<p>I'm a mechanical engineering major but I'll probably change to chemical engineering. I keep hearing you need Hugh graphics capabilities and ****, is this true? And would this laptop be suitable?</p>
<p>The link is broken.</p>
<p>Some basic thoughts though, just as someone who likes computers and has a thumbnail sketch understanding of what does what:</p>
<p>Basically, as a MechE or ChemE or w/e, the only reason to have a crazy hot GPU is for heavy 3D modeling. I am a a pre-freshman, so I don’t really know if you actually do that in school or not, but for heavier stuff I would imagine you would be better off doing it on a desktop in the department’s computer lab or something. But that’s just a guess, and I know nothing about it.</p>
<p>If you are doing really crazy coding, you supposedly want a fairly fast CPU, but unlike for gaming, more cores is more important than the clockspeed, so a slower 4-core is better than a faster 2-core, etc. I have not citation or understanding of the physics of this, or even a practical experience. I have just heard people saying that.</p>
<p>But I don’t think you will ever run into anything where that matters. People program and use MatLab on garbage machines. I’m sure there are nutty things you can do with it that make it matter, but I would assume that it’s not happening in the lifespan of this computer.</p>
<p>Realistically, as an undergrad, you will be using this to take notes. You really don’t need a special computer. In fact, the more powerful this thing and its GPU are, the hotter it’s going to be, the worse the battery life is going to be, etc.</p>
<p>I would find something with an Ivy Bridge i5, a 13"-15" display, and <em>></em>4GB of RAM, from Lenovo or someplace. Check Dealnews; they spot a lot of great stuff.</p>
<p>Now, if you want to play games, it’s a whole other story, but you compromise practicality for power that isn’t really that useful as a day-to-day college laptop.</p>
<p>Thanks man, the links broken? Dammit it’s working from my phone, anyway the laptops model is HP m6-1035dx</p>
<p>HP is thought to have poor build quality, and that’s a worse system than what >600$ can buy elsewhere, even ignoring that.</p>
<p>I might look more in a bit (I am emergency cramming for summer finals), but right off the bat this seems like a better deal to me, for non-gaming college needs:</p>
<p>[Toshiba</a> - 14" Satellite Laptop - 6GB Memory - 750GB Hard Drive - Champagne Silver - P845-S4200](<a href=“http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba---14%26%2334%3B-Satellite-Laptop---6GB-Memory---750GB-Hard-Drive---Champagne-Silver/5560019.p?skuId=5560019&productCategoryId=pcmcat247400050000&id=1218704973366&AID=10597222&PID=552179&SID=VUFneGR3b0JDalFBQUhZaFl3b0FBQUJu&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2FToshiba---14%2526%252334%253B-Satellite-Laptop---6GB-Memory---750GB-Hard-Drive---Champagne-Silver%2F5560019.p%3FskuId%3D5560019%26productCategoryId%3Dpcmcat247400050000%26id%3D1218704973366&ref=39&CJPID=552179&loc=01]Toshiba”>http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba---14%26%2334%3B-Satellite-Laptop---6GB-Memory---750GB-Hard-Drive---Champagne-Silver/5560019.p?skuId=5560019&productCategoryId=pcmcat247400050000&id=1218704973366&AID=10597222&PID=552179&SID=VUFneGR3b0JDalFBQUhZaFl3b0FBQUJu&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2FToshiba---14%2526%252334%253B-Satellite-Laptop---6GB-Memory---750GB-Hard-Drive---Champagne-Silver%2F5560019.p%3FskuId%3D5560019%26productCategoryId%3Dpcmcat247400050000%26id%3D1218704973366&ref=39&CJPID=552179&loc=01)</p>
<p>This too may be of interest:</p>
<p>[Dell</a> Core i7 Quad 16" Laptop w/ Xbox 360 for $699 + free shipping for students - RKB-00001](<a href=“http://dealnews.com/Dell-Core-i7-Quad-16-Laptop-w-Xbox-360-for-699-free-shipping-for-students/595800.html]Dell”>http://dealnews.com/Dell-Core-i7-Quad-16-Laptop-w-Xbox-360-for-699-free-shipping-for-students/595800.html)</p>
<p>I’ve always felt that HP’s were built pretty well. I had been using HP’s/Compaq’s for the past 16 years and didn’t have any issues with them. Just got a Lenovo Thinkpad a few weeks ago, but I only changed because it has both a discrete graphics card and an integrated one (allowing for 3 display monitors) and was available in-store.</p>
<p>Wow that’s a pretty sweet deal. Guys I’m not to savvy with the technical specifications of the laptops, is there any site that can get me up to date? Hahaha</p>
<p>I would stay away from HPs personally. You playing with fire pretty much.</p>
<p>I believe you’re going to be in the e’school at UCLA? Check to see what the required/suggested specs are. That will give you an idea of what you’re looking for. I also have to agree about staying away from HP’s. I’m partial to Lenovo but you’re going to pay for it.</p>