Is the laptop worth buying?

HappyHippyDad · Jul 9, 2023

This is kind of electrical, so I hope it's ok in this section. Apologies @westward10 if not, I'm sure it will be moved very quickly

My laptop has had it's day. There is such a huge range of laptops out there that I am getting overloaded. Also, I don't understand half of the spec. AMD athlov vs ryzen 7 ??!! Intel i3??!! No idea which is better or what it really means.

basically, I want a laptop that can handle web browsing and writing up certificates on a pdf, that's it. Is this reasonably priced laptop worth buying... https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3110973?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=rrmatraqw&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:804-627-9544|cid:20264799336|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:7182686531165566896|dvc:c|adp:|mt:|loc:9045578&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20264799336&utm_term=3110973&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=804-627-9544&GPDP=true&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtamlBhD3ARIsAARoaExC4aiXOoZ8bgZUUybTpf7DNMZOS_DaXRiSWabRqGsoNRbA9fB9moAaAs26EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks all.

rewireIT · Jul 10, 2023

plugsandsparks said:
Seriously would not even both with an 8G RAM machine running win10 or 11 unless you have a gun handy to shoot yourself in the head when you try and open quickbooks

8gb of ram is plenty to run Win 10. All the sysadmins at my last place had 8 gig on their machines and were managing the site with them just fine.

plugsandsparks · Jul 10, 2023

[ElectriciansForums.net] Is the laptop worth buying?

HappyHippyDad · Jul 13, 2023

I bought the laptop...... It is painfully slow! I am taking it back.

Could I ask if this one will be quicker (see link bbelow)? Or, if anyone has a recommendation for a laptop around the £500 mark that is speedy. I don't really understand chrome books, ipads, tough pad etc etc, so want to stick with laptop, as i am familiar with the layout, controls etc. I'll pop in a cheeky link to you @pc1966 as you were spot on with your foresight about the speed of the original one. Will this one be faster?

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9611342?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=rwimilmxm&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7cacid:804-627-9544%7ccid:20264799336%7cagid:%7ctid:%7ccrid:%7cnw:x%7crnd:15390915454513795207%7cdvc:c%7cadp:%7cmt:%7cloc:9045578&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20264799336&utm_term=9611342&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=804-627-9544&GPDP=true&gclid=CjwKCAjwwb6lBhBJEiwAbuVUSvu9qsNoArmUQM4hmgFystVOvE192bhe-N9HlhRuTx1KGWQzHJAuyRoCZxwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It does get confusing! The above laptop has 16GB RAM and is £500 (approx). The laptop below (swift 3) has 8GB RAM and is 50% more expensive??!!

https://www.argos.co.uk/search/swift-3/?clickOrigin=searchbar:productdetails:term:swift+3

nicebutdim · Jul 13, 2023

If I was in the position of wanting a laptop at that price point (which admittedly I'm not), this is probably the sort of thing I'd go for.

Downside is plastic chassis and hinges, but treated with manners there's no reason why you shouldn't get many years of use from it.

RAM might not seem impressive, but combined with the installed processor it'll boot in seconds and handle much more than you're likely to ask of it. Strip out unnecessary bloatware, block all but essential browser scripts and you should be good.

Linux would be better again, but I assume you'd like something that just works from the box.

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/hp-14sdq2512na-14-laptop-intel-core-i5-256-gb-ssd-silver-10222231.html

loz2754 · Jul 13, 2023

HappyHippyDad said:
I bought the laptop...... It is painfully slow! I am taking it back.

Could I ask if this one will be quicker (see link bbelow)? Or, if anyone has a recommendation for a laptop around the £500 mark that is speedy. I don't really understand chrome books, ipads, tough pad etc etc, so want to stick with laptop, as i am familiar with the layout, controls etc. I'll pop in a cheeky link to you @pc1966 as you were spot on with your foresight about the speed of the original one. Will this one be faster?

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9611342?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=rwimilmxm&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7cacid:804-627-9544%7ccid:20264799336%7cagid:%7ctid:%7ccrid:%7cnw:x%7crnd:15390915454513795207%7cdvc:c%7cadp:%7cmt:%7cloc:9045578&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20264799336&utm_term=9611342&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=804-627-9544&GPDP=true&gclid=CjwKCAjwwb6lBhBJEiwAbuVUSvu9qsNoArmUQM4hmgFystVOvE192bhe-N9HlhRuTx1KGWQzHJAuyRoCZxwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It does get confusing! The above laptop has 16GB RAM and is £500 (approx). The laptop below (swift 3) has 8GB RAM and is 50% more expensive??!!

https://www.argos.co.uk/search/swift-3/?clickOrigin=searchbar:productdetails:term:swift+3

The Acer Aspire 3 in your first link has a better processor, a bigger SSD, more memory, and a bigger screen. That's the one I would go for between these two and the one recommended by nicebutdim.

nicebutdim · Jul 13, 2023

loz2754 said:
The Acer Aspire 3 in your first link has a better processor, a bigger SSD, more memory, and a bigger screen. That's the one I would go for between these two and the one recommended by nicebutdim.

I might have got this wrong, but I think it's the initially linked laptop that's going back.

On paper it should be a reasonable device, but I've added Intel core processors to this conversation because of how they operate. The laptop I've linked is far from all singing and dancing, but should easily outperform the other contenders - at least until Microsoft force their next os.

Edit: just realised you meant the first of today's links. Should be a decent machine, but I've not been confident in AMD processors of late, after being a firm advocate of them for many years.

plugsandsparks · Jul 13, 2023

I do hope HHD left it switched on for a day whilst all the updates were being processed otherwise it would have been un-usable. Retail products are very frustrating to deal with as the build you really really need is rarely available cos most retail folk dont have a scooby and buy on make and price. RAM is like a switch, great when you have enough but the performance collapses when more is called for as mentioned earlier.
If HHD still has the slow one and its done all its updates, suggest fire it up, open all the work you normally have open, inc Ef forum, then hit ctrl alt delete to bring up task manager and you will see cpu memory and HD usage, if its running slow the answer is there BUT it nearly always cos of RAM....... or updates, lol

Vortigern · Jul 13, 2023

So Ryzen is the go to for gamers. The cores the CPU has is the important thing. Two cores is pretty obselete nowadays. You should be looking at 4/5 core processors. Graphics are one the major bottlenecks in processing so the better graphics you can get the faster it goes.
Nvidia is good Gforce series. I would tend to buy second hand personally as the cost of new is out of proportion to the value of the item. Lenovo is good. They are actually IBM machines and very solid architecture and time tested build and internals. A five core lenovo is something to consider. I think it is not so much the computer but the above considerations when looking at various models you need to take into account. Don't forget IBM was the first (I think) to produce computers for businesses.
Ryzen is at the moment at least a very desirable computer. The Ryzen 5 just out of fashion being superceded by Ryzen 7 and up, is good value for money. Hope that helps.

kropaske · Jul 13, 2023

plugsandsparks said:
I do hope HHD left it switched on for a day whilst all the updates were being processed otherwise it would have been un-usable.

That's spot on. Laptop with that specs should comfortably run what HHD want. My old laptop circa 8yr old with less specs then that one in the first post could do all that and more comfortably.
Its unbelievable how much c..p is installed on those retail laptops, free trials of everything from antivirus to ms office etc.
That's why I usually buy laptops with no OS and install it myself, cheaper and I install what I want and not what someone else thinks I should have

HappyHippyDad · Jul 13, 2023

Vortigern said:
So Ryzen is the go to for gamers. The cores the CPU has is the important thing. Two cores is pretty obselete nowadays. You should be looking at 4/5 core processors. Graphics are one the major bottlenecks in processing so the better graphics you can get the faster it goes.
Nvidia is good Gforce series. I would tend to buy second hand personally as the cost of new is out of proportion to the value of the item. Lenovo is good. They are actually IBM machines and very solid architecture and time tested build and internals. A five core lenovo is something to consider. I think it is not so much the computer but the above considerations when looking at various models you need to take into account. Don't forget IBM was the first (I think) to produce computers for businesses.
Ryzen is at the moment at least a very desirable computer. The Ryzen 5 just out of fashion being superceded by Ryzen 7 and up, is good value for money. Hope that helps.

So how many 'core processors' does the aspire 3 16gb have in my link? I've tried to find it, but I just don't understand the lingo! Here it is again https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9611342?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=rwimilmxm&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:804-627-9544|cid:20264799336|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:9856420897002928524|dvc:c|adp:|mt:|loc:9045578&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20264799336&utm_term=9611342&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=804-627-9544&GPDP=true&gclid=CjwKCAjwwb6lBhBJEiwAbuVUStXMlHxjntSrz0HOEEAj3BYjDB8euGNCzC2ASXD1osZ3QH_hgDOx_BoCTYEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

edit... It says 'octa core' which means 8... does that mean its good?

loz2754 · Jul 13, 2023

HappyHippyDad said:
So how many 'core processors' does the aspire 3 16gb have in my link? I've tried to find it, but I just don't understand the lingo! Here it is again https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9611342?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=rwimilmxm&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:804-627-9544|cid:20264799336|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:9856420897002928524|dvc:c|adp:|mt:|loc:9045578&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20264799336&utm_term=9611342&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=804-627-9544&GPDP=true&gclid=CjwKCAjwwb6lBhBJEiwAbuVUStXMlHxjntSrz0HOEEAj3BYjDB8euGNCzC2ASXD1osZ3QH_hgDOx_BoCTYEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

edit... It says 'octa core' which means 8... does that mean its good?

Argos spec says octacore, so 8 cores.

jeffreylray77 · Jul 13, 2023

HappyHippyDad said:
This is kind of electrical, so I hope it's ok in this section. Apologies @westward10 if not, I'm sure it will be moved very quickly

My laptop has had it's day. There is such a huge range of laptops out there that I am getting overloaded. Also, I don't understand half of the spec. AMD athlov vs ryzen 7 ??!! Intel i3??!! No idea which is better or what it really means.

basically, I want a laptop that can handle web browsing and writing up certificates on a pdf, that's it. Is this reasonably priced laptop worth buying... https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3110973?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=rrmatraqw&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:804-627-9544|cid:20264799336|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:7182686531165566896|dvc:c|adp:|mt:|loc:9045578&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20264799336&utm_term=3110973&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=804-627-9544&GPDP=true&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtamlBhD3ARIsAARoaExC4aiXOoZ8bgZUUybTpf7DNMZOS_DaXRiSWabRqGsoNRbA9fB9moAaAs26EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks all.

For your needs of web browsing and writing up certificates on a PDF, you don't require a high-end laptop. Look for an affordable laptop with an Intel i3 or AMD Athlon processor, 8GB of RAM, and a solid-state drive (SSD) for faster performance. This configuration should handle your tasks efficiently without breaking the bank.

HappyHippyDad · Jul 13, 2023

loz2754 said:
Argos spec says octacore, so 8 cores.

I'm finding it a little hard to work out if it's a good buy.

It has 8 cores and 16GB RAM, sounds good to me??

Will I noticeably see a difference in speed compared to the dual core 8GB RAM aspire 3?

nicebutdim · Jul 13, 2023

HappyHippyDad said:
I'm finding it a little hard to work out if it's a good buy.

It has 8 cores and 16GB RAM, sounds good to me??

Will I noticeably see a difference in speed compared to the dual core 8GB RAM aspire 3?

Most definitely.

Vortigern · Jul 13, 2023

Yes octacore is eight core, nearly. It is really a dual quad core. The thing is the more cores the more tasks that can be dealt with at the same time. So dual quad is going to be good. I don't personally like Acer anything, check customer service and check reviews! Hewlett packard, anyone? Intel chips have got a bit of a bad rep currently with recalls and the such like. What is not up an front in all of this is does the laptop have TPM? THis is an inbuilt security hard built into the motherboard and gives a significant uplift in computer security against such things as root kits and machine level hacks. Most computers have it built in today. But worth checking. TPM is trusted platform module.
The processor speed is important and 1.8 ghz is pants I would not buy that. I want 3 Ghz minimum. With a quad upward around 3Gig is usually standard.