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Engineering Uni Laptop

mpsparrow
By mpsparrow
in Laptops and Pre-Built Systems
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I am looking for a laptop to replace my current 5+ year old ASUS laptop (dual core i7, 128GB SSD, 8GB) because it just ain't cutting it any more for the more intense programs and software I am required to run in Computer Engineering. It also likes to blue screen randomly because the SATA connector it slowly breaking :/

 

Requirements:

- $1000 -$1500CAD

- 12GB+ of ram (8GB just isn't quite enough for some things.... )

- 500GB+ SSD

- a powerful 4 core CPU (i.e. 8th-10th gen i5/i7)

- Ideally some sort of dedicated GPU. Something like an MX250 to help with some modelling and design work. Also gives me the option to play lighter games like Rocket League or CSGO if I need a break.

- at least 5-6 hours of battery so I can survive most of a school day with it

- 1920x1080 screen or better that is at least half decent

- the lighter the better (don't want to have to lug a 6lbs thing 2km to school every day)

 

I've been looking through Dell and Lenovo websites and so far I've found a few laptops, although idk.... just looking for some suggestions if anyone got some. Thanks :)

 

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10 minutes ago, mpsparrow said:

I am looking for a laptop to replace my current 5+ year old ASUS laptop (dual core i7, 128GB SSD, 8GB) because it just ain't cutting it any more for the more intense programs and software I am required to run in Computer Engineering. It also likes to blue screen randomly because the SATA connector it slowly breaking :/

 

Requirements:

- $1000 -$1500CAD

- 12GB+ of ram (8GB just isn't quite enough for some things.... )

- 500GB+ SSD

- a powerful 4 core CPU (i.e. 8th-10th gen i5/i7)

- Ideally some sort of dedicated GPU. Something like an MX250 to help with some modelling and design work. Also gives me the option to play lighter games like Rocket League or CSGO if I need a break.

- at least 5-6 hours of battery so I can survive most of a school day with it

- 1920x1080 screen or better that is at least half decent

- the lighter the better (don't want to have to lug a 6lbs thing 2km to school every day)

 

I've been looking through Dell and Lenovo websites and so far I've found a few laptops, although idk.... just looking for some suggestions if anyone got some. Thanks :)

 

What about something like this?

 

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/dell-g3-15-gaming-laptop/spd/g-series-15-3590-laptop/gnslk5crg309s

If you need me to follow up on something, please quote or tag me.

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7 minutes ago, Chickenfans said:

What about something like this?

 

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/dell-g3-15-gaming-laptop/spd/g-series-15-3590-laptop/gnslk5crg309s

Hmm... I hadn't come across that laptop yet. Would be more then powerful enough, although I don't think I could deal with the 2.4KG weight and also the GPU is dare I say overkill!?! I feel like a GPU that powerful is just going to ruin the battery life and also I will never really use all its power. Also looking for something preferably a bit more slim.

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Not all laptop gpus have even anything at all in common with the desktop gpus they are named after.  Might do to find out what software you will use before picking a card

Not a pro, not even very good.  I’m just old and have time currently.  Assuming I know a lot about computers can be a mistake.

 

Life is like a bowl of chocolates: there are all these little crinkly paper cups everywhere.

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11 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

Not all laptop gpus have even anything at all in common with the desktop gpus they are named after.  Might do to find out what software you will use before picking a card

I already have looked into that and the recommendation it really just anything that isn't integrated graphics. Most of the programs are not GPU intensive, but they will benefit from a bit of GPU power. Also having a small GPU will give me the possibility to game (Rocket League, CSGO, Minecraft) in a pinch. I have my more than powerful desktop at home if school requires me to run a really intense program by any chance. This laptop is more just to get by while I am at school.

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3 hours ago, mpsparrow said:

the lighter the better

Absolute max weight you can accept?

Desktop specs:

Spoiler

AMD Ryzen 5 5600 Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB Gigabyte B550M DS3H mATX

Asrock Challenger Pro OC Radeon RX 6700 XT Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (8Gx2) 3600MHz CL18 Kingston NV2 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

Montech Century 850W Gold Tecware Nexus Air (Black) ATX Mid Tower

Laptop: Lenovo Ideapad 5 Pro 16ACH6

Phone: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro 8+128

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18 minutes ago, mpsparrow said:

I found the Lenovo IdeaPad S540 14" model which seems to fit most of my requirements, I don't know if it is a good machine or not though.

Define “good”. Lenovo used to be IBM. They made business equipment with a rep for reliability.  Lenovo dropped that level a bit but tried to maintain the segment.

 

Lenovo has had a problem with the UsbC on its thinkpads, but this is an idea pad. Might be worth finding out if there is an issue.

Not a pro, not even very good.  I’m just old and have time currently.  Assuming I know a lot about computers can be a mistake.

 

Life is like a bowl of chocolates: there are all these little crinkly paper cups everywhere.

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3 hours ago, Bombastinator said:

Define “good”. Lenovo used to be IBM. They made business equipment with a rep for reliability.  Lenovo dropped that level a bit but tried to maintain the segment.

 

Lenovo has had a problem with the UsbC on its thinkpads, but this is an idea pad. Might be worth finding out if there is an issue.

I think that issues was just for the ThinkPads, good thing to check quick though.

 

I don't really know what I mean by "good" to be honest. I guess I just always fear when I buy a laptop that I'm going to miss something in the details that is going to end up being a huge deal breaker once I get the laptop.

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4 hours ago, mpsparrow said:

I think that issues was just for the ThinkPads, good thing to check quick though.

 

I don't really know what I mean by "good" to be honest. I guess I just always fear when I buy a laptop that I'm going to miss something in the details that is going to end up being a huge deal breaker once I get the laptop.

Moving target.  You will only notice the bad stuff.  Will you eventually find something to be disappointed about? Of course. But that will happen with anything.  You don’t need extreme performance so you’re going for something tougher and/or lighter.  Tough and light don’t go well together.  If it is tough you wish it were lighter, and if it’s light you’ll wish it were tougher.

Not a pro, not even very good.  I’m just old and have time currently.  Assuming I know a lot about computers can be a mistake.

 

Life is like a bowl of chocolates: there are all these little crinkly paper cups everywhere.

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I recently upgraded to a System76 laptop and so far, the build quality has been top-notch.

Imho, linux is much better for doing any sort of STEM-related work than windows or MacOS, and they have excellent support so you don't need to worry about driver compatibility at all. Furthermore, I found their prices to actually be better than the Dell XPS line.

Like you, I had also looked at Dell and Lenovo, and just found them lacking.

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