Envy 4-Ultrabook 4-1035TU, i3-2377M + Intel HD3000 + [32GB mSATA+ 500GB HDD(5400rpm)]@RM2159, 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W7HP

Are you sure you can still get this brand new?
2nd hand price depend on condition of laptop and negotiation skills between buyer and seller

Don't game on ultrabook if "I am afraid of laptop that get heat fast" Anyway, always get good external cooling solution if you plan to game on laptop (cooling pad, table fan, ... )

If you really like the Envy 4 ultrabook look, then try to look for these (also not easy to find anymore)
Envy4-1204TX, i5-3337U + AMD HD8750M + 32GB mSATA +500GB(5400rpm)@RM2399[Beats][1.75kg], 2GB, W8
Envy4-1238TX, i5-3337U + AMD HD8750M@RM2099[Beats][1.75kg], 2GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8

All the prices are RSP for brand new unit, negotiable.

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Aug 30 2013, 01:34 AM

doesn't matter.
SSD is actually capped by SATA bandwidth.
All SATA port and drive are backward compatible.
chuck any SSD to replace the HDD in the K46Cm, install OS and apps on the SSD, and the laptop will become much much more responsive.

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Aug 31 2013, 02:29 PM

X45A-VX078, Celeron 1000M + Intel HD@RM1199, 2GB, 500GB, FreeDOS, 1 year warranty
X201E-KX178D/9D , Intel 1007U + Intel HD@RM999, 2GB, 500GB, FreeDOS, 1 year
VivoBook S200E, B847 + Intel UMA + (1366x768; touch)@RM1399[1.38kg], 2GB, 500GB, W8; colors: Grey/Pink/White, 2-cell, 1 year

FreeDos mean you need to get OS yourself.
Prices are RSP, negotiable.
Use remaining of your budget to increase RAM, 4G stick ~ RM100, 8G stick ~ RM200.

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Aug 31 2013, 02:36 PM

Think your friend will appreciate a FHD screen for more work space.

Acer
V7-582PG-74508G52k, i7-4500U + Nvidia GT750M + 24GB mSATA + 500GB HDD + (1920x1080 IPS; touch)@RM3399[2.2kg], 8GB, W8

Asus
N550JV-CN077H, i7-4702MQ + Nvidia GT750M + (1920x1080; IPS matte) + Bluray@RM3699[2.7kg], 4GB, 1TB, W8, backlit keyboard

Dell
Inspiron 15R, i7-3537U + AMD HD8730M + (1920x1980; anti-glare)@RM3299[2.32kg], 8GB, 1TB(5400rpm), W8SL
Inspiron 15R (Special Edition), i7-3612QM + AMD HD7730M + (1920x1080; anti-glare) + 32GB SSD + 1TB HDD(5400rpm)@RM3199, 8GB, backlit keyboard optional, W8

Lenovo
Y510p, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080)@RM3099[2.7kg], 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, swappable ODD, 120w psu, 2 yrs

MSI
GE60-2OC, i5-4200M + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM3099,8GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8, steel series KB
GP60-2OD, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GT740M + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM2999, 4GB, 750GB, W8, steel series KB

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

All brands can offer extended warranty, but you have to pay. For your budget, most laptop models come with only 1 year warranty. Check with resellers on exactly how much to extend warranty period, typically 1 year ~ RM100-200, depends on brands, coverage type, etc.

Can't really tell which models is durable, it also depends on luck (the unit you get) and your TLC.

Acer
E1-472G-54204G75k, i5- 4200U + Nvidia GT720M@RM1899, 4GB, 750GB, W8
E1-472G-54204G50, i5- 4200U + Nvidia GT720M@RM1699, 4GB, 500GB, FreeDOS

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, W8, OD

Dell
Inspiron 14-3437, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT720M@RM1649[1.99kg], Ubuntu, 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), 6-cell; W8SL @ RM1799

Lenovo
G400s, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT720M@RM1799, 4GB, 500GB, W8
G400s, i3-3110M + Nvidia GT720M@RM1449, 4GB, 500GB, FreeDOS

Prices are RSP, negotiable.
For those models that come with FreeDOS or Linux, if you need Win OS, you can get cheap legal version from your school.

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Sep 6 2013, 04:43 PM

S410p, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT720M +(1366x768, touch)@RM2399[1.8kg], 4GB, 500GB, W8, 2 yrs
The price is RSP, negotiable.
It depends on how extensive is your usage of photoshop and illustrator.

For your budget, if you could omit thin / light, then:

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

Lenovo
Z400 touch, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M + (1366x768, touch)@RM2199, 4GB, 1TB, W8; 2 years warranty

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

In term of spec, the Z400 offer the most power, since the i5 M + GT740M can really whip it quite well for this price range.
i5-4200U is better than i5-3337U in terms of battery running time. In term of raw performance, not much difference. So the premise is the GT740M outgun the GT720M.
But if the files you process are big, get more RAM. 4G stick ~ RM100, 8G stick ~ RM200.

GPU better than GT420M is quite common now.
So it depends on what type of game you play, on what resolution you want to play them, other factors (screen, keyboard, aesthetic, ... )

Acer
V7-582PG-74508G52k, i7-4500U + Nvidia GT750M + 24GB mSATA + 500GB HDD + (1920x1080 IPS; touch)@RM3399[2.2kg], 8GB, W8

Asus
N550JV-CN077H, i7-4702MQ + Nvidia GT750M + (1920x1080; IPS matte) + Bluray@RM3699[2.7kg], 4GB, 1TB, W8, backlit keyboard

Lenovo
Y510p, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080)@RM3099[2.7kg], 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, swappable ODD, 120w psu, 2 yrs
Y510p, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080)@RM3999[2.7kg], 8GB, 1TB, W8, red backlit, GN37 exGPU & ODD, 120w+170w psu, 2 yrs

MSI
GX60-3BE, AMD A10-5750M + AMD HD8970 + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM4399 8GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8, steel series multi color backlit KB
GE60-2OC, i5-4200M + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM3099,8GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8, steel series KB
GE60-2OC, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GT750M(GDDR5) + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM3599,8GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8, steel series KB
GE60-2OE, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GTX765M + (1920x1080; anti-glare)@RM4299,8GB, 750GB(7200rpm), W8, backlit keyboard

www.illegear.com
Illegear RE-15, i7-4700MQ + Nvidia GTX765M + (1920x1080)@RM3799[2.6kg][Onkyo, SoundBlaster Cinema], 8GB, 500GB 7200RPM, FreeDOS, [CPU Options: i7-4700MQ - i7-4900MQ]

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

Yes, on spec, Z400 is more powerful than S410P.
S410P is more "thin and light" - more expensive.
You should be able to get RM100 to 200 lesser from re-sellers compared to RSP (for this price range).
No, I am not a reseller and not in Penang.

Try to look for hikari85 at LYN garage sales thread, shop at Butterworth iinm.

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Sep 6 2013, 05:24 PM

~ 2.4kg, iinm.

3D Max don't support Nvidia SLI, so don't waste money on it

normal usage, S410P will probably last 2 hours more than Z400T.

For your usage, Z400T definitely give better performance.
However, the L40 has longer warranty period.
Suggest you go out and look / listen / type / touch / click / poke / carry the real things to decide which one you like best. (these factors are important as well).

Performance - M4 has more powerful CPU and GPU.
Display - both are normal TN panel, nothing to shout about. Best to see for yourself to decide.

If you want 15", for that price range, can also consider:
Toshiba
Satellite L50-A100X/XW, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2199[Onkyo], 4GB, 750GB, W8SL; 3 years local warranty; colors:silver/white

Lenovo
Z500, i5-3230M + Nvidia GT740M@RM2299[2.2kg], 4GB, 1TB, backlit, W8; 2 years warranty

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

Asus
S400CA-CA006H, i5-3317U + Intel HD4000 + 24GB mSATA + 500GB + (1366x768; touch)@RM2199[2kg], 4GB, W8

Dell
Inspiron 14-3437, i3-4010U + Intel HD4400@RM1399[1.99kg], Ubuntu, 4GB, 750GB(5400rpm), 4-cell; W8SL@RM1549
Vostro 5460, i3-3120M + HD 4000@RM1,549[1.54kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), Ubuntu 12.04, 3 cell; W8SL@RM1,749

Prices are RSP, negotiable.

Try to read the whole post ok? Especially the bit about "W8SL@RM1099"

no brand new laptop come pre-installed with W7 now, except those business class machine, i.e. Dell Latitute / Precision, HP Probook / Elitebook, Lenovo Thinkpad, Toshiba Tecra, Asus PRO, ...

These type of machine is expensive, and you want thin and slim yet 15" ...
Tell me if you actually find 1

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Sep 7 2013, 09:20 AM

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2656663
sifu TJ and lots of other sifus help to maintain this list.

You really have to do your leg work. Alternatively, go to LYN garage sales thread and try to ask the re-sellers there. Hikari85 is from Penang, eg. Some of the other re-sellers can deliver by courier service.

MSI - only carry-in warranty. so far reputation is still ok.
Lenovo - carry-in warranty, depends on which SC you send to (some SC centre has pretty awful reputation, some SC centre is ok) But Lenovo offer buyers to upgrade Y series warranty to 3 year on site, and that on site warranty service is pretty decent

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Sep 8 2013, 08:48 AM

I suppose you mean RM2000?

Dell has the best warranty service in Malaysia right now. Extend to 3 years on site for ~ RM300 (from standard 1 year on site) for best peace of mind.

Inspiron 14R, i5-4200U + Nvidia GT740M@RM2049 [2.32kg], 4GB, 500GB(5400rpm), W8 , 6 cell

Price is RSP, negotiable.

Lenovo Y series in Malaysia normally come with 2 years carry-in warranty. Upgrade to 3 years on site warranty cost < RM200. When you buy, just ask the re-sellers, they can arrange to buy the upgrade for you.

MSI - labour cost? As long as under warranty, labour and parts are covered. Upgrade of RAM and HDD is pretty much depend on the location of "warranty void if broken" seals inside the laptop. MSI gaming series normally is pretty OK with these.
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2939095
check with owners here for 1st hand feedback.

This post has been edited by nexus2238: Sep 8 2013, 03:33 PM