Help Me Decide Which Laptop

[jed]

Hey all. Recently went through and returned two Asus A53U-ES21 laptops. Once due to recieving the wrong one, second due to having like 20 dead pixels within three weeks. I've narrowed it down to three so far, but I am open to suggestions from you all as long as it stays around $400.

Here's choice number one...

Here's choice number two...

Here's choice number three...

Edit : New choice #4 from Liquid...

Main things I'll be doing on the laptop:
- Microsoft word for schoolwork
- Web browsing
- Playing Diablo III or Starcraft II (or older versions SC:BW, D2 etc.) I have a desktop for gaming 90% of the time though. I just want to be able to run these SMOOTH on low settings.
- Watching movies/Netflix - hooking up HDMI to big screen optional

I've read the AMD quad core processor is good and would be good for running the gaming portion obviously. I'm an AMD guy myself but not opposed to Intel. I don't know anything about that Intel processor on the Acer laptop on Amazon. I should also mention 500 GB HD space is more than enough for me, I've got 1.5 TB worth on my desktop. So HD space isn't necessarily a determining factor here.

Asus customer support is horrible but I am planning on not having to go through them - I'm hoping third time's a charm and there'll be no issues. If you all have any suggestions or would like to help me out, I'm open. Thanks!!

 

[tacosRcool]

I would go with choice number one.
That is the best bang for your buck out of the bunch plus it has the biggest HD of them all.
Plus ASUS is a better brand than Acer imo

 

[Liquid Cool]

Hello Jed,

I'm across the corn from you in Ne....

Out of those three, I think choice #1 is a solid choice. I have an A8 with a 6620/6750. On the 6620 it'll play games on low/med setting pretty well. Although...If you hunt around, I bet you could find an A8 in that price range of yours even if it's a re-certified unit. I saw one recently at Newegg on sale a couple of weeks ago. It was just like my DV6-6135dx. I think it was a 6141, but didn't have the HD 6750 discrete graphics card.

Something like this here...

Click Here

My 6135dx was a recert, came looking new and has given me no issues. Also handles HDMI real well.

Best,

LC

 

[Techtu]

I'd choose the third option as it is pretty much the same as the first option (minus 250Gb less HDD space) and is better than the second or at least imo, yes the second option has a somewhat faster processor at 2Ghz (dual core) but nowaday's you should be fine with a 1.5Ghz quad core (Turbo core 2.4Ghz)....

The first & third option both have the better graphics but they are also the same price so I'd go with whichever one look's the best which is the third option.

 

[jed]

Appreciating everyone's input so far, thank you! Liquid - I added your suggestion as it does seem like another good option. I am always leery about refurbs, though. I trust Newegg though and would be willing to try it. I should also mention 500 GB HD space is more than enough for me, I've got 1.5 TB worth on my desktop. So HD space isn't necessarily a determining factor here.

 

[jed]

Does anyone else have any input for me?

 

[Techtu]

Have you had any lck in deciding which you would prefer?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Does anyone else have any input for me?

Take the Acer Aspire AS5750Z-4835 out of the options as it only has Intel HD graphics. Having trouble finding which one it is but it definitely aint the HD4000 series as those only come with newer i5 and i7 CPUs and not something like an old ass B940.

From what info ive managed to gather according intel specs its an HD2500 which is worse off then the HD3000 which is already bad for gaming. So avoid this laptop. Had it been a HD4000 series graphics, you would have been ok as its a decent performer.

Id have to say go for the Asus. You get a bigger hard drive but you might consider swapping that out for a small SSD and putting that hard drive in an enclosure for external storage so its a win win situation there i think. AMD's APUs should give decent performance.

 

[jed]

Thanks for the additional input everyone. Everyone said go with the first option (except Techtu which was a tie between 1st/3rd) and I was waiting for the price to drop. When I originally posted it was 399.99 but went back up to 499.99. ASUS is a good brand I agree but I literally fear for myself if something goes wrong with the computer, their customer service is so horrible. It's currently 429.99 so I think I may jump on it soon before it goes back up.

 

[Liquid Cool]

Asus K53 - Refubished

Just thought I'd mention....there's a Core i5 on sale for 399.00 right now. Although, you're back to a refurb.

Whatever you pick up, I wish you good luck with it!

,

Liquid Cool

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Asus K53 - Refubished

Just thought I'd mention....there's a Core i5 on sale for 399.00 right now. Although, you're back to a refurb.

Whatever you pick up, I wish you good luck with it!

,

Liquid Cool

sounds a good deal but its a HD3000 though which is no good for gaming.

44fps on LOW settings for D3 according to notebookcheck.

 

[jed]

Yeah, back to the refurb. Always a little risky, although I'm not totally against it. I've bought refurbed Blue-ray players and other things and they've always turned out to work. I may postpone my purchase until another month or so to see if there will be any "back to school" deals popping up. Do any of you have experience with when about those deals start coming around? I would imagine early-mid July.