Needing a laptop for computer science next year.

[HowlingStein]

I'm going into computer science next year and need a laptop, cant be a MacBook. I wont use it for gaming, just for uni work. The course work is primarily coding, so something with a high battery life would be appreciated.
these are the universities recommended specs as a guideline:

• OS: Windows 10 or 11.
• SCREEN: 13-15.6" HD screen
• RAM: 8GB minimum prefer 16GB.
• STORAGE: 256GB Minimum.
• CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD Athlon X4 740 (or equivalent CPU/processor capable of virtulization).
• VIDEO CARD: GeForce GTX 660 (2048 MB) or Radeon R9 285 (2048 MB)
• SOUND CARD: DirectX compatible.

budget is a max of $3000 AUD, fine with a little extra if really needed

 

[RabbidEwok]

Basically anything then. What is your preferred screen size? 
 

Also do you require a laptop for lectures or is it for work at home. Doing a lot of work in your room is much better on a desktop. If you need a laptop though setting aside some money for a dock, KB+M and a display might be wise. 

[Bananasplit_00]

Those are some ridiculously low minimum specs if you have 3k to spend

 

I'd first look for battery life and RAM. At the very least 16GB, I'd probably go for 32GB.

 

Next up is a nice screen and keyboard. Definitely going to be a really nice thing to have seeing as you are likely going to be using this laptop for most of the day almost every day for the next 3-5 years.

 

My recommendation is to go for something fairly slim and 14" or below, I am extremely happy to not be lugging around a thick and heavy 15.6" during my days.

 

The graphics might be tricky, seems like they want you to have a dedicated GPU, any discrete GPU you can find in a laptop from the last five years or so will probably be good enough.

 

Buying used can get you a heck of a lot more value too. I got my surface laptop 2 for €300 when my pro 4 died, you have about 6x that budget so you should not have a hard time finding something suitable in your price range.

[HowlingStein]

20 minutes ago, RabbidEwok said:

Basically anything then. What is your preferred screen size? 
 

Also do you require a laptop for lectures or is it for work at home. Doing a lot of work in your room is much better on a desktop. If you need a laptop though setting aside some money for a dock, KB+M and a display might be wise. 

iv got a pc for home use, the laptop's mainly for lectures but ill also use it for work. 15" + would be ideal 

[venomtail]

I bought an Acer Swift 3 for CS with a Ryzen 4700U I think? Great small laptop and Ryzen was a great enough powerhouse that sipped power compared to Intel at the time. The new Swifts are very presentable with a handy 16:10 aspect ratio. I'd still get a Ryzen, not get a laptop at all if it isn't. 

 

Here's a link to a Ryzen and then the admitedly more moden 16:10 OLED.

[RabbidEwok]

2 hours ago, HowlingStein said:

iv got a pc for home use, the laptop's mainly for lectures but ill also use it for work. 15" + would be ideal 

Maybe an XPS 13 they’re about A$2000-3000z

 

maybe a gram is an option too Dunno Aussie retailers sorry