Pack a high end Core i7 processor, GeForce GTX 850M graphics, and a 1080p FHD display into 1.1-inch thick chassis and you've got this week's new HP Envy 15t Slim laptop. It's a fairly high end machine that went out for sale just yesterday for $899.99 and is a slightly thinner version of HP's 2013 design with modern 2014 hardware. Now they've got a coupon code out, dropping $175 off that price tag making this one of the cheapest laptops out there capable of tackling modern video games.
Note: HP's coupon discount will only last through August 16th. Envy 15t Slim's Specs: Intel Core i7-4712HQ Quad Core Processor GeForce GTX 850M 4GB graphics 8GB RAM 750GB HDD Battery Life up to 5 hours and 30 minutes 2 USB 3.0 ports, 2 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI, 1 RJ-45, 1 headphone/microphone combo 1080p FHD Display (non-touch) 1.1-Inches Thick
Could they really pack all these high end specs into a relatively thin laptop, keeping a low price tag, and having no drawbacks? The short answer is probably not, but it's not as bad as you might think. If you just take one easy step of precaution, this machine can preform as a value gaming device.
The Envy 15 Slim having just been released is slightly lacking in the review department, but you can read up on the previous Envy 15 generation review to get a grasp of the type of hardware you'll be dealing with. As an owner of an older HP gaming capable laptop, here's the secret to understanding HP PC's: they're not made to impress technology snobs, they're made for the masses.
When I saw today's release of the Envy 15t Slim, I could only imagine the objections would go something like this: 'When you pack all those high end specs into a 1.1 inches slim frame there's no room for a proper cooling unit, and it'll run as hot as Hades!'
In my last HP Pavilion 15 gaming capable laptop, the biggest problem was overheating. I upgraded it to the proper specs, but the dang thing would shut down often when playing video games entirely due to overheating... that is until I learned that all you have to do is put a decent laptop cooling pad underneath. I'd suggest getting something like a Logitech N120 pad, but anything with an active fan blowing fresh air under your HP laptop will almost entirely eliminate the problem of overheating - okay, if you're in a 90 degree room to start with good luck, but in a cool environment you'll be fine.
Basically buy this PC if you're a budget conscious gamer that doesn't mind using a cooling pad. Some tech snobs will say getting a gaming laptop under $1,000 is near impossible, but it's not. The GeForce GTX 850M which is equipped in this laptop is fully capable of playing most modern games. This machine will work fine for the 'Everyman' gamer so long as a little bit of common sense is used to take the precaution: if you're rocking a 'slim' laptop with a Quad Core chip and a mid-range GPU, you'll most likely need to use an external cooling device to keep the temperature at a reasonable level.
Let us know what you think about the Envy 15t Slim with Nvidia's GTX 850M. Is it a buy at $750? Or is there a better alternative for the mainstream 15-inch gaming laptop pick in this price range? We'll also update this post when more reviews show up for the laptop.
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