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Laptop needed: €1,000 budget

  • 12-02-2013 10:08pm
    #1
    silentbutnice
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 106 ✭✭


    I'm looking for build/buy a laptop that will be used for photo/video editing work(photoshop/lightroom/sony vegas), web design/coding, watching movies, and general surfing.

    It will be coming with me on the road for the next year as I work/travel, so ideally it would be light.

    My budget is €1,000

    I was looking at this model:

    http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/ultraNote/

    Will not having a dedicated Graphics card be a negative thing while using it for photo/video editing work?

    I plan on putting as much RAM as possible in as I feel this would be key for working with photos and videos.

    Also, I want a 126/256GB SSD as I can use external HDD's for storage.

    I read somewhere about the Genesis chasis being pretty solid as well.

    Have ye any recommendations guys? Would like to get it ordered within a week, so I'll look into all suggestions.

    Thanks :)


Comments

  • #2
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    silentbutnice wrote: »
    Will not having a dedicated Graphics card be a negative thing while using it for photo/video editing work?

    Some programs benefit from a dedicated graphics card, but raw processor power and RAM is much more important.

    Have a look at the 15" UltraNote instead, you'll get a matte full HD display. Or the Enigma IV, if you want decent graphics card.


  • #3
    silentbutnice
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 106 ✭✭silentbutnice


    Torqay wrote: »
    Some programs benefit from a dedicated graphics card, but raw processor power and RAM is much more important.

    Have a look at the 15" UltraNote instead, you'll get a matte full HD display. Or the Enigma IV, if you want decent graphics card.

    I'll check both of those options out, thank you.

    For the Enigma, what sort of processor would you recommend? There seems to be a good difference in total price between the ultrabook and the enigma when you add 16GB RAM, 240GB SSD and the highest spec CPU on each.

    Just wondering would the ultrabook be capable of keeping up with photo and video editing even with loads of RAM and decent CPU? I do like the weight aspect of the ultrabook for sure.


  • #4
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    silentbutnice wrote: »
    Just wondering would the ultrabook be capable of keeping up with photo and video editing even with loads of RAM and decent CPU?

    It certainly would, GPU power is a bonus but not essential.
    silentbutnice wrote: »
    For the Enigma, what sort of processor would you recommend?

    The Core i7 3630QM for the Enigma, the Core i7 3632QM for the UltraNote.
    silentbutnice wrote: »
    There seems to be a good difference in total price between the ultrabook and the enigma when you add 16GB RAM, 240GB SSD and the highest spec CPU on each.

    There is only £20 difference between the respective base models but the 3840QM with it's 8MB L3 cache is very expensive indeed if not overpriced. And even the 3640QM does not really justify the £95 premium. Look them up at PassMark and decide for yourself.


  • #5
    silentbutnice
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 106 ✭✭silentbutnice


    Torqay wrote: »
    It certainly would, GPU power is a bonus but not essential.



    The Core i7 3630QM for the Enigma, the Core i7 3632QM for the UltraNote.



    There is only £20 difference between the respective base models but the 3840QM with it's 8MB L3 cache is very expensive indeed if not overpriced. And even the 3640QM does not really justify the £95 premium. Look them up at PassMark and decide for yourself.


    Ok, I've configured both up and as you said there's only a £20 difference between the two. I'd different CPU's selected than you recommended initially.

    So, regarding both machines, I don't know which one to go for.

    Ultimately I'm going to be using this quite often over the year or so that I'll be travelling so I need something that will do its job.

    Working online will be my bread and butter, along with editing photos and the occasional video using the software I stated in OP.

    Based on these requirements - which of the above two laptops would you advise me to get? The 15" ultranote or the Enigma IV?


  • #6
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    Well, you'll have to add some to the Enigma, if you want the full HD display (£45?).

    Then you'll have to take into consideration that the i7 3630QM (45W TDP) is a bit more powerful than the i7 3632QM (35W TDP) but it will also drain the battery faster. I don't know if mobility is an issue.


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  • #7
    silentbutnice
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 106 ✭✭silentbutnice


    Torqay wrote: »
    Well, you'll have to add some to the Enigma, if you want the full HD display (£45?).

    Then you'll have to take into consideration that the i7 3630QM (45W TDP) is a bit more powerful than the i7 3632QM (35W TDP) but it will also drain the battery faster. I don't know if mobility is an issue.

    Mobility is an issue for sure. But I don't want to jeopardise a lot of power either. But you did say that the ultranote would be fine for photoshop/lightroom work with the CPU and 16GB RAM?


  • #8
    silentbutnice
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 106 ✭✭silentbutnice


    last question before i go ahead and order the 15" ultrabook - should I stick with Win 7 or go with Win 8?

    I know its a specific question that will change from person to person, but I want to know will it cause me frustration initially getting used to it?


  • #9
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    silentbutnice wrote: »
    Mobility is an issue for sure. But I don't want to jeopardise a lot of power either. But you did say that the ultranote would be fine for photoshop/lightroom work with the CPU and 16GB RAM?

    Most certainly.

    A friend ordered one upon my recommendation. It arrived yesterday, he went with similar specs:

    Core i7 3632QM, 8 GB RAM, 120 GB SSD (Kingston)

    I'd say there isn't much this laptop cannot handle. Geekbench score 9351, Windows 7 Experience Index 7.8-7.9-6.5-6.5-7.9, boot time 12 sec from cold start.

    First impressions: Pretty slim and light. No ******* stickers on the laptop (I hate that stuff). It looks a bit plasticky and yet it is very sturdy. Gorgeous display, very bright with good viewing angles. Full size chiclet style keyboard, keys travel nicely.

    If you're looking for a solid and powerful workhorse, it doesn't get much better for 750 yoyos (sans OS). My friend was torn between the i5 and i7 (he'll only need it for music stuff like Reaper) but in the end he went with the i7, overkill maybe but the better long term investment. (His old laptop, one of the first widescreen ASUS laptops with a Centrino/Pentium M, lasted him almost 10 years and his hope is to a knock a similar life time out of this one) ;)


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