Apologies if this question is not appropriate here but I figure this community would have the best feedback for my usage:
I am considering replacing my older 17in windows gaming laptop (that I no longer use) and 13in chomebook (I use a lot due to portability but sucks for my compatibility needs) for a new, more universal windows PC. I don't want a MacBook but would like something higher end similar to a MacBook Air in build quality. I want it to be good specs and last me for several years. Wouldn't be used daily and when used mostly internet, email, and word/data processing. I would likely game on it some but not high demand stuff, more like older gog games, diablo 2, stuff of that nature. Not interested in touch screen or tablet 2in1 stuff. Would be nice to have it play well with docking station/dual monitor setup as well.
I have been eyeing the Dell XPS 13 series. Any thoughts on these or feel strongly about something else in the category?
First off - what's your budget for the new laptop you want?
I've never had a Dell XPS.
I have a EVGA SC15 gaming laptop (i7 7700HQ; 16 GB RAM; GTX 1060 6gb; 256 SSD and 1TB HDD; W10 x64) and Acer Nitro gaming laptop (i7 4720HQ; 16 GB RAM; 4gb GTX 960m; W10 x64). Nitro sure can get hot and throttle, so I mostly run older and/or not as demanding stuff there.
For my real current gaming needs, I use the EVGA SC15; must easier to not get slammed w/ heat there & most games at 1080p60fps at High or better (except for a few - i.e. Plague's Tale: Innocence; GR: Breakpoint).
What games exactly do you plan to run? Anything newer than say...Diablo 2? What else at GOG have you been staring at? What might be the most demanding game you're looking at? What about titles that hit GOG recently like...Dishonored? Dishonored 2? Deus Ex: Mankind Divided?
(DE MD is still demanding, especially if you crank it up).
B/c really, if you ain't doing much demanding gaming - eh, you could easily get away w/ some kind of recent i5 or i7 8000 series or newer if you're going Intel...or if you going AMD go w/ the 4000 series CPU; 8 to 16 GB RAM; and some kind of SSD.
With the GPU - you could aim for GTX 1650 4gb...and be fine, if you aren't running demanding stuff. You might not even need that, TBH...and that ain't even the best GPU; not even close.
You could even sink more $ in a AMD 4000 CPU and skimp on the GPU, if you ain't playing anything demanding...and have no intentions for future titles on that rig. Integrated GPU's came a long way, on the AMD side - but eh, not ideal for demanding stuff. If you want to go with a AMD 4000 CPU and an "okay" GPU b/c you want something current, look at say the GTX 1650 4gb.
If you want to play Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Shadow of the TR, AC: Origins, AC: Odyssey, GR Breakpoint, any other recent UbiSoft demanding games - yeah, then you'll want to aim for better GPU's for sure. Think like say a GTX 1060 6gb, 1070, 1080, 1660; or RTX 2060, 2070, 2080.
Also, what is the specs on your 17-inch gaming laptop?