Laptop Buying Guide

Jul 14, 2024

Laptop Buying Guide

Introduction

  • Response to viewers' requests for a video on purchasing laptops.
  • Aim to provide all essential information about laptops.
  • Importance of some background knowledge before buying a laptop.

Common Pitfalls When Buying a Laptop

  • Scenario: Buying a laptop based on superficial specifications like i7 processor or MX graphics without proper research.
  • Result: Poor performance in games and rendering, overpaying.
  • Solution: Understand the components (processors, graphics cards, RAM).

Key Considerations

1. Desktop vs Laptop

  • Desktops are generally more powerful and cost-effective due to less expensive engineering.
  • If mobility is not a must, consider a desktop.

2. Purpose of Laptop Use

  • Gaming: Prioritizes graphics card.
  • Rendering (3D modeling, video editing): Prioritizes processor and needs a good graphics card (prefer NVIDIA for CUDA cores).
  • Office/Light use: Prioritizes battery life.
  • Note: High-performance laptops have short battery lives and are generally used plugged in.

Understanding Components

1. Processor (CPU)

  • Brands: Intel and AMD.
  • Hierarchy: Intel (i3: entry, i5: mid-range, i7, i9: high-end), AMD (similar hierarchy in Ryzen series).
  • Generation Numbers: Indicate the processor generation (e.g., 11th generation).
  • Letters (Suffixes):
    • U: Low power consumption (long battery life, lower performance).
    • Y: Ultra low power consumption.
    • G1, G7: Internal graphics level.
    • H: High performance (ideal for gaming and rendering).
  • Performance Testing:
    • Use Cinebench R23 scores on websites like laptopsreviewer.com to compare CPU performance.

2. Graphics Cards (GPU)

  • Brands: NVIDIA (RTX, GTX, Quadro) and AMD (RX series).
  • NVIDIA RTX: Known for ray tracing and DLSS technology.
  • NVIDIA CUDA Cores: Essential for rendering.
  • GPU hierarchy: Higher number (e.g., RTX 3080 > 3070) represents better performance.
  • Wattage: Higher wattage for better performance.
  • Comparing GPUs:
    • Use benchmarks from websites like laptopmedia.com.

3. RAM

  • Minimum: 16GB (sufficient for most games and entry-level rendering).
  • Future-proofing: More may be required over time due to software demands.

4. SSD

  • Minimum: 512GB (due to the size of modern games and applications).

5. Laptop Screen

  • Gaming: High screen refresh rate (at least 144Hz) for better performance.
  • Color Accuracy: Important for tasks needing accurate colors (check NTSC, sRGB percentages).

Additional Considerations

  • Three Main Laptop Scenarios:
    • Gaming: High-performance GPU.
    • Rendering: High-performance CPU and suitable GPU.
    • Office: Focus on battery life (consider U-suffix processors).
  • MacBooks: High performance with M1/M2 chips, suitable for those who need mobility and performance, especially for non-gaming tasks.
  • Music Production: High-performance CPU, less importance on GPU.

Conclusion

  • Knowledge of components is crucial for making an informed purchase.
  • Balance between specifications and budget.
  • Use online resources and benchmarks for comparing hardware.

Note: Always ensure to understand your needs and purpose before deciding on a laptop.