- Apr 24, 2018
- 14
- 0
- 4,510
Buying a new laptop, any advice is helpful and appreciated. I have researched at nauseum for a week, and now I have more questions than answers. Too many choices, first world problems I know...
I can't seem to decide what specs I really need, and I keep ending up at $2000 dollar laptops, but I would rather not get a laptop that looks like a gaming laptop if I can avoid it (no offense to anyone, but I will be using this in a professional setting at times, and being in my late 40s and that doesn't look respectable to my generation). For instance, I just can't bring my self to buy a ROG, Alienware, or TUF laptop. I know I shouldn't care, but I guess I am just too self conscious to do it. It's a generational thing I guess.
I think the real help I need is deciding what specs I really need for my use case, and then finding a quality laptop that has those specs. At the same time, I think I would rather error on the side of overpaying a little rather than get a laptop that has good specs on paper, but is cheap because the rest of it is also cheap. Specs that are usually $2000 but selling for $1500 are usually red flags to me and end in frustration.
Thanks for helping me find a laptop.
1. What is your budget?
Up to $2300, but I would like to keep it around $2000 or less if I can. When in doubt though, I will pay a little more for quality.
2. What is the size of the notebook that you are considering?
Must be 17 inch screen. My eyes are not what they used to be.
3. What screen resolution do you want?
Not a bid deal to me, the usual 1900 x 1200 or so is just fine with me, in fact I don't probably don't want a 4K screen.
4. Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?
So long as it is 17 inches, the portability doesn't matter to me.
5. How much battery life do you need?
Doesn't matter, it will be plugged in most of the time.
6. Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)?
It won't be used for many games, but there are two things I really want want to do, must haves I guess:
1) Minecraft with extreme settings for a world I play with my son like a view distance of 32, shaders, etc. I know this probably nothing compared to high end games now days.
2) Play a football game on RPCS3 (Playstation 3 emulator). I am told this is fairly CPU intensive and needs an 8 core CPU. This is probably the most intensive thing I will use it for.
I realize neither of these are really GPU intensive, but they are CPU intensive.
7. What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo/Video editing, Etc.)
Light video editing, nothing professional.
8. How much storage (Hard Drive capacity) do you need?
512MB is fine, but 1 TB would be nice.
9. If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post their links.
I almost bought this, then I thought I should really get more expert advice.
Dell XPS 17 9700 series
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/del...7-9710-laptop/xn9710eypqh?view=configurations
10. How long do you want to keep your laptop?
I need it to last three years, I can replace it later if needed. I would rather pay a little more for a newer CPU and have it be viable for a while and be compatible with Windows 11 (think Intel 11th gen or AMD Zen 3 5000 series).
11. What kind of Optical drive do you need? DVD ROM/Writer,Bluray ROM/Writer,Etc ?
None
12. Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons.
I like to buy quality at a reasonable price more than brand. I know most brands have low and high end, and I trust the judgement here over what models and series are good rather than my own judgement of a brand. That being said, in my head I think the Dell XPS is supposed to be quality, and I tend to look down on MSI. Honestly, you tell me what series in what brands are quality.
13. What country do you live in?
USA
14. Please tell us any additional information if needed.
I like the idea of getting an Intel 11gen CPU, or an AMD Zen 3 5000 series CPU, but do I really need that good of a CPU? What level of newer CPU do I need for what I want to do? I don't want to get some older CPU that can't be upgraded to Win 11 either.
And again, I would rather it not look like a gaming laptop if I can help it. I just don't think I will buy an ROG, Alienware, TUF, etc that has weird looking stuff on the case.
Thanks guys!
I can't seem to decide what specs I really need, and I keep ending up at $2000 dollar laptops, but I would rather not get a laptop that looks like a gaming laptop if I can avoid it (no offense to anyone, but I will be using this in a professional setting at times, and being in my late 40s and that doesn't look respectable to my generation). For instance, I just can't bring my self to buy a ROG, Alienware, or TUF laptop. I know I shouldn't care, but I guess I am just too self conscious to do it. It's a generational thing I guess.
I think the real help I need is deciding what specs I really need for my use case, and then finding a quality laptop that has those specs. At the same time, I think I would rather error on the side of overpaying a little rather than get a laptop that has good specs on paper, but is cheap because the rest of it is also cheap. Specs that are usually $2000 but selling for $1500 are usually red flags to me and end in frustration.
Thanks for helping me find a laptop.
1. What is your budget?
Up to $2300, but I would like to keep it around $2000 or less if I can. When in doubt though, I will pay a little more for quality.
2. What is the size of the notebook that you are considering?
Must be 17 inch screen. My eyes are not what they used to be.
3. What screen resolution do you want?
Not a bid deal to me, the usual 1900 x 1200 or so is just fine with me, in fact I don't probably don't want a 4K screen.
4. Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?
So long as it is 17 inches, the portability doesn't matter to me.
5. How much battery life do you need?
Doesn't matter, it will be plugged in most of the time.
6. Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)?
It won't be used for many games, but there are two things I really want want to do, must haves I guess:
1) Minecraft with extreme settings for a world I play with my son like a view distance of 32, shaders, etc. I know this probably nothing compared to high end games now days.
2) Play a football game on RPCS3 (Playstation 3 emulator). I am told this is fairly CPU intensive and needs an 8 core CPU. This is probably the most intensive thing I will use it for.
I realize neither of these are really GPU intensive, but they are CPU intensive.
7. What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo/Video editing, Etc.)
Light video editing, nothing professional.
8. How much storage (Hard Drive capacity) do you need?
512MB is fine, but 1 TB would be nice.
9. If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post their links.
I almost bought this, then I thought I should really get more expert advice.
Dell XPS 17 9700 series
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/del...7-9710-laptop/xn9710eypqh?view=configurations
10. How long do you want to keep your laptop?
I need it to last three years, I can replace it later if needed. I would rather pay a little more for a newer CPU and have it be viable for a while and be compatible with Windows 11 (think Intel 11th gen or AMD Zen 3 5000 series).
11. What kind of Optical drive do you need? DVD ROM/Writer,Bluray ROM/Writer,Etc ?
None
12. Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons.
I like to buy quality at a reasonable price more than brand. I know most brands have low and high end, and I trust the judgement here over what models and series are good rather than my own judgement of a brand. That being said, in my head I think the Dell XPS is supposed to be quality, and I tend to look down on MSI. Honestly, you tell me what series in what brands are quality.
13. What country do you live in?
USA
14. Please tell us any additional information if needed.
I like the idea of getting an Intel 11gen CPU, or an AMD Zen 3 5000 series CPU, but do I really need that good of a CPU? What level of newer CPU do I need for what I want to do? I don't want to get some older CPU that can't be upgraded to Win 11 either.
And again, I would rather it not look like a gaming laptop if I can help it. I just don't think I will buy an ROG, Alienware, TUF, etc that has weird looking stuff on the case.
Thanks guys!
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