Don't expect too much with RM2.4k budget
AutoCAD can make use of i7 quad core, but laptop spec with it normally don't have good battery running time. Compromise

Asus
K46CB-WX060H, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[2kg], 2GB, 750GB, W8, 4-cell, OD

HP
Touchsmart 14-k028TX Sleekbook, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768;touch)@RM2799, 4GB, 500GB, W8, ext OD

Lenovo
Y410p, i7-4700MQ + GT750M(GDDR5)@RM2899, 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, 120w psu, swappable ODD, 2 years warranty
Z400 touch, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768, touch)@RM2399, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty

Sony
Vaio SVF14218SGW, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2399[2.4kg], 4GB, 500GB, W8SL

Toshiba
Satellite L40-AS109Xb/G/W, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[Onkyo], 4GB, 750GB, 3 years local warranty

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

these fits your budget and requirement pretty good.

Lenovo
G400s, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT720M@RM1899, 4GB, 1TB, W8
G400s, i5-3230M + Intel HD4000@RM1599, 4GB, 500GB, FreeDOS
G400s, i3-3110M + Nvidia GT720M@RM1449, 4GB, 500GB, FreeDOS

i sounded kinda moody in my post just now. i apology for what had happened.

The thing is you want 13" or below, and want good battery running time.
Want good battery running time, go with ULV CPU. Video conversion, Intel Quick Sync already pretty good. Photo editing - unless you do some extensive stuff, Intel HD4000 can handle it (actually CPU could be more important). Multitask a lot - get more RAM (8G or more).

SSD not only improve battery performance, it also generate a lot less heat - another of your criteria.
It also improve the "responsiveness" of laptop very substantially.
HDD is so cheap now, 1 TB external HDD ~ RM250.

iinm, currently, there is no 13" models spec with ULV CPU & 750GB/1TB HDD. Biggest is 500GB.
Acer
S3-371-53334G50, i5-3337U + Intel HD4000@RM1999, 4GB, 500GB, W8
Asus
S300CA-C1033H, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + (1366x768;touch)@RM2399, 4GB, 500GB, W8
U38DT-R3033H, A8-4555M + AMD HD7600G@RM2199, 2GB, 500GB, W8
UX32VD-R3001H, i5-3317U + Nvidia GT620M + 24GB mSATA SSD + 500GB HDD@RM3099[1.45kg], 4GB, W8
Dell
Vostro 3360, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000@RM2249[1.67kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W7/8
Fujitsu
CH702, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 24GB mSATA + 500GB@RM4296[1.45kg], 4GB, W8
Samsung
NP540U3C, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + (1366x768; touch) + 24GB mSATA + 500GB HDD@RM2999, 8GB, W8
NP530U3C, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 24GB mSATA + 500GB HDD@RM2699[1.52kg], 4GB, W8
Sony
Vaio SVT13133CVS, i5-3337U + Intel HD4000 + (1366x768; touch) + (24GB SSD + 500GBHDD)@RM2799[1.6kg], 4GB, W8

You want big capacity HDD:
Sony
Vaio SVS13135CV, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT640M LE@RM3199[1.72kg], 4GB, 1TB, W8; colors: white/black; Vaio carrying case
Vaio SVS13137PGB, i7-3540M + Nvidia GT640M LE + (8GB + 750GB HDD)@RM4199[1.72kg], 4GB, W8Pro; color: black; Vaio carry case

depends on titles. depends on resolution you play in.
If you play in HD (1366x768) resolution, DDR3 won't hamper it so much.
If you play in higher resolution, the difference could be rather BIG. (> 20%)

It's GDDR5 vs DDR3

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Aug 1 2013, 12:28 AM

15"
Asus
A550CC-XX530H, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT720M@RM2099[2kg], 4GB, 750GB, W8

Dell
Inspiron 15, i5-3337U + AMD HD7670M@RM1749[2.25kg], 4GB, 750GB(5400rpm), 4-cell, Linux; W8SL@RM1899
Inspiron 15, i5-3337U + AMD HD7670M@RM1799[2.25kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), 6-cell, Linux; W8SL@RM1949
Inspiron 15R, i5-3210M + AMD HD7670M@RM1899[2.65kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8

Lenovo
Ideapad G580, i5-3210M + Nvidia GT630M@RM1699, 2GB, 500GB, freeDOS, 1 yr warranty

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

Just wondering, whats the cheapest laptop that have backlit keyboard? Thanks.

acer v5

yes, sifu. beat the dell inspiron 15R SE I had in mind by a couple of hundred RM

Acer
V5-473PG-54204G50, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M +(1366x768;touch)@RM2299, 4GB, 500GB,W8 *no OD

Asus
S300CA-C1033H, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + (1366x768;touch)@RM2399, 4GB, 500GB, W8

Lenovo
Z400 touch, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768, touch)@RM2399, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty
Z400 touch, i7-3630QM + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768, touch)@RM2799, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty
S400T, i5-3337U + AMD HD 7450M +(1366x768, touch)@RM1999[1.8kg], 4GB, 500GB, W8

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Aug 1 2013, 12:50 AM

Basically the most suggested Lappy's GPU for price tags of around 2-3k is the GT750M/740M.

Any higher tier of GPU around or above the price tag for a laptop?

P/s : is the GT750M/740M sufficient to play most game in ultra details? say, any games with high graphics.

hello there..please recommend..

1.Preferred Brand-anything..
2.Budget-maximum Rm3300
3.Usage-Gaming
4.Preferred laptop/screen size-not too small..no feel to play game if it too small..

you wanted to try GTX765M? Illegear RE-15 with GTX765M is priced at RM3599.
GT750M is sufficient but native resolution is not recommended (for FHD screens) if you intend to play very high settings.

Thanks for your help.

What do you think about asus S400CA(i7) and acer S3-371-53334G50add(i5)?

This post has been edited by christine1234: Aug 1 2013, 09:27 AM

Try to get a red one too, it looks pretty cool. Tho I heard the nvidia graphics card is pretty disappointing compared to other laptops in this price range.

VivoBook S400CA-CA006H, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 24GB mSATA + 500GB + (1366x768; touch)@RM2299[2kg], 4GB, W8

Not sure if Asus Malaysia release an i7 spec (btw i7 ULV is only duo core) S400CA
Anyway, the S400CA listed above is very similar to the S300CA listed earlier, only slightly bigger and heavier. It has a small mSATA SSD for caching, which will improve responsiveness a bit, but it's a hit or miss affair.
Personally, unless you really need the big storage all the time, my suggestion for any laptop is to go full SSD if budget allowed (i.e. if laptop come spec with HDD, just grab a SATA SSD aftermarket (256G ~ RM600) and swap out the HDD (normally will not void laptop hardware warranty) to keep as external storage). Reduce weight, improve thermal profile, improve battery running time, improve responsiveness substantially, ....

S3-371-53334G50, i5-3337U + Intel HD4000@RM1999, 4GB, 500GB, W8
Errr ..., you want touchscreen?

Generally, if you really like touchscreen, please make sure you are totally confident in the strength of the hinge (part holding the screen with the base) for traditional laptop form factor. Nothing more annoying than wobbling screen (That's also why, if the construction is the same, smaller screen size may be more viable for long term abuse as the screen is lighter and won't strain the hinge as much).

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Aug 1 2013, 10:10 AM

GT750M basically is the sweet spot right now for RM2-3k laptop.

GT750M, spec with GDDR5, running in HD (1366x768), can push most (not all) games in ultra setting to playable fps (for me lah ).
At FHD, you probably need GTX780M to utter the same sentence

Acer
V7-582PG-74508G52k, i7-4500U + Nvidia GT750M + 24GB mSATA + 500GB HDD + (1920x1080 IPS; touch)@RM3399, 8GB, W8
V5-573PG-74504G50r, i5-4500U + Nvidia GT750M + (1366x768; touch)@RM2899, 4GB, 500GB, W8

Lenovo
Y410p, i7-4700MQ + GT750M(GDDR5)@RM2899, 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, 120w psu, swappable ODD, 2 years warranty
Y510p i7-4700MQ + GT750m(GDDR5)/Intel HD4600 + (1920x1080)@TBA, 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, swappable ODD, 120w psu, 2 yrs

MSI
GE60-2OC, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM3599,8GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8, steel series KB

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

i dont think TS need a graphics card for his music editing. an i5 with IGC is enough.

1. Preferred Brand: Any
2. Budget: RM3k - RM4k
3. Usage: Programming, engineering software, Full HD movie
4. Preferred laptop/screen size: Any
5. Must-have feature: At least 2 USB3, Full HD, Haswell, at least 2 years warranty

That's true, it's good enough for me too. But if we talk about banging for buck, that's probably the only disappointing aspect of it.