• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Laptop under $500 for light graphic design

Joined
Apr 4, 2009
Messages
541 (0.10/day)
Processor i3-4160
Motherboard msi z97 pcmate
Cooling generic
Memory 8gb ballistix
Video Card(s) evga 750 ti ftw
Storage samsung ssd 120gb + 1tb samsung
Case 210 elite
Power Supply evga 500w
Software Win 7 ultimate 64bit
Joined
Jul 1, 2005
Messages
5,197 (0.76/day)
Location
Kansas City, KS
System Name Dell XPS 15 9560
Processor I7-7700HQ
Memory 32GB DDR4
Video Card(s) GTX 1050/1080 Ti
Storage 1TB SSD
Display(s) 2x Dell P2715Q/4k Internal
Case Razer Core
Audio Device(s) Creative E5/Objective 2 Amp/Senn HD650
Mouse Logitech Proteus Core
Keyboard Logitech G910
That looks like a pretty good deal.

However, with the original macbook, being that old, it could be a macbook1,1 or a macbook 2,1.

One is a core duo, one is a core 2 duo. The normal core duo does NOT have 64 bit. (It's a Yonah CPU), wheres the macbook 2,1 is a Merom CPU and has 64 bit. This is not an issue in most cases, but the 2,1 maxes out at 3Gb memory, 1,1 maxes out at 2Gb memory.

The ebay lists a core 2 duo, indicating it is a 2,1 but I could very very very easily see it being just posted genericly, and you could get screwed for what they listed incorrectly.

Otherwise, it's a solid machine for the price :)

 
Joined
Apr 4, 2009
Messages
541 (0.10/day)
Processor i3-4160
Motherboard msi z97 pcmate
Cooling generic
Memory 8gb ballistix
Video Card(s) evga 750 ti ftw
Storage samsung ssd 120gb + 1tb samsung
Case 210 elite
Power Supply evga 500w
Software Win 7 ultimate 64bit
Joined
Jul 1, 2005
Messages
5,197 (0.76/day)
Location
Kansas City, KS
System Name Dell XPS 15 9560
Processor I7-7700HQ
Memory 32GB DDR4
Video Card(s) GTX 1050/1080 Ti
Storage 1TB SSD
Display(s) 2x Dell P2715Q/4k Internal
Case Razer Core
Audio Device(s) Creative E5/Objective 2 Amp/Senn HD650
Mouse Logitech Proteus Core
Keyboard Logitech G910
quick question. this laptop has a phenom 2 2.8ghz. Is it like a core 2 duo?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Fa...+Red/1492163.p?id=1218262981793&skuId=1492163

and how is intel's HD HM55 vs ATI's HD 4250 in term of slight graphic designing? (some might say they are both crap but there's nothing i can do with a budget like this)

also how is turion 2 x2 @2.4ghz vs phenom 2 @2.8ghz vs Athlon 2?

Phenom II will probably have the most power from the AMD line.

If this is 3d rendering, none of the GPU's are going to do well at all.

If this is photoshop work, you really just want a power house of a CPU, since GPU support is going to be almost nonexistant at this price point.

What software is going to be used? Photoshop supports GPU assistance, but generally requires some power to actually be of any value. 3d rendering is very very GPU demanding.

New i3/i5 GPU's would probably have much better results than any other low end GPU at the moment, until AMD gets their Fusion stuff out in full force.
 
Joined
Apr 4, 2009
Messages
541 (0.10/day)
Processor i3-4160
Motherboard msi z97 pcmate
Cooling generic
Memory 8gb ballistix
Video Card(s) evga 750 ti ftw
Storage samsung ssd 120gb + 1tb samsung
Case 210 elite
Power Supply evga 500w
Software Win 7 ultimate 64bit
what would you choose between

Phenom 2 2.8 ghz + ATI HD 4250
vs
i3 2.4 ghz + intel HD

the i3 is $50 over the budget. but my friend can strech a bit. hah

ps: also you mean that the i3/i5 has built in gpu that gives more bang for buck?
 
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
6,176 (1.13/day)
Location
Midlands,UK
System Name Ultraman
Processor Intel core i9 13900HK
Motherboard Alienware/Dell inverted motherboard
Cooling Alienware/Dell cooling solution + IETS GT500 cooling pad
Memory Alienware/Dell 32GB 6000mhz DDR5
Video Card(s) Nvidia RTX4080 12GB
Storage 1TB Dell supplied NVME + Samsung Evo 1TB NVME
Display(s) AOC Gaming CU34G3S/BK
Case Alienware X16
Audio Device(s) onboard/Speakers: Logitech G560
Power Supply Alienware/Dell battery + 330W charger
Mouse Microsoft Pro Intellimouse - White
Keyboard Ducky One2 SF White MX cherry Red
Software Windows 11
the phenom 2 2.8ghz+ati 4250,i'd choose an amd/ati gpu over an intel intergrated, but intel cpu on laptops are better than amd.
 
Joined
May 31, 2006
Messages
1,156 (0.18/day)
System Name Alienware laptop R4
Processor intel i7-3610M @ 2,30Ghz
Motherboard dell?
Cooling 2 built in laptop cooling fans
Memory 16GB DDR3 1600mhz
Video Card(s) AMD Mobility Radeon HD m290x 4GB GDDR5
Storage 256 ssd and 512ssd
Display(s) laptop screen 17.3" 1920x1080 + LG 22" inch LCD HD 1920 x 1200
Case My laptop back pack case
Audio Device(s) Sound Blaster
Power Supply laptop brick
Software Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
The penom 2 @ 2.800mhz will be faster then the I3 @ 2.4 or at least the same speed, the ati 4250 will be 2x faster then the intel video card. but 2x as fast as a turtle is still slow :p
 
Joined
Jul 1, 2005
Messages
5,197 (0.76/day)
Location
Kansas City, KS
System Name Dell XPS 15 9560
Processor I7-7700HQ
Memory 32GB DDR4
Video Card(s) GTX 1050/1080 Ti
Storage 1TB SSD
Display(s) 2x Dell P2715Q/4k Internal
Case Razer Core
Audio Device(s) Creative E5/Objective 2 Amp/Senn HD650
Mouse Logitech Proteus Core
Keyboard Logitech G910
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
6,176 (1.13/day)
Location
Midlands,UK
System Name Ultraman
Processor Intel core i9 13900HK
Motherboard Alienware/Dell inverted motherboard
Cooling Alienware/Dell cooling solution + IETS GT500 cooling pad
Memory Alienware/Dell 32GB 6000mhz DDR5
Video Card(s) Nvidia RTX4080 12GB
Storage 1TB Dell supplied NVME + Samsung Evo 1TB NVME
Display(s) AOC Gaming CU34G3S/BK
Case Alienware X16
Audio Device(s) onboard/Speakers: Logitech G560
Power Supply Alienware/Dell battery + 330W charger
Mouse Microsoft Pro Intellimouse - White
Keyboard Ducky One2 SF White MX cherry Red
Software Windows 11
Joined
Jul 1, 2005
Messages
5,197 (0.76/day)
Location
Kansas City, KS
System Name Dell XPS 15 9560
Processor I7-7700HQ
Memory 32GB DDR4
Video Card(s) GTX 1050/1080 Ti
Storage 1TB SSD
Display(s) 2x Dell P2715Q/4k Internal
Case Razer Core
Audio Device(s) Creative E5/Objective 2 Amp/Senn HD650
Mouse Logitech Proteus Core
Keyboard Logitech G910
Thats a graph for the desktop Dippy,and i guess the new intel sandy bridge IGPU on laptops do perform well,i wouldn't recommend a intel IGPU on the older generations but it seems the IGPU on new intel do pretty well. Much better than the 4250.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-HD-Graphics-3000.37948.0.html

Thats the same GPU.

The GPUs on the notebook review charts are significantly faster than the 4250 GPU's ;)

flat out, the hd3000 is a mid range part :toast:
 
Joined
Dec 5, 2006
Messages
7,704 (1.22/day)
System Name Back to Blue
Processor i9 14900k
Motherboard Asrock Z790 Nova
Cooling Corsair H150i Elite
Memory 64GB Corsair Dominator DDR5-6400 @ 6600
Video Card(s) EVGA RTX 3090 Ultra FTW3
Storage 4TB WD 850x NVME, 4TB WD Black, 10TB Seagate Barracuda Pro
Display(s) 1x Samsung Odyssey G7 Neo and 1x Dell u2518d
Case Lian Li o11 DXL w/custom vented front panel
Audio Device(s) Focusrite Saffire PRO 14 -> DBX DriveRack PA+ -> Mackie MR8 and MR10 / Senn PX38X -> SB AE-5 Plus
Power Supply Corsair RM1000i
Mouse Logitech G502x
Keyboard Corsair K95 Platinum
Software Windows 11 x64 Pro
Benchmark Scores 31k multicore Cinebench - CPU limited 125w
don't waste the money on the mac... Pfft, there is the first problem sessh.

I have professional photographers and graphics designers using laptops with i3's, none of them have complained, all with integrated graphics.

BTW: These customers are known to complain when something gets slow.
 
Joined
Sep 25, 2007
Messages
5,965 (0.99/day)
Location
New York
Processor AMD Ryzen 9 5950x, Ryzen 9 5980HX
Motherboard MSI X570 Tomahawk
Cooling Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro 4(With Noctua Fans)
Memory 32Gb Crucial 3600 Ballistix
Video Card(s) Gigabyte RTX 3080, Asus 6800M
Storage Adata SX8200 1TB NVME/WD Black 1TB NVME
Display(s) Dell 27 Inch 165Hz
Case Phanteks P500A
Audio Device(s) IFI Zen Dac/JDS Labs Atom+/SMSL Amp+Rivers Audio
Power Supply Corsair RM850x
Mouse Logitech G502 SE Hero
Keyboard Corsair K70 RGB Mk.2
VR HMD Samsung Odyssey Plus
Software Windows 10
a friend of mine got a notebook with the intel 3000 its comparable to a 8600m gt from the looks which is very good for a igp but what editing apps are you planning to run besides photoshop.
 
Joined
Dec 5, 2006
Messages
7,704 (1.22/day)
System Name Back to Blue
Processor i9 14900k
Motherboard Asrock Z790 Nova
Cooling Corsair H150i Elite
Memory 64GB Corsair Dominator DDR5-6400 @ 6600
Video Card(s) EVGA RTX 3090 Ultra FTW3
Storage 4TB WD 850x NVME, 4TB WD Black, 10TB Seagate Barracuda Pro
Display(s) 1x Samsung Odyssey G7 Neo and 1x Dell u2518d
Case Lian Li o11 DXL w/custom vented front panel
Audio Device(s) Focusrite Saffire PRO 14 -> DBX DriveRack PA+ -> Mackie MR8 and MR10 / Senn PX38X -> SB AE-5 Plus
Power Supply Corsair RM1000i
Mouse Logitech G502x
Keyboard Corsair K95 Platinum
Software Windows 11 x64 Pro
Benchmark Scores 31k multicore Cinebench - CPU limited 125w
a friend of mine got a notebook with the intel 3000 its comparable to a 8600m gt from the looks which is very good for a igp but what editing apps are you planning to run besides photoshop.

Intel 3000 comparable to 8500m probably closer.

Being a person who owned both and the system with the intel 3000 was slightly faster over all.
My 8600M still beat it pretty good.
 
Joined
Jul 1, 2005
Messages
5,197 (0.76/day)
Location
Kansas City, KS
System Name Dell XPS 15 9560
Processor I7-7700HQ
Memory 32GB DDR4
Video Card(s) GTX 1050/1080 Ti
Storage 1TB SSD
Display(s) 2x Dell P2715Q/4k Internal
Case Razer Core
Audio Device(s) Creative E5/Objective 2 Amp/Senn HD650
Mouse Logitech Proteus Core
Keyboard Logitech G910
don't waste the money on the mac... Pfft, there is the first problem sessh.

I have professional photographers and graphics designers using laptops with i3's, none of them have complained, all with integrated graphics.

BTW: These customers are known to complain when something gets slow.

Blind mac bashing really isn't necessary. They are very capable machines, especially for photoshop use. Mouse-free(trackpad based) productivity cannot be matched with windows, and from a software maintenence TCO, are leaps and bounds above pc counterparts.

Also, for photoshop, you only get gpu acceleration for supported gpu's, and i dont think the intel stuff qualifies(too new, adobe too slow), so your photographer friends wouldn't notice a gpu slowdown , since the cpu is handling the work. I can safely say my 2.66ghz c2d is a bottleneck when used for relatively serious rendering. Memory usage is next in line.
 
Top