[Wiki Guide] Laptop Buying Advice

Right I gotta decide by the end of today:

This or this? Will the processer of the former be a lot worse? Is there anything else superior about the latter, other than its processor?

Thanks!

Reply 806

Original post by sebsnorkel

Right I gotta decide by the end of today:

This or this? Will the processer of the former be a lot worse? Is there anything else superior about the latter, other than its processor?

Thanks!

Definitely the Core i5, it will perform substantially better. It's no better in any other way, but it is the processor which first and foremost defines the computer's power.

Reply 807

Okay. So the i5 laptop would definitely be noticably faster, even though I don't game or anything? Faster enough to be worth sacrificing RAM and half the hard drive space? It's just for normal use - lots of internet, photos, films and tv streaming, downloading music, word processing.

Reply 808

Original post by sebsnorkel

Okay. So the i5 laptop would definitely be noticably faster, even though I don't game or anything? Faster enough to be worth sacrificing RAM and half the hard drive space? It's just for normal use - lots of internet, photos, films and tv streaming, downloading music, word processing.

Theoretically yes, the difference would be noticeable. RAM is cheap and easy to upgrade, and external hard drives can cost as little as £40 for 1TB of storage. Both of these are improvable at a later date, processors aren't (or at very least are a hell of a lot harder and costlier to do so).

Reply 809

I'm looking for a generally decent, reliable, all-rounder laptop though, not sure if it's worth the hard drive and ram upgrade faff for someone like me me. Ahh I'm so torn lol.

Reply 810

Original post by sebsnorkel

I'm looking for a generally decent, reliable, all-rounder laptop though, not sure if it's worth the hard drive and ram upgrade faff for someone like me me. Ahh I'm so torn lol.

RAM is literally a £15 and 5 minute job, really not something even the biggest tech novice should be intimidated by [= and an external hard drive is practically an enormous memory pen, I personally have my programs and essential files on my laptop with everything else in my external drive which never leaves my desk. Unless you're going to need such a huge amount of information with you all the time (That's assuming you ever find yourself needing that much space), I'd definitely go for the i5 while that deal's still going (:

Reply 811

If I just left the laptop with 3GB RAM would there be any noticable difference compared to the 4GB laptop? Or would an upgrade be pretty essential?

Reply 812

Original post by sebsnorkel

If I just left the laptop with 3GB RAM would there be any noticable difference compared to the 4GB laptop? Or would an upgrade be pretty essential?

Odds are you won't notice it unless you're planning on some really heavy duty multitasking.

Reply 813

clarityy

http://www.johnlewis.com/231302272/Product.aspx
or
http://www.johnlewis.com/231297454/Product.aspx ?
I have 12% discount which is why I'm buying it from there, and I read some reviews that the acer one overheats, and it could probably lose performance, but dell is more reliable, its just a bit bulky (it's also i7 compared to i5 which is why its more expensive) just unsure if its worth it

Reply 814

prizm3d

Original post by clarityy

http://www.johnlewis.com/231302272/Product.aspx
or
http://www.johnlewis.com/231297454/Product.aspx ?
I have 12% discount which is why I'm buying it from there, and I read some reviews that the acer one overheats, and it could probably lose performance, but dell is more reliable, its just a bit bulky (it's also i7 compared to i5 which is why its more expensive) just unsure if its worth it

well if you just wanna do gaming and general work stuff.. you wont be needing the i7... i5 can do the job just fine also the acer come with a better graphics card.
about the overheating, i dont know as I never had an acer, or dell for that matter.
also the acer has bluray.....

in my opinion i would go for the acer.... save 100pounds and use that for smt else

Reply 815

What do people think of this: http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Laptops/buy-HP-DM1-3200SA-Laptop/740047

I like the portability and battery life - excellent for uni. It's either this or a heavy 15 inch i5 Asus with a poor battery life. Is the processor on this HP terrible? Will it run smoothly - downloading music, photos, lots of internet, streaming TV online, word processing? Also, I really really need this laptop to last a long time, and I've heard HPs are not reliable and that Asus's are. Hmm.

Reply 816

ByronicHero

20

Original post by clarityy

How bad is the Intel HD Graphics 3000 or whatever..
i found a really good Acer laptop but i read some reviews that sometimes it can overheat (the touchpad as well) to up to 90 degrees :/ no idea what to do

It should be able to do all that - mine does and it is a rubbish 4/5 year old HP laptop. :lol:

Reply 817

alexsheppard11

3

Original post by sebsnorkel

What do people think of this: http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Laptops/buy-HP-DM1-3200SA-Laptop/740047

I like the portability and battery life - excellent for uni. It's either this or a heavy 15 inch i5 Asus with a poor battery life. Is the processor on this HP terrible? Will it run smoothly - downloading music, photos, lots of internet, streaming TV online, word processing? Also, I really really need this laptop to last a long time, and I've heard HPs are not reliable and that Asus's are. Hmm.

That seems almost identical to the ones that were reviewed by myself and a couple of other people on here on behalf of AMD.

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1675327

Reply 818