Asus 5th gen core i5 laptop with 8Gb RAM €499 Harvey Norman

Furzy

Also 1080p screen.
I Tb hard drive - SSD would be better but it's a decent price for a reliable brand.

http://www.harveynorman.ie/computing/laptops/asus-x555la-15.6-laptop-x555la-dm1672t.html

ongarite

That's an excellent deal IMO.
1080p screens at this price point are rare and will really transform the user experience.

Atlantic Dawn

Looks great spec. There's some good deals on SSD's at Amazon, 240GB Cruciail drive for €55 (£40)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-BX200-240GB-2-5-Inch-CT240BX200SSD1/dp/B016JREGAC/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1451133337&sr=1-1&keywords=CT240BX200SSD1

beauf

I'd double check those specs. Stores often get it wrong. every review I read suggests its not a Full HD screen. Could be a slightly different model.

http://www.harveynorman.ie/computing/laptops/asus-x555la-15.6-laptop-x555la-dm1672t.html
http://www.uk.insight.com/en-gb/productinfo/laptops-and-notebooks/0005007658
http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/asus-x555la

The build quality on recent asus laptops I've looked at seem poor. The screens also weren't the best. That said theres probably 30 different versions of this. Maybe this one will be better.

gn3dr

beauf wrote: »

I'd double check those specs. Stores often get it wrong. every review I read suggests its not a Full HD screen. Could be a slightly different model.

http://www.harveynorman.ie/computing/laptops/asus-x555la-15.6-laptop-x555la-dm1672t.html
http://www.uk.insight.com/en-gb/productinfo/laptops-and-notebooks/0005007658
http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/asus-x555la

The build quality on recent asus laptops I've looked at seem poor. The screens also weren't the best. That said theres probably 30 different versions of this. Maybe this one will be better.

Specs are correct. I just picked one up today in PC World. Has the HD screen. Have been looking for a while and it seems this is the best deal around at the moment for an i5. I know others say buy from specialist sites etc but whenever I check prices those places never work out cheaper.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

€495 in Currys also. Not a bad price for a shop.

Stinicker

I got the i7 version of this with the 720p screen for €699 with €100 cash back in Black Friday, its a nice machine, the battery is internal and not easily removable, very fast machine and I quiet like it so far. The screen resolution is hardly noticeable on the 15" screen.

eoinf

Any indication on how silent/noisy this is.

I had a similar previous model and returned it as it was particularly noisy.

A second one was offered but I decided against it.

May sound picky but it is annoying.

sanjo

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Looks great spec. There's some good deals on SSD's at Amazon, 240GB Cruciail drive for €55 (£40)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-BX200-240GB-2-5-Inch-CT240BX200SSD1/dp/B016JREGAC/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1451133337&sr=1-1&keywords=CT240BX200SSD1

Was trying to buy this but it keeps saying its 52 pounds,,,,,,,,,,, can't figure out what I'm doing wrong

_Tombstone_

sanjo wrote: »

Was trying to buy this but it keeps saying its 52 pounds,,,,,,,,,,, can't figure out what I'm doing wrong

Deal is over

bergipau

Furzy wrote: »

Also 1080p screen.
I Tb hard drive - SSD would be better but it's a decent price for a reliable brand.

http://www.harveynorman.ie/computing/laptops/asus-x555la-15.6-laptop-x555la-dm1672t.html

The link says it is 599

gn3dr

bergipau wrote: »

The link says it is 599

Still 495 in Curry's / PC World

aaf

Techmaster wrote: »

€495 in Currys also. Not a bad price for a shop.

Reserved one in PC World this morning. Went in to collect it only to be told they had none left. I had to order one on their website which makes no sense to me. I also see Harvey Norman's have increased the price to €599 today

Curb Your Enthusiasm

aaf wrote: »

Reserved one in PC World this morning. Went in to collect it only to be told they had none left. I had to order one on their website which makes no sense to me. I also see Harvey Norman's have increased the price to €599 today

Get HN to price match.

Only

Techmaster wrote: »

Get HN to price match.

Will they do that?
I really wanted one of these but they were sold out when I went in on Stephens Day and I won't buy from any company connected with Currys .... if I could get HN to price match problem would be solved!

Jet Black

Did anyone buy this from Currys/PC world and know which GPU it has? Power city have the same model €150 more with Nvidia GPU. Havery Norman just have it down as Intel.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Jet Black wrote: »

Did anyone buy this from Currys/PC world and know which GPU it has? Power city have the same model €150 more with Nvidia GPU. Havery Norman just have it down as Intel.

It's integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics.

machiavellianme

Jet Black wrote: »

Did anyone buy this from Currys/PC world and know which GPU it has? Powercity have the same model €150 more with Nvidia GPU. Havery Norman just have it down as Intel.

It's not like for like. The cpu is an older, slower chip i5 4250u instead of 5200u.
Ge force 820 isn't worth the extra.

machiavellianme

Pity there's no deals on i7. My four year old quad core 2nd gen i7 Asus bit the dust today (literally - overheated due to too much dust on the fan) and won't start anymore. Black screen of death and I'd hoped that some of these newer i5 processors might be able to match it by now. No such luck and the cheapest i7s are still prohibitively expensive.
Looks like I'll be going laptopless for the first time in 15 years and am considering going back to a desktop.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

machiavellianme wrote: »

Pity there's no deals on i7. My four year old quad core 2nd gen i7 Asus bit the dust today (literally - overheated due to too much dust on the fan) and won't start anymore. Black screen of death and I'd hoped that some of these newer i5 processors might be able to match it by now. No such luck and the cheapest i7s are still prohibitively expensive.
Looks like I'll be going laptopless for the first time in 15 years and am considering going back to a desktop.

Quad core 6th gen i7: http://www.currys.ie/Mobile/Product/hp-pavilion-15ak085na-156-laptop-white/335620/408.0

thc4me

Only wrote: »

.... if I could get HN to price match problem would be solved!

They price matched for my sister yesterday in HN.

Heraldoffreeent

thc4me wrote: »

They price matched for my sister yesterday in HN.

Really? What'd you get for her?

sanjo

_Tombstone_ wrote: »

Deal is over

Ah thanks,

thc4me

Heraldoffreeent wrote: »

Really? What'd you get for her?

The deal from the first post.

5star02707

still 495 on currys

http://www.currys.ie/Mobile/Product/asus-x555la-156-laptop-black/334448/401.10#ctl00_ctl00__nestedContent__mainpageContent_ProductFamilyDetailsView1_liProductDetails

mirrorwall14

Would the battery life be poor on this?

Curb Your Enthusiasm

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Would the battery life be poor on this?

Yes. 2-3 hours at most.

Conorlly

is there room to put in a ssd in the ASUS X555LA

manutd

Conorlly wrote:

is there room to put in a ssd in the ASUS X555LA

No, you can take out the cd drive and replace it with a ssd.

Lenny

Techmaster wrote: »

Quad core 6th gen i7: http://www.currys.ie/Mobile/Product/hp-pavilion-15ak085na-156-laptop-white/335620/408.0

my 8.5 year old xps 1530 is starting its process of the gpu going... on the look out for something myself.. i7, quad core, might consider this laptop and put an ssd into it(i assume the cd drive can be replaced with ssd) ?

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Lenny wrote: »

my 8.5 year old xps 1530 is starting its process of the gpu going... on the look out for something myself.. i7, quad core, might consider this laptop and put an ssd into it(i assume the cd drive can be replaced with ssd) ?

Yes, you can replace the disc drive with an SSD. It will be a beast of a machine after you put in the SSD.

Stinicker

I have the i7 Asus X555LA and it would actually be a very straightforward thing to swap the HD for a SSD, thus retaining the optical DVD drive. I was thinking of doing it but didn't bother yet, as it boots very fast on Windows 8.1 as it is. Go for a 250GB SSD minimum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1tupHjUKSg

Lenny

Techmaster wrote: »

Yes, you can replace the disc drive with an SSD. It will be a beast of a machine after you put in the SSD.

sounds good, I have a 128gb ssd in this laptop I would swap over

I was just doing a bit of research of putting another stick of 8gb ram in it, but from reading online someone said its a sealed unit? no screws to open it, that seem a bit odd?

Stinicker

The RAM is soldered to the Motherboard and is not upgradeable (or more worryingly replaceable should it fail), however it has an expansion slot so you can add more RAM which is accessed through a panel door with a single screw on the base of the laptop.

simdan

Stinicker wrote:

The RAM is soldered to the Motherboard and is not upgradeable (or more worryingly replaceable should it fail), however it has an expansion slot so you can add more RAM which is accessed through a panel door with a single screw on the base of the laptop.

When was the last time a dimm of RAM failed on you? There's a reason why RAM has a lifetime warranty. I wouldn't class it as "a worry"

At least it has a free slot. The disappointing thing about the laptop is the cheap looking build and plastics used for the screen and base.

A decent price I suppose but It's missing a touchscreen which should be included for 500e

worded

I don't think asus make good laptops . Perhaps the higher end is ok but the mid range can be rubbish

Lenny

good news on the ram slot..
I read elsewhere that the cpu is soldered in also, but am i right in reading that the laptop is a sealed unit, so i prob won't be able to remove cd drive & put in an ssd, part of me is saying to go for this as its a good spec for browsing & torrenting , have an xbox1 for gaming..

btw, i am not talking about the one in the first link..
i am talking about the i7, hp laptop for €739 here

Stinicker

Everything I have written is about the ASUS machine so people don't get confused about the HP machine. I have the ASUS X555LA-XX1190H i7 Processor.

Appleblossom42

Techmaster wrote: »

Yes. 2-3 hours at most.

Would the battery life really be that bad?

machiavellianme

Last day of the Asus at 495 in Currys / PC world apparently.
Harvey Norman price match it but I guess it'll be back to 599 from tomorrow.

machiavellianme

Appleblossom42 wrote: »

Would the battery life really that bad?

Some sites say up to 4 hours but it depends on how you use it. Watching movies will require more power than writing a word document.
At the end of the day, it only has a 37Wh two cell battery.
The processor and associated items uses 15W per hour so 2.5 hours if you are doing something intensive, longer if not.
Putting in an ssd should mean an improved battery life due to fewer cooling requirements and less fan running.
You need a larger capacity battery or a lower power processor with lesser cooling requirements (like the atom or core m) if you want longer battery life. A bigger battery adds size/weight and a lower power processor is either slower or very expensive. There's tradeoffs on every aspect of battery life.