Buying new Laptop, need input

So I found an amazing deal on a laptop through my school's discount. Normaly I tend to avoid Dell in general, but its one hell of a discount.

Model: Inspiron 15R Notebook (Inspiron 7520)
CPU: 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i5-3210M processor (3M Cache, up to 3.1 GHz)
Memory: 6GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz
Graphics: AMD Radeon™ HD 7730M 2GB
HDD: 750GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive

The specs look awesome for the price (671.95 US) but I haven't had experience in AMD graphics cards in about three years so I'm a bit wary. When I get my new machine I'm going to be wiping my macbook and using it just for work/projects and moving my gaming over to the windows machine (thank god, so sick of Mac OS). I'll also be dual-booting it with Linix for my school-work.

I don't really play much on the PC other than NWN, LoL, and Diablo 3 but I would like to start playing Guild Wars 2. This machine looking as good as I initially thought or should I pass for now?

lillesmurfen

I just got something similiar, albeit with an i7 processor and a GeForce graphics card, and is has worked out great so far.

Update: Found this one from the Lenovo store that seems better for not that much more but I've never bought a Lenovo before.

CPU: 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3630QM Processor( 2.40GHz 6MB)
RAM: 8.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
HDD: 1TB 5400 rpm
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT650M 2GB
Cost: 709 US

Acemvi

Small note, if that's the Ideapad Z-series it's known to have some serious heating problems. Nothing you can't work around with a bit of tinkering, but google that first and see if it's something you'd be willing to risk.

Y-Series, but thanks for the heads up, I'll look up some reviews

Darlene Te'len

if you are buying it from a local store, take a key with your game on it and see if the computer will run it, run it from the key, if they will let you do that, that is

best way to see if the game will run

AronFF

I wouldn't buy from a store where they let me do that.

Zool

Why, its a display model.

Anyway, I have a lenovo, it's pretty decent.

lillesmurfen

@latoksinned:

Update: Found this one from the Lenovo store that seems better for not that much more but I've never bought a Lenovo before.

CPU: 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3630QM Processor( 2.40GHz 6MB)
RAM: 8.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
HDD: 1TB 5400 rpm
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT650M 2GB

I have the exact same specs, albeit a slightly smaller HD. It has been great so far and should be enough to run stuff like AC III and such according to what websites I have seen. From what I've found the OS is the greater hindrance, and not the hardware. If you have Win8 then there might be some issues with old things not being compatible. If you get Win7 it should be fine. I haven't installed NWN on my new laptop yet, tho.

games

I don't know about consumer Lenovos, but for corporate-class ones you want to stick with THEIR OS build, not do your own.
Lenovo likes to tweak the power and NIC circuits, and diddle the drivers, in search of battery life, and stock Win7x64 with stock intel etc drivers tend to not quite work correctly. No "device not working right" issues, but the normal disabling of power doesnt get everything, epecially the known tweaks to fix NIC idling when using SMB to 2008. What you notice is sound dropouts every 2-3min if streaming and sucky network copy performance.
Is OK if you use the Lenovo OS build, or one based off theirs.

@games:

I don't know about consumer Lenovos, but for corporate-class ones you want to stick with THEIR OS build, not do your own.
Lenovo likes to tweak the power and NIC circuits, and diddle the drivers, in search of battery life, and stock Win7x64 with stock intel etc drivers tend to not quite work correctly. No "device not working right" issues, but the normal disabling of power doesnt get everything, epecially the known tweaks to fix NIC idling when using SMB to 2008. What you notice is sound dropouts every 2-3min if streaming and sucky network copy performance.
Is OK if you use the Lenovo OS build, or one based off theirs.

Speaking of OS, anyone experienced with throwing Linix on a windows machine and trying to find drivers? I haven't done it for years, but I need to do it for a class.