New laptop recommendation

nheav

Hi all,
Just looking for some advice on a new Laptop that I'm considering buying. 
It doesn't have to be massive spec, just something decent that I can run some heavy enough software from.
I'm currently stuck between 3 and have a big query around AMD processors which I know little or nothing about!
1st one is a HP i5 8GB RAM and 512 SSD (Processor Specific is  Intel® Core™ i5-7200U processor)
2nd is also HP i7 8GB RAM and 256 SSD (Processor specific is Intel Core i7 (7th Gen) 7500U / 2.7 GHz )
3rd is a Lenovo AMD A12 8GB RAM and 1TB HDD+128GBSSD (Processor specifics Amd a12-9720p quad core 2.7 - 3.3ghz processor)
Basically the i5 HP one is cheapest, the i7 HP is next (€45 dearer than the i5) and the AMD A12 is dearest (€80 dearer than i5, €35 dearer than i7 HP)
What would people think is the best of these 3 options? I don't know much about the AMD, but would it be much better than the i5? And similar to the i7's?
Would there be a big benefit in going for something with SSD? Should I go for the one with all SSD?
It's a complete minefield for me! And just trying to figure out which would give the best value for money!!

get one with the new i5 8250. it's 4-core intel where the older mobile u intel chips were 2-core. big gains in the 8th gen chips. this i5 is more powerful than the i7's of the 7th gen.
the performance is +50% over previous gen.
AMD laptop chips are pretty bad, especially in terms of battery life. they have new laptop chips coming out which may change things but not for a few months.

dell have black friday sales on now
http://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptops/inspiron-15-5000/spd/inspiron-15-5570-laptop?view=configurations

i'd go for the cheapest 549 one.
buy an ssd on amazon and a cd drive bay holder to put it into. 128gb ssd for <50 euro. dvd holder for about 7 euro. get 240gb ssd for 75 euro or so.
take out the dvd drive in the dell (clips out in a second).
now you have a 1tb hard drive and ssd for fast loading of programs.
this is easy to do.

GBX

Just reading the reviews of the Dell options and its limited to the 8gb of ram.

ssd - choose size
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-PLUS-Sata-2-5-inch-Internal/dp/B07621PNWC/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

holder
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01EY50UL0/ref=psdc_949408031_t1_B01MA20LMD

move windows to ssd - free program. easy to do
https://www.easeus.com/backup-utility/migrate-windows-10-to-ssd.html

I'd move windows to ssd and install other most used programs there

GBX

GBX wrote: »

Just reading the reviews of the Dell options and its limited to the 8gb of ram.

it's not limited to 8gb.
it has 1 ram slot.
you can buy a 16gb sodimm to put in to swap for 8gb in there.
1 x 16gb is admittedly not cheap.
up to you.
8gb fine for most things except heavy video editting.
1 ram slot increasingly common these days in laptops

nheav

Thanks for your replies, I am effectively limited to the 3 above however as they are on special (there are others, but overkill on spec and therefore price, or they are not powerful enough!)
So basing it just on them 3, what are you thoughts?

Alanstrainor

nheav wrote: »

Thanks for your replies, I am effectively limited to the 3 above however as they are on special (there are others, but overkill on spec and therefore price, or they are not powerful enough!)
So basing it just on them 3, what are you thoughts?

Can you provide links to these laptops? It would help if we knew the exact models here.

I wouldn't go AMD anyway, Intel all the way. I'd also echo glasso and prefer the Dell...

nheav

nheav wrote: »

Thanks for your replies, I am effectively limited to the 3 above however as they are on special (there are others, but overkill on spec and therefore price, or they are not powerful enough!)
So basing it just on them 3, what are you thoughts?

I'd go for 1 or 2. tradeoff a bit more power (but probably not that noticeable in general use) for less storage space. up to you.
assume that both the screens are full hd 1080p screens also? that's important.
check the weight also if travelling with the laptop is going to be something you do.

nheav

Alanstrainor wrote: »

nheav wrote: »

Thanks for your replies, I am effectively limited to the 3 above however as they are on special (there are others, but overkill on spec and therefore price, or they are not powerful enough!)
So basing it just on them 3, what are you thoughts?

Can you provide links to these laptops? It would help if we knew the exact models here.

I wouldn't go AMD anyway, Intel all the way. I'd also echo glasso and prefer the Dell...

Yea I sure do!
Trying to find them somewhere that doesn't need a login is the tough part!
Here's the i5 - http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=1UR78EA&opt=ABU&sel=NTB
The i7 - http://www.elara.ie/productdetail.aspx?productcode=WCE1WY37EAABU
The AMD A12 - https://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-707357
(Even though I have pretty much ruled out the AMD at this stage!)
Just on another note, I wouldn't be using it for travel so weight not important etc! Also, i'd imagine it'll typically just be used at home so probably not all that concerned about battery life!

nheav

nheav wrote: »

Yea I sure do!
Trying to find them somewhere that doesn't need a login is the tough part!
Here's the i5 - http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=1UR78EA&opt=ABU&sel=NTB
The i7 - http://www.elara.ie/productdetail.aspx?productcode=WCE1WY37EAABU
The AMD A12 - https://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-707357
(Even though I have pretty much ruled out the AMD at this stage!)
Just on another note, I wouldn't be using it for travel so weight not important etc! Also, i'd imagine it'll typically just be used at home so probably not all that concerned about battery life!

I'd go for the first one. unless you want a bigger screen. it's from a higher product line that the second one.
even though you're using at home lighter laptop nicer imo if you're choosing from those 3.
but the prices aren't superb really... I'd get the dell that I linked and add ssd as I outlined. would work out cheaper. (610 euro total as opposed to over 700 or more)

nheav

glasso wrote: »

nheav wrote: »

Yea I sure do!
Trying to find them somewhere that doesn't need a login is the tough part!
Here's the i5 - http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=1UR78EA&opt=ABU&sel=NTB
The i7 - http://www.elara.ie/productdetail.aspx?productcode=WCE1WY37EAABU
The AMD A12 - https://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-707357
(Even though I have pretty much ruled out the AMD at this stage!)
Just on another note, I wouldn't be using it for travel so weight not important etc! Also, i'd imagine it'll typically just be used at home so probably not all that concerned about battery life!

I'd go for the first one. unless you want a bigger screen. it's from a higher product line that the second one.
even though you're using at home lighter laptop nicer imo if you're choosing from those 3.
but the prices aren't superb really... I'd get the dell that I linked and add ssd as I outlined. would work out cheaper. (610 euro total as opposed to over 700 or more)

Thanks very much,
That's not the price I am paying for them though so getting a good deal!
I'll go for the 14" HP with an i5 so I think!
Thanks a million for all the advice!

Ferris_Bueller

Hopping on the thread here, but can anyone offer advice on which of the following may be best?

Asus Zenbook bundle deal for €799

Dell Inspiron 17 5000 for €630

Will even better deals appear on Friday or am I best to make a move asap?

Ferris_Bueller

Ferris_Bueller wrote: »

Hopping on the thread here, but can anyone offer advice on which of the following may be best?

Asus Zenbook bundle deal for €799

Dell Inspiron 17 5000 for €630

Will even better deals appear on Friday or am I best to make a move asap?

very different laptops. one is big and heavy with a newer more powerful processor, the other light with a faster ssd harddrive. what do you need it for? if you need to move the laptop around / travel with it the 17 dell will be heavy and bulky. there is also a dell 15 with the same processor. no guarantee what deals will come. dell seem to have discounted some of their laptops early.

Ferris_Bueller

glasso wrote: »

very different laptops. one is big and heavy with a newer more powerful processor, the other light with a faster ssd harddrive. what do you need it for? if you need to move the laptop around / travel with it the 17 dell will be heavy and bulky. there is also a dell 15 with the same processor. no guarantee what deals will come. dell seem to have discounted some of their laptops early.

Cheers for the reply glasso. I will be mainly using it for college work & assignments, web browsing, streaming videos, light gaming (football manager only). Being portable isn't of huge importance but I suppose it would make it handier if I did have to bring it into college sometimes. Head is melted trying to pick a laptop out have been looking for over a month :pac:

Options are basically:
Acer Swift 3 - 8250U quad core processor, 8GB RAM, 256 SSD

Asus Zenbook UX330 - i5 6200U processor, 8GB RAM, 256 SSD, comes with Office & anti virus

Or then anything from the Dell Inspiron range.. All of them seem to be i5 8250U quad core processors but they range in screen size and memory (cheaper ones are HDD, others are SSD)