[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”350″ identifier=”B01D7NL8WU” locale=”US” src=”https://www.topg4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/41fYzT30ckL.jpg” tag=”topg4u0a-20″ width=”350″]

[easyazon_link asin=”B01D7NL8WU” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”topg4u0a-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Lenovo G70-80 17.3″ Laptop Review[/easyazon_link]

 Features:

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-5200U 2.2 GHz
  • RAM: 8GB DDR3L – SDRAM
  • Hard Drive: 1TB HDD
  • Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics 5500
  • Operating System: Windows 10 64-Bit
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Also read:

 


I sometimes find myself using emulators to play old SNES games from my youth. There’s a certain charm (and nostalgia!) to them that I miss in some newer games.

These are the kind of games I’d expect to be playing on a laptop like the G70-80 model from Lenovo because of the integrated graphics card. Integrated graphics cards have a bad rep because it’s common knowledge that they’re inferior to dedicated graphics cards.

In saying that, I was actually surprised to discover the quality of games that run well on medium settings with the Intel HD Graphics 5500.

 


Pros:

  • Large Screen
  • Decent SDRAM
  • Good hard drive space
  • Windows 10 helps with performance
  • Plenty of ports

Cons:

  • The hard drive is HDD rather than SSD
  • Integrated Graphics Card rather than a dedicated one
  • It’s heavier than most laptops (due to its increased size)

The G70-80’s Main Features

Considering the kind of games you’ll be playing on the G70-80, you’ll really have a hard job filling the hard drive. You’ll have plenty of room for dozens of games as well as photos and anything else you want to store on it.

The 8GB RAM included is more than enough to complement the integrated graphics card and will help some games run better than they would otherwise. You’re still going to be limited by the graphics driver power, though.

The large screen is one of the best features overall. You’re getting a screen that’s as large as most computer monitors, it doesn’t break the bank and if you’re ever likely to split your screen between two tasks, having a larger monitor is a boon.

The three USB ports will be useful for gamepads, headsets, and other peripherals. With the screen being so large, you can even place it on a table like you would a computer monitor, and have an external keyboard plugged into it.

What Type Of Gamer Would Benefit From This Rig?

I always benefit from visual cues as well as written. This video will show you exactly what kind of games you’ll be able to play (and from what year). Games like Just Cause 2 and Battlefield 1 run very well on medium settings. Older, yet still popular games like Battlefield 1 still have strong online communities too, which is great news if you enjoy multiplayer.

If you’re a Skyrim fan, it might surprise you to know that you can run Skyrim at 40-60 fps on low settings with the Intel HD Graphics 5500. That’s smooth enough to enjoy the game without lag becoming a frustration.

With a number of mods available for Skyrim and its fantastic replayability, that’s one game I’d recommend having permanently installed on the G70-80.

Apart from this, games older than 5 years should run fairly well, and if you enjoy emulators like I do, then you’ll have no problem running them on this Lenovo model.

Getting The Most Out Of This System

So how can you eek the most out of this system? The integrated graphics card isn’t as bad as you would initially think, based on the games it can run.

The larger screen means you can use it like a more mobile PC. You won’t need to have it on your lap all the time, which can make gaming more enjoyable.

You can also take advantage of the 17.3″ screen by watching videos while you browse. There are a plethora of browser games you can also play, and some of them are even good!

If you stick to playing games that are at least 4-5 years old (or graphically less intensive indie games) then you won’t have any problems with running them.

You may need to stick to medium settings, but that’s a small price to pay, in my opinion.

With platforms like Steam, you can pick up games like this for cheap, too. There are dozens, if not hundreds of good games that you can pick up for less than $10 and they’ll run adequately on the G70-80.

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Should I Buy The… 

Although you can play many games on the G70-80, it’s important to remember that an integrated graphics card doesn’t compare very well to a dedicated one, like Nvidia.

Does this mean the G70-80 is useless for gaming? Not at all, but just bear in mind you won’t be able to play some of the latest popular games out today, even on low settings.

It can and will run other games very well though, including DOTA 2.

DOTA 2 is one of the most popular competitive multiplayer games at the moment and the Intel HD Graphics 5500 actually provides a decent gaming experience, as seen in this video.

Because the native resolution of the G70-80 is 1600×900 you won’t have to mess around with graphical settings as much as you wouldn’t ever want to go much lower than this resolution anyway.

The Bottom Line

As long as you keep in mind what types of games you can play, you’ll be happy with the G70-80 as a gaming laptop. It’s not designed to be the latest and greatest in terms of specifications, but I wouldn’t expect that due to the low price anyway. If you have a favorite game that you would want to play on this system, a simple google search will let you know how it will run. If you’re used to a smaller screen, you’ll really appreciate the width of 17.3″ too.

How Does it Compare?

 

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Toshiba Satellite S55-C5274 15.6″

The Satellite comes with a Nvidia GeForce GT 740M which will allow you to play newer games than the G70-80’s integrated graphics card, as well as more graphically intensive ones. You’re losing a few inches in screen size but if you want a laptop that’s graphically more capable, the Satellite would be an excellent trade, whilst costing you around the same amount of money.

Read our full review here…

 

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DELL i5558-2147BLK Laptop

If you’re looking for something comparable to the G70-80 but cheaper, then this DELL model could be a good compromise for you. DELL’s integrated graphics card isn’t as powerful as the Lenovo’s and the screen size isn’t as big (although 15.6″ is still a good size). The pool of games you’ll be able to run well dries up but it’s a very affordable model.

 

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Lenovo G50 15.6″ Laptop

By sacrificing a few inches of screen size and half of your hard drive storage capacity, you’re getting a more capable machine with Lenovo’s G50. The price is also very similar between the two so if you’re looking to play with better graphical settings, Lenovo’s G50 would make a great alternative. It’s still an integrated graphics card so you won’t be able to run Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds, though!

 

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