FM24 - PC/Laptop advice thread *** PLEASE READ OPENING POST BEFORE POSTING ***

[kevhamster]

Kevhamster and Smurf are only enthusiasts, and we are NOT employed by SI, SEGA or FM, we are only forum members looking to help out other forum members. We are not qualified IT professionals.

Welcome to the New Laptop Thread

We are all very excited for Football Manager 2021. And as such some things have changed this year for FM21.

This thread will also help if you play older versions of FM and still want a new computer. At 100 pages, it was felt technology has evolved and as such so does the advice that goes with it.

 

======================IMPORTANT======================

WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?
ANY OTHER INFO?

======================================================

 

WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?
Let's face it, nobody wants to waste hard earned cash.

The most expensive computer is not always the best for Football Manager!

It also helps if you’ve had a look and identified a computer which you like the look of. If you have, post a link to an online listing and we can let you know whether or not it would be appropriate to your needs.

NOTES:
Beware of high prices:
Some computers designed for portability are more expensive. 
Beware of going to the most expensive first, different computers are built for different needs (like portability).

Expectations:
Generally speaking, the lower your budget the more likely it is that you will need to lower your expectations on how many leagues/divisions and database size you will have. And the lower the detail level for 3D matches.

We don't know:
We cannot test every computer/laptop, we only speak about the specs and if it's suitable for Football Manager and if it's within your budget. There is no way to know for certain how many Leagues/Divisions/Database size or how fast the game will progress. One user may be happy with the game progressing a week in 20 minutes, for others that may be too slow, so It's all subjective.

======================ANY OTHER INFO?======================

Do you want to watch Netflix? 
Do you play other games? 
Do you want to edit vidoes?
Listen to music, spotify?
Do you edit photos?
etc.?

List all the things you wish to do with your new computer/laptop.

 

=======================================================
CHOOSING A COMPUTER

3 main components are

1. CPU/APU

2. GPU

3. RAM 

=======================================================

CPU/APU

Central Processing Unit (CPU) better known as the Processor
(it maybe referred to as the APU on some systems). 

The most important consideration when looking at a new computer for FM.

This is effectively the brain of your PC. The better this is the smoother FM will run. It may also allow you to load more leagues/divisions and a larger database size.

How do I know if the processor is good?

FM21 requires minimum of 1.8ghz
(Previous versions require 2.2ghz)

EDIT (18/10/2022) - Neil Brock has recently confirmed to me via DM that these clock speeds are not a requirement.  Therefore, this will be made a far lower priority when recommending PC's/CPU's going forward.

***********************************************************************

A decent site to compare
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmark-List.2436.0.html

 

CPU designs get  better every year, it is very possible that the game will run with processors clocked at lower speeds, however it is still best to look at CPU’s which meet and even better exceed the minimum stated speed requirement to minimise potential issues.

It's not all necessarily about the fastest clock speed. There are other factors in the processor that can be considered.
If in doubt, let us know and we can try to advise you the best we can.
 

================

GRAPHICS CARD

This is what allows the computer to display graphics.
There are two options when it comes to types of graphics card.

Integrated or Dedicated?

Integrated 
is where the graphics processing capability is built into the CPU and is the less capable option.  FM will still happily run with integrated graphics, however, if playing using the 3D match engine, you may need to lower the settings for it to run at a smooth frame rate. 

Note:
Some AMD processors (and others) have really good integrated graphics and may be able to run the 3D match engine at higher settings.

Dedicated 
Where a computer has a dedicated graphics card entirely separate from the CPU. This will generally be needed for playing 3D matches at the highest settings, or if playing other games. 

 

==============
RAM

RAM allows multiple tasks (programs) to run at once. The more RAM you have the more smoothly the computer operates when you have multiple programs open, like playing FM, watching Netflix, editing music/videos, etc.

Football Manager will also utilise the RAM and having more RAM allows some parts of FM to transit faster.

Guide:
8GB RAM is plenty for most people
16GB RAM is better but not necessarily essential
32gb RAM would only really be needed for heavy duty movie editing/animation etc. 

NOTE:
Optane RAM or Optane Memory - some computers are listed on sites as having 4GB RAM and 32GB Optane RAM/Memory. Optane memory is temp storage that allows older hard drives to operate a little bit faster. More below.

=================
Hard Drive
There are mainly 3 types 

HDD - Mechanical drive - cheaper (OPTANE RAM/MEMORY - sometimes you will see this referred in computer specs. Optane RAM/Memory allows this older style of drive to behave a bit more like an SSD drive.
SHD - a combination of HDD and SSD drives- in-between price
SSD - Flash-based device - faster and quieter - a bit more expensive
Note:
An SSD has little benefits for FM apart from faster loading and saving times but it will give a better computer performance. If the computer only has 128GB/256gb hard drive space then you may need extra storage. Best to get larger storage, or get a computer with both SSD and HDD and make sure the operating system is installed on the SSD and your other programmes are installed on your HDD.

 

Let us know if you need any help in comparing what you have found - or if we can find something that is better - and perhaps cheaper! 

EDIT (18/10/2022) - I've seen an increase of people contacting me via DM regarding advice.  There is no need to DM me.  I monitor the thread and get notifications when a new post is made via the bell icon at the top of the forum.  I'd request that people refrain from using DM to get advice as that's exactly what the thread is for and sending me a DM is completely unnecessary.  If you've posted and I've missed it, please post again and @ me in the post, and I will respond ASAP.  There are occasions where due to real life I may not check the forum for a couple of days.  In these cases, I will respond as soon as I've checked the board and have something I can recommend.

EDIT 2 (28/06/2023):  SI have just announced that FM24 will be the final one to run on their current engine and from FM25 will be using Unity, which will have the benefit of allowing much more realistic graphics, but with the tradeoff that the system requirements will increase.  At the moment, information on what this means in reality with regards to the system specs isn't available.  As such, it will be very hard to gauge what will be needed for FM25 onwards.

[Marki]

Looking at this one .... https://www.box.co.uk/UM433IQ-A5044T-ASUS-ZenBook-14-UM433IQ-A5044T_2961565.html

Only 8GB of RAM is probably its weakest point that I can see.  Any thoughts welcome  

That said if my 4 year old Dell XPS can run FM21 as well as it runs FM20 I’ll wait til that falls over before making any changes. 

[shaunwwfc]

44 minutes ago, Marki said:

Looking at this one .... https://www.box.co.uk/UM433IQ-A5044T-ASUS-ZenBook-14-UM433IQ-A5044T_2961565.html

Only 8GB of RAM is probably its weakest point that I can see.  Any thoughts welcome  

That said if my 4 year old Dell XPS can run FM21 as well as it runs FM20 I’ll wait til that falls over before making any changes. 

More than good enough. 

[bigmattb28]

I'm going to get FM21, didn't really get much use out of 20, my laptop has this:

Intel Core i7-8750H Processor

8GB DDR4 RAM

256GB M.2 SSD + 1000GB HDD

Dedicated GeForce GTX 1060 6GB Graphics

Runs FM17 fine. I don't know much about PC's but is this good enough for around 10 leagues?

Edited November 5, 2020 by bigmattb28

[kevhamster]

59 minutes ago, Marki said:

Looking at this one .... https://www.box.co.uk/UM433IQ-A5044T-ASUS-ZenBook-14-UM433IQ-A5044T_2961565.html

Only 8GB of RAM is probably its weakest point that I can see.  Any thoughts welcome  

That said if my 4 year old Dell XPS can run FM21 as well as it runs FM20 I’ll wait til that falls over before making any changes. 

It's fine, but I think it's way overpriced for the spec.

[kevhamster]

5 minutes ago, bigmattb28 said:

I'm going to get FM21, didn't really get much use out of 20, my laptop has this:

Intel Core i7-8750H Processor

8GB DDR4 RAM

256GB M.2 SSD + 1000GB HDD

Dedicated GeForce GTX 1060 6GB Graphics

Runs FM17 fine. I don't know much about PC's but is this good enough for around 10 leagues?

We can never say for sure how many leagues a given system will run, but I strongly suspect you have no specific need to upgrade from that.

The CPU is still very good by current standards.

Edited November 5, 2020 by kevhamster

[Marki]

3 minutes ago, kevhamster said:

It's fine, but I think it's way overpriced for the spec.

I’m guessing it’s the 14 inch size that bumps the price up.  I think I could get similar spec in a 15.6 form for a lower price. 
 

[kevhamster]

Just now, Marki said:

I’m guessing it’s the 14 inch size that bumps the price up.  I think I could get similar spec in a 15.6 form for a lower price. 
 

Most likely.  Must admit I didn't look at the size, but 15.6" seems to be the sweet spot in terms of getting the best price.  You pay more for the smaller ones (and they tend to be lower power parts to try and minimise issues with heat, which then can impact performance.)

[bigmattb28]

4 minutes ago, kevhamster said:

We can never say for sure how many leagues a given system will run, but I strongly suspect you have no specific need to upgrade from that.

The CPU is still very good by current standards.

Cheers mate. Not looking to upgrade if I can help it as I bought it from Box last year. Gave 20 a whirl but I never really got into it, and played 17 exclusively. But going to be staying on 21 from the Beta.

[kevhamster]

On 05/11/2020 at 15:40, bigmattb28 said:

Cheers mate. Not looking to upgrade if I can help it as I bought it from Box last year. Gave 20 a whirl but I never really got into it, and played 17 exclusively. But going to be staying on 21 from the Beta.

Yeah, I can't imagine that will have any issues running the setup you want.

The only reason I'd suggest upgrading is if you want to play other modern AAA games.  I think your current laptop would do a grand job with FM.

It's funny you mention FM17, as that's one of only 3 entries in the series I never bought, because I wasn't really playing FM at the time.  The others being FM06 and FM11.

[bartepd]

My budget is 500€. But I found “Lenovo Ideapad 5 15are05“ for 699€. Maybe I can give this 200€ extra to play the game with a pleasure.  Specs are : Ryzen 5 4500U . RAM 16GB DDR4 . AMD Radeon Graphic Cards. SSD 512GB. But I probably will play only FMTouch 21. Hardware requirements are the same like for regular version ? Maybe I can buy cheaper laptop for FMTouch ? What U think ?

Edited November 5, 2020 by bartepd

[kevhamster]

2 hours ago, bartepd said:

My budget is 500€. But I found “Lenovo Ideapad 5 15are05“ for 699€. Maybe I can give this 200€ extra to play the game with a pleasure.  Specs are : Ryzen 5 4500U . RAM 16GB DDR4 . AMD Radeon Graphic Cards. SSD 512GB. But I probably will play only FMTouch 21. Hardware requirements are the same like for regular version ? Maybe I can buy cheaper laptop for FMTouch ? What U think ?

The listed hardware requirements are the same for FM Touch as they are for the "full fat" FM.  I also wouldn't recommend going above your budget - the ones linked earlier will work fine for the game.

If you can afford the laptop with the 4500U, then by all means go for it as it is a decent processor, especially as far the lower power variants go.  But, if affording that much is going to be busting your budget, then don't do it.

[bartepd]

5 hours ago, kevhamster said:

The listed hardware requirements are the same for FM Touch as they are for the "full fat" FM.  I also wouldn't recommend going above your budget - the ones linked earlier will work fine for the game.

If you can afford the laptop with the 4500U, then by all means go for it as it is a decent processor, especially as far the lower power variants go.  But, if affording that much is going to be busting your budget, then don't do it.

Alright. U mean this one >>> https://www.coolblue.nl/product/861465/acer-aspire-3-a315-23-r1k8.html

PS: This laptop have screen 50hz it will be noticeable that is not 60hz ? 

Edited November 6, 2020 by bartepd

[kevhamster]

3 hours ago, bartepd said:

Alright. U mean this one >>> https://www.coolblue.nl/product/861465/acer-aspire-3-a315-23-r1k8.html

PS: This laptop have screen 50hz it will be noticeable that is not 60hz ? 

For FM, not really.

[Ash147]

Hi all,

I'm very much looking forward to FM21. I played FM20 for hours on a 13 inch 2017 Macbook Pro, and after many hours, I started to get screen issues to the point where it had to be replaced. My conclusion was that Macbook Pro's just aren't as heavy duty for a game like FM. It might not be heavy on graphics so to speak but over time it takes its toll.

For that reason, i'm undecided what to do when it comes to FM21. I'm edging towards a bigger screen all in one type machine or better equipped laptop etc. 

I'd be grateful if anyone could offer some advice. My budget is anywhere from 800-1k

Thanks.

 

 

[kevhamster]

1 hour ago, Ash147 said:

Hi all,

I'm very much looking forward to FM21. I played FM20 for hours on a 13 inch 2017 Macbook Pro, and after many hours, I started to get screen issues to the point where it had to be replaced. My conclusion was that Macbook Pro's just aren't as heavy duty for a game like FM. It might not be heavy on graphics so to speak but over time it takes its toll.

For that reason, i'm undecided what to do when it comes to FM21. I'm edging towards a bigger screen all in one type machine or better equipped laptop etc. 

I'd be grateful if anyone could offer some advice. My budget is anywhere from 800-1k

Thanks.

 

 

Correct re: Macbooks.  They aren't really designed with gaming in mind.

In terms of your choice, I'd avoid all-in-ones.  They offer the worst of both worlds in that they offer laptop performance with desktop portability!

So, let me know whether you'd prefer a laptop or desktop (and if you choose desktop, whether you'd need to but the likes of a monitor etc).  The budget you've stated you have will be able to get you something very nice.

Edited November 6, 2020 by kevhamster

[Smurf]

1 hour ago, Ash147 said:

Hi all,

I'm very much looking forward to FM21. I played FM20 for hours on a 13 inch 2017 Macbook Pro, and after many hours, I started to get screen issues to the point where it had to be replaced. My conclusion was that Macbook Pro's just aren't as heavy duty for a game like FM. It might not be heavy on graphics so to speak but over time it takes its toll.

For that reason, i'm undecided what to do when it comes to FM21. I'm edging towards a bigger screen all in one type machine or better equipped laptop etc. 

I'd be grateful if anyone could offer some advice. My budget is anywhere from 800-1k

Thanks.

Macs are quite expensive for what they are - and I am not sure spending all that money on a Mac for FM is feasible.

You get much better laptop for the same price. 

All in ones are ok - but limited for moving about etc. Again, if it's going to be in one place, money better spent on desktop.

This would blow any Mac out of the water

https://www.box.co.uk/1L6F7EAABU-HP-Pavilion-Gaming-15-ec1009na_2958259.html

 

If you went desktop

This blows the laptop out of the water (you'll need a monitor though too)

https://www.box.co.uk/Cube-Revolver_2477623.html?config=2336001,2472017,2473318,2647976,2843266

 

 

[Smurf]

4 minutes ago, Smurf said:

Macs are quite expensive for what they are - and I am not sure spending all that money on a Mac for FM is feasible.

You get much better laptop for the same price. 

All in ones are ok - but limited for moving about etc. Again, if it's going to be in one place, money better spent on desktop.

This would blow any Mac out of the water

https://www.box.co.uk/1L6F7EAABU-HP-Pavilion-Gaming-15-ec1009na_2958259.html

 

If you went desktop

This blows the laptop out of the water (you'll need a monitor though too)

https://www.box.co.uk/Cube-Revolver_2477623.html?config=2336001,2472017,2473318,2647976,2843266

 

 

Actually it doesn't my mistake - roughly the same. But you might get a better slightly performance from the desktop.

@kevhamsterideas on desktop?

[Shanaway1]

Hi @kevhamster.

The irish websites are www.laptopsdirect.com
www.elara.ie
www.currys.ie

Thanks very much

[kevhamster]

8 minutes ago, Smurf said:

Actually it doesn't my mistake - roughly the same. But you might get a better slightly performance from the desktop.

@kevhamsterideas on desktop?

Something like this was my thoughts, but very similar to the one you linked: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/3V0V4b2pBU/

[bartepd]

My budget is 500€. I found “MSI GL62M” with specs :

Intel core i7 7700
24Gb ram DDR4
GTX 1050Ti 4Gb
128Gb SSD
1Tb hardeschijf

Price : 450€ / Used laptop

• I will play only FM21

what u think ?

Edited November 6, 2020 by bartepd

[kevhamster]

1 minute ago, bartepd said:

My budget is 500€. I found “MSI GL62M” with specs :

Intel core i7 7700
24Gb ram DDR4
GTX 1050Ti 4Gb
128Gb SSD
1Tb hardeschijf

Price : 450€ / Used laptop

• I will play only FM21

what u think ?

Decent - again be sure you're happy with the potential pitfalls of a used machine and take that into consideration.  But specs wise, that'll be solid for FM.

[kevhamster]

37 minutes ago, garyhogan91 said:

Hi @kevhamster.

The irish websites are www.laptopsdirect.com
www.elara.ie
www.currys.ie

Thanks very much

Hi mate.

The top site didn't seem to be a valid link (just comes up with a domain name up for sale thing).  

If I'm not mistaken, you said your budget was 400 Euros.

Looking at both Currys and Elera, I saw absolutely nothing in that price range I could recommend at all.  

The one which I could have said would be worth looking at has two main pitfalls. 

Firstly, it's currently out of stock.  Secondly, it's Windows 10 S, and to be able to download things outside of the Windows Store (which you're gonna need for Steam and FM) you have to upgrade out of S mode.  And I'm not 100% sure, but I believe you have to pay extra for that.  Anyway, it's this one: https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-3-a315-42-15-6-amd-ryzen-3-laptop-128-gb-ssd-black-10193932-pdt.html

The other issue is that it's only 4GB RAM, but truth be told I couldn't find anything in the budget that had more.

I then had a look for Irish stores which sold refurbished laptops, as there really is very little in the brand new category which is in any way suitable.

https://www.buyitdirect.ie/p/refurbished-acer-extensa-2540-core-i5-7200u-2.50-ghz-4gb-500gb-dvdrw-15.6-inch-windows-10-laptop-tr40856

So, CPU is reasonable.  Again, only 4GB RAM, but I think you'll have to accept you're not going to get ideal performance for the budget.  I can speak from experience as well, that the integrated graphics in this will mean you'll have to set the graphics to low or very low if you play in 3D.

Aside from the above, the other issue here, and this is one you'll need to think very carefully about, is this site only offers a 30 day warranty on refurbished computers.

Here's another one.  CPU isn't as strong, but it does have 8GB RAM and a 12 month warranty.

https://www.refreshedbyus.com/dell-latitude-e5450-2-3-laptop-b

So, I'll be honest - there's not a lot to recommend in the price range.  These were the best I could find.  They'll run the game, but the processing speed won't be blisteringly quick.

EDIT:

https://www.laptopstation.co.uk/product/laptops/a314-22/

These guys ship to Ireland from the UK.  This one is actually decent and within the price range.  12 month warranty.  And I can vouch for the warranty this store offers as I had to get a laptop replaced under warranty with them last year.

 

Edited November 6, 2020 by kevhamster

[Shanaway1]

1 hour ago, kevhamster said:

Hi mate.

The top site didn't seem to be a valid link (just comes up with a domain name up for sale thing).  

If I'm not mistaken, you said your budget was 400 Euros.

Looking at both Currys and Elera, I saw absolutely nothing in that price range I could recommend at all.  

The one which I could have said would be worth looking at has two main pitfalls. 

Firstly, it's currently out of stock.  Secondly, it's Windows 10 S, and to be able to download things outside of the Windows Store (which you're gonna need for Steam and FM) you have to upgrade out of S mode.  And I'm not 100% sure, but I believe you have to pay extra for that.  Anyway, it's this one: https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-3-a315-42-15-6-amd-ryzen-3-laptop-128-gb-ssd-black-10193932-pdt.html

The other issue is that it's only 4GB RAM, but truth be told I couldn't find anything in the budget that had more.

I then had a look for Irish stores which sold refurbished laptops, as there really is very little in the brand new category which is in any way suitable.

https://www.buyitdirect.ie/p/refurbished-acer-extensa-2540-core-i5-7200u-2.50-ghz-4gb-500gb-dvdrw-15.6-inch-windows-10-laptop-tr40856

So, CPU is reasonable.  Again, only 4GB RAM, but I think you'll have to accept you're not going to get ideal performance for the budget.  I can speak from experience as well, that the integrated graphics in this will mean you'll have to set the graphics to low or very low if you play in 3D.

Aside from the above, the other issue here, and this is one you'll need to think very carefully about, is this site only offers a 30 day warranty on refurbished computers.

Here's another one.  CPU isn't as strong, but it does have 8GB RAM and a 12 month warranty.

https://www.refreshedbyus.com/dell-latitude-e5450-2-3-laptop-b

So, I'll be honest - there's not a lot to recommend in the price range.  These were the best I could find.  They'll run the game, but the processing speed won't be blisteringly quick.

EDIT:

https://www.laptopstation.co.uk/product/laptops/a314-22/

These guys ship to Ireland from the UK.  This one is actually decent and within the price range.  12 month warranty.  And I can vouch for the warranty this store offers as I had to get a laptop replaced under warranty with them last year.

 

Thanks very much. Really appreciate that

[bartepd]

1 hour ago, kevhamster said:

Decent - again be sure you're happy with the potential pitfalls of a used machine and take that into consideration.  But specs wise, that'll be solid for FM.

Almost all new laptops from store what I can buy with my budget have processor Core i5-1035G1. Is enough for 3 nations only with top divisions ? Or even for more ? Sry that I make a lot questions but I’m completely amateur in laptops etc and already because your help I avoid to mistaken buy. 
PS : looks like single core is only 1GHz... not so much. Also I read that FM mostly use one or two cores right ?

Edited November 6, 2020 by bartepd

[kevhamster]

2 minutes ago, bartepd said:

Almost all new laptops from store what I can buy with my budget have processor Core i5-1035G1. Is enough for 3 nations only with top divisions ? Or even for more ? Sry that I make a lot questions but I’m completely amateur in laptops etc and already because your help I avoid to mistaken buy. 
PS : looks like single core is only 1GHZ ... not so much. Also I read that FM mostly use one or two cores right ?

FM mostly processes in single core.

The issue with that laptop is the base clock speed is low, and although the boost speed is higher, it may get throttled to the lower speed under load so you may be left with less than ideal performance.

[gearyman]

Hey, hope someone can help with some recommendations. 

I’ve got a budget of around £400 and I’m looking for a PC rather than laptop. I was looking at Mini PCs as I want one I can swap between my TV in living room and office easily. Ive found a few that seem to have the processing power with i5 processors but they have absolutely nothing in terms of graphics capabilities.

Only other things I’d use it for are web browsing mainly Netflix and Spotify. 

I use a MacBook Pro at the moment for FM and have no issues with it but the battery is on its way out and I want a PC alternative anyway.

Any suggestions or alternatives would be appreciated! 
 

[chumpmanager]

Are you able to tell me please if there's any discernible difference between these? (or anything better available?)

budget is around 1k for a new laptop that will be for work and FM.

https://www.box.co.uk/1L6F7EAABU-HP-Pavilion-Gaming-15-ec1009na_2958259.html

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/nova-15/Fj0EaPjcPn/

[kevhamster]

28 minutes ago, gearyman said:

Hey, hope someone can help with some recommendations. 

I’ve got a budget of around £400 and I’m looking for a PC rather than laptop. I was looking at Mini PCs as I want one I can swap between my TV in living room and office easily. Ive found a few that seem to have the processing power with i5 processors but they have absolutely nothing in terms of graphics capabilities.

Only other things I’d use it for are web browsing mainly Netflix and Spotify. 

I use a MacBook Pro at the moment for FM and have no issues with it but the battery is on its way out and I want a PC alternative anyway.

Any suggestions or alternatives would be appreciated! 
 

The mini PC's at that price I can find are not ones I'd recommend.

This is decent - CPU will do the job and strong integrated graphics for playing the 3D match engine.  https://www.box.co.uk/Lenovo-V55t-15API-11CC0009UK-Business-_2845879.html

If you really need a mini-PC, this is the best I can find within the budget but it's still not something I'd particularly recommend: https://www.box.co.uk/Dell-OptiPlex-3000-3070-Mini-Desktop-PC_2683580.html

CPU is ok, but only 4GB and the integrated graphics will be poor so you'll need to dial 3D graphics settings down to low or very low I'd imagine.

[kevhamster]

9 minutes ago, chumpmanager said:

Are you able to tell me please if there's any discernible difference between these? (or anything better available?)

budget is around 1k for a new laptop that will be for work and FM.

https://www.box.co.uk/1L6F7EAABU-HP-Pavilion-Gaming-15-ec1009na_2958259.html

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/nova-15/Fj0EaPjcPn/

Basically, that configuration on PC Specialist I'd consider completely "arse about face".  It's paired a CPU that's weaker than ideal when you're spending that much on a system with a graphics card that is way OTT for what you would need if FM is the only game you're playing.

I'd go for the HP one at Box - I can't get an equivalent spec anywhere near that price on PC Specialist based on their current availability, and that is the best one I can find within a grand at the moment.

[rkobets]

Particularly for FM 2021 what will be better?

AMD Ryzen 7 4800H or Intel i7-10750H?

in the multi core tests AMD is better but for the FM ? how good AMD is for FM 2021 (2020)? in some games I7 10750 is still better despite extra 2 core in AMD 4800.

Thank you

 

[Deisler26]

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-envy-15-ep0510na-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i9-2-tb-ssd-silver-10207936-pdt.html

I'm looking at this to get me through the next 4 years, going back to University. 

I know it's overpowered, but I won't be replacing it until it dies.

I'm just wondering if it's better to get this one, or an Alienware one which is game dedicated.

[bartepd]

1 hour ago, kevhamster said:

FM mostly processes in single core.

The issue with that laptop is the base clock speed is low, and although the boost speed is higher, it may get throttled to the lower speed under load so you may be left with less than ideal performance.

Ok I order this for 502€. Brand new from shop : 

 

Modelnaam : Aspire 5 A515-44-R5K1 

Artikelnummer : NX.HVZEH.003

 

Pure Silver - 15.6" FHD ComfyView™ LED - AMD Ryzen™ 5 4500U - 8GB DDR4 - 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD - AMD Radeon RX Vega 6 - No ODD - Wi-Fi 5 AC (2x2) + BT 4.1 - 48 Wh battery - HD webcam with 2 Microphones - US Int. Keyboard

[kevhamster]

10 minutes ago, bartepd said:

Ok I order this for 502€. Brand new from shop : 

 

Modelnaam : Aspire 5 A515-44-R5K1 

Artikelnummer : NX.HVZEH.003

 

Pure Silver - 15.6" FHD ComfyView™ LED - AMD Ryzen™ 5 4500U - 8GB DDR4 - 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD - AMD Radeon RX Vega 6 - No ODD - Wi-Fi 5 AC (2x2) + BT 4.1 - 48 Wh battery - HD webcam with 2 Microphones - US Int. Keyboard

Looks good. 

[bartepd]

9 hours ago, kevhamster said:

Looks good. 

With Ryzen 5 4500U I can count for good processing with 3 nations and only top division ? For example ENG Premier League , IT Serie A , ESP LaLiga ? ( normal database ). I can still cancel my order so that’s why I ask

Edited November 7, 2020 by bartepd

[Smurf]

1 hour ago, bartepd said:

With Ryzen 5 4500U I can count for good processing with 3 nations and only top division ? For example ENG Premier League , IT Serie A , ESP LaLiga ? ( normal database ). I can still cancel my order so that’s why I ask

In fairness, we cover this in the opening post.

On 05/11/2020 at 12:43, kevhamster said:

Kevhamster and Smurf are only enthusiasts, and we are NOT employed by SI, SEGA or FM, we are only forum members looking to help out other forum members. We are not qualified IT professionals.

Expectations:
Generally speaking, the lower your budget the more likely it is that you will need to lower your expectations on how many leagues/divisions and database size you will have. And the lower the detail level for 3D matches.

We don't know:
We cannot test every computer/laptop, we only speak about the specs and if it's suitable for Football Manager and if it's within your budget. There is no way to know for certain how many Leagues/Divisions/Database size or how fast the game will progress. One user may be happy with the game progressing a week in 20 minutes, for others that may be too slow, so It's all subjective.

 

[kevhamster]

12 hours ago, rkobets said:

Particularly for FM 2021 what will be better?

AMD Ryzen 7 4800H or Intel i7-10750H?

in the multi core tests AMD is better but for the FM ? how good AMD is for FM 2021 (2020)? in some games I7 10750 is still better despite extra 2 core in AMD 4800.

Thank you

 

https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-10750H-vs-AMD-Ryzen-7-4800H/m1053158vsm1032976

This suggests that they are pretty much the same for single core and dual core, but the AMD starts to beat the Intel beyond that (although, there sample size for the i7 is almost 3 times that of the Ryzen, so take the benchmark results with at least a little pinch of salt).

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmark-List.2436.0.html? scores the Ryzen at 25th and the i7 at 61st.

Bottom line is, there's not a huge amount in it and either will do an excellent job.

If prices are similar where all other specs are at the same level, I'd personally choose one with the Ryzen.   If there's a significant difference with the i7 coming out cheaper, I'd go for that.

[kevhamster]

3 hours ago, bartepd said:

With Ryzen 5 4500U I can count for good processing with 3 nations and only top division ? For example ENG Premier League , IT Serie A , ESP LaLiga ? ( normal database ). I can still cancel my order so that’s why I ask

Smurf sums it up with his quote - we can't fairly judge as your expectations could be very different to mine.

What I can tell you is that is the strongest CPU I could find in any of the systems within your budget.

[pizzachips]

my new laptop was due to arrive 17th Nov and Dell just email me to say it was cancelled due to unavailable parts * cries*

[kevhamster]

3 minutes ago, pizzachips said:

my new laptop was due to arrive 17th Nov and Dell just email me to say it was cancelled due to unavailable parts * cries*

Post the spec and what you paid, and I'll see if I can find something equivalent for you.

[Sanel]

Anyone any experience with FM on a Dell XPS 15? Really don't trust those gaming laptops at all as I have a feeling something is off with them. Specs that I'm looking at: i7 10750U, 16 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6.

Sadly they don't offer AMD, most of the laptops that offer AMD are the gaming ones.

Edited November 7, 2020 by Sanel

[kevhamster]

3 minutes ago, Sanel said:

Anyone any experience with FM on a Dell XPS 15? Really don't trust those gaming laptops at all as I have a feeling something is off with them. Specs that I'm looking at: i7 10750U, 16 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6.

Specs wise, that's very good.

Can't comment on the specific machine though,

[Sanel]

1 minute ago, kevhamster said:

Specs wise, that's very good.

Can't comment on the specific machine though,

Yeah, I've got a review on of the older models. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-XPS-15-9550-Core-i7-FHD-Notebook-Review.158875.0.html. I might just order this one, I'd rather pay more for a decent laptop. What are some popular websites in the UK?

[kevhamster]

1 minute ago, Sanel said:

Yeah, I've got a review on of the older models. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-XPS-15-9550-Core-i7-FHD-Notebook-Review.158875.0.html. I might just order this one, I'd rather pay more for a decent laptop. What are some popular websites in the UK?

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/index.html

https://www.box.co.uk/

https://www.argos.co.uk/

https://www.very.co.uk/electricals/laptops/e/b/4873.end

Or if you prefer to configure your own (these will have pre-built and configurable options):

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/

https://www.cyberpowersystem.co.uk/

https://www.novatech.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAiAqJn9BRB0EiwAJ1SztdvywoSeIjDfryvMF4lrIz7LGrhSQ55P-1q5HkVcR_HW5tmc6IbPiBoCInEQAvD_BwE

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/

[FM BEAR]

Hi, all. Not been on these forums for years. I picked up FM again after a few years during lockdowb but its quite clear my laptop isn't up to it. I have a budget of around £800 for a new one. It's main use will be for FM and general browsing. Im hoping for something reasonably powerful that will play a decent number of leagues. Don't really know what I'm looking at so any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you in advance.

 

[kevhamster]

9 minutes ago, FM BEAR said:

Hi, all. Not been on these forums for years. I picked up FM again after a few years during lockdowb but its quite clear my laptop isn't up to it. I have a budget of around £800 for a new one. It's main use will be for FM and general browsing. Im hoping for something reasonably powerful that will play a decent number of leagues. Don't really know what I'm looking at so any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you in advance.

 

https://www.box.co.uk/1L6F6EAABU-HP-Pavilion-Gaming-15-ec1007na_2958258.html

Excellent CPU, graphics card is ample and decent amount of storage.

[pizzachips]

2 hours ago, kevhamster said:

Post the spec and what you paid, and I'll see if I can find something equivalent for you.

cheers mate. they actually got back to me saying its available to arrive the 18th.

to be honest I only use laptop for Google, FM and I access work via it but use their programmes.

Do you think it's good value for money?

especially for FM as I wnates to run 20/ 30 league's  at a quick speed 

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptops/new-inspiron-15-7000/spd/inspiron-15-7501-laptop/cn50101

[kevhamster]

3 minutes ago, pizzachips said:

cheers mate. they actually got back to me saying its available to arrive the 18th.

to be honest I only use laptop for Google, FM and I access work via it but use their programmes.

Do you think it's good value for money?

especially for FM as I wnates to run 20/ 30 league's  at a quick speed 

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptops/new-inspiron-15-7000/spd/inspiron-15-7501-laptop/cn50101

I'll be honest, looks pricey.  Excellent spec, but I'm sure you can get the same for cheaper.

What country are you in?  Just wondering as I notice the price is in Euros.

 

[pizzachips]

2 minutes ago, kevhamster said:

I'll be honest, looks pricey.  Excellent spec, but I'm sure you can get the same for cheaper.

What country are you in?  Just wondering as I notice the price is in Euros.

 

Based in sunny Ireland. I've always bought the Dell / Inspiron series for work/FM and its never let me down so rightly or wrongly thats always given me that added comfort even if I'm over paying by couple hundred quid

[Smurf]

1 minute ago, pizzachips said:

Based in sunny Ireland. I've always bought the Dell / Inspiron series for work/FM and its never let me down so rightly or wrongly thats always given me that added comfort even if I'm over paying by couple hundred quid

In Ireland too, from Dublin but in Meath, now. I can tell you its a decent price. But check out on Pc specialist, you could probably get it a tad cheaper and wont come with bloatware.