Help finding the right laptop

wolf99

Hello
I am looking to buy a laptop around the €500 mark I was hoping someone would be able to suggest one.

I will be running apps like photoshop, code compilers, 3d CAD progs and circuit routing apps most of which I think can run fairly well on any today's standard proc

Will need a medium sized HD prob 160Gb to 230Gb

A DVD/CD RW drive.

Also on wishlist is healthy chunk of RAM 3-4G's but this is not so essential 2 would prob be OK

OS windows XP or Vista

I'm not so keen on Toshibas as parts can be hard to get hold of for models that start getting on a bit, and the disc writing is usually done via a base nero package or someone with the same colours. (I have never been able to get get it to work properly on my girlf laptop)


have been having troubl;e finding something thats in this price range. Have found cheaper and not good enough, or more expensive and over the top.

Thanks for help

phalaris

At that budget you can't go wrong with dell. If you're spending around 1000 then HP/Compaq or Sony are good value.

If you're coding, then 2GB is fine and XP is the way to go if you ask me!

Overheal

For coding OPs you may need to stick with 32 bit OS but 64 bit will give you a free performance boost.

As for photoshop you hardly need a beefy GPU for that. Integrated should do fine. 3D Cads shouldnt be too intensive, but may however benefit from a nice GPU - especially on large projects. Though you start to get past 500eur when you factor all this in.

An Fear Aniar

wolf99 wrote: »

Also on wishlist is healthy chunk of RAM 3-4G's but this is not so essential 2 would prob be OK

You can always upgrade the ram after, it's quite cheap these days.


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