This Laptop for School (Year 10) and Some Gaming on Weekends? Budget $1,000

wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 01:40
Last edited 13/02/2023 - 17:58 by 1 other user

Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R3P4 GTX 1650 Gaming Laptop 14" FHD AMD Ryzen5 5500U 8GB

The big downside is the 8gb soldered ram.

Yes, I know the 1650 is getting old but finding a 3050 at around $1k in a laptop with decent battery life (i.e. not a dedicated gaming laptop) isn't easy at the moment.

Thoughts? Thanks

Update: So we ended up getting this HP Victus laptop: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/363930089632

It's bigger and heavier than I'd like (15.6" and 2.2kg), but it was a really good deal for $1187, which is less than half it's "normal" price. HPs eBay store had a 50% off sale which stacked with another coupon. I'm not the one who has to carry it around. It's a Ryzen 7 with a 3050Ti, 16/512 and both the ram and storage are upgradable. Battery life is also great.

As far as "gaming" laptops go, this one is pretty subtle. Fingers crossed it does the job.

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • randomusername2017 on 09/02/2023 - 07:30

    $100 more

    • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 08:21

      Battery life will horrible unfortunately.

      • avoidfullprice on 09/02/2023 - 11:19
        +1

        Why? This processor has integrated graphics for when you DON’T use the RTX GFX e.g launching Word

        I have dejavu saying this on ozbargain

        • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 12:48

          Every review I watch or read tells me the battery life, even for basic tasks, is poor.

        • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 13:29
          +1

          OK, looks like some of the reviews I looked at were for different specced laptops. Looks like it's possible to get around 7 hours out of this one, which should be ok. I'll look down that path.

      • randomusername2017 on 09/02/2023 - 14:06
        +1

        Was more a comment on the lack of value in the eBay one.
        Depends on how quickly you need to purchase… there's usually some good deals on Lenovo and Acer nitro.

        Pays to keep an eye on the dell outlet also.

        • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 14:07

          Yeah ok, fair point. I have been looking at the Dell outlet. Not much there at the moment.

          • randomusername2017 on 09/02/2023 - 14:11
            +1

            @wombat81: Similar situation last year..picked up a Lenovo (1650ti/16gb/500gb ssd) for around $800 @ bing lee. No issues with battery life yet.

            • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 14:12

              @randomusername2017: Yeah awesome. Was it a "gaming" laptop as such, or more a of a standard ("productivity") model?

  • geekcohen on 09/02/2023 - 07:48
    +3

    Buy a decent laptop for school that's probably 14" just to make it easy to take around.

    Then build a desktop for that occasional gaming.

    • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 08:20
      +4

      This is 14". Don't have the money for 2 computers unfortunately.

      • bargaino on 10/02/2023 - 12:03
        -1

        Yes you do. If you read ozb, you'll find a good ex-corp/govt laptop ($400-500), SFF PC, basic graphics card (gt 1030 LP?) , and monitor all for $1000.

  • djkelly69 on 09/02/2023 - 10:05

    What sort of gaming are we talking?

    • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 13:07

      He has a Logitech HOTAS and likes flight sim games. I'll have to look the names. He plays a Star Wars flight sim a fair bit. He also plays a bit of Warthunder and some sandbox games like Stormworks.

  • Mooshballs on 09/02/2023 - 10:15
    +1

    I got a gaming laptop for my daughter starting year 7 last year. Big mistake. Its heavy and battery life is crap. Get a dedicated laptop for school.

    • CrispyChrispy on 09/02/2023 - 10:21
      -1

      'Dedicated laptop'?

      • Mooshballs on 09/02/2023 - 10:30
        +4

        a small, lightweight laptop with good battery life that will do what they need for school - word, excel, PowerPoint, web browsing…

    • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 12:46
      +1

      That's kind of why I'm looking at this one. Even though it says "gaming" it's more of a productivity laptop, a portable size @ 14" and the battery life is great.

  • klaw81 on 09/02/2023 - 10:25
    +4

    Unfortunately in the budget end of the spectrum, laptops that are good for gaming are bad for school, and laptops that are good for school are bad for gaming. Only the premium $$ thin & light category can do a bit of both.

    Perhaps you can find a used/refurb premium thin & light in your price range?

    • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 13:09

      It doesn't need to have awesome gaming capability, hence why I'm looking at GTX1650 laptops. Something with good battery life that does a half reasonable job with games is good enough.

  • BLAIL on 09/02/2023 - 12:21

    Ryzen laptops have good battery life - I personally wouldn't get this but its just over your budget
    https://www.centrecom.com.au/msi-bravo-15-b5ed-156-fhd-ryzen…

    • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 12:47

      I've heard the 6500m graphics card is poor, though. Worse than a gtx1650.

      • CrispyChrispy on 09/02/2023 - 12:49

        What games is your kid playing?

        • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 13:06

          He has a Logitech HOTAS and likes flight sim games. I'll have to look the names. He plays a Star Wars flight sim a fair bit. He also plays a bit of Warthunder and some sandbox games like Stormworks.

          • BLAIL on 09/02/2023 - 13:23

            @wombat81: gotta increase your budget to $1500-$2000

            edit: nvm - this is going for $1244 with eBay Plus - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/175428694511

            • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 13:31

              @BLAIL: Thanks. Yeah I'm not able to go that high unfortunately. But a Ryzen 5 with a 3050 might be doable.

            • wombat81 on 09/02/2023 - 13:59
              +1

              @BLAIL: This seems good value for a similar price. Ryzen 7, 3050Ti, 12 hours battery life. Doesn't look like too much of a gaming rig… https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/363930089632

              • BLAIL on 09/02/2023 - 15:14
                +1

                @wombat81: yeah go for it

              • PVA on 10/02/2023 - 13:19

                @wombat81: It’s too big for school. You want 14inch max.

                • wombat81 on 10/02/2023 - 13:29

                  @PVA: Heaps of kids, the majority in fact, use 15.6" laptops at school.

                  Source: Me, secondary teacher.

                  The weight would be a bigger concern than a relatively small size increase. This one is on the heavy side at 2.2kg, but that will be the trade off if the young fella wants a dual purpose machine.

                  I agree that 14" is a better size for school, which is part of the reason why the Acer Swift X I originally linked was attractive. I use 14" myself, but 15.6 is definitely fine. He's also moving into subjects that require more productivity with Adobe software and AutoCAD. A bit more screen real estate, and a bit more grunt would be handy for those.

                  • PVA on 10/02/2023 - 13:34

                    @wombat81: That’s strange going so big and heavy.
                    I am thinking back for my son . They all had MacBook Air (school supplied).
                    Not a fan of Apple, but I had to admit they were perfect for school, lightweight, battery life was all day, and they were just about bomb proof (was dropped many many times).
                    I would look for a smaller screen than 15.6inch still. Schools won’t have software that’s hugely demanding, even auto cad, they won’t be designing a high-rise. And adobe, the Air was fine for it.
                    The one you linked (14inch) sounded fine to me.

                    (I am looking for a 14inch myself, too indecisive for specs to buy…)

  • 1morechance on 14/02/2023 - 15:34

    The Victus you ended up getting on eBay looks good. But the listing doesnt have any specs on it at all. How do you know it has 3050 16/500 etc etc. Online says battery is only 57wh is that enough for a full day of uni? Dependant on your reply I will also pull the trigger on this laptop. Thanks

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