Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: new laptop advice needed

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    103
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked
    4 times in 4 posts

    new laptop advice needed

    Looking for a new laptop:
    max budget £700
    needs to be reasonably small (i.e approx 13" screen)

    The samsung q310 at laptops direct for £647 seems to be the best spec for this price.
    Does anyone have any suggestions, or any experience with ordering from laptops direct?

    thanks

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    108
    Thanks
    16
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts
    • Hyperviper34's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Biostar TP45 HP
      • CPU:
      • E7200 @ 3.1GHz
      • Memory:
      • Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2
      • Storage:
      • 750 GB Samsung HD753LJ Spinpoint F1
      • Graphics card(s):
      • PowerColor HD 4870 1GB GDDR5
      • PSU:
      • Antec 650W Neopower Modular PSU
      • Case:
      • Antec Three Hundred Black
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung SM2243BW 22" TFT

    Re: new laptop advice needed

    What are you going to be using it for?

  3. #3
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    11,498
    Thanks
    197
    Thanked
    794 times in 741 posts
    • staffsMike's system
      • Motherboard:
      • evga 680i
      • CPU:
      • e6600
      • Memory:
      • geil ultra pc6400
      • Storage:
      • WD 320gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • leadtek 8800 GTS 640mb
      • PSU:
      • ocz gameXstream 700w
      • Case:
      • akasa eclipse
      • Monitor(s):
      • dell 2007wfp and Lg L194WT
      • Internet:
      • pipex homecall

    Re: new laptop advice needed

    The samsung is pretty good value but I've never thought much of the screens on the Q series.

    The Dell XPS M1330 or Studio 13 might be worth a look. 10% off all XPS and studio right now so theres discount to be had.

    HP DV3 or if you want to go really small the DV2.

    Toshiba make a few in this size as well. Personally the the dell would be my pick, I have an XPS M1330 (2 actually.. dont ask) but I would probably get the studio 13 now if you could fit one into the budget, especially if it have the geforce 9500.

    Don't expect much out of the 9200gs in the samsung if you do get it. HD content will need to lean on the CPU quite heavily I think.

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    103
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked
    4 times in 4 posts

    Re: new laptop advice needed

    The laptop will be used for a bit of everything - internet, MS office, video, maybe a bit of gaming.

    I had looked at the xps M1330 (which has GF8400), but for a similar spec to the samsung they seem to be £900 (or even more for the studio 13 which has the GF9500) as the prices seem to be higher than they used to be (weak £ I guess). Also looked at the Dell outlet (which I had bought from previously), but the prices are only slightly less than new (wheras they used to be about a third less). Also the 10% off is for over £699 + VAT which would be beyond my budget (unless you are referring to a different code?).

    Comparing the HP dv3 specs to the Q310: the Hp has T5800, 2GB RAM and GF9300, whereas the Q310 has P8600, 4GB Ram and GF9200. I think you are right in that HD video will probably rely on the processor, but I think the P8600 is a penryn core whereas the T5800 is a wolfdale (?) core, so it should be faster clock per clock. I wouldn't expect much out of the GF9200, but if it can handle HD video together with the CPU that'll be fine. If the HP dv3 with the GF9300 will give better performance then I'll definitely consider it, I just thought the samsung would be better, but happy to told I'm wrong if I am.

    It's just a question of what gives the best overall performance at this price in a 13" laptop.

  5. #5
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    11,498
    Thanks
    197
    Thanked
    794 times in 741 posts
    • staffsMike's system
      • Motherboard:
      • evga 680i
      • CPU:
      • e6600
      • Memory:
      • geil ultra pc6400
      • Storage:
      • WD 320gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • leadtek 8800 GTS 640mb
      • PSU:
      • ocz gameXstream 700w
      • Case:
      • akasa eclipse
      • Monitor(s):
      • dell 2007wfp and Lg L194WT
      • Internet:
      • pipex homecall

    Re: new laptop advice needed

    I deffiantly think the samsung is a good deal, but it's one of those laptops I would not buy blind. Go and use one because the screens have always been a let down for me, and when you are using a small screen like a 12-13.3", it's painful when it's rubbish.

  6. Received thanks from:

    Grim Reaper (24-04-2009)

  7. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    103
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked
    4 times in 4 posts

    Re: new laptop advice needed

    Just found a studio xps 13 on the outlet website, same cpu - p8600, but with 4 Gb DDR3 and the GF9500 and the LED backlit screen for just over £600 + del. Ordered

  8. #7
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    11,498
    Thanks
    197
    Thanked
    794 times in 741 posts
    • staffsMike's system
      • Motherboard:
      • evga 680i
      • CPU:
      • e6600
      • Memory:
      • geil ultra pc6400
      • Storage:
      • WD 320gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • leadtek 8800 GTS 640mb
      • PSU:
      • ocz gameXstream 700w
      • Case:
      • akasa eclipse
      • Monitor(s):
      • dell 2007wfp and Lg L194WT
      • Internet:
      • pipex homecall

    Re: new laptop advice needed

    Great deal that is , well done

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Advice on Bro-in-laws laptop problems
    By sleepyhead in forum Help! Quick Relief From Tech Headaches
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 10-12-2007, 09:00 PM
  2. Need advice on a gaming laptop.
    By UltraMagnus in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 26-10-2007, 12:05 PM
  3. Laptop HD failure advice
    By JimPD in forum Help! Quick Relief From Tech Headaches
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 17-07-2007, 03:56 PM
  4. Advice on a cheap laptop & buying abroad
    By Andeh13 in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 01-01-2007, 11:36 PM
  5. Laptop Advice
    By WLC-1989 in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-09-2006, 06:08 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •