laptop 2021 What is the best laptop for Second Life for $400 or less?

[MichelleSpringfield]

Unfortunately I only can afford $400 for a laptop. I am not into technology and know nothing about laptops. I am away from home in RL and borrowing someone's laptop. I would like my own laptop and I don't know what would be the right laptop to get for SL within my budget. All I do is hangout with friends, dance, explore, shop, take pictures, you know, the usual stuff. I don't build, design, code or any of that stuff. Can anyone recommend something for me? Thanks.

Edited August 25, 2021 by MichelleSpringfield
Forgot to add what I do in SL.

[Quistess Alpha]

At that pricepoint, you're definitely going to want/need to turn your graphics way down (turn off eep) and set a fairly low draw-distance (32~64). look for anything that says it has a sepparate graphics card, although I don't think you'll find much, as a gfx card alone would eat most of your budget. I'm not really the best to ask, but something like

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164811295954?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=164811295954&targetid=4580496732614413&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=418233788&mkgroupid=1230353745471221&rlsatarget=pla-4580496732614413&abcId=9300542&merchantid=51291&msclkid=3706a604a0bc1b1ea485c7217ed1156f

might work ok.

Actually: https://www.ebay.com/itm/265283426254?hash=item3dc41fd7ce:g:fMcAAOSwqBBhFO4d looks like a better deal if nobody bids in the next 6 days.

Edited August 25, 2021 by Quistess Alpha

[VaelFaye]

You may be hard pressed to find a lot of choices under the $700 mark unfortunately.

 

https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-cheap-gaming-laptops

https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/acer-nitro-5-2019

[Rob Huntsman]

Not sure, why computer specs would matter on second life. You should explain abit more, are you a coder, graphics designer or gamer? Then there would be suggestions people could throw out. However if you just need a laptop that can play second life just visit your local pawn shop.

 

[Bree Giffen]

We don't know how well it will perform yet but there is the Steamdeck.

https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck

[Pixie Kobichenko]

38 minutes ago, Quistess Alpha said:

At that pricepoint, you're definitely going to want/need to turn your graphics way down (turn off eep) and set a fairly low draw-distance (32~64). look for anything that says it has a sepparate graphics card, although I don't think you'll find much, as a gfx card alone would eat most of your budget. I'm not really the best to ask, but something like

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164811295954?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=164811295954&targetid=4580496732614413&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=418233788&mkgroupid=1230353745471221&rlsatarget=pla-4580496732614413&abcId=9300542&merchantid=51291&msclkid=3706a604a0bc1b1ea485c7217ed1156f

might work ok.

Actually: https://www.ebay.com/itm/265283426254?hash=item3dc41fd7ce:g:fMcAAOSwqBBhFO4d looks like a better deal if nobody bids in the next 6 days.

(I wouldn’t buy either of those- bad seller rating on the 1st & the 2nd says it has “intermittent” trouble booting up. I only point this out because I’ve been without a computer almost 2 years now & am hoping to get another eventually & keep my eye out for threads about low price laptops that can handle SL)

Edited August 25, 2021 by Pixie Kobichenko

[Rat Luv]

From my experience of buying a new laptop last year...$400 is about £290...I think it will be tough to find a good one that cheap. 🤔

Maybe try getting a refurbished or reconditioned laptop from an authorised dealer? Sometimes they get returns of brand new laptops with minor faults or blemishes...they fix them up and then resell them for less, and you get a proper warranty as if it was new. I once got a Macbook Pro for about £350 less than the Apple store price that way, and is less risky than buying a second hand one off eBay...

 

 

Edited August 25, 2021 by Rat Luv

[Finite]

@MichelleSpringfield I think you would be better off just saving until you could afford something more sufficient. I can't imagine a laptop for 400 dollars being significantly better than what you might already have. You might find yourself in a similar situation a year or 2 from now.

That being said, I haven't bought anything from anywhere other than newegg.com since like 2004. Here's what they have in your price range.

https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?LeftPriceRange=0+400&N=100167732

edit: Just noticed you said you weren't at home and are borrowing one. If you have a Best Buy near you you can do one of their lease to own deals and return it within 30 days. I've done this before when my PC was getting repairs.  Can pretty much get whatever and wouldn't be limited to your budget.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/financing-rewards/progressive-leasing/pcmcat1535574988808.c?id=pcmcat1535574988808

Edited August 25, 2021 by Finite

[Doris Johnsky]

I bought an HP lappy that has run fine for me. I bought it at the end of the year in December when it was on sale.  I think I paid like $600 for it.  It has 12GB of RAM which people say doesn't matter but I think it did for me.  It has an integrated graphic card and as long as I'm not in photomode I run fine.  In photomode I'm really laggy. 

As someone said you're not going to get a lot for $400. Maybe something used 

[Claireschen Hesten]

9 hours ago, Rob Huntsman said:

Not sure, why computer specs would matter on second life.

it matters a lot if you want a satisfactory SL experience, a budget of less than £300 will not get you a brand new laptop you'd want to use as a full time SL device   

[Lillith Hapmouche]

10 hours ago, Quistess Alpha said:

Actually: https://www.ebay.com/itm/265283426254?hash=item3dc41fd7ce:g:fMcAAOSwqBBhFO4d looks like a better deal if nobody bids in the next 6 days.

Hmhmmm:

Quote

 

Issues with powering on is common with black screen and with orange/blue power indicators. 

 

Repairs necessary or usage for spare parts. "

 

Summed up in one word: Garbage.

 

 

In generel:

Well, you get what you pay for. These days, you get even less thanks to overpricing thanks to home office, general shortage of parts and so on.

Laptops in that price range are merely better media displays and office tools.

 

I didn't check in detail, so please someone have a second look...

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/194310049550

Razer Blade 14

Make an offer for $400, that's $80 less than the asking price... probably worth more, but perhaps the seller doesn't care.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124868995849

ASUS ZX53VW

In general, these models come with a Nvidia 1060 3 GB gpu. That would be sufficient for the sake of simply being online.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/393530344378

Gateway 14.1" Ultra Slim Notebook

Honestly, I have no idea how the graphics unit (Intel UHD Graphics G1) of an i3-1005G1 performs. Judging from its performance in GTA V, it might be ok.

Edited August 25, 2021 by Lillith Hapmouche