Is this good value?

deadlybuzzman

Hi I'm just looking for something pretty no frills for watching netflix, going online and that will still run at a reasonable speed 2 or 3 years from now.
Would the likes of this laptop fit the bill?


https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/lenovo-ideapad-3-15-6-laptop-amd-3020e-128-gb-ssd-black-10212823-pdt.html

I'd look for the amd athlon gold 3150u cpu version instead - DID had that one (sold-out now I think) for €370

the cpu in the one in your link is a bit under-powered

it will do .... ok but if possible go for a stronger cpu for more longevity

if you do pick it up buy 4gb more ram on amazon for ~15£ to bring it up to 8gb (4gb ddr4 sodimm 2400mhz single)

deadlybuzzman

glasso wrote: »

I'd look for the amd athlon gold 3150u cpu version instead - DID had that one (sold-out now I think) for €370

the cpu in the one in your link is a bit under-powered

it will do .... ok but if possible go for a stronger cpu for more longevity

if you do pick it up buy 4gb more ram on amazon for ~15£ to bring it up to 8gb (4gb ddr4 sodimm 2400mhz single)

Yeah I liked the look of that but as I live in the North West I'd feel better buying from somewhere that's within driving distance.
I'd Happily install the extra Ram though

seems to be on lenovo.ie -> says a few left, ships in 2 business days

https://www.lenovo.com/ie/en/laptops/ideapad/s-series/IdeaPad-3-14ARE05/p/88IPS301431

deadlybuzzman

Out of curiosity, if that CPU is a bit underpowered, what would a more responsible baseline speed be to get a bit longer out of my laptop in the long term?

deadlybuzzman

deadlybuzzman wrote: »

Out of curiosity, if that CPU is a bit underpowered, what would a more responsible baseline speed be to get a bit longer out of my laptop in the long term?

it's not the baseline or turbo speed that is the best indication.

you need to check benchmarks like geekbench, cpumark

the 3150u is decent enough

e.g. it's 4200 on cpumark, the one in your original link is 2600

I'd get the one from the Lenovo site

Avita unknown brand and non-upgradable 4gb ram

acer - lower spec 3050u cpu and more expensive

Jamie2k9

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Glasso

https://www.lenovo.com/ie/en/laptops/ideapad/s-series/IdeaPad-3-14ARE05/p/88IPS301431

The cherry red is out of stock again. Is the one for 419 worth getting instead?

the 419 one says "ships in more than 6 weeks" so I would probably avoid.

Mocha Joe

deadlybuzzman wrote: »

Hi I'm just looking for something pretty no frills for watching netflix, going online and that will still run at a reasonable speed 2 or 3 years from now.
Would the likes of this laptop fit the bill?


https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/lenovo-ideapad-3-15-6-laptop-amd-3020e-128-gb-ssd-black-10212823-pdt.html

Sorry for hijacking thread. Could anyone please tell me if this laptop could run fm21 properly? Any advice much appreciated.

This is the minimum requirements of the game. Im useless at trying to read the specs of the laptop.
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 7 (SP1), 8/8.1, 10 (Update 1903/May 2019 or later) – 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core 2 or AMD Athlon 64 – 1.8 GHz +
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: Intel GMA X4500, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or AMD/ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 – 256MB VRAM
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 7 GB available space

Mocha Joe

Mocha Joe wrote: »

Sorry for hijacking thread. Could anyone please tell me if this laptop could run fm21 properly? Any advice much appreciated.

This is the minimum requirements of the game. Im useless at trying to read the specs of the laptop.
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 7 (SP1), 8/8.1, 10 (Update 1903/May 2019 or later) – 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core 2 or AMD Athlon 64 – 1.8 GHz +
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: Intel GMA X4500, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or AMD/ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 – 256MB VRAM
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 7 GB available space

not really enough power.

go for an Amd 3500u cpu laptop preferably

or at the least the 3150u and 8gb ram in dual-channel configuration e.g. 4gb + 4gb

Mocha Joe

glasso wrote: »

not really enough power.

go for an Amd 3500u cpu laptop preferably

or at the least the 3150u and 8gb ram in dual-channel configuration e.g. 4gb + 4gb

Thanks very much. I thought price was too good to be true. Would the lenovo site one you linked be suitable? Or this one?

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/dell-inspiron-15-3000-15-6-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-256-gb-ssd-black-10214380-pdt.html

yes that will do the job

just not a fan of the look of that dell personally - plastic case and not sure how the screen is.

the magicbook 15 was going for £499 on amazon which has a better metal build case

seems to have gone up but if you can wait would be a good bet

else if you don't need portability you could get a full gaming laptop on box.co.uk for £599

worth considering as you could have better graphics options.

Edser

glasso wrote: »

seems to be on lenovo.ie -> says a few left, ships in 2 business days

https://www.lenovo.com/ie/en/laptops/ideapad/s-series/IdeaPad-3-14ARE05/p/88IPS301431

One there now for €280 with an eCoupon..

very good deal for that price. snap it up.

that cpu is actually not bad

add another 4gb ram later for less than 20 euro

that lenovo with the 3150u cpu would play your FM ok if spending little is your priority

better cpu than the one in Currys (3020e which is a low-power cpu)

enviro

Yeah thanks for the recommendation Glasso, at 280 a great deal.

Ordered one.

cheapest ok laptop all year probably

with a cheap 4gb ram upgrade will run fine for all common tasks easily

screen is a bit dim but this is budget-budget territory

enviro

Must look into the ram upgrade you mentioned when it arrives.

4gb ddr4 ram sodimm single on amazon. 2400Mhz

Jamie2k9

glasso,

One more question before I place the order. Its the 419 gray one above shame its only blue discounted. Now I came across these two and one is a 15 inch screen and has 90 quid off.

ideapad Flex 5i 15 - Graphite Grey
https://www.lenovo.com/ie/en/laptops/ideapad/ideapad-flex-series/ideapad-flex-5-15itl-05/p/81X3002VUK?cid=ie:display:etuiyj&

https://www.lenovo.com/ie/en/laptops/ideapad/300-series/lenovo-ideapad-330s-14ikb/p/81F400LGUK?cid=ie:display:etuiyj&

IdeaPad 5i 15 - Graphite Grey

https://www.lenovo.com/ie/en/laptops/ideapad/s-series/ideapad-5i-15iil05/p/81YK004XUK?cid=ie:display:etuiyj&

Worth paying a bit extra?

the ryzen (even the 3150u) is better suited to FM due to better integrated graphics than the intel i3's

buy the one for 280 - it's a bargain and no doubt will be gone soon

Jamie2k9

glasso wrote: »

buy the one for 280 - it's a bargain and no doubt will be gone soon

Ordered it. Saw the blue in PC World on Friday. Needed one by early Jan so it will so the job.

ram upgrade

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT4G4SFS824A-PC4-19200-Single-260-Pin/dp/B019FRDKWI/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1U3C6ISPHEBVV&dchild=1&keywords=4gb+ddr4+2400mhz+sodimm&qid=1605381020&sprefix=4gb+ddr4+2400mhz+sod,aps,207&sr=8-3

out of stock now...

Toulouse

glasso wrote: »

screen is a bit dim but this is budget-budget territory

Sorry to hijack but have been following this thread with interest. Nearly bought the Lenovo but had read reviews about the display so passed.

I’m after a basic laptop to replace my Mother’s old one. Doesn’t need to be fancy but need a decent display as she uses hers to watch a lot of videos with small fast moving objects. Something a little future proof would be great too.

What would you recommend?

you don't get the very best displays on the budget-budget end really as it's one of the more expensive components on a laptop and budget laptops work on really tight margins.

Matebook D / magicbook 14/15 have decent enough IPS displays so I'd recommend those

check amazon, box.co.uk, hihonor as the price varies but you're looking at £500

or else just take a look around and try to find an IPS display laptop (be careful of chinese-brand ones with terrible low-end cpus though e.g. n4000 etc)