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Best laptop for A2 study/University

Hi Everybody,

I've just finished my AS exams and I'm going to start A2 studies. I currently have a Toshiba Satellite laptop L50-A-1EH with a Core i7 amd 4gb ram.

I wanted to buy a new laptop which has a processor of 2.5 ghz or more with Core i5. A ram of 4-8gb and a good graphics card. I've been looking into lenovo laptops but if anybody know any good laptops please suggest them because I'm not an expert in this. It needs to be a bit lighter than usual laptops so I can carry it around since I want to use it in university too

The courses I'm doing are Maths, biology, chemistry and physics and I will be applying for Medicine.



Thanks
(edited 8 years ago)

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Original post by theboss1998
Hi Everybody,

I've just finished my AS exams and I'm going to start A2 studies. I currently have a Toshiba Satellite laptop L50-A-1EH with a Core i7 amd 4gb ram.

I wanted to buy a new laptop which has a processor of 2.5 ghz or more with Core i5. A ram of 4-8gb and a good graphics card. I've been looking into lenovo laptops but if anybody know any good laptops please suggest them because I'm not an expert in this. It needs to be a bit lighter than usual laptops so I can carry it around since I want to use it in university too

The courses I'm doing are Maths, biology, chemistry and physics and I will be applying for Medicine.



Thanks


How much are you looking to spend? What will you be using it to do?

Don't get caught up on the clock speed by the way, it's not necessarily a good indicator of the processor's power (a low clocked i5 will beat out a higher clocked i3, or an older generation of i5 with a higher clock speed, for example).
I'm willing to spend up to 600 pounds.

And yes I understand your point - I don't care about the clock speed. I need a processor that has a minimum speed of 2.6 ghz
(edited 8 years ago)
Hi,

I thought of Buying this laptop for my a-levels and hoping to continue with it to my Medicine course at uni:

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/N4I67UK-Lenovo-ThinkPad-Edge-E531_1368818.html

Please tell me whether it is good or not

Thanks
No
Reply 5
Avatar for Tarick
Tarick
7
It alright
Lenovo are good laptops, however have you considered looking in a shop that sells pre-owned items?

My mum owns such a shop and i can guarantee you that they have to thoroughly test and check everything that they buy, and most shops should give you a guarantee...

That way you can get a good laptop at a much cheaper price, meaning you can spend your money on other things.

'Second hand' shops always seem to have a bad rep, but i know we have 3 laptops atm that are literally brand new, no scratches- so you could look for a 'new' laptop and nobody would ever know the difference!

Think on it.


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Reply 7
Avatar for Jma2014
Jma2014
I would go for an apple laptop if I was you
It's only a few hundred pounds more expensive than the one you are considering and with a students discount it's even cheaper just take ur conditional offer ucas letter to them
They are very reliable and fantastic machines
Original post by theboss1998
Hi,

I thought of Buying this laptop for my a-levels and hoping to continue with it to my Medicine course at uni:

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/N4I67UK-Lenovo-ThinkPad-Edge-E531_1368818.html

Please tell me whether it is good or not

Thanks


No, the processor is two generations old at this point and it's over £100 more expensive than a laptop with a last/current gen Core i5 processor. And since it's two years old using a discontinued processor I don't think it's going to change from "currently not available" any time soon.

What will be using the laptop for? What features are most important to you? How much do you want to spend?
My maximum is to spend only up to 600 pounds.

I want a solid 2.5ghz starting processor and a good 4-8gb ram. I will be using the laptop mainly for word processing and PDF files (a lot of them), researching, making presentations, etc.
This was for my a-levels. When I carry onto uni, I heard that Medicine has the same kind off work so not any different from what I said.

I want my laptop to be fast enough, not heavy and about 15.6''. If I get any spare time I want to be able to run some games...
god favours apple. they are the best laptops.
Original post by theboss1998
My maximum is to spend only up to 600 pounds.

I want a solid 2.5ghz starting processor and a good 4-8gb ram. I will be using the laptop mainly for word processing and PDF files (a lot of them), researching, making presentations, etc.
This was for my a-levels. When I carry onto uni, I heard that Medicine has the same kind off work so not any different from what I said.

I want my laptop to be fast enough, not heavy and about 15.6''. If I get any spare time I want to be able to run some games...


What sort of gaming? Because besides that your needs are very basic which means you can get a slim laptop that will handle those tasks easily (as I mentioned in your last thread, clock speed isn't something you should base your decision on- any i3/i5 processor at any clock speed from the last couple of generations is completely fine for those tasks). If you want to play anything graphically intensive, you'll probably have to make concessions on the light weight requirement as cheap laptops with a worthwhile graphics card will be thicker and heavier than average.
Original post by theboss1998
My maximum is to spend only up to 600 pounds.

I want a solid 2.5ghz starting processor and a good 4-8gb ram. I will be using the laptop mainly for word processing and PDF files (a lot of them), researching, making presentations, etc.
This was for my a-levels. When I carry onto uni, I heard that Medicine has the same kind off work so not any different from what I said.

I want my laptop to be fast enough, not heavy and about 15.6''. If I get any spare time I want to be able to run some games...


You say you want to run some games...
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/pc-specialist-cosmos-ii-rs-840-15-6-gaming-laptop-10004798-pdt.html
Just an example (£80 over your budget but its very good)

If you want to play like battlefield or like crysis your going to need a graphics card, if by some "games" you meant like browser games like runescape then your original is fine (but I bet you could find something cheaper and more value for money)

Also, are you looking to purchase insurance with your PC (e.g accidental damage?) If so your best bet may be to buy something from PC world/currys there KNOWHOW insurance is pretty good. Otherwise you can look elsewhere!
I can give advise on gaming laptops if you want and what you should compare with them, just drop me a PM!

and ignore the apple posts... they're good.. to some extent but your just best off going with windows (unless you are an apple fan)
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by IAmYourdog
You say you want to run some games...
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/pc-specialist-cosmos-ii-rs-840-15-6-gaming-laptop-10004798-pdt.html
Just an example (£80 over your budget but its very good)


For the better part of £700 it's not great really :erm: This laptop also from PCSpecialist has a much better GDDR5 based GPU and a higher resolution display, and when customised with an i5-4210M processor, 8GB of RAM, and 1TB hard drive it's still £45 cheaper. :yep:

theboss1998
x


^^^That laptop I've linked to above with those upgrades would be my choice if you can stretch to another £35 and don't mind it being a 14" screen rather than a 15" one. It's light at 2kg, has a solid processor (that meets your clock speed request) and fairly decent low end GPU that will handle most games on at least low-med settings at native resolution :yy:
Original post by IAmYourdog
You say you want to run some games...
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/pc-specialist-cosmos-ii-rs-840-15-6-gaming-laptop-10004798-pdt.html
Just an example (£80 over your budget but its very good)

If you want to play like battlefield or like crysis your going to need a graphics card, if by some "games" you meant like browser games like runescape then your original is fine (but I bet you could find something cheaper and more value for money)

Also, are you looking to purchase insurance with your PC (e.g accidental damage?) If so your best bet may be to buy something from PC world/currys there KNOWHOW insurance is pretty good. Otherwise you can look elsewhere!
I can give advise on gaming laptops if you want and what you should compare with them, just drop me a PM!

and ignore the apple posts... they're good.. to some extent but your just best off going with windows (unless you are an apple fan)


My main game was going to be battlefield 3 which I understand does require a lot of memory. But I don't want to go over the 600 at all, so I would sacrifice the game and get a good light-weight laptop.



Sometimes I don't trust the manufactures of these laptops, I get that feeling of my laptop breaking down after a period of time. They're not official ( or rather globally known) companies. Am I right?
Original post by theboss1998
Sometimes I don't trust the manufactures of these laptops, I get that feeling of my laptop breaking down after a period of time. They're not official ( or rather globally known) companies. Am I right?


No, PCSpecialist have very good reliability ratings. They're as "official" as any other manufacturer out there and extremely popular among gamers, they're just not very well known because they only sell their products online (partly because they focus on customised laptops, part because it keeps costs down). I've had several friends buy them on my recommendation and they've had no issues.

My main game was going to be battlefield 3 which I understand does require a lot of memory. But I don't want to go over the 600 at all, so I would sacrifice the game and get a good light-weight laptop.


Spend the extra £35 and get the laptop I suggested, if you're going to want to play BF3/BF4 at remotely decent frame rates and graphics settings you'll really want a GDDR5 based graphics card and a good chunk of RAM. Dropping under £600 will severely limit your ability to play games of that standard.
How about these specs:

Chassis & Display
UltraNote: 15.6" Matte HD LED Backlit Widescreen (1366x768)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i5 Dual Core Mobile Processor i5-4210M (2.60GHz) 3MB
Memory (RAM)
8GB KINGSTON SODIMM DDR3 1600MHz (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
INTEL® HD GRAPHICS MEDIA ACCELERATOR 4600
1st Hard Disk
500GB SERIAL ATA II 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (5,400rpm)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
UltraNote Series: 8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Memory Card Reader
Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo)
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Wireless/Wired Networking
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS 802.11N CARD INC. BLUETOOTH 3.0
USB Options
2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS AS STANDARD
Battery
UltraNote Series 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (62.16WH) (Up to 7 Hours)
Power Cable
1 x UK Power Lead & 65W AC Adaptor
Keyboard Language
ULTRANOTE SERIES UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 8.1 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence
Windows 10 Upgrade
FREE Upgrade to Windows 10 with all Windows 7 & Windows 8.1 Purchases*
DVD Recovery Media
Windows 8.1 (64-bit) DVD with paper sleeve
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-Virus
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 2.0 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Insurance
1 Month Free Laptop Insurance inc. Accidental Damage & Theft
Delivery
SATURDAY DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (BEFORE 12 NOON)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 6 to 8 working days
Quantity
1
Original post by theboss1998
How about these specs:

Chassis & Display
UltraNote: 15.6" Matte HD LED Backlit Widescreen (1366x768)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i5 Dual Core Mobile Processor i5-4210M (2.60GHz) 3MB
Memory (RAM)
8GB KINGSTON SODIMM DDR3 1600MHz (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
INTEL® HD GRAPHICS MEDIA ACCELERATOR 4600
1st Hard Disk
500GB SERIAL ATA II 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (5,400rpm)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
UltraNote Series: 8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Memory Card Reader
Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo)
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Wireless/Wired Networking
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS 802.11N CARD INC. BLUETOOTH 3.0
USB Options
2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS AS STANDARD
Battery
UltraNote Series 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (62.16WH) (Up to 7 Hours)
Power Cable
1 x UK Power Lead & 65W AC Adaptor
Keyboard Language
ULTRANOTE SERIES UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 8.1 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence
Windows 10 Upgrade
FREE Upgrade to Windows 10 with all Windows 7 & Windows 8.1 Purchases*
DVD Recovery Media
Windows 8.1 (64-bit) DVD with paper sleeve
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-Virus
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 2.0 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Insurance
1 Month Free Laptop Insurance inc. Accidental Damage & Theft
Delivery
SATURDAY DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (BEFORE 12 NOON)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 6 to 8 working days
Quantity
1


Integrated graphics equals garbage for gaming.

If you want to save money, drop the processor in the link I gave you down to an i3-4000M and it comes down to £570.
(edited 8 years ago)
So getting an i3 with an 8gb aint a problem? I read on the web that you need to have a high processor like the i5!
Original post by theboss1998
So getting an i3 with an 8gb aint a problem? I read on the web that you need to have a high processor like the i5!


An i5 would be ideal, but if you're absolutely adamant that you don't want to spend more than £600 then it's much better to take a slight processor dip than compromise on the graphics card. It uses very similar architecture to the i5 and will still perform well.

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