AMD Laptop for software dev and occasional gaming

TitianGerm · 12-09-2018 05:07PM

the_new_mr wrote: »

Thanks for your input Subcomandante Marcos and glasso and everyone who commented on this thread with helpful information.

I'm definitely much more educated in terms of what specs I'm looking for and where I can buy them with a finance option. And I think I'm pretty much settled on which laptop to get. Think I'll be going for the Ryzen 5 Acer laptop.

You've been a great help. Thanks again.

Would you be as well borrowing from a local credit union and repaying over 12 months? That way you won't be tied to a store offering credit?

Subcomandante Marcos · 12-09-2018 07:51PM

TitianGerm wrote: »

Would you be as well borrowing from a local credit union and repaying over 12 months? That way you won't be tied to a store offering credit?

If you can pay off the finance in 6 months it's free so you'd save compared to the (tiny) amount you'd have to pay the CU but yeah, it's definitely the safer option and doesn't come with a penalty if something goes arseways.

TitianGerm · 12-09-2018 07:54PM

Subcomandante Marcos wrote: »

If you can pay off the finance in 6 months it's free so you'd save compared to the (tiny) amount you'd have to pay the CU but yeah, it's definitely the safer option and doesn't come with a penalty if something goes arseways.

That's true. Probably be about €10-€13 a week to repay with the CU though so not getting lunch out once a week would cover that!!

Subcomandante Marcos · 12-09-2018 08:13PM

TitianGerm wrote: »

That's true. Probably be about €10-€13 a week to repay with the CU though so not getting lunch out once a week would cover that!!

Definitely agreeing with you here. It's definitely the smarter option if you're in the position that you need the finance in the first place, spreads the cost over 12 months meaning you pay almost half as much per month and you'd only be paying a few quid extra for the interest because cu rates are very low right now.

If you're in a secure job and just fancy spreading the money over a few months because free credit is better than paying cash then the Argos/Curry's 0% for 6 months options are very good.

the_new_mr · 13-09-2018 06:31AM

Thought I'd just double check online reviews for the Acer aspire 3 Ryzen 5 model linked before. Came across this curious review on Amazon. Pasted as is and would appreciate your thoughts on it.

Aspire 3 2cel Buttery Problem.
Litium Buttery = 3.7V / cel
2cel = 7.4V
Ryzen 2500U Mobile & 2700U Mobile　＝　Need over 25W（11｡0V）
Aspire 3 doesn't have Volt power of gaming CPU.
Swift 3 has Volt Power of gaming CPU. TDP 19W～TDP20W (Li buttery 3cel)

Have to Get Ryzen G2400 or Acer Swift 3 Ryzen 2500U "Super really!!"

From here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-Aspire-A315-41-R001-Ryzen-Windows/dp/B07BJTF8QC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536816025&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=acer+aspire+3+ryzen+5&dpPl=1&dpID=51HoqdZ3cdL&ref=plSrch

A review on Google said it was slow to startup and browsing which makes me a little wary I suppose.

TerrorFirmer · 13-09-2018 10:41AM

The 2500U doesn't 'need' over 25w, it operates from 12-25w depending on the clockspeed, obviously at no stage is any mobile processor going to be running full tilt for any length of time.

So what this person seems to be saying is that when running on battery power, the clockspeed or boost ability will be lowered below the 3.6Ghz max. I doubt it would have any impact whatsoever on browsing or start-up times, even with all 4 cores at a flat 2ghz the 2500U is a decent CPU.

the_new_mr · 13-09-2018 01:32PM

Yes, I was thinking that the browsing and startup times thing is probably just a reflection of the user's own situation (maybe they have malware or whatever).

Regarding the TDP thing, I checked the Ryzen 5 2500U info page from the AMD website (https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-ryzen-5-2500u) and it said there that the cTDP is 12-25W as you say. So, does this mean that when plugged in, it'll be fine and it's only on battery power when it may have an issue?

the_new_mr · 14-09-2018 03:30PM

Nearly there folks.

Your opinion on this laptop please? Thanks.

https://www.acer.com/datasheets/2018/4876/A315-41/NX.GY9EK.007.html

Subcomandante Marcos · 14-09-2018 03:48PM

I wouldn't buy anything with less than a 1080p screen these days myself.

the_new_mr · 14-09-2018 03:55PM

Fair enough. But apart from that?

Subcomandante Marcos · 14-09-2018 04:03PM

Same as every other 2500u in this thread, the specs are near identical. Only difference really will be things like build quality, battery capacity/life and maybe things like the clock speed on the ram.

the_new_mr · 14-09-2018 04:16PM

Alrighty. Thanks!

And thanks for all your help in this thread

TerrorFirmer · 14-09-2018 05:49PM

No SSD either. Unless that's really cheap it seems a fairly poor buy....and it also has a 2-cell battery like the Aspire posted above.

the_new_mr · 14-09-2018 06:59PM

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

No SSD either. Unless that's really cheap it seems a fairly poor buy....and it also has a 2-cell battery like the Aspire posted above.

I can get it for 539 so pretty good deal I'm hoping.

Subcomandante Marcos · 14-09-2018 10:57PM

Just get an SSD for €29 and add it yourself so. Be grand.

AMD Laptop for software dev and occasional gaming

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