Lets take a glance at these “early out” units.

MSI Katana 15 B13VEK-277US ($1200)

• Intel Core i7 13th Gen 13620H 1.8GHz Processor
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6GB GDDR6 105W GPU
• 15.6″ Full HD IPS 144Hz 250-nits, 45% NTSC Display
• 16GB DDR5-4800 RAM
• 1TB Solid State Drive
• Windows 11 Home
• 2×2 Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
• Bluetooth 5.2

MSI Katana 15 B12VFK-291US ($1200)

• Intel Core i7 12th Gen 12650H 1.7GHz Processor
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6 105WGPU
• 15.6″ Full HD IPS 144Hz 250-nits, 45% NTSC Display
• 16GB DDR5-4800 RAM
• 512GB Solid State Drive
• Windows 11 Home
• 2×2 Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
• Bluetooth 5.2

MSI Pulse 15 B13VFK-280US($1500)

• Intel Core i7 13th Gen 13700H 1.8GHz Processor
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6 140W GPU
• 15.6: Full HD IPS 144Hz 250-nits, 45% NTSC Display
• 16GB DDR5-5200 RAM
• 1TB Solid State Drive
• Microsoft Windows 11 Home
• 10/100/1000 Network
• 2×2 Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
• Bluetooth 5.2

MSI Pulse 15 B13VGK-281US ($1700)

• Intel Core i7 13th Gen 13700H 1.8GHz Processor
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 8GB GDDR6 140W GPU
• 15.6″ Full HD IPS 144Hz 250-nits, 45% NTSC Display
• 32GB DDR5-5200 RAM
• 1TB Solid State Drive
• Microsoft Windows 11 Home
• 10/100/1000 Network
• 2×2 Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
• Bluetooth 5.2

Verdict!

While these units have notably more performing power than their predecessors thanks to the newer and more powerful 13th gen CPU as well as the 4000 series RTX GPUs, the displays are very disappointing ,unless you plan on using external monitor/s. We really don’t expect a laptop being sold for over $1000 to dimmer than 300 nits, and all those systems tick that box. Unless you are using an external monitor as well, they wouldn’t be ideal for tasks that require color accurate displays. Regarding overall value for the money, we will have to agree when more units with these new CPUs and GPUs are released and their prices become general knowledge or when we are able to do proper performance-benchmarking and compare to older laptops and what they are being sold for.

In addition to offering great deals on hardware, we also source software keys for operating systems like Windows through trusted vendors. One of our go-to suppliers is Keyzon.com, where we purchase authentic Windows keys, including those for Windows 11. This partnership allows us to provide customers with affordable options for upgrading or setting up their systems with the latest software.

Overview of the GIGABYTE A5 X1

The GIGABYTE A5 X1 gaming laptop is a powerful mobile gamer that does a great job for creators and as a productivity machine. The A5 X1 gets its performance power from the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor and 16 GB DDR4 RAM while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU is responsible for graphics . Its performance power is complemented by a good display , crunchy keyboard , its portability , in addition to a solid battery life.

Specifications of the GIGABYTE A5 X1

Strengths and Weaknesses of the GIGABYTE A5 X1 Gaming Laptop

The pros and cons of the A5 X1 laptop, are derived through a thorough analysis of key areas. These pointers should therefore , be of great assistance in assisting prospective buyers in deriving at a conclusion. The strengths provide reasons why you should consider getting this laptop, meanwhile the weaknesses indicate the shortfalls of this unit.

Strengths of the GIGABYTE A5 X1

• Great performer (great gamer and productivity system)
• Great value for money especially when on sale

• Decent heat management system (this influences performance )
• Good display (good color reproduction and great refresh rate )
• Solid battery life (fact that battery can be removed is a huge plus)
• Allows two M.2 SSDs while still having space for a 2.5″ storage drive
• Nice crunchy keyboard with full RGB backlight

Weaknesses of the GIGABYTE A5

• Made fully from plastic and display lid wobbles a little
• No thunderbolt port
• No maintenance latch therefore, one has to remove the entire base to access internals.

Verdict

GIGABYTE A5 X1 is an overall great gaming , entertainment and productivity laptop that offers true value for your money. It competes with many other far more expensive laptops in performance which in itself, is a great indicator of a solid laptop. If you are looking for a powerful and relatively portable laptop, then here you go.

For a limited time , the GIGABYTE A5 X1 Gaming Laptop is available at Newegg with $200 off using rebate card, for $1299, which is an incredibly good price for what you are getting.

1. Avoid using laptop on soft surfaces

Almost all laptops, are designed with vents on their bottom covers and ones to their sides and or, backs. The vents at the bottom serve the purpose of pulling cool air into the laptop to cool crucial operating components , while the ones to the sides and back , act as exhaust through which hot air is expelled from laptop. Using your laptop on a soft surface such as a bed, pillow or cloth , can block the intake vents and easily cause your laptop to overheat. It is good to know that heat is a massive enemy of most electronics, as it slows their performance and lower their lifespan. Instead, ensure your laptop operates on a solid surface.

2. Refrain from using your laptop in too hot or dusty environments

As mentioned above, your laptop operates best when its components aren’t too hot. Using your laptop in a cool environment, therefore puts the cooling system under less pressure and allows you to enjoy an optimally performing laptop. It is also important to remember that heat not only reduces performance, but also lifespan.
Like a hot environment, dusty surroundings will eventually affect your laptop’s performance. Dust particles are drawn into your laptop when it sucks cool air and gradually clog vents as well as hinder the movement of fan blades. When this takes place, your laptop’s cooling system does not function the way it should, which eventually leads to overheating.

3. Avoid liquid spills on or close to laptop

Liquids pose a massive threat to laptops and to electronics in general. Liquid spilled on your laptop keyboard, can easily seep through narrow button cutouts and get to the motherboard, causing short circuits and corrosion. A short circuit can instantly ruin your laptop , while corrosion reduces its performance and eventually its, lifespan. It is therefore, very important that you keep liquids away from your laptop, or be completely cautious .

4. Always use its original charger or certified replacement

Your charger is really what powers your laptop and it is designed specially to do the job , while not damaging the battery it charges or the motherboard of your unit. Each laptop has a certain voltage of electricity that it uses and its charger should match that required voltage; anything less and your laptop may not receive enough power to operate and anything more, and you may permanently damage your battery or even motherboard. Please note that this damage can occur over a time.
Outside of voltage, laptop chargers have different connectors (part that fits in the laptop) and as a result , some are physically impossible to be inserted in laptops they aren’t intended for, while some appear to fit, but still don’t work because of different pins. In fact, some chargers are quite smart and even when fit physically into a laptop , have the same voltage and even amperage, will not work with a laptop it wasn’t designed for.
It is also important to note that forcing an incorrect charger into your laptop’s charging port, can damage your charging port itself.

5. Never lift/carry your laptop by its lid/screen.

Carrying your laptop by the lid is just disaster waiting to happen. A laptop should be lifted/carried by its base. Lifting a laptop by its screen can do several damages, one of which is straining/ breaking the hinges that allow the lid to open and close or to remain in an upright position during viewing. Carrying a laptop by its lid can also damage cables that carry information and power from the motherboard , to the display, which can lead to a screen malfunction.
We probably don’t need to state the obvious that a laptop carried by its lid, is far more likely to fall and we all know what can happen if that occurs.

6. Do not allow your laptop battery to completely discharge

Your laptop battery is made up of lithium ion or polymer cells . These cells store electricity that your laptop uses to operate when not connected to a power outlet. These cells are not ‘invincible’, they get weaker and weaker with every cycle (each time a battery charges then completely discharges).

It has been proven that batteries that are not allowed to be fully discharged before being recharged, have stayed around and performed better than those that are often times allowed to be drained completely , before refilled. It is therefore recommended that you don’t allow your laptop’s battery to drain below 20%, unless you have to. In fact, many users who use their laptops for long periods, regularly leave their laptops plugged in for the entire day. In this way, your lithium cells will not take more charge than they can hold, so once 100% charged, laptop will automatically use power directly from the adapter and save your battery.

7. Keep your Windows Defender Firewall on

Windows Firewall is a special application developed by Microsoft for Windows Operating Systems. This application serves as your Windows Laptop’s main defense system and protects your unit from unauthorized access, hackers and potentially harmful programs.
With such an important role to play in the everyday security of your laptop, it is vital that your keep Windows Firewall on.

8. Refrain from downloading and installing applications from unknow sources

Download and install applications only from sources you’re sure about. This particular step should be observed especially by gamers and other users who download a lot of applications and files from various platforms. Not all of these sites and applications are safe for your computer , some are malicious and intended to harm your computer or give unauthorized access to hackers. Windows Defender has a major role to play here and will automatically block suspicious software , but may not block all.

9. Do not force any cables/chips etc. in your laptop ports

This goes for just about all the ports/ slots of your laptop . Simply, don’t force any chips, chargers, USBs etc., in your laptop ports. The first rule really is to know and understand the ports your laptop has and the specific devices they accept. You never have to apply too much force to get the correct charger, USB, SD card, Thunderbolt , HDMI etc. connected to your laptop. If you have to do this, then it means , you are trying to connect an incompatible device or a damaged connector. Either way, you could severely damage the pins inside of a port and in the case of the charging port, basically sending your laptop to the technician shop or to your junk storage in garage.

Preventing your laptop from falls or being hit

A simple drop could see you putting away your laptop permanently. One of the most common outcomes of laptops falling and hitting hard surfaces, is a broken display/screen. Many laptops sport very high quality displays, which can cost a fortune to replace. Outside of broken displays, your laptop may also suffer a damaged storage drive, broken chassis, electrical shortages or dislocation of other crucial operational parts. Here are some tips, to prevent your laptop from falling or being knocked by other objects:

• Avoid stretching laptop charger across a walking path.
• Close your laptop lid when not in use and preferably store in your laptop bag or a drawer.
• Keep laptop away from the edges of tables
• Transport laptop in specially cushioned laptop bag

The Legion line of laptops has simply taken Lenovo to another level in the gaming /high performance laptop market. Legions are known for their solid performance which is supported by its great heat management system.

In this article, we take the time out to look at the Legion 5 Pro and the Legion 5 since many users on our social media platforms have been asking about the differences and which they should really buy.

Side by Side Specifications of the Legion 5 and the Legion 5 Pro

We look specifically at the Legion 5 15ACH6H and the Legion 5 Pro 16ACH6H

How are the Legion 5 and the Legion 5 Pro alike?

As seen in not only the table above, but also the side by side photos of the Legion 5 and 5 Pro, we definitely can say that these two laptops have a lot in common. In fact, they have most things in common. Both laptops from a distance out, look very much alike and have similar ports , etc., . They have the same performance specs, i.e., the CPUs, GPUs and even memory (RAM)and SSD. Having the same performance specs, also means they are not too far away when it comes on to raw performance in just about any task.

How are the Legion 5 and the Legion 5 Pro different?

Of course, both the Legion 5 and Legion 5 Pro are very similar and that is very evident to even the blind. They however, have some crucial differences that will help you to decide if you pay the extra dollars for the Pro or if you stick with the Legion 5.

The major difference between both machines is the display.

The Lenovo Legion 5 has a 15.6″ FHD IPS 165 Hz 96% Srgb 300 nits 3ms display , while the 5 Pro, has a 16″ 2560 x 1600 IPS 165 Hz 100% Srgb 500 nits 3ms display. The legion 5 Pro not only has a higher screen resolution (FHD/1080X1920p Vs 2560 x 1600) which equates to around 78% more pixel density. Along with this, the Pro’s display also has a slightly higher color gamut coverage and is far brighter(300 nits vs 500 nits) than that of its compatriot. It is also important to note that the Pro, has a slightly bigger display, thinner bezel and a higher screen -to -body ratio.

What does all of this mean though?

In essence, the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro has a better display, one that you can expect more vibrant and vivid images from. Its brightness also adds a lot of value what’s already good. It means, if you are a gamer , graphic designer or anyone who prides a better display, this should be your choice where display quality is concern. Also, if you will be using your laptop outdoors or in very lit environments, then the brighter display is very necessary.

The design of both laptops

The Pro and the regular Legion 5 have a few physical differences. The Legion 5 Pro , of course is slimmer than its opponent.

As you can see in images above , the Legion 5 Pro has a greyish shade while the regular Legion 5 is closer to black. The 5 Pro also sports a big Legion logo on its back panel, while its brother , the word “Legion”, to the right edge of the panel. If you take a closer look, you’ll also see that the exhaust vent patterns , are different ;both rear and side ones.

Difference in battery sizes

The Legion 5 comes with a 60 watt hour lithium cell battery pack, while the 5 Pro comes with an 80 watt hour battery. Of course, this should directly mean a better battery life in the 5 Pro, since it has a higher capacity battery. Well, the truth is that its battery life is a longer than that of the Legion 5 and would even be quite a bit better , if it weren’t for the higher resolution display that of course, consumes more power than the 1080p Legion 5’s display.

Reasons to get the Legion 5 over the Legion 5 Pro

• Cheaper
• Performs as well as the Legion 5 Pro in most activities including some gaming.
• Has slightly lower external/surface temperatures

Reasons to get the Legion 5 Pro over the Legion 5

• Better display quality
• Better aesthetics and build quality (please note that the Legion 5 is quite solid as well)
• Bigger battery capacity and longer battery life
• Runs slightly quieter than the regular Legion 5

Full specifications of the Asus Vivobook M3500QC-DB71 Pro 15

Strengths of the Asus Vivobook M3500QC-DB71 Pro 15

• Bright and vibrant display (ideal for photo editors )

• Decent all-round performer
• Quiet fans
• Good heat management system
• Solid battery life
• Attractive aesthetics
• Good value for money

Weaknesses of the Asus Vivobook M3500QC-DB71 Pro 15

• Soldered RAM makes it impossible to upgrade memory from 16 GB.

• Has only a single M.2 2280 slot inside (for any extra storage you have to go external)
• mediocre audio (speakers are loud, but lack bass and clarity even at high volume)

What tasks are the Asus Vivobook Pro 15 ideal for ?

This Vivobook Pro 15 is a suitable choice for the following tasks.

• General tasks such as web browsing, watching videos, word processing
• General school/college/university driver
• Light to mid level gaming
• Photo editing
• Semi Pro – video editing & Graphic Designing

Below, we’ve created a table to show how the Laptop version of the RTX 3080 Ti graphics card is expected to match up against its other GeForce 3000 series compatriots in terms of specifications.

The main takeaway from that table and obviously what most people would be interested in knowing, is the total graphics power (TGP). The mobile RTX 3080 Ti is expected to draw a maximum of 175 watts , some 10 wats more than the regular mobile 3080 and 30 watts more than the popular RTX 3070 Max P. As for the mobile 3070 Ti, it is anticipated that it will draw some 5 watts more than the 3070. It is important to remember than the TGP is usually a good indicator of a card’s performance ability.

As for the memory , the 3080Ti is expected to boost 16 GB V-RAM ,which is similar to the most powerful mobile 3080’s memory capacity , but clocks 2 Gbps faster than any other GeForce 3000 series mobile video cards.

Specifications

Operating system	Windows 10 Home 64 (free Windows 11 upgrade)
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Processor (3.20 GHz, up to 4.40 GHz Max Boost, 8 Cores, 16 Threads, 16 MB Cache)
GPU	NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3070 8GB (140 Watts)
Memory	16 GB DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8 GB)
Storage	1 TB PCIe SSD
Display	17.3″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, anti-glare with Dolby Vision, 300 nits, 144Hz
Ports	2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1,USB-A 3.2 Gen 1,USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI, RJ45, SD Card slot, Headphone / mic combo

Strengths

• Great heat management and performance power

• Good build quality
• Decent Keyboard
• battery life good for such a powerful system
• wide array of ports
• Not as heavy as the typical 17″ laptop.

Weaknesses

• Display could be better ( a little more brightness and higher refresh rate and response time could be useful)
• No thunderbolt port

The Legion 5 Gen 6 17″ , is currently on sale at Lenovo for only $1480 after $260 off at Lenovo.com. You can access deal here.

The IdeaPad 82K20015US has been one of the most sought after low- budget gaming laptops since its release. Paired with the relatively old but capable GTX 1650 graphics card and the newly released AMD Ryzen 5000 H-Series mobile processor, the IdeaPad 3 was designed to attract users who who are on a tight budget , but refuse to give up on finding a system that will give them a fair gaming experience and also serve as a decent every- day laptop.

Full Specifications

Strengths of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

• Great performance per dollar (great value for money).

• Good heat management (kudos to the changes to heat sink and fan design)
• Solid ,crunchy and responsive keyboard
• Decent build quality
• Mostly Bloatware free except for MacAfee which can be uninstalled easily.
• Privacy shutter for webcam is pretty handy
• Simple and minimalist design makes laptop ideal for professional environments
• Good expanding/ upgrading support.

Weaknesses of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

• Battery life is mediocre especially when gaming
• No option to switch between iGPU and dGPU which would see a better gaming performance in some games
• Display is too dim to be easily seen outside at daytime and color accuracy is pretty low.
• Limited number of USB ports
• All ports are located at the sides of laptop, which means cable management can be very annoying
• Removing bottom panel isn’t the easiest (prying tool is needed)
• Sound quality from speakers is not the best
• No fingerprint reader or SD card reader

Conclusion

You may be looking at the weaknesses of this IdeaPad Gaming 3 and thinking they seem to be overwhelming but the truth is that they are mostly minor and things that can mostly be worked around. If you are looking for a very low budget system that will be ideal for everyday tasks and be able to exert enough power to run some games or crush some other intensive tasks, then this laptop at the current price point, has not many competitors. Upgrading its memory (RAM) especially, can add even more performance power to take on more intensive tasks. If you are looking for a laptop to use for tasks that require very high level colors and image quality like professional photo editing, unless you plan to use an external monitor connected to this laptop, we recommend you go for a laptop with a more color accurate display.