Thin and Light 11-14 notebooks gaming worth compendium

[ILOVELEMONS]

The S13P starts at $1119 - what upgrades were you looking at? The processor, GPU, and RAM upgrades are pretty bad deals that won't get you much back in terms of performance. And iirc you can replace the optical drive in the sony with an SSD but you have to get an adapter mount thingy to make it fit?

I was looking at the processor and GPU upgrades. I mean, I dont think I can replace them myself on this model, so I want to get it predone.

[humanstory]

I was looking at the processor and GPU upgrades. I mean, I dont think I can replace them myself on this model, so I want to get it predone.

Well, I'd advise you against the GPU upgrade - the 640m LE will be limited by its clock speed well before it's limited by 1gb of graphics memory - the Retina Mac Pro with a GeForce 650m (significantly, significantly faster than the 640m LE) only ships with 1gb of graphics ram.

I'd also advise you against the processor upgrades because the difference you're going to see in performance at speeds >3ghz are fairly insignificant. While I can't speak to all applications, if gaming performance is your concern the 640m LE would bottleneck your fps well before even the lowest end i5.

If I were in your shoes I'd save money on those upgrades and get a bigger SSD with it.

[kYUU]

I was looking at the processor and GPU upgrades. I mean, I dont think I can replace them myself on this model, so I want to get it predone.

Humanstory is right: the CPU and GPU upgrades are bad deals. With the CPU, you're paying exhorbitant sums for small (one or two hundred MHz) bumps to the clock speed. Not worth it, unless you simply have money to burn.

With the GPU, it'll top out long before it maxes out the 1GB of VRAM, so paying for the extra GB is a total waste of money. Even on desktop rigs, you pretty much never see a difference between 1GB of VRAM and anything more unless you're gaming beyond full HD (beyond 1920x1080) resolutions and doing heavy anti-aliasing.

I'm pretty sure you can swap out the HDD yourself -- I'm basing that on a review of the Sony Vaio SE that showed access to the HDD bay, and the fact that the configuration specifically mentions that there's an open DIMM slot if you only get 4GB. Generally, if you can plug in your own RAM stick, you also have access to the HDD bay. You'd be better off saving your money from those CPU/GPU upgrades and buying an SSD to replace the stock HDD. Also, you could buy your own 4GB stick of RAM to plug into the free DIMM slot for much cheaper than the RAM upgrades on the Vaio site.

[Karamazovmm]

Thanks Treeeater. Now I guess the question is: Maxed out T430s for around 1100 (student discount, but no NVS optimus because I hear NVS isnt much better than integrated) or Vaio S13P for 1377 with a free vita? I hear this eGPU stuff is cool, but it just doesnt seem finished enough to warrant me deciding to get the T430S for its thunderbolt. Does anyone know if the S13P has a removable hdd or a second bay?

that nvs is just the old same 425m/430m/435m/525m/540m/550m/555m/620m/630m/640m LE so yes its more powerful than the HD 4000, it just depends on the clocks, and from what I see it should perform around the 620m/630m

[seandm]

I was at the local walmart today and played around with the samsung np535u3c they had on display, Meh.. The price is too steep for what it brings to the table - $700. If it was $499 then i might bite.

Hopefully the u4c's come out soon, as that is the one i have my eyes on.

[ILOVELEMONS]

Hrm this new info that the upgrades arent worth it makes this a tough decision. Still deciding between t430s and s13P. I just dont wanna regret it. I like the sony's aesthetic more. I guess I'll go with the S13P just for that. Thunderbolt doesnt seem THAT worth it.

[davidricardo86]

I was at the local walmart today and played around with the samsung np535u3c they had on display, Meh.. The price is too steep for what it brings to the table - $700. If it was $499 then i might bite.

Hopefully the u4c's come out soon, as that is the one i have my eyes on.

The NP535U3C is essentially an AMD "ultrabook." The case is 0.69 inches thick and weighs 3.35 pounds. The price is not terrible if you're looking for something slim and light but why couldn't Samsung have used the A10-4655M instead?

Did it have USB 3.0?

This site says it doesn't.

Although Amazon shows that it does.

Any idea if the RAM is user upgradable?

[ILOVELEMONS]

Just an update: Bought the S13p with the middle CPU and better GPU just because they were only 50 a piece. In other news, anyone wanna buy a Vita ?

[seandm]

Did it have USB 3.0?

This site says it doesn't.

Although Amazon shows that it does.

Any idea if the RAM is user upgradable?

no clue on any of those questions, as walmart had the display unit so locked up, that it was hard to even lift it up to get a feel for its overall weight.

it was definitely lite, i just didnt like the feel of the unit for that price point. there are better intel units for the same pricing imho.

[pokiworms]

Just an update: Bought the S13p with the middle CPU and better GPU just because they were only 50 a piece. In other news, anyone wanna buy a Vita ?

I was originally planning on selling mine too but after a Craigslist scam attempt (hilarious story), I just decided to try it out. Got Gravity Rush. Best Portable Game I've played in years since Golden Sun and a couple Pokemon! Can't wait to see what comes next for the Vita.