current laptop specs

[TheMACHINE]

Hey guys,

Im in need of a new laptop....not for gaming or multimedia....just for work and internet browsing.

I notcecd there is a wide variaty of prices. ($500-$1500).

Can someone let me know what the minimum specs are these days. I dont want to start behind the curve, but dont want to also spend a lot of money either. I just need somethign fast.

Thanks.

[blackfire12]

Minimum specs these days are something that's about 1 - 2ghz and dual core. It may or may not have a dedicated graphics processor and retailers will still use IntelGMA. 1-2gb of ram, DDR2, is probably the norm now as well. At least a 150gb hard drive.

If you want to get a good gauge on minimum spec systems definitely check out the netbooks. They're cheap, reliable, and meet everything + more that you could expect from a budget laptop. They start at around $300 and go up from there. The only drawback is the small screen but that really isn't a big issue.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230116

Newegg is out of stock but you might be able to find it somewhere else. I have one from about two generations ago and it's amazing. Also very good battery life.

[Drachen]

I own this computer right here, runs like a champ. I got it in september. My only complaint is the volume of the speakers.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Asus-Refurbished-Matte-Brown-15.6-K53E-BBR9-Laptop-PC-with-Intel-Core-i5-2410M-Processor-and-Windows-7-Home-Premium/19500629

I got it for 449 new, but it seems that the new prices have risen which is why I linked a refurb

[Jt.ONE]

bare min -

at least i3 [ fuck amd ]
at least ddr3 ram
dedicated gfx vs onboard only depends whether you play any games or not
no standard for hdd- this only matters on yourself

[blackfire12]

bare min -

at least i3 [ fuck amd ]
at least ddr3 ram
dedicated gfx vs onboard only depends whether you play any games or not
no standard for hdd- this only matters on yourself

lol i3 isn't bare minimum and ddr3 is still more expensive than ddr2 that' still being used.

And what is wrong with amd? They have some of the best low budget cpu's for the money that can destroy any mid priced i5 and compete with the i7's. The new socket that intel is using may change that once again but I'm fairly confident this trend will continue on.

He already said he didn't want to use it for gaming so...

While this may matter to some degree and people will want to get the most they can for their money, smaller sized hard drives will still cost less so this is still a factor.

[blackfire12]

I own this computer right here, runs like a champ. I got it in september. My only complaint is the volume of the speakers.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Asus-Refurbished-Matte-Brown-15.6-K53E-BBR9-Laptop-PC-with-Intel-Core-i5-2410M-Processor-and-Windows-7-Home-Premium/19500629

I got it for 449 new, but it seems that the new prices have risen which is why I linked a refurb

Nice, that's almost exactly what I have so I may have the generation before it. Those are awesome little computers that are perfect for what the OP wants. I do agree that the volume on these tends to be non existent but I can live with it.

[4>0rings]

It's not minimum but its not expensive either. I just bought this, I just wanted a laptop with 17" screen and HDMI output.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-Gray-17.3-AS7750-6423-Laptop-PC-with-Intel-Core-i5-2430M-Processor-and-Windows-7-Home-Premium/19477210

I picked it up for $448 last week, they must have just raised the price. Completely happy so far. i5, 640gb, 17", 4gb ram, webcam.. etc.

The only bad is that it has an integral graphics card, if you buy the AMD processor version for $500, its external and upgradeable. It was $50 more than the intel version and I dont game on computers anymore so it wasnt a problem for me. Yeah its an Acer, but I've never had problems with previous Acer stuff and it comes with a warranty, meh.

[Cry Havoc]

Go Asus and don't look back. Anything in the $500-700 range should suit you fine. If you want ultraportable you could probably drop $800 and get a laptop with 12+ hours of battery life.

[TDMVPDPOY]

some of the new models also have discount coupons if you look around...

[resistanze]

Bought this in summer of 2009:

http://www.amazon.ca/ASUS-U80V-B2-Light-14-Inch-Laptop/dp/B002U0KF0I

My second ASUS laptop. Considering I work it for surfing, typing and multimedia, it still performs like a champ.

[Jt.ONE]

lol i3 isn't bare minimum and ddr3 is still more expensive than ddr2 that' still being used.

And what is wrong with amd? They have some of the best low budget cpu's for the money that can destroy any mid priced i5 and compete with the i7's. The new socket that intel is using may change that once again but I'm fairly confident this trend will continue on.

He already said he didn't want to use it for gaming so...

While this may matter to some degree and people will want to get the most they can for their money, smaller sized hard drives will still cost less so this is still a factor.


not sure if sers?

[MannyIsGod]

It seems like laptop specs really haven't changed much in the past year and a half since I got mine. I have a 2.4ghz first gen I5, 4gb of ddr3, and 500gb HDD. I got it for 600 bucks when I bought it.

I am likely going to try to get an ultrabook later this year. This thing is a great laptop, but its nearly 7lbs with the 12 cell battery I have on it. I want something much lighter.

[MannyIsGod]

and :lol @ getting anything but an intel chip in a new laptop. AMD runs so god damn hot its not funny. I was a huge fan of theirs for a long time but I would not buy anything new below an I5.

[vander]

Go Asus and don't look back. Anything in the $500-700 range should suit you fine. If you want ultraportable you could probably drop $800 and get a laptop with 12+ hours of battery life.

agree with the ASUS, though I never sought out Asus as a brand, I suddenly realize that most of my recent purchases and purchase recommendations have been Asus. and they are all doing fine just fine.

if you're not going to "game" or the like, then any i3 Asus should do, if you've got time, seek out a good deal, shouldn't have to pay any more than $350 for an i3 Asus Lappy

[TDMVPDPOY]

and :lol @ getting anything but an intel chip in a new laptop. AMD runs so god damn hot its not funny. I was a huge fan of theirs for a long time but I would not buy anything new below an I5.

even with some of the new i5 are nothing special man, just 100mhz min-max over the previous model....

first gen i7 are still great, but the video cards sucks...2nd gen i7 still out of price

[4>0rings]

and :lol @ getting anything but an intel chip in a new laptop. AMD runs so god damn hot its not funny. I was a huge fan of theirs for a long time but I would not buy anything new below an I5.
My brother had 3 AMD processors take a shit on him and 0 umpteen intels.

Scoreboard: intel

[leemajors]

even with some of the new i5 are nothing special man, just 100mhz min-max over the previous model....

first gen i7 are still great, but the video cards sucks...2nd gen i7 still out of price

uhh the i5 2500k is still beast.

[TDMVPDPOY]

uhh the i5 2500k is still beast.

we talkin about laptop cpus

[Cry Havoc]

even with some of the new i5 are nothing special man, just 100mhz min-max over the previous model....

first gen i7 are still great, but the video cards sucks...2nd gen i7 still out of price

Wow. Are you serious? Do a little research. Clock speeds hardly matter anymore. The new i5s absolutely throttle AMD's best offering. They aren't even in the same league of performance, desktop or laptop.

:lol at judging a processor by it's clock. Those days haven't been around for 3+ years.

[Jt.ONE]

lol i3 isn't bare minimum and ddr3 is still more expensive than ddr2 that' still being used.

And what is wrong with amd? They have some of the best low budget cpu's for the money that can destroy any mid priced i5 and compete with the i7's. The new socket that intel is using may change that once again but I'm fairly confident this trend will continue on.

He already said he didn't want to use it for gaming so...

While this may matter to some degree and people will want to get the most they can for their money, smaller sized hard drives will still cost less so this is still a factor.


amd :lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

[TheMACHINE]

thanks guys. i do like Asus..i have the eeepad transformer and love it.

looks ill be checking into asus with an i5.

[TheMACHINE]

What do you guys think of this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+-+Black/4601974.p?skuId=4601974&id=1218496160600#tabbed-customerreviews

Its only a i3, but its in my price range. This laptop is for my wife and she really needs it for just emails and Microsoft Office.

is i3 suffice?

[TDMVPDPOY]

Wow. Are you serious? Do a little research. Clock speeds hardly matter anymore. The new i5s absolutely throttle AMD's best offering. They aren't even in the same league of performance, desktop or laptop.

:lol at judging a processor by it's clock. Those days haven't been around for 3+ years.

who buys amd these day?

[MannyIsGod]

That Asus is just fine for what you want.

[blackfire12]

amd :lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

not sure if sers?

[blackfire12]

What do you guys think of this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+-+Black/4601974.p?skuId=4601974&id=1218496160600#tabbed-customerreviews

Its only a i3, but its in my price range. This laptop is for my wife and she really needs it for just emails and Microsoft Office.

is i3 suffice?

Yeah definitely, looks like a really good little netbook there. If you're going to be using it for basic web browsing and office then you'll be completely fine. An i3 is more than enough to really handle all of that.

[blackfire12]

Wow. Are you serious? Do a little research. Clock speeds hardly matter anymore. The new i5s absolutely throttle AMD's best offering. They aren't even in the same league of performance, desktop or laptop.

:lol at judging a processor by it's clock. Those days haven't been around for 3+ years.

This isn't entirely true, clock speeds still matter on desktop systems right behind cache size. Intel's CPU's are better in comparison to AMD's offerings but are still more expensive. This is where AMD has a slight advantage in cost/performance and also the fact that they aren't switching sockets every single fucking year. That get's real old. How long has AM2/AM3 been around?? A very long time.

[MannyIsGod]

Who the hell upgrades laptop CPUs? I'll never pick AMD for a laptop because they all run too damn hot and the last thing I want with components jammed together is heat.

[blackfire12]

Who the hell upgrades laptop CPUs? I'll never pick AMD for a laptop because they all run too damn hot and the last thing I want with components jammed together is heat.


I don't know why temperatures would be that big of an issue since Intel's are notorious for heat, much more than AMD. Intel P4's would regularly idle at 60C back in the day. This was a huge problem in the first generation of intel macs too where the chassis in the laptop would burn people. Most desktop AMD CPU's would hover around 40-50C. The i7 740QM in my laptop regularly idles at 60C and that's well within the ranges of an acceptable temperature. My desktop i7 950, which is also overclocked, hovers around 40C to about 60C under full load.

Unsafe temps for nearly any CPU are upwards of 100C and any system would shut down way before it even got to anything deemed unsafe.

[MannyIsGod]

I'm not talking about unsafe temps; I'm talking about the effect that heat has on components in reducing their life span. In a large desktop case with proper ventilation that is obviously not a big deal. In a laptop its obviously a much bigger deal. A design flaw is one thing, but AMD on average runs at a hotter temp than an equivalent intel chip. That should be a factor to anyone who wants to keep their laptop running for as long as possible.

[blackfire12]

I've never heard that at all which is exactly why I brought up the cases in which the intel chips are known to run extremely hot. On what average? Which chips? Of course laptops will run warmer but that isn't what I'm talking about either. You say AMD has hotter CPU's but you don't say which ones.

[TDMVPDPOY]

its fkn simple man, buy a laptop cooler if ur complainin about heat

you can buy the cheapest laptop with current gen chips, replace the hard drive for a SSD, and you still be ahead of the laptop that has the same equipment in terms of pricing and specs to ur needs

[Jt.ONE]

lol blackfire = amd fanboy

[Jt.ONE]

Intel's CPU's are better in comparison to AMD's offerings but are still more expensive. This is where AMD has a slight advantage in cost/performance


(off topic post but....)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103960
vs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

2500k>>>8150.

guess which one is cheaper tho?

[TheMACHINE]

Hey guys..

I ended up getting this one. $229 more for an i5 ...about 400gb more and 2gb more ram then the i3 i posted earlier. Felt worth the extra money. What u think?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+-+Platinum/4566353.p?skuId=4566353&id=1218492344573#tabbed-customerreviews

[TheMACHINE]

Hey guys..

I ended up getting this one. $229 more for an i5 ...about 400gb more and 2gb more ram then the i3 i posted earlier. Felt worth the extra money. What u think?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+-+Platinum/4566353.p?skuId=4566353&id=1218492344573#tabbed-customerreviews

[leemajors]

LED backlit, looks nice. I noticed a $50 dip in my power bill after I got a new iMac with an LED backlit screen (for work) and a new LED backlit monitor for my PC to match. Should be good for battery life.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

http://gizmodo.com/5882958/the-best-laptops-under-500

[TDMVPDPOY]

Hey guys..

I ended up getting this one. $229 more for an i5 ...about 400gb more and 2gb more ram then the i3 i posted earlier. Felt worth the extra money. What u think?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+-+Platinum/4566353.p?skuId=4566353&id=1218492344573#tabbed-customerreviews

whats the video card?

umm you can actually get 15inch with 1920x1080...

[TheMACHINE]

whats the video card?

umm you can actually get 15inch with 1920x1080...

i havent opened it yet. I'll open it when i get home from work, but im surprised it doesnt say on the bestbuy site.

The one i was initially gonna buy says this, and im sure it may be the same.

15.6" LCD high-definition display
With 1366 x 768 resolution showcases movies and games in stunning clarity

[leemajors]

i havent opened it yet. I'll open it when i get home from work, but im surprised it doesnt say on the bestbuy site.

The one i was initially gonna buy says this, and im sure it may be the same.

15.6" LCD high-definition display
With 1366 x 768 resolution showcases movies and games in stunning clarity

Should be just the onboard video from Intel. I still use mine on my PC since I don't play any games at the moment. Handles 1080p just fine and Blu-ray, nothing to worry about. If I do wanna play games I will buy a better card, but this works great.

[Jt.ONE]

themachine -

Graphics UMA

basically its onboard integrated graphics iirc

[TheMACHINE]

thanks for the help guys...its obvious i took most of your opinions into consideration (ASUS i5 etc)

Also, my wife says i dont have to get her a valentine day gift anymore (which probably means i still should buy her something). haha

[TheMACHINE]

wow...so i checked my old laptop and its specs...

pentium dual core
1.6ghz
958MB Ram
90GB Hard drive

wtf...cant believe i was still using this shit. haha

[resistanze]

Better than my work PC.

[TDMVPDPOY]

wow...so i checked my old laptop and its specs...

pentium dual core
1.6ghz
958MB Ram
90GB Hard drive

wtf...cant believe i was still using this shit. haha

not an I-series?

thats pretty old model man, i gave one away to a cousin in vietnam, since i needed a new laptop..still lookin or just wait for the new ivys or sandy whatever is next

what u guys think of this model
dv6-6b02TX 672bucks
i5-2430
4gb ram
500gb hdd
1gb 6770hd
wont purchase warranty since i never ran into any problems with previous laptops, seems like a waste of money and downtime waitin for lappy to be fixed etc...

[Jt.ONE]

not an I-series?

thats pretty old model man, i gave one away to a cousin in vietnam, since i needed a new laptop..still lookin or just wait for the new ivys or sandy whatever is next

what u guys think of this model
dv6-6b02TX 672bucks
i5-2430
4gb ram
500gb hdd
1gb 6770hd
wont purchase warranty since i never ran into any problems with previous laptops, seems like a waste of money and downtime waitin for lappy to be fixed etc...


borderline pricing tbh. could be a tad lower

[AnthonyM]

Didn't want to start a new thread for laptop questions, so I'm bumping this one.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+15.6%22+Series+3+Laptop+-+6GB+Memory+-+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Black/Titanium/4707182.p?skuId=4707182&id=1218512740491

The Samsung is pretty much what I want/need for a laptop (internet browsing, home use, casual) and for a pretty decent price. I'm having a bit harder time finding an Asus with similar specs without getting into higher prices or a second gen Core i5 (which I wouldn't mind, but I don't need). The only Asus I found (so far) that's similar is an i5...but only 4 GB of ram and a 500 gb hard drive, with a 4-cell battery.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+15.6%26%2334%3B+laptop+-+4GB+Memory+-+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Matte+Dark+Brown+Suit/4854891.p?id=1218554266972&skuId=4854891

It also doesn't look quite as sleek as other Asus models.

Thoughts?

[lefty]

I'm not talking about unsafe temps; I'm talking about the effect that heat has on components in reducing their life span. In a large desktop case with proper ventilation that is obviously not a big deal. In a laptop its obviously a much bigger deal. A design flaw is one thing, but AMD on average runs at a hotter temp than an equivalent intel chip. That should be a factor to anyone who wants to keep their laptop running for as long as possible.
My laptop has AMD

No wonder that shit burns my legs :lol

[TDMVPDPOY]

borderline pricing tbh. could be a tad lower

same price in usa i can do better cause of no sales tax and better competition for consumers,

[Wild Cobra]

My opinion, is spend a little more for one that has better resolution. Don't get one that stops at 768 pixils high. Get at least 900 pixils high.

That's my $0.02 worth.

[TheMACHINE]

Didn't want to start a new thread for laptop questions, so I'm bumping this one.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+15.6%22+Series+3+Laptop+-+6GB+Memory+-+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Black/Titanium/4707182.p?skuId=4707182&id=1218512740491

The Samsung is pretty much what I want/need for a laptop (internet browsing, home use, casual) and for a pretty decent price. I'm having a bit harder time finding an Asus with similar specs without getting into higher prices or a second gen Core i5 (which I wouldn't mind, but I don't need). The only Asus I found (so far) that's similar is an i5...but only 4 GB of ram and a 500 gb hard drive, with a 4-cell battery.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+15.6%26%2334%3B+laptop+-+4GB+Memory+-+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Matte+Dark+Brown+Suit/4854891.p?id=1218554266972&skuId=4854891

It also doesn't look quite as sleek as other Asus models.

Thoughts?

dude the Asus is a steal...$400+ for an i5?! wow.

[Wild Cobra]

dude the Asus is a steal...$400+ for an i5?! wow.
If you have a widescreen monitore already, set the graphics down to the 1366 x 768. See if you are content with the limited view of the things you normally do.

Seriously. I suggest no less than 1440 x 900 for a lower cost laptop, that's the best resolution you'll find without paying around $1000 or more.

[Spurtacus]

Best laptop deals are on www.newegg.com imho.

Bought this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215197) for $550 back in November. I run Star Wars Old Republic on high. Runs BF3 and Skyrim.

[TDMVPDPOY]

IM FKN pissed after buyin the new laptop, shouldve waited another week when the other retail competitors started their mid year sale, fkn couldve gotton a better spec laptop for same price....oh well...

[Wild Cobra]

IM FKN pissed after buyin the new laptop, shouldve waited another week when the other retail competitors started their mid year sale, fkn couldve gotton a better spec laptop for same price....oh well...
Technology still moves fast enough that you will be waiting forever if you wait.

Just accept it like the rest of us do.

[Wild Cobra]

wow...so i checked my old laptop and its specs...

pentium dual core
1.6ghz
958MB Ram
90GB Hard drive

wtf...cant believe i was still using this shit. haha
I have an old 17" laptop I bought for my daughter when she was in high school. It's the 1440 x 900, HP DV 8000 series. Came with XP, I think it's 1 GB memory 80 GB HD, 1.8 ghz Turion. Still a good working computer, but I only use it when I travel. She needed a faster computer for her Architectural Design classes in college, so I picked up a 18.4" Toshiba Satellite for her with a really fast GPU about 1-1/2 years ago. Told her I wanted the HP for when I travel, and I got it. For traveling, it's all I need. The Satellite I bought her is 1680 x 945, and was right at $1,000. The older HP was $1,300 those years back when it was new.

[TDMVPDPOY]

I have an old 17" laptop I bought for my daughter when she was in high school. It's the 1440 x 900, HP DV 8000 series. Came with XP, I think it's 1 GB memory 80 GB HD, 1.8 ghz Turion. Still a good working computer, but I only use it when I travel. She needed a faster computer for her Architectural Design classes in college, so I picked up a 18.4" Toshiba Satellite for her with a really fast GPU about 1-1/2 years ago. Told her I wanted the HP for when I travel, and I got it. For traveling, it's all I need. The Satellite I bought her is 1680 x 945, and was right at $1,000. The older HP was $1,300 those years back when it was new.

pics of daughter or gtfo

i see shes studying architecture, does she troll on skyscrappercity.com forums?

[MannyIsGod]

If you have a widescreen monitore already, set the graphics down to the 1366 x 768. See if you are content with the limited view of the things you normally do.

Seriously. I suggest no less than 1440 x 900 for a lower cost laptop, that's the best resolution you'll find without paying around $1000 or more.

This shit, again?! SMH

[resistanze]

This shit, again?! SMH

:lol

[blackfire12]

lol blackfire = amd fanboy

im no fanboy you god damn idiot, i have an i7. it helps to read

[Wild Cobra]

This shit, again?! SMH

Yes, I know. You don't care about facts, quality, etc. All you care about is finding cause to be a bully to me.

Fuck off.

[ElNono]

lol "pixils"

[MannyIsGod]

:lmao

Bully.

[Wild Cobra]

:lmao

Bully.

Yes Trayvon.

When you follow and attack someone for no good reason, you might find yourself hurt, or worse.

[GoodOdor]

Yes Trayvon.

When you follow and attack someone for no good reason, you might find yourself hurt, or worse.

:lol:lol:lol:lol

[Wild Cobra]

So Machine...

Is resolution important to you or not?

What is most important?

The best computer for one application in a price range is not necessarily the best for other applications. Resolution is very important to me, but others seem not to care.

[MannyIsGod]

Yes Trayvon.

When you follow and attack someone for no good reason, you might find yourself hurt, or worse.

:lmao

Internet tough guy complaining about being bullied.

[Wild Cobra]

:lmao

Internet tough guy complaining about being bullied.
Complaining more about how you simply cannot make a proper response in a thread, and only come here to stalk and be an antagonist.

You are a fucking loser for that.

Why can't there be a civil thread? Why do you have to make all threads I post in an "Attack Wild Cobra" thread?

[TheMACHINE]

So Machine...

Is resolution important to you or not?

What is most important?

The best computer for one application in a price range is not necessarily the best for other applications. Resolution is very important to me, but others seem not to care.

i already bought my laptop..i think someone else in the thread needs one now.

[Wild Cobra]

i already bought my laptop..i think someone else in the thread needs one now.
Well, hope it suits your needs properly.

Have fun with it.

[blackfire12]

i already bought my laptop..i think someone else in the thread needs one now.

awesome and congrats, hope it serves you well :toast

[TDMVPDPOY]

ivy bridge out today fellas

samsung sg3 next week, cant get any better...better start sucking pussy for money

[MannyIsGod]

i already bought my laptop..i think someone else in the thread needs one now.

Yeah but whats your resolution? !?!?!?!??!

[cheguevara]

so im looking at an hp laptop
i7 quad core 2ghz 3rd gen
8gb ram
1gb video
750gb hdd
17" 1920x1080 Full HD LED screen
backlit keyboard

for $1,100 delivered

is that a good deal or what????

[resistanze]

^^^Pretty nice deal imo. What's the GPU? any word on battery life?

I'm looking into getting that ASUS UX31A ultrabook, so sexeh :cry

http://www.engadget.com/photos/asus-zenbook-ux31a/

[cheguevara]

NVidia GT 630

going with 9 cell lithium should gimme 6+ hours I think?

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/load_configuration.do?destination=review&config_id=7198626&aoid=35252

coupon code: NBY4296