Laptop Gift Idea

[Bow]

Hey guys,
My kids grandparents want to get then laptops for Christmas.
They are looking at this. What do you think? will they play Steam Games?

Thanks

• Windows 10 Home operating system
• 2.5GHz seventh-generation AMD A12-9700P quad-core processor with 2MB cache, up to 3.4GHz
• 15.6" diagonal SVA BrightView WLED-backlit HD display with 1366x768 resolution
• 12GB DDR4 SDRAM
• 2TB 5400 RPM SATA hard drive
• SuperMulti DVD drive
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth wireless technology
• Radeon R7 graphics
• DTS Studio Sound with dual speakers
• HP TrueVision HD webcam with digital microphone
• Full-size island-style keyboard with numeric keypad
• Touchpad with multi-gesture support
• Four-cell lithium-ion battery
• Multi-format memory card slot
• USB 3.0 port
• Two USB 2.0 ports
• HDMI, ethernet ports
• Headphone/microphone combo jack
• Kensington MicroSaver lock slot
• Measures approximately 15-1/8"W x 10"D x 1"H; weighs 4.83 lbs
• UL listed adapter; 1-year Limited Manufacturer's Warranty

 

[P4-630]

I don't think this laptop is meant for gaming.

And

5400 RPM SATA hard drive

Ouch..

 

[Frick]

First you have to define what you mean with "games". Bejeweled or Battlefield 1? And at the very least you want a hybrid drive.

 

[Jetster]

How about a link to the Laptop and not just the specs

It will game but you are asking a Forum where its members are hardware fanatics. (Not easy to please)

But it depends on the game

 

[Bill_Bright]

How old are these kids?

For steam games, that will be great - especially with a whopping 12GB of DDR4 RAM, that quad core CPU and graphics. IMO, the concern over a 5400RPM drive is unfounded. Especially with 12GB of DDR4 RAM, that quad core CPU and graphics and the fact they are kids playing Steam games.

I think the 2TB size is over kill for them however. If you can swap in a smaller SSD instead without increasing the price, that will significantly improve performance and relieve P4 of his 5400 concerns.

Clearly, with that CPU, graphics, RAM and other features, that is no budget notebook. Those kids are lucky to have such nice grandparents and IMO, they (and you) should be very grateful and appreciative for that.

 

[Kursah]

What kind of games? There's a lot of different games on Steam that need vastly different system resources to play.

Overall, it should do just fine though. The R7 graphics should be decent enough.

I was able to get games like Minecraft, Fallout 3, Sims 3, Burnout Paradise, SupCom2, Terarria, etc. running on a cheap Dell laptop that had an Intel HD4400 GPU. It has a 5400RPM HDD as well. Works fine for basic gaming...actually just went back through it so the kids have something to do on their trip to Seattle. Works great overall for what it is (a super cheap budget laptop with 8GB RAM, 1TB 5400RPM HDD, and Intel i3 4300u CPU + iGPU). Don't expect dedicated gaming PC performance, but don't expect a total slacker either. Do expect decent results at that resolution with medium and even high settings depending on the game, also expect longer load times but with that kinda RAM once its loaded you should be mostly good to go.

According to this link, the R7 with that A12 competes with a GTX920. Which I'm sure is far better than the HD4400GPU that I used in my above example. I will also say an older AMD A6 I used to run did pretty damn good as well for gaming at 1300x700. Still does, my sister and her kids use it still...was an Asus K55N iirc.

 

[Bow]

First you have to define what you mean with "games". Bejeweled or Battlefield 1? And at the very least you want a hybrid drive.

I am not sure what what they will be playing. nothing to big, they use mine for that. They will play what I allow them to...lol

How old are these kids?

For steam games, that will be great - especially with a whopping 12GB of DDR4 RAM, that quad core CPU and graphics. IMO, the concern over a 5400RPM drive is unfounded. Especially with 12GB of DDR4 RAM, that quad core CPU and graphics and the fact they are kids playing Steam games.

I think the 2TB size is over kill for them however. If you can swap in a smaller SSD instead without increasing the price, that will significantly improve performance and relieve P4 of his 5400 concerns.

Clearly, with that CPU, graphics, RAM and other features, that is no budget notebook. Those kids are lucky to have such nice grandparents and IMO, they (and you) should be very grateful and appreciative for that.

They boys are 9-10.

How about a link to the Laptop and not just the specs

It will game but you are asking a Forum where its members are hardware fanatics. (Not easy to please)

But it depends on the game

My mother sent me only the spec in a email. I will try and find out more info.

My 10 year old will most likely be playing some sports games, and Coaster Tycoon, Railroad Tycoon, My younger son, Racing, light FPS. They will play mostly the free games on Steam and watching youtube videos.

 

[Kursah]

My 10 year old will most likely be playing some sports games, and Coaster Tycoon, Railroad Tycoon, My younger son, Racing, light FPS. They will play mostly the free games on Steam and watching youtube videos.

That laptop will handle those games just fine. You should be able to play Team Fortress 2 cranked to the max quite easily on that laptop. All the games I listed and that you listed should work as well.

 

[Jetster]

I googled the Specs and came up with this match

http://www.qvc.com/HP-15-Laptop-AMD-A12-Quad,-12GB-RAM,-2TB,-w-McAfeeTech-&Extend-Battery.product.E229949.html

I wouldn't get an HP Too much crapwear

 

[Bow]

I googled the Specs and came up with this match

http://www.qvc.com/HP-15-Laptop-AMD-A12-Quad,-12GB-RAM,-2TB,-w-McAfeeTech-&Extend-Battery.product.E229949.html

I wouldn't get an HP Too much crapwear

QVC, I should have known my mother would have looked there first. She loves them....lol

 

[Kursah]

It has Windows 10 Home pre-installed, simply create a Windows 10 installation media USB or DVD, and format/wipe the drive do a fresh install and bypass all the preloaded stuff. That's what I'd do at least. Probably be quicker than uninstalling all the extra stuff HP includes. Though lately I find Lenovo to be the worst offender to preloaded junk...and I deal with that regularly as my place of work is a Lenovo retailer... :/

TBH I didn't know QVC was still around! I don't have cable TV and really haven't crossed paths with them in a looooooong time. LOL!

 

[Jetster]

Honestly if I was 10 I would die for this laptop. But its not the best deal

As far as the Crapwear you can uninstall most of it

 

[Bill_Bright]

They boys are 9-10.

My grandson is 10 and he plays steam games all the time on a lessor system with no problems. He knows what "buffering" and other latency issues are because they see it when streaming Sling TV to the TV in the living room. But he never complains about that when playing Stream games on the computer.