivity to home and business networks.
3 USB 2.0 ports
HDMI port for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable. Also includes standard anolog VGA video output.
2-in-1 Media Card Reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMediaCard (MMC)
Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium.
Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
Preloaded with the Microsoft Office Starter 2010 free software offering with selected functionality of Word and Excel for your text and spreadsheet tasks. Plus, if you decide you want the full suite, just purchase a product key to activate an ad-free version that also includes the latest Outlook, PowerPoint, and Publisher programs.
Preloaded with Norton Internet Security offering antispyware, antiphishing, antivirus, website authentication, login security and more. Plus, Norton Online Backup lets you search your stored files by keyword and e-mail file links to ease sharing with others.
Up to 4 hours of battery life from 6-cell battery (4400 mAh)
Weight: 5.72 pounds
Warranty: One-year parts and labor limited warranty


btw, sorry about huge wall of text but this was copy and paste and I could not figure out how to make it more friendlier.

acer. I've never had luck with gateway.

What are you planning on using it for?

various stuff, but I think some of the most demanding use I would have for it in the future would be Skyrim (but it doesn't ruin it for me if it can't run skyrim, but the specs for that hasn't been released yet so...) or gaming stuff in general. I would be using it for all kinds of stuff but thats the most demanding I think.


PS (the thing I look forward too the most with this lap top is being able to play minecraft )

They both svck equally bad

Also: Acer owns Gateway

Both have Intel GPUs. You won't be able to run modern games decently, if at all.

Sorry but neither of those will run any modern game.

how so? is it in comparison to the higher end computers that are available, because I am aware. I am on a budget and both cost 469$ which is basicly my limit.

You could stretch your budget further if you got a desktop computer, more power for less cost.

whats GPU and why is that bad?



:(

well what about minecraft?

I wouldn't buy either of these on any budget, they are crap. Crap Pentiums with a crap intel integrated graphics card and a guaranteed crap battery life. sub-$500 that don't svck that much are available if you look around, but generally have to jump on a deal. The only thing remotely close to being good about either of them is the HDMI out --- which is only there because Hollywood is exerting pressure to eliminate VGA-out on laptops and they still doesn't come even close to being worth a penny.

For example: I got my sister a laptop for $325 (before tax) that would kick their butts. Not a great laptop by any measure, but better than those piles of crap

what specs should I be looking for then... since I can't really hop on the forums every time I find a computer that seems right. (I could but it would get old real fast for everyone else)

what would tell me how fast a computer it is. I used to think GHz determined the speed but I have been told other wise receantly.

GHz only matters when comparing CPUs from the same model line, otherwise it isn't a useful comparison at all. Right now you should look for something that is an i3 processor, that's probably the best you can find in your budget, but it'll take looking. You also won't get anything other than crappy integrated graphics on that budget, but at least your CPU won't svck (and i3s have some nice battery-saving features so it'll improve your battery life)

It won't do anything other than general computing and some old games, though. Nothing flashy at all, but you should be able to manage at least 4.5 or 5 hours in battery life.

Ghz isn't really that important anymore.

If you want to play games it's important that you have a decent quality graphics card (NOT Intel) and the processor should be an i3 or i5 (i7 is a little much IMO). 4GB of RAM is minimum, but I wouldn't go any higher than 8GB.

do you think either of them would run minecraft?

Of the two you recommended, I think both of them will make you want to throw them out the window in 6-8 months

I have a netbook (acer) with similar techincal specs. It can't run minecraft smoothly. Its not even close to being playable.

And its simply the gpu (and possibly the processor) thats holding it back.

well thanks for the tips. I don't think I will buy either of those two laptops. I found a desktop thats better (i guess) thats in my range but monitors are sold seperatly so I would not be able to use it any ways.

*sigh* and I was so excited

Save the money and wait longer for a better quality. It is way more economical to buy a more expensive one. It will last longer, and you won't have to keep spending money on upgrades, or fixing it when it crashes. I know you want a computer NOW, but it might be better to wait.

if you were close to me I would give you a monitor for free. I have an extra one now that my STUPID DELL doesn't work.... Hope it all works out for you dude!

Neither. They are both garbage. Build your own.

Those were both laptops. I know it's easy to build a desk-top(or, well, relatively so), but can you even build a laptop yourself? Lol, I don't imagine it would be quite as easy.

I disbute that, the building your own desktop is easy, people who have done it before or had some one to guide them might have an easier time but if you are diving into it like cold water you will ruin the coponents you purchesed to build the computer. no one online warns people to properly ground yourself before shorting everything you touch.

so Instead of buying one or the other of the 2 laptops I have saved my money and took the advice to go for something that has core i3 at least. I found one. and I am wondering if it can run games like SK or at the very least Minecraft (specificly minecraft)
here is the specs

price: $529
Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
Manufacturer Part Number: XU015UT#ABA
Manufacturer Website Address: www.hp.com
Brand Name: HP
Product Line: ProBook
Product Series: 4530s
Product Model: XU015UT
Product Name: ProBook 4530s XU015UT Notebook
Product Type: Notebook
Processor Manufacturer: Intel
Processor Type: Core i3
Processor Model: i3-2310M
Processor Speed: 2.10 GHz
Processor Core: Dual-core
Cache: 3 MB
Standard Memory: 4 GB
Maximum Memory: 8 GB
Memory Technology: DDR3 SDRAM
Memory Standard: DDR3-1333/PC3-10600
Hard Drive Capacity: 320 GB
Optical Drive Type: DVD-Writer
Optical Media Support: DVD-RAM/±R/±RW
Dual-Layer Media Support: Yes
Labeling Technology: LightScribe
Screen Size: 15.6"
Display Screen Type: Active Matrix TFT Color LCD
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Screen Mode: WXGA
Backlight Technology: LED
Display Resolution: 1366 x 768
Graphics Controller Manufacturer: Intel
Graphics Controller Model: GMA HD 3000
Graphics Memory Accessibility: Shared
Ethernet Technology: Gigabit Ethernet
Wi-Fi: Yes
Wi-Fi Standard: IEEE 802.11n
Bluetooth: Yes
Bluetooth Standard: Bluetooth 3.0
Webcam: Yes
HDMI: Yes
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium Upgradable to Windows 7 Professional
Operating System Architecture: 64-bit
Number of Cells: 6-cell
Maximum Battery Run Time: 6.25 Hour
Height: 1.13"
Width: 14.76"
Depth: 10.10"
Weight (Approximate): 5.55 lb
Package Contents:
ProBook 4530s XU015UT Notebook
Lithium Ion Battery
AC Adapter
Power Cord
Green Compliance: Yes
Green Compliance Certificate/Authority: EPEAT Gold

thanks for the advice.