Laptop for 3rd year Architecture Student

20071061

Hi looking for some advice have been looking at numerous threads over the last few months on this form trying to pick up some tips on laptops/computers'as I haven't a clue on Tech things. Because I knew this day was coming when I would have to source a suitable laptop for my sons Architecture course he's got through the first 2yrs without one but now can't do without one at this stage.Trying t find the most suitable and of course the best value for money as things are tight as it is for most of us, between paying for accommodation and the other expenses with it. Any advice or guidance on best options would be appreciated thanks.

He tells me the Spec's are: CPU i7 core or higher 3.0 ghz speed is good software works fast. RAM 32gb but 16gb probably the better option because of the price of the 32gb, 1tb of memory but not necessary.

This will have enough power.

the AMD 4600h 6-core beats the intel i7's (base clock 3.0Ghz up to 4.0 Ghz turbo)

16gb ram built in

512gb ssd which is plenty

https://www.techradar.com/reviews/honor-magicbook-pro-2020-16-inch-laptop#:~:text=Final%20verdict&text=On%20the%20whole%20though%2C%20the,rounded%20and%20polished%20computing%20experience

1.7kg so still easily portbable, full metal build, 4600h cpu (can draw more power if required so exceeds the u cpus), more power for the integrated graphics, good quality colour-accurate screen

buy here. use parcel motel, addresspal, parcel wizard etc - £850

choice of free gift also

it's very good value for the power and the quality of the build

https://www.hihonor.com/unitedkingdom/product/honor-magicbook-pro?fromCountry=GLOBAL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjxAZixtw18

Pkiernan

glasso wrote: »

This will have enough power.

the AMD 4600h 6-core beats the intel i7's (base clock 3.0Ghz up to 4.0 Ghz turbo)

16gb ram built in

https://www.techradar.com/reviews/honor-magicbook-pro-2020-16-inch-laptop#:~:text=Final%20verdict&text=On%20the%20whole%20though%2C%20the,rounded%20and%20polished%20computing%20experience

1.7kg so still easily portbable, full metal build, 4600h cpu (can draw more power if required so exceeds the u cpus), more power for the integrated graphics, good quality colour-accurate screen

buy here. use parcel motel, addresspal, parcel wizard etc - £850

choice of free gift also

it's very good value for the power and the quality of the build

https://www.hihonor.com/unitedkingdom/product/honor-magicbook-pro?fromCountry=GLOBAL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjxAZixtw18

Or support Irish jobs and buy an Intel powered laptop from an Irish retailer.

Pkiernan

Pkiernan wrote: »

Or support Irish jobs and buy an Intel powered laptop from an Irish retailer.

give the guy a link for a suitable machine then

jmlad2020

20071061 wrote: »

Hi looking for some advice have been looking at numerous threads over the last few months on this form trying to pick up some tips on laptops/computers'as I haven't a clue on Tech things. Because I knew this day was coming when I would have to source a suitable laptop for my sons Architecture course he's got through the first 2yrs without one but now can't do without one at this stage.Trying t find the most suitable and of course the best value for money as things are tight as it is for most of us, between paying for accommodation and the other expenses with it. Any advice or guidance on best options would be appreciated thanks.

He tells me the Spec's are: CPU i7 core or higher 3.0 ghz speed is good software works fast. RAM 32gb but 16gb probably the better option because of the price of the 32gb, 1tb of memory but not necessary.

Unfortunately you're looking at a minimum of €600 you should be spending on a decent one for this course and software requirements.

I worked quite comfortably on a 'standard' laptop, around that price, when I was doing the course. couldn't afford anything fancier but I was grand.
Universities rent them out (for short periods) or at least mine did so that could be an option.

Best bet head into PCWorld or Curry's and ask the experts in store, they are helpful and you can even haggle with them, get €50 off. But there is likely cheaper places.

you won't even get an i5 laptop with a plastic case with 8gb ram for 600 in the shops in Ireland

and tbh the staff in Pcworld and the likes are more interested in selling you some antivirus commission add-on than anything else.

CJhaughey

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-swift-3-14-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-1-tb-ssd-silver-10208152-pdt.html

CJhaughey

CJhaughey wrote: »

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-swift-3-14-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-1-tb-ssd-silver-10208152-pdt.html?awc=5297_1602180115_1ab1131c09dadded2defa0ef6fbe09b8&utm_source=Skimlinks&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Affiliate

not bad value for Ireland but maybe the 8gb ram lets it down and as is common these days it's not upgradable.

p.s. - is that an affiliate link?

20071061

Thanks for the suggestions everyone really helpful.

toonarmy1

in a similar situation to op but wound need to be doing some rendering also
any opnions on this ?its prob the very upper limit of budget

https://www.komplett.ie/asus-tuf-gaming-a15-fx506iu-bq290t/80056621/product

many thanks

will do the job but heavy, case made from plastic and the screen quality is not as good as the magicbook pro

obviously has more gpu power (and cpu but not massively more) but video rendering is far more about cpu power than gpu

if you don't need to be portable and don't need colour accuracy and want to do some gaming not a bad option

here is another option - smaller screen but more portable and colour accurate and metal case also. very nice machine

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zephyrus-G401IA-Gaming-GeForce-Windows/dp/B08696C4GK/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=g14%2Blaptop&qid=1602197562&sr=8-2&th=1

different options on configs but even the cheapest one will not be a bad video editor / rendering machine

CJhaughey

glasso wrote: »

not bad value for Ireland but maybe the 8gb ram lets it down and as is common these days it's not upgradable.

p.s. - is that an affiliate link?

My Bad, I didn't realise it was an affiliate link, nothing to do with me.
I'll change it.

tabby aspreme

Would you consider a refurbished laptop, if so try, Creative It in Mullingar , have got a few laptops off them, and found them good.

20071061

HP ZBook 15v G5 Mobile Workstation - Core i7 8750H / 2.2 GHz - Win 10 Pro 64-bit - 16 GB RAM - 256 GB SSD (16 GB SSD cache) - 15.6" 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) - Quadro P600 / UHD Graphics 630 - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth - turbo silver - kbd: UK (2ZC56EA#ABU)
Pro-grade performance
Software certified
Built to last
Manufacturer Logo

Thoughts on this from Elara online 1294 euros

that quadro graphics card is not much more powerful if at all than the integrated graphics in the magicbook pro cpu. that p600 is only about mx150 level. and the 4600h beats the 8750h on cpu.
that 8750h intel chip is a few generations back now.

over-priced I'd say.

this is another option about £1000 - lovely machine. and portable if that's a factor - less than 1.7kg. comes with a 1650 card that is a good bit more powerful than the quadro. good screen. same cpu 4600h that beats the 8750h
add in 8gb ram yourself for another 40 euro or so to bring it up to 16gb

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zephyrus-G401IA-Gaming-GeForce-Windows/dp/B08696C4GK/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=g14&qid=1602951563&sr=8-1

the lcd thing on the lid is only on certain models.

not the one that I linked to above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTO7959ySss

toonarmy1

glasso wrote: »

that quadro graphics card is not much more powerful if at all than the integrated graphics in the magicbook pro cpu. that p600 is only about mx150 level. and the 4600h beats the 8750h on cpu.
that 8750h intel chip is a few generations back now.

over-priced I'd say.

this is another option about £1000 - lovely machine. and portable if that's a factor - less than 1.7kg. comes with a 1650 card that is a good bit more powerful than the quadro. good screen. same cpu 4600h that beats the 8750h
add in 8gb ram yourself for another 40 euro or so to bring it up to 16gb

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zephyrus-G401IA-Gaming-GeForce-Windows/dp/B08696C4GK/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=g14&qid=1602951563&sr=8-1

Thanks for the reply glosso , top class as always

portable isnt really a concern really, i think id prefer a 15" screren maybe

Just on the requirmnets of the biggest sofware this is mention
GPU scoring a G3DMark of 7,000 or higher with up-to-date drivers. (Such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 1650, AMD Radeon RX 470 or better) 4gb or more.


Intel/AMD processor scoring a single thread CPUMark of 2000 or higher. (Such as the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, Intel Core i7-3770K or better)

16gb ram or more

there probably is nothing in my price range for these specs is there ?or is there anything close spec wise. id only use this software maybe once or twice a month but still would be needed
could prob stretch to 1300/1400 euro if needed

again many thanks

the nice thing about the g14 is that it's a metal build, doesn't look like a gaming laptop, has a colour-accurate screen, has good battery life. (and tho not important for you is portable).

most of the 15 inch laptops are gaming laptops excepting things like the dell xps which is out of your price range

if you don't really need the most colour-accurate screen and don't mind less portable and plastic build then a lower-end gaming laptop will do the job fine

something with a 6-core AMD or intel cpu and 1650 card or greater

there would be good deals around Black Friday for this sort of thing

but this is not a bad sale deal - and doesn't look that gamery

lenono legions are well regarded - best of the budget gaming laptops probably

use parcel motel, adresspal etc

https://www.box.co.uk/82B50042UK-Lenovo-Legion-5-15_2938438.html

buy more ram yourself

probably has extra storage slots also

it does yes - m.2 slot free if you want to add another ssd

seems well built

https://www.tech-critter.com/review-lenovo-legion-5-15/#:~:text=It%20is%20decent%20for%20regular,slider%20to%20cover%20the%20camera.

toonarmy1

glasso wrote: »

buy more ram yourself

probably has extra storage slots also

it does yes - m.2 slot free if you want to add another ssd

seems well built

https://www.tech-critter.com/review-lenovo-legion-5-15/#:~:text=It%20is%20decent%20for%20regular,slider%20to%20cover%20the%20camera.

thanks a million glasso, great advice as always

ill prob hold off till black friday now, but tempted to go for the lenovo with the extra ram
cheers again

yes the legion is well built - more solid and better designed that others in the same segment

may not be any cheaper for black Friday to be honest (about as cheap as it will go and not every model is on sale on black Friday)

for your needs you don't need any more than the 1650 card

and the 4600h exceeds your required cpu benchmarks (cpu mark is 2500 single core and it's 6-core)

it beats the 6-core intels like the 10750h overall