How about this deal in PC world atm - HP with i5

Under_Graduate

http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/156-hp-pavilion-15p156sa-laptop-red-hp/325328/104.10

Reduced from 780 to 520.
They say the sale will be ending next thursday.

Given the spec, I don't know if it's worth the original price, but 520 certainly seems alright.

Windows 8.1
Intel® Core™ i5-4288U Processor
Memory: 8 GB
Hard drive: 1.5 TB

I know HP can have a bad rep but, pfff, at that price, I'd forgive past mistakes.

My only concern is, shortly into the new year, will we see even better deals?

See, one of the sales reps tried to coax me into buying a rig before christmas that's now WAAAY down in price.
I would be kicking myself if I bought it.

Is now the time to buy, or does after the new year present good opportunities also?


PS - I know there's this general attitude, "there's always a better time to buy, the technology is evolving so fast etc etc".

Disregarding that, realistically, is now the prime time to buy?? (I'd imagine it is, just double checking)

FSL

Have a look on PCSpecialist.co.uk and see what you can get fot 520 on there.

Under_Graduate

Yeah a computer on that site with the same (actually a little less) quality spec, is about the cost price of the aforementioned, at 780.

So I guess that sale laptop isn't too bad.

I was just curious as to when the best sales happen.
Now, or in the new year.

GarIT

I wouldn't touch it, unless you need longer battery life go for a good i3 over an i5u. The U stands for ultra energy efficient and those processors aren't nearly as good as their m (mobile) namesakes.

slinky2000

I got this one for the father in law last week, needed something asap and it seemed to fit the bill.

Performance is adequate for an i5, I've an i5 dell with 8gb ram and it flies compared to it but I'm unsure about specific processor models.

Speakers are great actually so that's good, boots quickly and meets all the requirements I need it to.

Only issue I have is the amount of bloatware that comes with it. Remove it all before you start using it.

Under_Graduate

GarIT wrote: »

I wouldn't touch it, unless you need longer battery life go for a good i3 over an i5u. The U stands for ultra energy efficient and those processors aren't nearly as good as their m (mobile) namesakes.

Anyone have more insights on that?

I was researching some other laptops that were recommended to me and a lot of them have that U in the processor title.

If it does show a significant decrease in processing power, it'd be a bit of a deal breaker for me and I'd be inclined just to hold out for a while longer.

TerrorFirmer

It depends on what you are doing.

For web browsing, media, office use, the ULV processors are perfectly fine.

They're not 'full' mobile processors though, and are significantly slower than normal i3/i5/i7 mobile processors. The trade off is much improved battery life.

I would say unless you're using it for editing, modelling, and similar, you're not really going to notice a difference between a ULV and normal mobile i5.

€520 is a very good price for it from a bricks and mortar store to be fair.

sob1467

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

It depends on what you are doing.

For web browsing, media, office use, the ULV processors are perfectly fine.

They're not 'full' mobile processors though, and are significantly slower than normal i3/i5/i7 mobile processors. The trade off is much improved battery life.

I would say unless you're using it for editing, modelling, and similar, you're not really going to notice a difference between a ULV and normal mobile i5.

€520 is a very good price for it from a bricks and mortar store to be fair.

What would the battery life on it be like? As in how many hours?

Under_Graduate

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

It depends on what you are doing.

For web browsing, media, office use, the ULV processors are perfectly fine.

They're not 'full' mobile processors though, and are significantly slower than normal i3/i5/i7 mobile processors. The trade off is much improved battery life.

I would say unless you're using it for editing, modelling, and similar, you're not really going to notice a difference between a ULV and normal mobile i5.

€520 is a very good price for it from a bricks and mortar store to be fair.

Well, a large part of what I'd be doing is game emulating, so that doesn't sound great for me.

orm0nd

I've actually reserved 1 for collection to morrow, bought a similar exactly 2 years ago with slightly less spec and it has been faultless,

at this stage would have serious work hours completed, and a lot of high speed data decoding which it's well capable of,

it may not be suitable for everyone , but for my needs I couldnt come near any thing similar on pc specalist for the bucks

Honey Monster

I have one of these, all be it the Dr.Dre beats edition but same specs and same she'll. It's rubbish. Overheats the whole time. I've taken it apart several times to clean the inside, replaced fans, to no avail. The ventilation on this laptop is just horrendous.

IrishPhoenix

Is there any laptop with similar specs/price that people would recommend?

Under_Graduate

Honey Monster wrote: »

I have one of these, all be it the Dr.Dre beats edition but same specs and same she'll. It's rubbish. Overheats the whole time. I've taken it apart several times to clean the inside, replaced fans, to no avail. The ventilation on this laptop is just horrendous.

Yeah, wasn't that a complaint of HP laptops in the recent past, with overheating etc?

Mixed reports here.

It's awesome - no wait it's rubbish.

I'd love to have my own laptop, but my gut is telling me to hold out a little longer, see if any other good deals come up like that Lenova that one could order from the Netherlands a while back; shame that expired.

braddun

whats dell got



there should be new year sales everywhere

Under_Graduate

I'm just checking out comparisons of the M mobile processors, to the U efficient processors, and actually, some of the U versions are coming up as having higher frequency; basically, it seems in comparison, they might be better.

http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/851/Intel_Core_i5_Mobile_i5-4200M_vs_Intel_Core_i5_Mobile_i5-4288U.html

...by example.

Is that just last gen versus latest gen or what?

Under_Graduate

http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/852/Intel_Core_i5_Mobile_i5-4288U_vs_Intel_Core_i5_Mobile_i5-4300M.html

Again by example, taking the processor from a Lenovo thinkpad, being the i5-4300M, to the HP as above, the U processor, they both have the same base operating frequency, and there is a difference of 0.2 GHz is the Turbo frequency.

Would that amount to a significant increase/decrease in performance power when running an emulator or having a heavy coding processor/something demanding etc??

GarIT

Under_Graduate wrote: »

http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/852/Intel_Core_i5_Mobile_i5-4288U_vs_Intel_Core_i5_Mobile_i5-4300M.html

Again by example, taking the processor from a Lenovo thinkpad, being the i5-4300M, to the HP as above, the U processor, they both have the same base operating frequency, and there is a difference of 0.2 GHz is the Turbo frequency.

Would that amount to a significant increase/decrease in performance power when running an emulator or having a heavy coding processor/something demanding etc??

No, GHz has pretty much been completely irrelevant to performance for the last 5 years. The main thing that determines processing power is the internal architecture of the processor. Sure if I increased the ghz of a processor it will perform better but no two models have the same internal architecture. It's impossible for the average person to compare processors based on specs, you need to compare via benchmark tests. Passmark is the most accurate benchmark available.

To prove a point I could show you a list of 1.6ghz processors that massively outperform 4ghz processors (obviously several years old). There are many modern examples where the likes of a 1.6ghz i7 will outperform a 2.6 ghz i5.

AFAIK for the last while Amazon have had the best prices on laptops, they have the best customer service too.

Under_Graduate

^^ is that passmark simply the cpubenchmark.net website?

If so, the comparison has them processors virtually identical.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare.php?cmp[]=2074&cmp[]=2095&cmp[]=2287

Threw in an AMD there too.

Under_Graduate

GarIT wrote: »

I wouldn't touch it, unless you need longer battery life go for a good i3 over an i5u. The U stands for ultra energy efficient and those processors aren't nearly as good as their m (mobile) namesakes.

I appreciate this being brought to my attention, as I have thus spent the last several hours researching processors and their performance using the cpubenchmark website.

It seems that the U or M or whatever, isn't really a profound indicator of the processors performance, and as it happens, this one on this particular machine appears to be excellent value for money.

Intel Core i5-4288U @ 2.60GHz -> STR : 1826
Intel Core i5-4300M @ 2.60GHz-> STR : 1850

Taking two comparisons here, the single thread rating the for the E processor is almost the same as the vastly more expensive M processor.

I think that puts my worries to rest to be honest.

Pretty much gonna take the plunge and pick up one of these whilst it's still hot.

gn3dr

Post back here on what you think once you get it. Interested in one myself now. Doesn't seem to be a lot out there in i5 with 8g ram at that price. There is a dell for 499 though.

Under_Graduate

gn3dr wrote: »

Post back here on what you think once you get it. Interested in one myself now. Doesn't seem to be a lot out there in i5 with 8g ram at that price. There is a dell for 499 though.

Will do.
Hopefully I can pick it up tomorrow.

I think that's the dell inspiron somthing-or-other for 499.
It is an i5 processor of a different variety, but going on the cpu benchmark website, it's performance is vastly inferior to the 4288U.
In fact I think another guy mentioned it in the stickied thread here and said he had very mixed results from it.


PS - the poster who mentioned the "bloatware" issue with the HP. Perhaps you can mention how it is one goes about removing that issue exactly?

Under_Graduate

Just got kitted out today.

Working lovely so far.

Have downloaded the game emulator and waiting for the game to download, so that will be the ultimate test of how well it works.

One thing that kind of sucks is there's no scroll button on the touch pad, but I guess it's not really that big a deal.

Screen and speakers are great, lovely color and great sound.

I got a month on McAfree before it expires, so I'll prob just download Avira - unless anyone has other recommendations?

Well check back tomorrow to inform as to how the game emulator is working.

slinky2000

I'm still rocking avg free. Does the job nicely. Just don't install the stupid toolbar

shruikan2553

Anyone try a few games on it yet? Thinking of getting it for my girlfriend as the GPU is a bit better than the usual ones you get.

TerrorFirmer

shruikan2553 wrote: »

Anyone try a few games on it yet? Thinking of getting it for my girlfriend as the GPU is a bit better than the usual ones you get.

?

Same Intel graphics as other i3/i5/i7?

shruikan2553

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

?

Same Intel graphics as other i3/i5/i7?

Oops, your right. Got it mixed up with the 15-189sa they have at the same price which comes with a intel iris 5100.

Under_Graduate

I tried GTA san andreas on it.

I mean, it runs, but lags a little in places.
For something without a dedicated GPU I guess it's okay, but honestly, it doesn't render the graphics anything like as well as on the original machine or something.

That's just with GTA so far.
Haven't got a chance to download anything else just yet, but if everything isn't great, I have 28 days to return it, so I might just bring it back in and tell them something is faulty - try and hustle my money back.

One thing I do question is the battery life.
This is my first laptop, so I don't know how these things generally hold up, but it said up to 6 hours.

Honestly, even word processing it goes down ridiculously quick.
And playing a game?
Forget about it.
One hour max.

It also emits these odd beeping sound every so often, which I have no idea what is, but like I said, this is my first rig, so maybe I'm being pedantic.

I'll give it a couple weeks, see how everything goes.
If anyone else has any feedback and the above things are just pretty standard for a laptop, feel free to post about it.

Under_Graduate

shruikan2553 wrote: »

Oops, your right. Got it mixed up with the 15-189sa they have at the same price which comes with a intel iris 5100.

That's the same computer, just a different color.

Actually the color I got:eek:

gn3dr

I wouldn't behappy with 1 hr battery life. But then again I'm not a gamer so not sure about that. Definitely when my 7 yr old Dell 6400 was new I was getting more like 3 hrs.

shruikan2553

Under_Graduate wrote: »

That's the same computer, just a different color.

Actually the color I got:eek:

Are you sure? They have a 199sa and a 189sa. One is blue and the other is white. Everything else appears to be identical with the intel iris graphics cards. The other HPs in currys all have the crappier 4400 I think.

AlmightyCushion

Under_Graduate wrote: »

I tried GTA san andreas on it.

I mean, it runs, but lags a little in places.
For something without a dedicated GPU I guess it's okay, but honestly, it doesn't render the graphics anything like as well as on the original machine or something.

That's just with GTA so far.
Haven't got a chance to download anything else just yet, but if everything isn't great, I have 28 days to return it, so I might just bring it back in and tell them something is faulty - try and hustle my money back.

One thing I do question is the battery life.
This is my first laptop, so I don't know how these things generally hold up, but it said up to 6 hours.

Honestly, even word processing it goes down ridiculously quick.
And playing a game?
Forget about it.
One hour max.

It also emits these odd beeping sound every so often, which I have no idea what is, but like I said, this is my first rig, so maybe I'm being pedantic.

I'll give it a couple weeks, see how everything goes.
If anyone else has any feedback and the above things are just pretty standard for a laptop, feel free to post about it.

Lag on GTA San Andreas is a strange one. It's an old enough game so I imagine it should run very well even on integrated graphics. An hour gaming I could believe seeing as games are normally pretty intensive. How is the battery with normal usage?

Under_Graduate

Actually got that mixed up, it was actually Vice city stories.

Played Resident Evil Code Veronica just now, and that was running perfectly.

I think it might be because with GTA there's so much on screen movement with all the backgrounds varying etc... hell I don't know.

I fiddled around with the emulation settings a little and tweaked it a bit, but yeah, the graphics do lack a little bit.

Under_Graduate

shruikan2553 wrote: »

Are you sure? They have a 199sa and a 189sa. One is blue and the other is white. Everything else appears to be identical with the intel iris graphics cards. The other HPs in currys all have the crappier 4400 I think.

Yeah they're both the same

http://www8.hp.com/ie/en/products/laptops/product-detail.html?oid=7537785#!tab=specs

Appears to have the Iris Card.

The only thing that's really concerning me now is the battery.

Is it possible I got a faulty rig?

It goes down about 10% by the half hour, whilst being idle (not sleeping)
Is that standard?

As I said, this is my first laptop, so I'm not really in the know about theses things.

shruikan2553

Under_Graduate wrote: »

Yeah they're both the same

http://www8.hp.com/ie/en/products/laptops/product-detail.html?oid=7537785#!tab=specs

Appears to have the Iris Card.

The only thing that's really concerning me now is the battery.

Is it possible I got a faulty rig?

It goes down about 10% by the half hour, whilst being idle (not sleeping)
Is that standard?

As I said, this is my first laptop, so I'm not really in the know about theses things.

That doesnt sound right. Even if doing a lot it should last more than an hour brand new. I had a dell XPS with 17" HD screen and it lasted longer than that after a few years.

Under_Graduate

Downloaded Final Fantasy 10, running pretty much perfectly so far, so it's looking good.

gn3dr

Are you happy enough with it so? What's the build quality like. I was looking at them in Currys and thought they seemed a bit plasticky?

Under_Graduate

gn3dr wrote: »

Are you happy enough with it so? What's the build quality like. I was looking at them in Currys and thought they seemed a bit plasticky?

Yeah I mean, I had certain inhibitions as to whether it would run the games or not, but so far, there was slight slowing on GTA Vice city stories, mainly with the audio.

I was told one game to the next could vary.
I've played Resident Evil and Final Fantasy and they both have gone without a hitch so I mean, I happy enough, certainly for the sake of forking out another 500 on a rig a step up with a dedicated GPU, I'll take it.

The speakers are great, and the screen seems good (though I don't have much experience with laptops).

Build quality?

No complaints.
I wish it had a scroller like on the Acer models, but it's not a big deal, just use the arrow keys instead.

For the money, so far I'm certainly happy - won't be returning it.

I'm gonna download GTA San Andreas, see how that runs.
If that goes okay, then I'm keeping it for sure.

gn3dr

Under_Graduate wrote: »

Yeah I mean, I had certain inhibitions as to whether it would run the games or not, but so far, there was slight slowing on GTA Vice city stories, mainly with the audio.

I was told one game to the next could vary.
I've played Resident Evil and Final Fantasy and they both have gone without a hitch so I mean, I happy enough, certainly for the sake of forking out another 500 on a rig a step up with a dedicated GPU, I'll take it.

The speakers are great, and the screen seems good (though I don't have much experience with laptops).

Build quality?

No complaints.
I wish it had a scroller like on the Acer models, but it's not a big deal, just use the arrow keys instead.

For the money, so far I'm certainly happy - won't be returning it.

I'm gonna download GTA San Andreas, see how that runs.
If that goes okay, then I'm keeping it for sure.

Cool, Thanks.
Did you check the touchpad isn't configurable for scrolling by dragging 2 fingers down - most are these days I think.

Under_Graduate

gn3dr wrote: »

Cool, Thanks.
Did you check the touchpad isn't configurable for scrolling by dragging 2 fingers down - most are these days I think.

lol - man you're a genius.

Yes thank you, that works.