<p>I don't pay attention to computer hardware, so laptop shopping is proving hard. I don't know what brand to start with, what processors are good, whether paying extra for 4GB RAM over 3GB RAM is worth it etc. I just want an efficient cheap laptop to use for four years as a ECE/CS major. </p>
<p>Under $600 is ideal, under 500 would be amazing. Even just ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Any current laptop should have plenty of memory, so you don’t need to focus on that too much. Make sure you look at processor speed. If you plan on running any engineering/design type programs (AutoDesk, MATLAB, etc) then youll want a processor speed of at least 2.0 GHz. Shoot for even more than that. Also look at battery life. If you plan on using it on the go a lot, battery life is very important. If you only want to use it within range of a power outlet, this really isn’t a big issue</p>
<p>Odds are I won’t be mobile enough with it to need a long battery life. Recommend any brands I should look into?</p>
<p>Edit: And what’s the difference between i3 and i5 processors? Is one (guessing the i5) really much better than the other?</p>
<p>This laptop seem any good? [Dell</a> Inspiron 15R Laptop ? Daily Life Made Simple | Dell](<a href=“Inspiron 15R Laptop Details | Dell USA”>Inspiron 15R Laptop Details | Dell USA)</p>
<p>But it has an integrated video card?..that bad? My desktop at home has one and it can’t run anything. It barely runs things from 6+years ago…</p>
<p>You’re going to want to look at number of cores before looking at CPU frequencies. A single-core processor at 3.33GHz is nowhere near as fast as a dual-core processor at 3.0GHz. Of course, you’re looking at a different frequency range for laptops, but that’s another story. </p>
<p>The newer i3’s and i5’s have a very distinct difference: i3’s are strictly dual-core and i5’s are strictly quad-core. More cores = better (and more expensive). I don’t know what kind of programs ECE / CS will entail, but I wouldn’t expect them to require more than 2 cores with a decent speed. Someone might want to correct me on this just in case though. </p>
<p>Most laptops today will have enough memory as mk13bball said, and they’re going to have around the same hard drive capacity. If screen size is a factor to you, then you’ll probably want to look at laptops firstly by their screen size and then by their hardware. Depending on if you’re going to be doing any kind of high-quality video rendering, you’ll want some kind of dedicated graphics card; most modern laptops will have a card that’s good enough (ATI 4000m series or higher / Nvidia 300m series or higher = good enough).</p>
<p>We have too many of these questions already (for the last two weeks)
Let me address this in one single post, and hopefully others would also write their comments once again.</p>
<p>Whether you are EE, CS, CpE, or just about any engineering, or just anyone, an affordable consumer laptop is sufficient. That is, any laptop between $500 ~ 800 will be just fine.</p>
<p>The new Intel i series have 3 categories: i3, i5, i7. However, this year (as of 2011) Intel is releasing new core, the Sandy Bridge, which basically enhance the CPU technology and makes the CPU socket different. </p>
<p>The AMD is far behind Intel. In the recent years, AMD has been quietly working on new CPU. They aren’t very much concern with power consumption or heat problem. Unlike Intel, AMD are still manufacturing at 45nm. The upcoming 32nm Bulldozer will be a breaking point for AMD. </p>
<p><a href=“1”>b</a> Which brand of CPU should I choose? Intel vs AMD.**
From my experience with both companies, Intel is better in terms of performance in daily use. I was once told that many computer softwares and applications are optimized for Intel users, and not AMD. I don’t have a valid source on this. So I will leave most of this discussion to an expert on CC. Please someone do clarify. I do know many enterprise applications are optimized for Intel users. </p>
<p>Should I get i3, or i5, or i7? For most people - if the difference in price (i3 vs i5) aren’t that much, just get the one i5. If the price difference is more than $50, forget about i5, just i3. Intel i3 is enough. The additional technology you get for i5 is pretty useless. TurboBoost? Useless. </p>
<p>Either will serve general users just fine. In general, AMD computers are cheaper than the Intel computers. If you really want to save money, get one of those AMD computers.</p>
<p><a href=“2”>b</a> How much memory do I need?**</p>
<p>Nowadays, computers usually come with 2GB of memory, and most likely they are DDR3, if not, DDR2. The gained performance in DDR3 is insignificant for a general user. The gain is important for workstations and servers. Moreover, you are limited to some very cheap DDR2, DDR3 when you upgrade your specification. Generally it costs half of that upgrade price to get a better DDR2, DDR3 yourself. This, however, may not cost hardware malfunction, and i.e. not covered by warranty. A 2GB will be just enough. 3GB, 4GB? You don’t even need that much of memory.</p>
<p><a href=“3”>b</a> 64bits vs 32bits**
Similarity, when it comes to OS, you usually get Windows 7 64-bits nowadays. To me, 64-bits run slower. There are numerous comparisons. I really have no idea why we even bother to have 64-bits for general users. It makes no sense to me. 2^32 is enough.
Furthermore, unless you have a 4GB or more, 64-bits doesn’t give you boost in random memory access. My dad does video editing and he has a 12GB computer with 64-bits. He complains to me numerous time that 64-bits slows down his editing, even when his softwares are all optimized to run on 64-bits (based on advertisement).</p>
<p>So I still run XP on my desktop, and because my laptop hard drive (SSD, purchased on newegg) was dead, I had to use the HDD that came with the laptop, which had WIN 7 x64 installed already. When I have the time I will reinstall the laptop with my XP x86.</p>
<p><a href=“4”>b</a> Windows vs Mac**
The battle is ongoing and will never come to an end. The Windows people will make fun of the Mac nerds, and the Mac nerds will mock on the Blue Screen of Death (Windows). Well. If you like running Mac, good for you. I like my XP, so I will stick with it.
The compatibility war is still there. Most mainstream softwares do release Mac versions. If you can’t manage to run the software, you can always bootcamp your XP on your Mac. </p>
<p><a href=“5”>b</a> What about Linux?**
CS / CpE people should learn to use Linux. It will be very needed. But learning Linux doesn’t mean you have to kill your Windows or Mac. I have Ubuntu, Debian and XP installed on the same desktop. I run Ubuntu when I need to program Django, and XP when I am surfing, playing, and doing other trivial programming. Debian, another Linux OS - I use it only when I need to learn Debian Linux.</p>
<p>Linux is better than WIN, Mac OS? Well, too much personal opinons. Let’s keep that to yourself.</p>
<p><a href=“6”>b</a> Video card vs integrated graphic (on CPU) vs integrated graphic (on chipset)**</p>
<p>The second one is rare. Sandy Bridge has this. I don’t follow computer hardware these days, so correct me if I am wrong. The latter is very common. Consumer-level one is enough: youtube, light video game, movie, music. Some chipset integrated graphic are very good. They can Mobile graphics are extremely expensive. Some laptops now come with bundle price (advertised as discrete / dedicated GPU). You can check them out, but expensive.</p>
<p><a href=“7”>b</a> Battery life**
I always carry my charger with me, because I am only a student. Unless you are a professional, or someone who travels a lot (meeting, in this case), battery life isn’t a big problem. Usually laptop comes with either 4 / 6 cells. The weight of the charges can significantly increase the handling. It costs more to get upgrade your battery from 4 to 6, from 6 to 9. Don’t even bother with 9 cells.
Some laptops have good reputations for their battery life: Apple, Lenovo, for example. </p>
<p><a href=“8”>b</a> Warranty, customer service, reputation**
If you use it every day, almost like 24/7, and you play games, and you carry with you all the time, you definitely want to have a good warranty. Nowadays, laptop companies only give a 1-year limited warranty. Laptop companies make money from warrnty. If you hit a good price, it usually means a 1-year limited warranty. Generally, it costs $100~$200 to get more.
You have to research more the overall customer service, reputation. </p>
<p><a href=“9”>b</a> Durability, heat**
Extremely critical, beside #8. Bad laptop designs (<em>wink</em>, Apple…) will burn yourself out. If you have a way, put something under the laptop, make space so the bottom of the laptop has space to breathe.
Some laptops have more air vents under the laptop (i.e. my old Toshiba). It gets very technical to learn how to choose the right laptop based on air vents. The flow in/out mechanism varies by design. So you can’t purchase an air cooler based on price. I won’t get into detail on this. You can google these things.</p>
<p>Generally, I like Lenovo Thinkpad series. ThinkPad’s durability and heat management are superior. Lenovo brought IBM’s Thinkpad, but the design is still done in original Japanese lab.</p>
<p><a href=“11”>b</a> HARD DRIVE**
I list it #11 because it really is the less concern to me. Laptop are usually shipped with cheap HDD with large storage space. If you are luck you can run it for 5-6 years. My old Toshiba last 8 years and is still running. My new SSD only lasted 6 months and it’s dead.
5400RPM vs 7200RPM ??? Well, 7200RPM is very standard for a desktop user. 5400RPM is slower. It is the slowest at today’s standard. But it is cheaper. It runs fine for general use. Unless you have to transfer GBs of data from your computer to a USB, or from a USB to your computer, 5400RPM is sufficient!!! 500GB vs 300GB? Come on. Why do you even need that much of space? Should I even consider 1TB? Technically, I TB die sooner. </p>
<p>Generally, the bottleneck of your performance is due to hard drive, not your RAM or CPU. Would SSD be better? It is expensive. The cheap one died. But if you have warranty and backup frequently, you can get one of those 60GB SSD. I just need 60GB.</p>
<p><a href=“12”>b</a> Don’t forget to get a portable external hard drive**
One of those cheap $100~200 portable external hard drive is enough.
TOSHIBA 320GB Vivid White - I have been using it for a year. One of these will be fine. You want to have one just to back up the data.</p>
<p><a href=“13”>b</a> Weight**
This may or may not be a concern. You want to have something below 4lbs or at 4lbs. It’s very heavy to have a 4lbs already. MANY HP laptops are above that. So are many Dell’s.</p>
<p><a href=“14”>b</a> Screen Size**
13", 14", 15". I think a 14" is the standard, and 15" is getting there. 16"??? Get a desktop already.</p>
<p>WHEN TO PURCHASE
Wait until summer time - bargain time! Companies give good deals at the end of the summer, or during certain holidays. Also, search for coupons online! Use them during purchase!</p>
<p>Shipping, taxation will cost nearly $100 on some (Lenovo’s costs me $100 on these two things… urgh!!!). So yeah. Compare the price. </p>
<p>Conclusion:
What do I need? What is my budget? </p>
<p>Engineering students often run “monster” applications like AutoCAD, MATLAB. I ran MATLAB on my old Toshiba in my freshman year with only 512MB and 3.2Ghz. The high frequency did help, but it was Pentium 4. 512MB was enough for me to play starcraft 1, while running MATLAB in the background, and had 20 firefox tabs running. IT lags, no doubt.
So, you see, 2GB is very enough.</p>
<p>The Dell laptop you showed us is just fine.
You don’t have to worry about performance too much.</p>