HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

  HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

Intro

Exciting back-to-school laptop guide with tailored recommendations, including the remarkable HP NV14. Empowering knowledge and honorable mentions of exceptional laptops. Act quickly before NV14 sells out and explore seamless purchasing experience with our sponsor. Embark on a laptop hunting adventure armed with confidence and find your perfect companion. Happy laptop hunting!

MSI Clutch!

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

Discover the incredible MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight Wireless Gaming Mouse, boasting a mere weight of 74 grams. Engineered with a powerful Pix Art 3370 sensor, it guarantees precision and responsiveness. What's more, it offers an impressive battery life of up to 80 hours, ensuring uninterrupted gaming sessions. For more details and to get your hands on this exceptional gaming mouse, click on the link below without delay!

The XPS 15 is sick

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

The Dell XPS 15 is truly remarkable; it sets the benchmark for Windows laptops, delivering outstanding performance, build quality, and impressive battery life. However, it comes with a substantial price tag, crossing the $2,000 mark. While Dell might offer financing options, it's essential to explore other possibilities before committing to such an agreement.

In the market, you can discover alternatives that offer even more power, extended battery life, or significantly lighter designs at a fraction of the XPS 15's cost. It's wise to consider these options before making a final decision. By doing so, you can find a laptop that perfectly aligns with your requirements and budget, ensuring a satisfying purchase without compromising on performance or quality.

How much performance do you need?

The key steps in laptop selection are determining desired performance and setting a budget. Top-of-the-line GPUs like RTX 3080 may not be necessary; sacrificing FPS can save money and still provide a comfortable experience. For budget-conscious users needing a laptop for work and gaming, options like GTX 1650 or RTX 3050 are suitable. For better gaming, consider RTX 3060 mobile with higher FPS. Cooling and power delivery impact performance more than the GPU model. Low-end dedicated graphics may not be worth it for gaming, as integrated GPUs can handle emulated PlayStation 2 classics smoothly.

CPU Selection

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

For CPUs, AMD's naming system is straightforward: higher numbers indicate faster processors. The Ryzen 4000 and 5000 series are recommended for exceptional efficiency and great performance in compact or lower-priced machines with smaller batteries. However, caution is advised with the Ryzen 3000 series, as it is based on an older design and offers slower performance and lower power efficiency.

As for Intel, CPUs with five numbers followed by an "H" have more cores and are faster models, while those ending in "HK" are super-fast and suitable for overclocking. CPUs with four numbers followed by "G4" or "G7" have fewer cores and prioritize snappiness and power efficiency over heavy workloads.

For most users, 4 CPU cores are sufficient, but for demanding tasks like fluid simulations or 4K video editing, an H series or ideally an 8-core AMD processor is recommended. Intel's latest 11th gen processors are a significant upgrade, switching from 14nm to 10nm, making them worth considering, even if the latest models are outside your budget. Prior to the 11th gen, Intel's designs were similar for several years, so older models might not be much different.

Regarding RAM, 16 GB is recommended for most users.

How much RAM?

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

For RAM, 8 GB might be sufficient for Windows and Chrome. If it fits your budget, choose a laptop with upgradeable slots for future expansion. Framework receives praise for its focus on upgradability, even making integrated ports swappable. For assistance, ifixit's teardowns can guide you in selecting the right model and performing upgrades.

How much Storage?

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

For storage, aim for at least 500 GB SSD, but if a 256 GB fits your budget, ensure the laptop can be upgraded later. Intel's 8th to 10th generation laptops didn't see significant improvements, so adding more storage or RAM can rejuvenate an older laptop inexpensively. Upgrading to 16 GB of RAM and refreshing the battery can give a three-year-old laptop a new lease on life. Additionally, clean the cooling system to prevent overheating, which is a major cause of premature laptop failure.

Apple M1

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

The Apple M1 is a game-changer in the CPU landscape, offering excellent performance in the MacBook Air and Pro. They are top-notch thin and light laptops with snappy performance, great screens, and unmatched battery life. However, being a relatively new chip, there are some limitations, like the absence of native apps for certain software, such as Teams. Also, running professional programs like SolidWorks and Altium, or games, is not possible on the M1 Macs. Therefore, ensure that all your necessary applications are compatible before considering the M1 as an option, despite its appealing features and improved keyboard.

Chromebooks

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

Chromebooks are a suitable option if you're on a budget or have access to a powerful desktop for most tasks. However, if a Chromebook is your only device, you might face challenges when required to run specific software that isn't compatible. Installing such software might be cumbersome and time-consuming. In those situations, you may regret not investing a bit more for a Windows device or considering a used ThinkPad, which can be an excellent alternative. While having the fastest laptop is appealing, compatibility and functionality should be the top priority.

Display Selection

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

When selecting a laptop display, it's crucial to prioritize the quality since it's what you interact with the most. Avoid TN panels, as they look outdated. OLED panels offer incredible visuals but lack brightness and suffer from reflections, affecting battery life. Opt for IPS or IPS-type panels, providing excellent balance. Look for near 100% sRGB color coverage, as it suits most applications and games. Panel brightness should match your environment, with higher nits for bright settings. Gamers should focus on the panel's refresh rate as it's vital for gaming performance.

Keyboard & Trackpad

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

When selecting a laptop, the keyboard and trackpad are crucial as they are what you interact with physically. To assess their quality, watch reviews from hosts with similar preferences and try out laptops in stores. Ensure your hands fit comfortably on the keyboard and test the key consistency and flex. Pay attention to the stability of the keys and check if the force required to press them is consistent. For outstanding keyboards, consider options like the ASUS Zephyrus lineup, Alienware laptops with Cherry switches, Dell's XPS 15, and HP's Envy or Spectre lineups. Evaluate trackpad palm rejection and ensure it uses Windows precision drivers. Avoid laptops with high trackpad latency. Some standout trackpads include those found in MacBooks, XPS 15, and Zephyrus G15 and M16. Lastly, consider weight and battery life based on your needs.

Weight and Battery Life

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP

Weight and battery life are important considerations for laptops. While weight is relatively straightforward and can be influenced by performance and budget, battery life is more complex. Battery performance varies based on CPU, GPU, display, and tuning. Finding a reviewer who tested a similar configuration in an industry-standard test, like PCMark battery life, can give you a better idea of the expected battery performance. A battery with over 6.5 hours of life is serviceable, while over 11 hours is excellent for all-day use.

Outro

In conclusion, navigating the world of buying gaming laptops in 2021 can be surprisingly complex and overwhelming. The amount of information you need to consider to make an informed decision can feel quite daunting. To help you out, make sure to check out our playlist on buying gaming laptops, where we provide valuable insights and guidance to simplify this process.

HOW TO BUY A LAPTOP