Lap top help

[Strider]

My 10-year old daughter has worked her socks off studying to get into grammar school and we want to treat her at Christmas. While she'll only be using this new present for school work, she is a big sims 3 fan and has every expansion.
Does anyone know if the following laptop will be able to run the games, as this is the one she thinks she's getting in July (if she gets into Grammar)

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.209-0850.aspx

Thanks in advance for help

[charlesr]

Does all schoolwork need to be on a laptop these days? Does no one use pens and notebooks any more? Sorry to derail, but just interested for when mine get older.

[abigsmurf]

Celeron ;_;

According to this vid you can get 15fps on sims 3 with that graphics card (much better CPU though in the vid though) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TNTjaQtpMM . May have to turn a few options down to make it comfortably playable

For an alternative there's : http://www.ebuyer.com/product/222474

better CPU (dual core = noticably smoother internet usage and office, should cope with HD video if you use a dual core optimised codec), better graphics card (gets 30fps in Sims 3). Only downer is slightly less ram which could mean heavy HDD thrashing but a 2gb stick of RAM is cheap and very easy to install even if you're not a techie.

Although it has more ram which means less HDD thrashing, 3gb of ram means non-matching pairs in the Tesco Laptop which gives a performance hit.

[Strider]

Does all schoolwork need to be on a laptop these days? Does no one use pens and notebooks any more? Sorry to derail, but just interested for when mine get older.

It's the future unfortunately mate.

[Strider]

Celeron ;_;

According to this vid you can get 15fps on sims 3 with that graphics card (much better CPU though in the vid though) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TNTjaQtpMM . May have to turn a few options down to make it comfortably playable

For an alternative there's : http://www.ebuyer.com/product/222474

better CPU (dual core = noticably smoother internet usage and office, should cope with HD video if you use a dual core optimised codec), better graphics card (gets 30fps in Sims 3). Only downer is slightly less ram which could mean heavy HDD thrashing but a 2gb stick of RAM is cheap and very easy to install even if you're not a techie.

Although it has more ram which means less HDD thrashing, 3gb of ram means non-matching pairs in the Tesco Laptop which gives a performance hit.

Thanks for the info. We're basically looking for a decent machine around that price. She's set on the colour, but I'm guessing when she gets it for Christmas she's not going to care.
Basically as long as she can play the Sims 3 on it and do course work I'll be more than happy.

[noobish hat]

Lol - coursework? There's a high school where I live where the kids do a 'thesis'. What kind of world are we living in?

[NemesiS]

Does all schoolwork need to be on a laptop these days? Does no one use pens and notebooks any more? Sorry to derail, but just interested for when mine get older.

Reading and writing is a dying art Charles. Give it another generation or so and most kids won't have a clue how to, or probably adults for that matter.

My missus is a Head Mistress at a private school and they are starting to bring in electronic whiteboards and tablets and netbooks for the kids to work on. But i think its the home tech that is now stopping kids more than what they use at school as a lot of them probably don't write at home

Strider: For ?350 - ?400 you could just about get an i5 system couldn't you? When i was looking for a replacement for my sister a few weeks ago i saw a few reasonably specced systems for not much cash. I would also look at the "lesser" brands like Advent, Packard Bell, MSi ect as you will get more bang for your buck

[Strider]

The problem I have is that she wants a coloured lap top because her friends don't have one. I'm going to start putting her off that idea without making it obvious we're planning to get her one.

[abigsmurf]

Best I can do colour-wise is a deep red or deep blue but I'm guessing she wants something fairly bright. Aren't to many options for customisable full sized budget laptops

[charlesr]

I asked a friend and he now recommends people don't bother with laptops and instead get netbooks and a monitor/mouse for when it's actually on the desk as Atom powered machines are quieter, use less power, run cooler. His one can do 1080p movies via its hdmi port no probs, so seems plenty powerful enough.

[Strider]

this is the machine we're now looking at getting

HPG62-A40SA P320

We've been told it will definitly play the Sims 3 but thought it best to get a second opinion.

[wakka]

Googling that just brings up your post here and on the Retro Gamer forums :l

Echoing thoughts that you should get her a netbook. Some gigantic heavy 15.6" Dell with fans constantly whirring loudly for a 10 year old? :/ never gonna move off the desk.

[EvilBoris]

That g62 has an ati 4250 which according to netbook check was running the sins 3 at medium settings at 31 fps

[speedlolita]

Has she played the original Sims? Best one, then you could get her a netbook as I echo the above sentiment from Randicoot.

[EvilBoris]

I bet all her friends aren't playing the original sims :P