[Closed] Cheap zwifting laptop

Have you looked at the required spec on the Zwift website?

The main thing I think, is graphics capability.

I can't see anywhere on that page where the graphics spec is mentioned.

My laptop is about 7 years old and worked fine, but to be honest looks like a better spec (i5 with 6gb RAM). My Intel graphics spec is supposedly 1 level below the min required, but it actually works ok, apart from a slowing of frame rate when a massive group comes past.

I'm certain you can do better than that for the price / not much more. Keep an eye out on the Dell Outlet for deals.

I think buying something new like that is a tad overkill, but it would do the job.

Zwift requirements are -
OS: Windows 7 x64 bit, OSX 10.8
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory: 4GB
Graphics: 1GB dedicated GPU, or embedded Intel HD 4000/AMD R5
Hard Drive: 4GB of free space

That motherboard had Intel HD 4000 graphics, so it would be fine. It is slightly low on CPU performance, but it would work.

EDIT -
This would easily do the job - [url= https://www.laptopoutlet.co.uk/hp-stream-14-ax053sa-14-light-weight-laptop-intel-dual-core-n3060-4gb-32gb-emmc.html ]LINK[/url]
And it saves you £80!

Edit 2 - This would also work perfectly well - [url= https://www.laptopoutlet.co.uk/hp-stream-14-ax000na-14-light-weight-laptop-intel-dual-core-n3060-4gb-32gb-emmc-32079.html ]LINK[/url]
Saved you £100 now!

why a laptop?

I've just got a returned dell from their outlet. Described as scratched but don't know where as it looks mint. It is an i3 7th generation which has enough graphics capability to run comfortably. It won't do 4k but is good on the monitor.

Was 330.

why a laptop?

It needs to balance on top of a step ladder in front of my bike.

Thanks handyman - if I'm reading those correctly they have only 32gb storage?

Trainer road needs downloading, would there be enough space?

If you want to do races with big groups of people on the screen at once then lower end specs might struggle, if it's just you riding your own thing then should be ok.

One nice thing about zwift is that it taylors the graphics and options to suit your laptop, so you can't go to the menu and try the highest possible graphics level (available to those with proper gaming spec machines!) So you never really think "aww bollocks I wish I'd got a better machine "!

Also when you are riding even on basic graphics it's still fun and if you're anything like me, when you're sweating away chasing someone up the radio tower you don't notice the grapics too much anyway!

It needs to balance on top of a step ladder in front of my bike.

(but then I'm not big on this stuff)

Main thing for Zwift is graphics. The minimum they recommend really is the minumum.
I've got an old laptop with Intel i5 chip, 8gb ram and a 2gb Nvidia card in it and it's still clunky even on the "Low" graphics setting on Zwift!
It's usable, I'm used to it and won't be changing it anytime soon, but it does make me wonder what spec PC's some people are using when you see some of the super smooth HD Zwift videos on YouTube 😯

Worth considering an iPad?

downhillfast - Member

I've got an old laptop with Intel i5 chip, 8gb ram and a 2gb Nvidia card in it and it's still clunky even on the "Low" graphics setting on Zwift!

It sounds like something's wrong there, because as I said above I've got an i5 with 6gb of ram and only the intel onboard graphics which are one level below the minimum recommended by Swift and it works fine with the graphics set to medium.
It does slow down when large groups come past.

Saying that... I've just thought that I don't do group rides or races generally, so perhaps that's why.

Are you sure the graphics card is working OK? Was it new with the laptop or did you upgrade it? I looked to upgrade the graphics card on my laptop but apparently it's not possible with built in graphics.

iPad 2017 seems to work really well. That with a Tacx tablet mount is quite a neat solution.

Worth considering an iPad?

I dont want to pay that amount of money.

So the first laptop that Handypsnt linked to - would that run movies ok - via Now TV? Or for that would i need the one i linked to? In case i need to do 2 hrs z2 indoors...

Would appreciated an educated steer on this - has graphics card but will the processor cope?

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/6536781

Thanks.

This seems to suggest that it struggles with stuff like games:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/acer-swift-1

It would probably be OK, but perhaps struggle with large groups of riders.
This normally just means the frame rate slows down for a few seconds. It's what my laptop does and isn't really a problem.

stumpy01-
It sounds like something's wrong there, because as I said above I've got an i5 with 6gb of ram and only the intel onboard graphics

Maybe you're right. I know it's Intel Core i5, 8Gb Ram, and Nvidia GeForce 610M 2GB.
The integrated Intel 4000 graphics seem almost the same as when selecting the Nvidia option!
Laptop was bought used, don't think I can change/ upgrade the graphics card.

However, I'm hopeful for the Android version of Zwift launching later this year, and perhaps in 2018 most Android phones/tablets should be able to run Zwift 🙂

Kind of resolved.

The required spec meant i was looking at machines far too expensive fot just a turbo accesory, so i may look at achromebook once zwift goes that way. I tried to re-orientate my quite powerful but old Dell work laptop last night, but I touched the registery and the virtual cast iron security door slammed shut and now i cant get past login, so thats basically doing nothing.

I ended up adding Zwift to our 2008 Macbook - works fine albeit a little slow to load.