These perhaps?
14"
Asus K46CM-WX059V, i3-3217U + Nvidia GT635M@RM1899[2kg], 2GB, 500GB, 4-cell battery, W7HP, OD

Lenovo Z400, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2099, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty; colors: chocolate *EOL-ed

If you have a little bit of extra budget, you can consider this Asus too since its better:
14"
Asus K46CB-WX060H, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[2kg], 2GB, 750GB, W8, 4-cell, OD

Prices in RRP, negotiable

This is by far the best notebook you can get for your budget
14"
Dell Inspiron 14R, i7-4500U + Nvidia GT750M (GDDR5) @RM2499[2.32kg], 8GB, 1TB(5400rpm), Ubuntu 12.04 , 6 cell; W8SL@RM2699

Prices in RRP, negotiable ya~

Otherwise this:
14"
Acer V5-473PG-54204G50, i5-4200 + Nvidia GT740M +(1366x768;touch)@RM2299, 4GB, 500GB,W8 *no OD

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

Dell Inspiron 14R, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M@RM1999 [2.32kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8 , 6 cell

Sony
Vaio SVF14218SGW, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2399[2.4kg], 4GB, 500GB, W8SL; colors: white/black
SVF14217SG, i3-3227U + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768; touch)@RM2299, 4GB, 500GB, W8SL; colors:black/white/pink

Toshiba
Satellite S40t-AS102X, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768; touch)@RM2449[Onkyo], 4GB, 500GB, W8SL; 3 years local warranty; color: silver
Satellite L40-AS109Xb/G/W, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[Onkyo], 4GB, 750GB, 3 years local warranty; colors: Blue/gold/white

13"
Asus S300CA-C1050H, i3-3217U + Intel HD4000 + (1366x768;touch)@RM1999, 4GB, 500GB, W8

14"
Asus
K46CM-WX060V, B987 + Nvidia GT630M@RM1799[2kg], 2GB, 500GB, W8, OD
K46CM-WX059V, i3-3217U + Nvidia GT635M@RM1899[2kg], 2GB, 500GB, 4-cell battery, W7HP, OD
PRO45VJ-V0056X, i3-3120M +Intel HD4000@RM1999[2.4kg], 4GB, 500GB, W7P

Lenovo
S400, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 24GB mSATA + 500GB(5400rpm)@RM1999[1.8kg], 4GB, W7HB; AMD HD7450M/W8@RM2199
S400T, i5-3337U + AMD HD 7450M +(1366x768, touch)@RM2099[1.8kg], 4GB, 500GB, W8
S400T, B987 + Intel HD4000 + (1366x768, touch)@RM1499[1.8kg], 4GB, 500GB, W8

Windows 8 Single Language

Usually 4-8GB RAM will be good enough
Upgrading the HDD to SSD will bring about more significant performance boost. But then SSDs are not cheap

For a budget of RM2.5k... you should be able to bargain up to RM100 if you're good

This post has been edited by [PF] T.J.: Aug 23 2013, 09:24 PM

Use remaining budget to upgrade RAM to at least 4GB, and also extend warranty to 3 years
If you are a girl, check out the Sony

Definitely an Illegear RS-15/17 here
But wouldn't it be better to just buy over there since you will be staying there for some time?

Quad core goodness
15.6"
Dell Inspiron 15R, i7-3612QM +AMD HD7670M@RM2599[2.74kg], 4GB, 1TB(5400rpm), W8

Newer generation-ed notebooks come with much weaker processor at that price range unfortunately.. so there's not really a lot to choose from

These?
17"
GT70-2OD, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GTX780M + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM6999[Dynaudio], 16GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8, steel series multi color backlit KB
GT70-2OD, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GTX780M + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM8499[Dynaudio], 16GB, 2X64GB SSD, 750GB(7200rpm), bluray, W8, steel series multi color backlit KB

Specs looking really good there
The 1st one is more worth it though, leaving you with enough money to grab a 512MB SSD if you want

Tried customizing an equivalent illegear already?

I still think the 1st one (in my previous post) is better, with plenty of budget left for you to really upgrade your SSD configurations
You are paying a lot of extras for the 2nd, especially the Bluray writer

Still, if you are not interested in upgrading yourself, then just go for the 2nd one since you have the budget and need it in a hurry

This post has been edited by [PF] T.J.: Aug 23 2013, 11:30 PM

Might want to check with Prince J on that mate. I'm sure they have international warranty coverage as well. But might as well just buy overseas if like that

This perhaps?
13"
Lenovo S300, 1007U + Intel HD @RM899[1.8kg], 2GB,500GB(5400rpm), freeDOS; W8@RM1099

U310/410 suffers from wifi issues and are older generationed notebooks
Go for S400 instead:
14"
Lenovo S400, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 24GB mSATA + 500GB(5400rpm)@RM1999[1.8kg], 4GB, W7HB; AMD HD7450M/W8@RM2199

If you want fast boot, make sure you go for one that has mSATA. Most of the newer ones within RM2k do not have on , thus slower

14"
Dell
Inspiron 14z, i5-3337U + AMD HD7570M + 32GB SSD + 500GB(5400rpm)@RM2299[1.87kg], 4GB, W8SL, OD *no VGA port
Vostro 5460, i5-3337U + Nvidia GT630M + (32GB mSATA SSD + 500GB(5400rpm))@RM2199[1.54kg], 4GB, W8SL, 3 cell

HP Envy4-1009TU/1019TU, i3-2367M + Intel HD3000 + 32GB mSATA+ 500GB(5400rpm)@RM1899[Beats][1.75kg], 4GB, W7HP

Toshiba Satellite U840-1009X, i3-3217U + AMD HD7570M + 32GB mSATA + 500GB HDD@RM1899, 4GB, W7HP

*Prices in RRP, negotiable
*Do take note that sellers will definitely recommend newer notebooks without mSATA, which are slower, so know what you want before trusting them

All brands will have bad apples. And whether they have problems or not sometimes depends on user care as well
Sometimes it just depends on luck, so its better to get good warranty support and duration instead to fix those problems when they arise

4GB RAM is usually the "optimum" or minimum amount of RAM required for general multitasking. Your computing experience will be smoother, especially when you are doing several tasks at once time

You're in luck yo, check this out
17.3"
MSI GS70-2OC, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GTX765M + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM4699[2.66kg][Dynaudio], 8GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8, steel series multi color backlit KB

One of the lightest 17" yet powerful notebook around

This post has been edited by [PF] T.J.: Aug 24 2013, 11:30 AM

This one will fit just nice
14"
HP Envy4-1204TX, i5-3337U + AMD HD8750M + 32GB mSATA +500GB(5400rpm)@RM2399[Beats][1.75kg], 2GB, W8

You can buy from Garage Sales here, or just buy from any stores in lowyat plaza or digital mall (assuming you are staying in KL/PJ)

Unfortunately you will have to install the SSD yourself. Stock notebooks (apart from a few brands) don't come with SSD as standard.

Can consider this:
15.6"
Asus
S551LB-CJ077H, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x767; touch)@RM2699, 4GB, 750GB, W8
N56VB-S3070H, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2899[/b][2.7kg][B&O], 4GB, 750GB, W8


Lenovo
Z500, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2299[2.2kg], 4GB, 1TB, backlit, W8; 2 years warranty
Y510p, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080)@RM3099[2.7kg], 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, swappable ODD, 120w psu, 2 yrs

*Some models are over your total budget, but worth considering since you can always put in the SSD anytime, as long as when budget permits

Usage?

Have to go there any check it out yo bro
Haven't heard of anything superextraordinary though

Definitely the MSI for performance, since its running on a real, quad-core i7
Comes with 2 years international warranty~

As for cooling, its hard to say. The MSI has a more powerful i7, but its at the same time thicker as well; whereas the Asus has a relatively "power-saving" i7, but its much slimmer.

My vote will go to MSI on this one

Can consider these:
13"
Samsung ATIV Book 7 NP740U3E-X01MY, i5-3337U + AMD HD8570M + 128GB SSD + (1920x1080; touch)@RM3499[1.65kg][JBL], 4GB, W8

Sony Vaio SVS13135CV, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT640M LE@RM3199[1.72kg], 4GB, 1TB, W8; colors: white/black; Vaio carrying case

14"
Asus
BU400VC-C3086G, i5-3337U + Nvidia NVS5200 Optimus + 128GB SSD + 500GB HDD@RM3599[1.64kg], 4GB, W8P
BU400VC-CZ072G, i7-3537U + Nvidia NVS5200 Optimus + (1600x900; anti glare) + 256GB SSD@RM4199[1.64kg], 8GB, W8P

HP
Touchsmart 14-k029TX Sleekbook, i5-4500U + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768;touch) + 128GB SSD@RM3299, 4GB, 500GB, W8, ext OD

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E430, i7-3632QM + Nvidia GT635M + 16GB mSATA+750GB HDD@RM3399[2.2kg], W7P/W8, 4GB, anti-glare

Samsung NP530U4C, i5-3317U + Nvidia GT620M + 24GB mSATA + 1TB HDD@RM2999[1.81kg], 6GB, ODD, W8

Sony Vaio SVE14115CV, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 32GB mSATA + 500GB(5400rpm)@RM2899[1.92kg], 4GB, W8; color: silver; Vaio carry case

I am not really very knowledgeable regarding this, but here goes
The i5 is capable of churning out much more processing power as compared to the AMD APUs (stock). And although the AMD has 4 cores, it really depends on whether the program is optimized for them?

Those two GPUs are merely entry level ones, so can't really expect too much from them.
As for AMD overheating issues, that's a long long time ago haha...

Still, current AMD processors are not really competitive, unless if you have a very tight budget... otherwise you will be better off with Intel ones.

Oh ya, might wanna upgade the RAM to 8GB if you are into photo/video editing