Processors & Storage

Red Lightning

What is needed in this situation?

I'm after a new laptop for typing on Microsoft Word and web browsing mainly. However, I may be doing some video editing in the future.

I would like a machine that is slick and fast for this reason.

What processors and storage should I be looking at?

A few years back I was advised to not go for anything lower than an i3 but I've seen laptops with Pentium processors being advised on here so they must have gotten stronger.

Also 128 or 256 SSD?

Thanks

Alanstrainor

It all depends on budget and what you mean by video editing. Will you be editing 4K footage? And if so what programs will you be using? Video editing is one of the most intense tasks you can throw at a laptop so it does require a fast machine.

All the other tasks you mention can be accomplished with any machine really, and as for storage more is always better. Obviously the more space you have, the more files/photos/videos you can store.

If the video editing is only minor, and an occasional thing rather than the main focus I would recommend a machine with a Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM. The processor should be the 8th generation models, usually denoted with a processor code such as: Core i5 8250u. The 8 is important here, as lower numbers indicate older and possibly slower processors.

What budget do you have?

Red Lightning

Alanstrainor wrote:

If the video editing is only minor, and an occasional thing rather than the main focus I would recommend a machine with a Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM. The processor should be the 8th generation models, usually denoted with a processor code such as: Core i5 8250u. The 8 is important here, as lower numbers indicate older and possibly slower processors.

Video editing would only be minor and that's if I do any.

Alanstrainor wrote:

What budget do you have?

Budget would be €800 but would be brilliant if I could get one for less.

Have been advised the Acer Swift 1 which seems good but it has an Intel Pentium processor and only 4GB.

Red Lightning

Looking to get a new laptop mainly for Word typing, internet browsing and Netflix.
I want something light so I'm looking at the 14' laptops.
Was looking at the:
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32 (430 euro - Pentium processor - 128gb SSD)

HP Pavilion 14-ce0518sa (479 euro - i3 processor - 128gb SSD)

The HP has an i3 where the Acer Swift has a Pentium.
Or should I go for something a little faster with an i5 processor. (I haven't a clue about old or new processor's, I just know that i5 is stronger than i3 and that is stronger than Pentium etc.

The HP Pavilion 14-ce0002sa (599 euro - i5 processor - 128gb SSD) could be an option here.

Thanks

Alanstrainor

Red Lightning wrote: »

Looking to get a new laptop mainly for Word typing, internet browsing and Netflix.
I want something light so I'm looking at the 14' laptops.
Was looking at the:
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32 (430 euro - Pentium processor - 128gb SSD)

HP Pavilion 14-ce0518sa (479 euro - i3 processor - 128gb SSD)

The HP has an i3 where the Acer Swift has a Pentium.
Or should I go for something a little faster with an i5 processor. (I haven't a clue about old or new processor's, I just know that i5 is stronger than i3 and that is stronger than Pentium etc.

The HP Pavilion 14-ce0002sa (599 euro - i5 processor - 128gb SSD) could be an option here.

Thanks

So you are correct in your ranking of these machines. The last i5 machine also has 8GB of RAM which is quite nice to have. As for which to choose, I reckon they would all do the job you describe in this post, Word, Internet and Netflix. All would run that perfectly.

If you are still thinking of video editing then the last i5 machine would be the one. Otherwise I think I would go for the Acer Swift 1. The HP with the i3 is still grand, but there's not a whole pile between them and I think I prefer the Acer. It has a good screen and long battery life and the CPU has plenty of power for basic computing.

Red Lightning

Alanstrainor wrote:

If you are still thinking of video editing then the last i5 machine would be the one. Otherwise I think I would go for the Acer Swift 1. The HP with the i3 is still grand, but there's not a whole pile between them and I think I prefer the Acer. It has a good screen and long battery life and the CPU has plenty of power for basic computing.

Thanks for the advice.

Red Lightning

Think Im gonna go for the Acer Swift 1. Checked them out in store and as previously mentioned, it is a lot more user friendly regarding keypad.

Is the processor and RAM definitely good enough?

Red Lightning

Red Lightning wrote: »

Think Im gonna go for the Acer Swift 1. Checked them out in store and as previously mentioned, it is a lot more user friendly regarding keypad.

Is the processor and RAM definitely good enough?

Looking to get a new laptop mainly for Word typing, internet browsing and Netflix.

for this - yes will run all that fine.

the acer swift 1 is nice because you get premium ultrabook metal build, screen, backlit keyboard, weight and battery life for less than half the price.

Red Lightning

glasso wrote:

for this - yes will run all that fine.

The acer swift 1 is nice because you get premium ultrabook metal build, screen, backlit keyboard, weight and battery life for less than half the price.

Perfect, thanks. Will probably get it then cos as you said, the build is brilliant.

Sir Oxman

What about this one (was posted on BF bargain alerts, has gone up in price though)
Teclast F7 Business Laptop Intel Apollo Lake N3450 Quad Core 14 Inch 1920*1080 6GB RAM 128GB SSD Windows 10 - Silver

Shipped in EU no customs, BIOS is unlocked (get the most of that Pentium N)

Geekbuying - out of stock but cheapest if they had it right now
https://www.geekbuying.com/item/Teclast-F7-Laptop-6GB-128GB-Silver-403183.html#close

Gearbest - in stock
https://www.gearbest.com/laptops/pp_1682917.html?wid=1241548

Gearbest is 320e shipped (was about 275e shipped on BF)

Not Emcc storage and can add an extra SSD

More than likely useless for video editing but everything else should be ok

Sir Oxman

Sir Oxman wrote: »

What about this one (was posted on BF bargain alerts, has gone up in price though)
Teclast F7 Business Laptop Intel Apollo Lake N3450 Quad Core 14 Inch 1920*1080 6GB RAM 128GB SSD Windows 10 - Silver

Shipped in EU no customs, BIOS is unlocked (get the most of that Pentium N)

Geekbuying - out of stock but cheapest if they had it right now
https://www.geekbuying.com/item/Teclast-F7-Laptop-6GB-128GB-Silver-403183.html#close

Gearbest - in stock
https://www.gearbest.com/laptops/pp_1682917.html?wid=1241548

Gearbest is 320e shipped (was about 275e shipped on BF)

Not Emcc storage and can add an extra SSD

More than likely useless for video editing but everything else should be ok

the cpu is just below what will be adequate for normal windows usage really.

the n5000 is a lot better and the first cpu in the overall hierarchy that I'd recommend for smooth windows usage.

the n5000 is roughly 40 to 45% more powerful than the n3450 (going by geekbench)

Also this Teclast F7 apparently returned A TWO HOUR BATTERY LIFE in this review

https://www.techradar.com/reviews/teclast-f7/2

more reports of poor battery life here

https://techtablets.com/forum/topic/teclast-f7-battery-drain/

so that's just really terrible and would rule it out for most people.

not sure if this is a general problem or one that happens with certain units but I wouldn't take the risk and returning to geekbuying / gearbest would not be the easiest of experiences.

compared to 12 hours real-world tested battery life on the acer swift 1

Red Lightning

One of my colleagues has the HP Pavilion 14' laptop with the i3 processor and it looks very nice.

I was all set to get the Acer Swift 1 and now I'm back to square 1.

TerrorFirmer

The Swift is a premium product, with a great body, screen, and battery life, etc. From what you've described the hardware is plenty powerful for what you need.

You can get an i3 based machine for the same price which is more powerful, but everything else will be inferior (not to say bad, just not as good).

I need to get a new work laptop myself (pretty much MS Office, browsing and emails only) and the Swift is what I plan on getting.

osarusan

At what point does it really begin to be noticeable that one processor is less powerful than another?

So an i3 is more powerful than a Pentium...but what would you need to be doing for that to become noticeable?

osarusan

osarusan wrote: »

At what point does it really begin to be noticeable that one processor is less powerful than another?

So an i3 is more powerful than a Pentium...but what would you need to be doing for that to become noticeable?

the brand delineations don't mean all that much - the only way to assess before actually using the machines is to check benchmark scores like passmark, geekbench and read sites that do proper reviews like notebookcheck.net

where you would really notice a difference is at the lower end - if you go too low on spec it will be slow

but the cpu is not the only element of course - hard drive type (e.g. ssd much faster than spinning HD) and amount of ram also have a significant effect

also if you were running intensive programs or games as opposed to something that isn't taxing like Ms word (unless it was a huge doc)