Yes another laptop thread :)

Shelle

I realise that there are a few laptop advice requests, so here is mine!

My current laptop (Asus X550C) is a few years old and I feel like I need to replace it as it is struggling to keep connected to the wifi (router in same room at eye level and other devices stay connected with no issues) and I have to keep resetting the network adapter.  Whilst I am not the worlds best with hardware, I would like something that is i7 8gb ram and ideally 17 inch screen - most options that have that size screen seem to be for gaming which isn't totally my aim, however I prefer a larger screen as I use subtitles (I am deaf) all the time and small screens make it harder on the eyes.  My current screen is 15.6 so definitely would not want any smaller.

Looking around on the internet, I found 2 options (I think!).  The first was Asus ROG Strix G17 G712LV-EV009 https://www.johnlewis.com/asus-rog-strix-g17-g712lv-ev009t-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i7-processor-16gb-ram-1tb-ssd-geforce-rtx-2060-17-3-inch-full-hd-black/p5085853  A bit pricy so not sure if too much for me as I am not into gaming?  Reviews I found kept mentioning too noisy so not at all sure about this?

Second option I found was Acer Aspire 3 core which is considerably cheaper https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/-nx.hm1ek.005/version.asp#!#specs  I cant find any reviews for this one?    I am willing to go to the £1k mark if need be but only if there is a benefit to doing so.

Advice needed on if I am looking in the wrong direction or missing something?

Thanks

Neil_Jones

The X550C comes in about six million different variations with different processors, hard drive sizes and different memory amounts.  There should be a full model number on the bottom of the unit.

That aside, it may be as simple as adding an SSD and maxing the memory out to maximise your speed, which will be cheaper than replacing the entire unit?

CoastingHatbox

I don't recommend Asus laptops because the power port often fails and they are surface mount soldered to the motherboards.
I don't recommend Acer because the quality just isn't there.

One option might be the Lenovo Legion 5i 17. Cheaper than the Asus at £1000 and although I've no experience of this particular range, Lenovo Laptops at this sort of price tend to be quite good:
https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/legion-laptops/legion-5-series/Legion-5i-17/p/82B3002QUK

A slightly more expensive i7 option with 6 Cores (same CPU as the Asus), SSD and HDD, 16GB RAM and a 100% sRGB full HD display this this HP Pavilion Gaming 17 at £1049.99:
https://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=13F25EA&opt=ABU&sel=NTB
(Despite its looks I think this might be the best value option).

jsmith9

If you are happy with your current laptop other than the network problems then you could buy a cheap USB Wi-Fi adaptor and use that to connect to your router

also as above you may find you get much better performance on your laptop if you install an SSD although of course that is nothing to do with your router problem

WaywardDriver

14-15in screen with a 24in monitor? Much same price with benefit of larger screen.

HereToday

Shelle said:

I realise that there are a few laptop advice requests, so here is mine!

My current laptop (Asus X550C) is a few years old and I feel like I need to replace it as it is struggling to keep connected to the wifi (router in same room at eye level and other devices stay connected with no issues) and I have to keep resetting the network adapter.  Whilst I am not the worlds best with hardware, I would like something that is i7 8gb ram and ideally 17 inch screen - most options that have that size screen seem to be for gaming which isn't totally my aim, however I prefer a larger screen as I use subtitles (I am deaf) all the time and small screens make it harder on the eyes.  My current screen is 15.6 so definitely would not want any smaller.

Looking around on the internet, I found 2 options (I think!).  The first was Asus ROG Strix G17 G712LV-EV009 https://www.johnlewis.com/asus-rog-strix-g17-g712lv-ev009t-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i7-processor-16gb-ram-1tb-ssd-geforce-rtx-2060-17-3-inch-full-hd-black/p5085853  A bit pricy so not sure if too much for me as I am not into gaming?  Reviews I found kept mentioning too noisy so not at all sure about this?

Second option I found was Acer Aspire 3 core which is considerably cheaper https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/-nx.hm1ek.005/version.asp#!#specs  I cant find any reviews for this one?    I am willing to go to the £1k mark if need be but only if there is a benefit to doing so.

Advice needed on if I am looking in the wrong direction or missing something?

Thanks

As aforementioned: 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/600-Mbps-5ghz-USB-Dual-Band-Wireless-Adapter-WiFi-Dongle-802-11-AC-Laptop-PC-UK/293718889765
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/600-Mbps-WiFi-Dongle-Wireless-USB-Dual-Band-Adapter-802-11-AC-2-4-5ghz-Laptop-PC/114091377111

Also recommend the fitting of a solid state drive and a clean install to it of the operating system. Will be much faster and together with the Network adapter, problem solved.

HereToday

Apart from that, no need to spend that much if you aren't looking for something special.

Dell Outlet have

• 

• Inspiron 17” 3000 (3793)
  £640 inc VAT

  1 in stock
• Scratch and Dent
  Dell Outlet Inspiron 17 - 3793 Laptop

  Intel Core 10th Generation i7-1065G7 Processor (Quad Core, Up to 3.90GHz, 8MB Cache, 15W)

  Windows 10 Home

  8GB (1X8GB) Up to 2666MHz DDR4 Non-ECC

  512GB PCIe M.2 NVMe Class 35 Solid State Drive

  8x DVD+/-RW

  NVIDIA GeForce MX230 2GB GDDR5

  Software

  Dell Wireless Card W1810 (802.11ac 1x1) + Bluetooth

  Black - LCD Back Cover (Non-Touch Screen)

  Power Cord 250V

  3-Cell, 42 WHr Battery (Integrated)

  17.3 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Wide View Angle Anti-Glare LED Backlit Non-Touch Display

  UK-Irish Non-Backlit Keyboard
• Standard Shipping FREE
• Outlet Price (£595.00 - 10% discount) + VAT.

Shelle

Thanks to everyone who has replied, much appreciated and has given me much food for thought!  First action will be to try a wifi adapter to see if that alone resolves my issues and then I will go from there and consider the other options you have suggested.    I do like Dell and HP options so will at those further, thank you

jsmith9

In order to install your usb wifi adapter, first disable the internal wifi device (go to 'device manager', find the wifi card, rt-click and choose 'disable')

Then install the usb adapter according to instructions - probably as easy as just pluggging it in and waiting for the drivers to load automatically.

You are then good to go!

HereToday

Shelle said:

Thanks to everyone who has replied, much appreciated and has given me much food for thought!  First action will be to try a wifi adapter to see if that alone resolves my issues and then I will go from there and consider the other options you have suggested.    I do like Dell and HP options so will at those further, thank you

Swapping the HDD for an SSD is an easy five to ten minute job that you can do for yourself:

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

Though of course we'll be around to guide.

debitcardmayhem

jsmith9 said:

In order to install your usb wifi adapter, first disable the internal wifi device (go to 'device manager', find the wifi card, rt-click and choose 'disable')

Then install the usb adapter according to instructions - probably as easy as just pluggging it in and waiting for the drivers to load automatically.

You are then good to go!

I would install the USB wifi adapter first, if it needs to search the web for drivers .....then disable the old one. Most people use DHCP for ip/dns addresses so there shoould be no problems.