help plz - need a higher end laptop

Lokolo

Knarf44 wrote: »

Ok so, based on the requirement for a 2.4GHz processor you're probably looking at spending around £500-£600 on a model such as these:

Advent Sienna 700

Asus X52F-SX109V

Toshiba Satellite L655-158

Toshiba Satellite L650-19W

The links are to Currys but using a shopbot may find them a bit cheaper elsewhere.

Only problem with those is that they have integrated graphics and the spec says dedicated.

Lokolo

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/acer-aspire-7741g-04979043-pdt.html

In Knarf's original post, I quite like that one.

Knarf44

Lokolo wrote: »

Only problem with those is that they have integrated graphics and the spec says dedicated.

Sorry about that I was half out the door to do the school run when I was posting so couldn't check properly. I'll have another look later and see what options I can find.

I agree the Acer looked like a nice spec but it's an Acer, not my favourite brand but I know others have little problems with them.

Knarf44

Right, taken my break at work to have a look for something with a dedicated graphics card and found these:

Toshiba Satellite Pro L650-1CH
Core i5-450 cpu 2.66GHz
4GB RAM
500GB HDD
ATi Radeon HD5650
1366 x 768 resolution
15.6" Screen
Win 7 (64bit)

£740 inc VAT at Ebuyer and Laptops Direct

Samsung R590-JS02UK
Core i5-430 cpu 2.4GHz
4MB RAM
500GB HDD
Nvidia G-Force GT330M
15.6" Screen
Win 7 (64bit)

£750 inc VAT at Laptops Direct

Dell Studio 15
Core i5-450M cpu 2.4GHz
4MB RAM
640GB HDD
15.6" screen
ATi Radeon HD 5470
Win 7 (64bit)

£649 inc VAT (but offer expires today)

starbies

thankyou so much for the help on this - I was getting so stressed and foggy about this and as usual this website is a saviour!!

One more (probably dull) question - if I wanted to add the extra 4gb ram (taking it to 8gb) that the original spec advised (either now or at a later stage) how do i do that and what would it be likely to cost - sorry if that stretches dullness to its limits lol!!

Knarf44

It shouldn't be a problem. Most laptops have a removable cover on their base which exposes the memory. Although some have only 1 slot, others have 2 but the second can be a tad more difficult to get to. It would be worth downloading a service manual (if one is available) from the manufacturer's support site to see exactly what is involved.

What you have to be careful about is that you seat the RAM modules correctly or the computer will have problems picking it/them up.

GRM

To go from 4GB to 8GB you might have to buy an additional 8GB....

The laptops will have two memory slots. If it currently has 2x2GB then you'll need to replace both and buy 2x4GB to get to 8GB. If it has 1x4GB and one empty slot then you'll only have to buy one more 4GB stick.

4GB is currently £99. Prices are highly volatile.

EDIT: This assumes the laptop uses DDR3 RAM. I'd be surprised if anything of the spec you're considering still used DDR2.

ThinkingOfLinking

I've just ordered the Toshiba L650-1CH and will be using all manner of software including Corel Draw 5 on it so I'll let you know how it goes.

I do have a £600-odd soundcard to use with my music software though.

starbies

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

I've just ordered the Toshiba L650-1CH and will be using all manner of software including Corel Draw 5 on it so I'll let you know how it goes.

I do have a £600-odd soundcard to use with my music software though.

Thankyou - would be interested to know.
I finally got my grant through today so just logging on to have a browse through and see if any of the suggested deals are still available

ThinkingOfLinking

The reason I go for Toshiba is when I was buying my first ever one, I asked for advice and a computer engineer said to me that the one brand he doesnt hear of faults with and/or get brought in to fix is Toshiba. This'll be my second of their laptops and also own a TV and Blu Ray player, oh and an external HD from them and no problems with any; the reason for changing lappy is the old one had only 2GB RAM and was a basic one (Sub £400) and I need it to do more now. It works fine and I got £65 for it, even though it's nearly 3 years old and a bit battered on the outside (Won't do that to the new one!!)