Buying a new laptop can be seen as an investment, the main thing is to choose the right configuration. If you are looking for a device on a tight budget or have not yet decided on the hardware, this guide will help you make the right choice and, possibly, save several a lot of money.
How often do you need to change your laptop?
On average, it is common among people to update a laptop or computer every 3-4 years. There are three main reasons for this frequency:
- Normal wear and tear of the device
- Obsolescence of components
- The emergence of new scenarios for using a computer
- Significant progress in the capabilities of the models
Immediately, we will stipulate that the article deals with the lines of the 2020-2021 model years. If you are comparing the characteristics of a modern and an outdated laptop, keep in mind that even the current entry-level components are more productive than the top-end hardware of the early 2000s.
Choose a laptop that suits your needs
The most popular trend in recent years is to buy a top-end laptop and watch it become obsolete without ever reaching its maximum potential. This is usually the fault of buyers who are sure that inexpensive models are always of lower quality, and the more expensive the device, the more durable it is.
Modern laptops have two key pricing factors: the component level and the device class. By performance, they are conventionally divided into office, home, professional and gaming. And the class of the device is often determined by its visual design: compact, ultra-thin, gaming or traditional options prevail here.
To determine the best laptop category, answer a few simple questions.
- Will the device be used primarily indoors or in direct sunlight?
- Are you planning to play on your laptop, process content and run resource-intensive graphics programs?
- Do you need up-to-date technologies for comfortable work with the device, for example, a fingerprint scanner or a touchscreen display?
- Is there a limited budget for buying a computer?
- What design and dimensions do you find acceptable?
- Is there a manufacturer preference?
CPU
Two companies are recognized as the main manufacturers of computing equipment today: Intel and AMD. Both brands offer entry-level, intermediate and professional grade components.
At the Intel products in ascending order of performance are located as follows:
- Celeron
- Pentium
- Core I3, 5, 7, 9
AMD arranged their chips as power increased in this order:
- A-series;
- Ryzen 3, 5, 7.
The chips are from Apple, obviously only seen in MacBooks.
- In addition to the number of cores and their clock frequency, the operating speed of the laptop is also influenced by the year of the component’s release – the latest models have a minimal technical process, which means they produce more power with less energy consumption.
Video card
The graphics adapter can be built into the processor or separated into a separate component. Integrated graphics are proving to be a more cost-effective solution for work and study, while dedicated graphics are ideal for gaming.
NVIDIA products are recognized as the undisputed leader in this category. Budget solutions here are marked with the MX prefix, and high-performance ones – GTX and RTX. The main competitor in GPU manufacturing is AMD. Moreover, in your laptop model, a processor from AMD and graphics from NVIDIA may well get along – choose according to your needs and wallet.
There are endless characteristics you can learn about for searching on the right laptop for you. But your understanding of your requirement should match the laptop. Good luck with your laptop shopping.