Complete Guide

Wiki for Dummies

“Maximize Your Investment: A Power-Packed Guide to Selecting the Perfect Laptop”

by Leave a Comment

The market for laptops is vast and constantly evolving, making it challenging to choose the right one for your needs. Whether you’re looking for a laptop for personal use, work, gaming, or any other purpose, choosing the right one is critical for maximizing your investment and ensuring that you get the best possible experience. This blog post is designed to help you navigate the world of laptops and make an informed decision by providing a comprehensive guide on how to choose the right laptop for all your needs. We will cover the key factors to consider including budget, performance, display, and portability, as well as provide expert recommendations to help you make the best choice for your situation. By the end of this blog post, you will have all the information you need to find the perfect laptop and get the most out of your investment.

Determine Your Needs

  1. The first step in choosing the right laptop is to determine your needs and the purpose of the laptop.
  2. Will you be using it for personal use, work, gaming, or something else entirely? This will help you narrow down your options and determine which features are most important to you.
  3. Your budget is also a crucial factor to consider when choosing a laptop. Laptops can range in price from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, so it’s important to set a budget and stick to it to avoid overspending.
  4. Once you have determined your purpose and budget, the next step is to consider the key features you will need. These can include the processor, memory, storage, display, graphic card and more.
  5. To help you determine your needs, make a list of the tasks you will be performing on your laptop, such as browsing the web, running multiple programs, playing games, and others. This will give you a better understanding of the specifications and features you will need.
  6. Recommendations
    • If the needs are basic like checking mail, watching movies, reading PDFs, and using Microsoft word, PowerPoint and Excel sheets for routine office work or school work then – a $300 plus entry-level laptop with a minimum of 8GB Ram and the latest gen i3 processor and 256 GB Nvme SSD will do. Please avoid Pentium, atom-based laptops and also any laptop below 8GB Ram and using HDD or Sata or M.2 SSD.
    • If you feel you want more speed for the same mentioned purpose and have no budget limitations then any $400 plus the latest gen i5 processor will do.
    • If the purpose is to use complex programmes and play games then the latest gen i7 or i9 processor with at least 16GB Ram and 1TB Nvme SSD is needed.

Processor

  1. The processor is the heart of a laptop and is responsible for performing computations and running applications.
  2. There are two main types of processors: Intel and AMD. Both offer a range of processors, with varying speeds and a number of cores. Right now in 2023, I suggest 12th gen or 13th gen Intel processors over the Ryzen processor.
  3. Processor speed is measured in GHz (gigahertz) and refers to how many cycles per second a processor can perform. A higher GHz means better performance and faster processing.
  4. The number of cores a processor has refers to how many independent units it has for processing data. More cores can lead to better performance, especially for tasks that require multi-tasking or running multiple applications at once.
  5. When choosing a laptop for work, a high-performance processor with a high GHz and multiple cores is important to ensure that you can run demanding programs and applications efficiently.
  6. For gaming, a high-performance processor with a high GHz and multiple cores is also important for a smooth gaming experience.
  7. For general use, a processor with a moderate GHz and a few cores is sufficient.
  8. Keep in mind that a higher-end processor will increase the cost of your laptop, so it’s important to balance performance with your budget and needs.
  9. Recommendation
    • Go for the latest generation processor that you can afford – for example choose 13th gen over 12th gen
    • Go for the fastest tier processor that you can afford – for example, choose i5 over i3 or Ryzen 5 over Ryzen 3
    • Keep in mind that $200 13th gen i3 may be more powerful than $1000 10th gen i9. Hence most of the time latest gen from the lower tier is better than the older-gen higher tier processor
    • Also, newer software may not be compatible with older processors. For example, Windows 11 is not supported on processors that are older than 10th-generation Intel.

Memory

  1. Memory, also known as RAM (Random Access Memory), refers to the temporary storage of data in a computer.
  2. The amount of memory in a laptop determines how many applications and programs it can run simultaneously and how fast they will run.
  3. The standard amount of memory in a laptop is 4GB, but most laptops in 2023 come with at least 8GB or more.
  4. Recommendations
    • If you plan to use your laptop for demanding tasks such as gaming or video editing, a laptop with 16GB or more of memory is recommended.
    • If you’re using your laptop for general purposes such as browsing the web and running basic applications, 8GB of memory should be sufficient.
    • Look for a laptop with high-speed DDR4 or DDR5 memory, as this will provide the best performance. Never opt for a DDR3 ram laptop as they are outdated and too slow for modern tasks.
    • RAM speed is measured in Megahertz (MHz), millions of cycles per second. Always opt for a RAM speed exceeding 3200MHz.

Storage

  • Storage refers to the permanent storage of data and files on a laptop.
  • There are two main types of storage: Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and Solid State Drive (SSD).
  • Hard Disk Drives (HDD) are the traditional type of storage, offering large storage capacity at a lower cost. However, they are slower and less reliable compared to SSDs.
  • Solid State Drives (SSD) are faster and more reliable compared to HDDs, but are more expensive and offer less storage capacity.
  • SSDs are 3 types mainly
    • SATA SSD – Excellent choice for replacing older HDD in old Laptops or Desktops
    • M.2 SSD – This comes in many sizes
    • PCI-based Nvme SSD – Latest and fastest – Opt for PCI 3.0 or 4.0
  • Recommendations
    • If you’re using your laptop for demanding tasks such as gaming or video editing, a laptop with a PCI-based Nvme SSD with a large capacity is recommended.
    • If you’re using your laptop for general purposes such as browsing the web and running basic applications, then also a laptop with PCI-based Nvme SSD SSD is recommended but you can opt for a smaller SSD over larger SSDs.
    • Some laptops also offer the option of having both an SSD and an HDD, which can provide the best of both worlds in terms of storage capacity and speed. But they tend to be much bulkier and outdated for 2023 standards. Dual SSD-slotted laptops are a better fit because of the recent drop in the cost of SSDs. Always opt for PCI 3.0 or PCI 4.0-based Nvme SSD.
    • Always avoid EMMC storage as they are nothing but glorified SD cards soldered onto the motherboard

Display

  • The display is the screen of a laptop and is an important factor to consider when choosing a laptop.
  • Look for a laptop with a high-resolution display, as this will provide a clear and crisp image.
  • Consider the screen size of the laptop, as larger screens can provide a better viewing experience but also make the laptop larger and heavier.
  • Look for a laptop with a high refresh rate, as this will provide a smoother visual experience, especially for demanding tasks such as gaming.
  • Touchscreen displays are becoming more common and can provide a more interactive user experience, but also add to the cost of the laptop.
  • Consider the type of display, as there are different types of displays such as LCD, LED, OLED, and others. Each type of display has its own advantages and disadvantages.
  • Brightness is another important factor to consider when choosing a laptop display. A brighter display is important for outdoor use or bright environments.
  • SRGB (Standard Red Green Blue) is a colour gamut that is used as a reference for colour reproduction in digital imaging and display technologies. A laptop display with 100% SRGB coverage is ideal for graphic design or video editing, as it provides accurate colour representation.
  • Adobe RGB (Adobe RGB 1998) is a colour space that offers a wider colour gamut compared to SRGB, providing more accurate colour representation for professional photographers and graphic designers.
  • If colour accuracy is important for your work or needs, look for a laptop display with 100% SRGB or Adobe RGB coverage.
  • Keep in mind that laptops with high-colour gamut displays tend to be more expensive, but provide a better visual experience for demanding tasks.
  • The display is an important factor to consider when choosing a laptop, so it’s important to find a display that fits your needs and preferences.
  • Recommendations
    • Never opt for a laptop below FullHD resolution even for an entry-level price point
    • If you want a portable and compact laptop – screen sizes below 14 inches are recommended
    • If the purpose is gaming and professional works like photoshop or video editing then a larger display with 2k or higher resolution is recommended
    • Don’t go for a display that is below 250 nits brightness
    • Don’t opt for a display that is not at least 100% SRGB
    • Mini-LEDs and OLEDs are better than LCDs or LEDs if you have the budget
    • If the use case is gaming and Multimedia then choose at least OLED laptops

Graphic Card

  • A graphics card, also known as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), is responsible for rendering and displaying images on your laptop.
  • Integrated graphics cards are built into the laptop’s processor and are sufficient for basic tasks such as web browsing, word processing, and video playback.
  • Dedicated graphics cards, on the other hand, are separate from the processor and are designed for demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing, and graphic design. These cards offer a higher level of performance and provide better graphics and video quality.
  • When it comes to dedicated graphics cards, the most popular graphics card manufacturers include NVIDIA and AMD but these days Intel has also started venturing into this business.
  • Recommendations
    • Choose a dedicated graphics card only if you want to play heavy games, and do video editing or graphic design.
    • For every other use case invest the money saved in graphics cards in other aspects like build quality, RAM, processor….etc
    • Laptops with graphics cards tend to be bulkier, have lower battery backup and are expensive.

Additional Features

There are several additional features to consider when choosing a laptop, which can enhance your experience and performance.

  • Ports: Consider the number and types of ports available on the laptop, as you may need certain ports for external devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or external hard drive.
  • Battery life: Look for a laptop with long battery life, especially if you plan to use your laptop on the go.
  • Weight: Consider the weight of the laptop, especially if you plan to use your laptop on the go. Lighter laptops are more convenient to carry around, but also tend to be more expensive.
  • Build quality: Look for a laptop with great build quality, as it will last longer and provide a better overall experience. Metal-framed laptops last longer than plastic ones.
  • Brand reputation: Consider the reputation of the brand and its customer support, as this can impact the overall quality and experience of the laptop.
  • Operating system: Consider the operating system of the laptop, as this will impact the software and apps you can run on the laptop. Windows laptop tends to be slightly more expensive than Linux-based laptops due to licensing cost but Windows is ubiquitous and unavoidable due to the versatility of the software compatibility.
  • Price: Consider the price of the laptop, as this will impact the overall value and performance of the laptop.

Keep in mind that these additional features can impact the overall performance, experience, and cost of the laptop, so it’s important to find a balance that fits your needs and budget.

In conclusion, choosing the right laptop can be a daunting task, but it’s important to make an informed decision that fits your needs and budget. By considering factors such as your needs, processor, memory, storage, display, and additional features, you can find a laptop that will provide the best overall performance and experience for your needs.

Remember to prioritize your needs and consider factors such as the type of work or tasks you will be performing, the environment you will be using the laptop in, and your budget. With the right combination of these factors, you can find a laptop that will provide you with a great user experience and meet your needs for years to come.