Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: University Laptop

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Datchworth, Herts
    Posts
    159
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    4 times in 3 posts
    • laywill's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS Crosshair II Formula
      • CPU:
      • Phenom II 940 OverClocked -> 3516MHz
      • Memory:
      • 2 x 2GB Crucial DDR2 800MHz @ 1066MHz
      • Storage:
      • 1 x 1TB 7200RPM Hitachi
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2x Inno3D 9800GTX+ 512MB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair TX650M
      • Case:
      • Maplins Tri-Dial (ATX)
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 206WTQ (1680x1050)
      • Internet:
      • 8Mbps TalkTalk

    University Laptop

    Hi All,

    I'm off to university at the start of October (whoop) and need a reasonably pokey laptop to take with me. I dont really know whether to go for Intel or AMD or what features I want to look for at the minute.
    I have however decided I would like the following:
    Screen: 15" or a light 17"
    Processor: 4 cores or 4 threads at least
    RAM: 4GB
    HDD: 500GB or greater
    ODD: Blu-Ray for preference

    Bearing in mind Dad gets an employee discount with HP and I'm aiming to spend £500 - £650 (though I'd rather spend and get something really good than skimp and regret it), the two I've found so far are:

    The HP Pavilion dv6-6102sa for £495
    Or the HP Pavillion dv6-3180ea for £649

    If anybody has any advice, recommendations, words of warning or a humerous comment its all very welcome!

    Thanks in advance

    Will

  2. #2
    The late but legendary peterb - Onward and Upward peterb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Looking down & checking on swearing
    Posts
    19,378
    Thanks
    2,892
    Thanked
    3,403 times in 2,693 posts

    Re: University Laptop

    If you can get discount on HP, that is not to be sniffed at, but there are some good deals on laptops, especially this time of year. (And especially HP as stocks are sold off)

    Depends what you wll be using it for - if it is basic office stuff (notes, presentations, reports etc) you don't need much, if it is for entertainment, then obviously the spec and price goes up.

    Sadly, student areas are targetted by thieves, so you need to consider the security of the laptop and the info you put on it.

    A kensington style lock will deter a casual thieve (if you leave it for a moment in - say - a library, and some form off offline storage for the data is worth looking at - at least if the laptop does get lost or nicked, your carefully crafted coursework will be safe. You could use a USB stick, or something like dropbox or other cloud storage (or both).
    (\__/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    Been helped or just 'Like' a post? Use the Thanks button!
    My broadband speed - 750 Meganibbles/minute

  3. #3
    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    17,164
    Thanks
    803
    Thanked
    2,152 times in 1,408 posts

    Re: University Laptop

    So this is a desktop replacement right? Not something you'll be wanting to take to lectures everyday?
    throw new ArgumentException (String, String, Exception)

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Datchworth, Herts
    Posts
    159
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    4 times in 3 posts
    • laywill's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS Crosshair II Formula
      • CPU:
      • Phenom II 940 OverClocked -> 3516MHz
      • Memory:
      • 2 x 2GB Crucial DDR2 800MHz @ 1066MHz
      • Storage:
      • 1 x 1TB 7200RPM Hitachi
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2x Inno3D 9800GTX+ 512MB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair TX650M
      • Case:
      • Maplins Tri-Dial (ATX)
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 206WTQ (1680x1050)
      • Internet:
      • 8Mbps TalkTalk

    Re: University Laptop

    Cheers Peterb for the advice. I already have everything backed up on Dropbox, and an external HDD just in case the internet dies and have stuck to that solution for years. I also make habit of encrypting any removable media/laptops just in case

    Animus you are correct this is much more of a desktop replacement / entertainment machine that a lightweight take it to lectures laptop. I do however want it to be portable enough that it wont kill me if I want to carry it to say a practical in the labs (doing Electronic & Electrical Engineering BTW) and be a monster that has 30 seconds battery life off the charger.

    Any views on Intel i5m/i7m versus AMD APUs?

  5. #5
    The late but legendary peterb - Onward and Upward peterb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Looking down & checking on swearing
    Posts
    19,378
    Thanks
    2,892
    Thanked
    3,403 times in 2,693 posts

    Re: University Laptop

    You might want to consider a smaller laptop (in screen size) and a separate monitor. That way ypu will getr a machine with a small footprint for portability, but have the larger monitor at home for entertainment etc (if you have time - doing engineering! )

    You could add a keyborad and mouse too, although of course you are then adding to the cost, and reducing portability getting to and from uni at the start and end of year, which might be an issue for you.
    (\__/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    Been helped or just 'Like' a post? Use the Thanks button!
    My broadband speed - 750 Meganibbles/minute

  6. #6
    Pre-Cambrian nibbler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,668
    Thanks
    913
    Thanked
    266 times in 216 posts
    • nibbler's system
      • CPU:
      • i5-2410m
      • Memory:
      • 6GB ddr3 1333mhz
      • Storage:
      • 256GB Plextor M5S SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 1GB 6650M
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 64 bit

    Re: University Laptop

    I wouldn't get a 720QM. HP envy 17 has that and is very similar to the dv6, it overheats massively and tbh an i5 2410m is just as fast but cooler and uses less power. 32nm makes a difference in this case. Alternatively if you can get an i7-2630QM then they are class, as fast as an i7 930 more or less and pretty cheap parts as far as I can see.
    Join the HEXUS Folding@home Team!!


  7. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Datchworth, Herts
    Posts
    159
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    4 times in 3 posts
    • laywill's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS Crosshair II Formula
      • CPU:
      • Phenom II 940 OverClocked -> 3516MHz
      • Memory:
      • 2 x 2GB Crucial DDR2 800MHz @ 1066MHz
      • Storage:
      • 1 x 1TB 7200RPM Hitachi
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2x Inno3D 9800GTX+ 512MB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair TX650M
      • Case:
      • Maplins Tri-Dial (ATX)
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 206WTQ (1680x1050)
      • Internet:
      • 8Mbps TalkTalk

    Re: University Laptop

    AHA!! I like that thinking Peter Yeah... finding time for entertainment may be a challenge but I can live in hope

    Got a lightweight wireless USB keyboard and mouse so will probably throw them in just in case :-)

    Brilliant, thanks for the advice I think that pretty much narrows me down to just one... maybe 2 laptops to choose from that are in price.

    Many thanks all, will let you know what I end up buying

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: University Laptop

    HP and Dell, both are OK. If you want more cheaper, Acer is OK,too

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

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

Similar Threads

  1. Any tips & tricks for getting a Dell laptop cheaper?
    By Andeh13 in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 13-04-2009, 11:59 AM
  2. Laptop cooler or something else?
    By Mountain in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 30-07-2008, 07:01 PM
  3. Laptop Advice
    By WLC-1989 in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-09-2006, 06:08 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

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