Laptop advice

goodelgin · 05-04-2016, 12:57 PM

This might be unusual guidance that I need.

My laptop is now too slow for OOTP 17 and although I play MLB Manager on my IPad I prefer the depth of the pc version. So I am going to invest in a laptop I can carry with me on business trips to play OOTP (and do a little light business work as well, but probably not much other gaming).

Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced, light weight laptop that OOTP plays well on that isn't too expensive (I'm in the UK).

Any guidance appreciated.

battists · 05-04-2016, 01:28 PM

Just curious, what are the specs of your current laptop? It's possible your laptop isn't "too slow," but that there are some things that could be tuned to make it work more efficiently on that machine.

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goodelgin · 05-04-2016, 01:37 PM

Thanks for the reply and you are right. I did start by posting here a few weeks ago with my current laptop spec but as I suspected the replies suggested that there wasn't too much I could change that would speed things up.

My machine is old - it's a Sony Vaio, about a 10inch screen, Intel core 2 duo cpu, u9400@1.4ghz, 4gb ram. Great machine in its day but creaking now.

battists · 05-04-2016, 01:42 PM

Gotcha. Honestly, I am not a "hardware guy," but I wouldn't break the bank. By buying any current model laptop, you're already going to have vastly improved processing speed and memory, and that should be more than sufficient to run OOTP for all but the most insanely complex leagues. Don't let anyone convince you you need something special.

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goodelgin · 05-04-2016, 01:46 PM

Thanks for the reply. Makes absolute sense. Might even go to CEX at the weekend and see what they 2nd hand that is decent.

battists · 05-04-2016, 01:48 PM

Not sure how the U.K. prices are but in the US you should be able to get a new laptop that will work fine for around $500.

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goodelgin · 05-04-2016, 01:58 PM

That sounds about right over here allowing for the currency conversion.

battists · 05-04-2016, 02:02 PM

I have had good luck with Acer and Lenovo laptops. Not so much with Asus although I heard good things. Total sample size of like five, though, so YMMV.

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goodelgin · 05-04-2016, 02:08 PM

Thanks for the heads up. Going to check review on them now. Thanks again for the guidance.

kq76 · 05-04-2016, 02:48 PM

I'm a big fan of Lenovo. Probably the most durable but still affordable laptop you can get. We have 2. We've also had Acer and Toshiba and both broke.

jpeters1734 · 05-04-2016, 03:08 PM

Go for an SSD. It writes ootp files so much faster

jokr29 · 05-04-2016, 05:18 PM

You know if your looking to spend 500, than theres aways online stores. I just bought a very nice acer for 175 and its a specific gaming laptop. Its got a nice fast 2.2 processor and is very quick. I bought it on ebay, theres alot of great desals if you know your specs.

NoOne · 05-04-2016, 05:47 PM

look up the ones in your price range. google the chip model#. intel and amd will have good info. google anything that's "greek" and you'll know whehter it's worth the extra $$$ to pay for. it's been too long since i shopped a laptop for someone, or i'd give more specific information.

one thing i try to look for is if the chips are in a certain price range but slightly different model#'s. then, i make sure to get the newest one...intel will have release date information on the spec sheet. don't rely on the seller's website spec sheet. go to the source.

ssd is definitely worth it. if you have some sort of media that takes up a lot of space, keep the old laptop for a quasi-NAS or get an external drive.

if you're not getting a 3d monster gaming machine, just check out newegg or whatever else is popular nowadays.

whatever you get, immediately wipe/format and do a fresh/full install of the OS. make sure you have what's necessary to do so, also. be selective of what you install and avoid the bloat of a big brand laptop.

you'll gett what you pay for... compare components once you narrow it down, if you are spending big bucks. don't pay for stuff you won't use, like an nvidia video card if you don't play 3d games.

Reggie · 05-05-2016, 01:10 AM

I inherited a fairly old Inspiron .. OOTP has always worked flawlessly on it.

05-04-2016, 12:57 PM	#1
goodelgin Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 64	Laptop advice This might be unusual guidance that I need. My laptop is now too slow for OOTP 17 and although I play MLB Manager on my IPad I prefer the depth of the pc version. So I am going to invest in a laptop I can carry with me on business trips to play OOTP (and do a little light business work as well, but probably not much other gaming). Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced, light weight laptop that OOTP plays well on that isn't too expensive (I'm in the UK). Any guidance appreciated.

05-04-2016, 01:28 PM	#2
battists Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,506	Just curious, what are the specs of your current laptop? It's possible your laptop isn't "too slow," but that there are some things that could be tuned to make it work more efficiently on that machine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Come check out my dynasty report, Funky Times!

05-04-2016, 01:37 PM	#3
goodelgin Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 64	Laptop Thanks for the reply and you are right. I did start by posting here a few weeks ago with my current laptop spec but as I suspected the replies suggested that there wasn't too much I could change that would speed things up. My machine is old - it's a Sony Vaio, about a 10inch screen, Intel core 2 duo cpu, u9400@1.4ghz, 4gb ram. Great machine in its day but creaking now.

05-04-2016, 01:42 PM	#4
battists Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,506	Gotcha. Honestly, I am not a "hardware guy," but I wouldn't break the bank. By buying any current model laptop, you're already going to have vastly improved processing speed and memory, and that should be more than sufficient to run OOTP for all but the most insanely complex leagues. Don't let anyone convince you you need something special. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Come check out my dynasty report, Funky Times!

05-04-2016, 01:46 PM	#5
goodelgin Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 64	Laptop Thanks for the reply. Makes absolute sense. Might even go to CEX at the weekend and see what they 2nd hand that is decent.

05-04-2016, 01:48 PM	#6
battists Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,506	Not sure how the U.K. prices are but in the US you should be able to get a new laptop that will work fine for around $500. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Come check out my dynasty report, Funky Times!

05-04-2016, 01:58 PM	#7
goodelgin Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 64	Laptop. That sounds about right over here allowing for the currency conversion.

05-04-2016, 02:02 PM	#8
battists Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,506	I have had good luck with Acer and Lenovo laptops. Not so much with Asus although I heard good things. Total sample size of like five, though, so YMMV. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Come check out my dynasty report, Funky Times!

05-04-2016, 02:08 PM	#9
goodelgin Minors (Single A) Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 64	Laptop Thanks for the heads up. Going to check review on them now. Thanks again for the guidance.

05-04-2016, 02:48 PM	#10
kq76 Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 11,656	I'm a big fan of Lenovo. Probably the most durable but still affordable laptop you can get. We have 2. We've also had Acer and Toshiba and both broke. __________________ My OOTP Wishlist \| My FAQ List OOTP Wiki \| Your Recommended Team Nicknames, By City (A Crowdsourced Project)

05-04-2016, 03:08 PM	#11
jpeters1734 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Juust a bit outside... Posts: 6,093	Go for an SSD. It writes ootp files so much faster __________________ "Cannonball Coming!" Go Bucs!! Founder and League Caretaker of the Professional Baseball Circuit, www.probaseballcircuit.com An Un-Official Guide to Minor League Management in OOTP 21 Ratings Scale Conversion Cross-Reference Cheat Sheet

05-04-2016, 05:18 PM	#12
jokr29 Bat Boy Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13	You know if your looking to spend 500, than theres aways online stores. I just bought a very nice acer for 175 and its a specific gaming laptop. Its got a nice fast 2.2 processor and is very quick. I bought it on ebay, theres alot of great desals if you know your specs.

05-04-2016, 05:47 PM	#13
NoOne Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 7,246	look up the ones in your price range. google the chip model#. intel and amd will have good info. google anything that's "greek" and you'll know whehter it's worth the extra $$$ to pay for. it's been too long since i shopped a laptop for someone, or i'd give more specific information. one thing i try to look for is if the chips are in a certain price range but slightly different model#'s. then, i make sure to get the newest one...intel will have release date information on the spec sheet. don't rely on the seller's website spec sheet. go to the source. ssd is definitely worth it. if you have some sort of media that takes up a lot of space, keep the old laptop for a quasi-NAS or get an external drive. if you're not getting a 3d monster gaming machine, just check out newegg or whatever else is popular nowadays. whatever you get, immediately wipe/format and do a fresh/full install of the OS. make sure you have what's necessary to do so, also. be selective of what you install and avoid the bloat of a big brand laptop. you'll gett what you pay for... compare components once you narrow it down, if you are spending big bucks. don't pay for stuff you won't use, like an nvidia video card if you don't play 3d games. Last edited by NoOne; 05-04-2016 at 05:51 PM.

05-05-2016, 01:10 AM	#14
Reggie Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 442	I inherited a fairly old Inspiron .. OOTP has always worked flawlessly on it.