Need help on choosing laptop

[piyozz]

Hi experts

Im a noob when coming to pc/laptop. I hope you all can help me decide which of these option is more value for money. My usage is basically for surfing net and some light gaming. not very into photo editing, but will need to do so occasionally. I was given these 3 options which i'm very lost as to which is the best (of cos i think most expensive shld be the best) and most value for money. hope to get some enlightenment from you guys! one thing to note, im only given specification but not the model number of the laptop. :|

one more question which im abit puzzled, how to know if the laptop comes with touchscreen?

Option 1: pay 'X' amount
Brand Lenovo
Processor: 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (1.60GHz, 3.40GHz Turbo, 6MB cache)
Memory: 4GB DDR4
LCD Display: 14" FHD Screen
Hard Drive: 1TB
Optical Drive: DVD Super Multi-Drive
Graphic Card: AMD Radeon M530 2GB DDR5

Option 2: pay 'X' + $180
Brand Acer
Processor: Intel 8th generation, Kaby Lake R Core i5-8250U Quad-core
1.6 GHz with TurboBoost to 3.4 GHz, 6MB cache
Memory: 4GB DDR4
LCD Display: 14" HD Screen
Hard Drive: 1TB
Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW Drive Double Layer
Graphic Card: Intel UHD 620 Integrated Graphics

Option 3: pay 'X' + $450
Brand Acer
Processor: Intel 8th generation, Kaby Lake R Core i7-8550U Quad-core
1.8 GHz with TurboBoost to 4.0 GHz, 8MB cache
Memory: 8GB DDR4
LCD Display: 14" HD Screen
Hard Drive: 1TB
Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW Super Multi Double Layer
Graphic Card: Nvidia GeForce MX 130 2GB GDDR5 VRAM

 

[piyozz]

Any kind soul can advise me pls?

 

[Intrinion]

Can you define the variable $x and if you are limited to these 3 options only(?)

Reason being, i believe there are better value prepositions out there compared to the three options.

Unless it’s really cheap, having 4gb of ram for a 2018 line up isn’t ideal at all. In conjunction are setups less than 1k that have 8gb of ram and a ssd- hdd combo

 

[Intrinion]

As illustrated.

 

[piyozz]

Can you define the variable $x and if you are limited to these 3 options only(?)

Reason being, i believe there are better value prepositions out there compared to the three options.

Unless it’s really cheap, having 4gb of ram for a 2018 line up isn’t ideal at all. In conjunction are setups less than 1k that have 8gb of ram and a ssd- hdd combo

The $x is about $250. And yes, I'm only given these 3 choices.

 

[Intrinion]

These would be my recommendations.

First choice: Options 3
Second choice: Options 1
Third choice: Options 2

Go for Option 3 if and only if your finances permit.
It allows for short-medium term future proofing without upgrades. Option 1 is a close first choice which can be made future proof by adding another stick of ram (4gb) approx $6x - $7x upgrade. Games will run quite well on medium settings.

Option 2 doesn’t make much sense since the UHD620 performs around the performance of the M530. Without having any dedicated vram, this would mean having to share memory with ram - which is already low.

With regards to your question on touch screens - all three should not be touch screened - nonetheless windows 10 works well with a mouse and keyboard inputs

Looking at terms of warranty, both cover 36 months of warranty with the Acer having on site warranty through the warranty period and Lenovo having 12 months on site and 24 months send in.

 

[eric3743]

Hi experts

Im a noob when coming to pc/laptop. I hope you all can help me decide which of these option is more value for money. My usage is basically for surfing net and some light gaming. not very into photo editing, but will need to do so occasionally. I was given these 3 options which i'm very lost as to which is the best (of cos i think most expensive shld be the best) and most value for money. hope to get some enlightenment from you guys! one thing to note, im only given specification but not the model number of the laptop. :|

one more question which im abit puzzled, how to know if the laptop comes with touchscreen?

Option 1: pay 'X' amount
Brand Lenovo
Processor: 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (1.60GHz, 3.40GHz Turbo, 6MB cache)
Memory: 4GB DDR4
LCD Display: 14" FHD Screen
Hard Drive: 1TB
Optical Drive: DVD Super Multi-Drive
Graphic Card: AMD Radeon M530 2GB DDR5

Option 2: pay 'X' + $180
Brand Acer
Processor: Intel 8th generation, Kaby Lake R Core i5-8250U Quad-core
1.6 GHz with TurboBoost to 3.4 GHz, 6MB cache
Memory: 4GB DDR4
LCD Display: 14" HD Screen
Hard Drive: 1TB
Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW Drive Double Layer
Graphic Card: Intel UHD 620 Integrated Graphics

Option 3: pay 'X' + $450
Brand Acer
Processor: Intel 8th generation, Kaby Lake R Core i7-8550U Quad-core
1.8 GHz with TurboBoost to 4.0 GHz, 8MB cache
Memory: 8GB DDR4
LCD Display: 14" HD Screen
Hard Drive: 1TB
Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW Super Multi Double Layer
Graphic Card: Nvidia GeForce MX 130 2GB GDDR5 VRAM

Yes option 3 is the best.. if not then option 1 but may need to upgrade Memory to 8GB.

If possible do upgrade 1TB HDD to SSD for better performance and speed.

The equivalent for 1TB HDD would be 500 GB SSD, although SSD prices are dropping.. then go for 1TB.

 

[piyozz]

Thanks both for your valuable inputs. Really appreciate it.

 

[Intrinion]

Thanks both for your valuable inputs. Really appreciate it.

Don't mention it, hope you made your decision and have a great 2019

 

[eric3743]

Thanks both for your valuable inputs. Really appreciate it.

You're welcome.

Enjoy your new laptop in 2019.

 

[HolyInnocents]

The $x is about $250. And yes, I'm only given these 3 choices.

just 250? is that a brand new laptop?

go for option 1 and upgrade to 8gb/ssd yourself. get a 250gb ssd and sell away the 1tb hdd

 

[piyozz]

just 250? is that a brand new laptop?

go for option 1 and upgrade to 8gb/ssd yourself. get a 250gb ssd and sell away the 1tb hdd

Yah, getting in under some tertiary scheme. Will doing this void the warranty?

 

[Intrinion]

It’s actually quite grey and differs from one make to another. Imo. Ram upgrades should be fine assuming there are no warranty void / anti tamper seals on the access panel. Assuming also that the slots are side by side. Nowadays some ram slots are found on opposite faces of a motherboard (beneath the keyboard and at the bottom of the laptop facing the table top surface)

SSD are more of a hassle to explain..

Yah, getting in under some tertiary scheme. Will doing this void the warranty?

 

[HolyInnocents]

Yah, getting in under some tertiary scheme. Will doing this void the warranty?

that's quite a good price tho, is it some student promotion for poly/uni students?

anyway the warranty usually covers everything except the upgraded parts, unless the damage was caused by the upgrade parts

but then again best to check the warranty t&c

 

[Intrinion]

I believe it’s IMDA’s NEU Pc plus scheme.
Kindly refer to the stickied thread for more details

that's quite a good price tho, is it some student promotion for poly/uni students?

anyway the warranty usually covers everything except the upgraded parts, unless the damage was caused by the upgrade parts

but then again best to check the warranty t&c

 

[piyozz]

I believe it’s IMDA’s NEU Pc plus scheme.
Kindly refer to the stickied thread for more details

Yes, it is. Most probably go for option 1. Upgrade the ram... I'm not sure if ssd could be changed as it will mean the installed windows will be reinstall? I don't have the capability to do that haha...

 

[Intrinion]

Take it step by step. Let’s do ram for now.
Alternatively do check with the poc if they do provide upgrade options.

Yes, it is. Most probably go for option 1. Upgrade the ram... I'm not sure if ssd could be changed as it will mean the installed windows will be reinstall? I don't have the capability to do that haha...

 

[eric3743]

Yes, it is. Most probably go for option 1. Upgrade the ram... I'm not sure if ssd could be changed as it will mean the installed windows will be reinstall? I don't have the capability to do that haha...

For convenience and cost involved, it is best to negotiate at the point of sales on the upgrade on components such as RAM and HDD/SSD.

Bear in mind you would not need to have leftover RAM laying around being wastage.
For 4GB RAM would usually come with 2x 2GB RAM and if you upgrade to 8GB RAM then it would be a wastage of 2GB RAM pieces.
When upgrade during the purchase you may pay for the differences (or a bit more) and it would be done by them.
Also for HDD to SSD most sales would include cloning &or transfer OS to the new SSD.

Overall cost you have to bargain into the final cost.
This would certainly benefit in both ways as they are the one who do the replacement and no wastage of components/parts on your part.

Many products on sale are based on minimum specifications and requirements.
Thus it is where upgrade of certain components will give them some leeway in providing the sale of the whole product to consumers.
At the same time they would & may earn some profit from these and the consumer benefit in not having to waste replaced parts and in the end cost saving involved.

 

[piyozz]

For convenience and cost involved, it is best to negotiate at the point of sales on the upgrade on components such as RAM and HDD/SSD.

Bear in mind you would not need to have leftover RAM laying around being wastage.
For 4GB RAM would usually come with 2x 2GB RAM and if you upgrade to 8GB RAM then it would be a wastage of 2GB RAM pieces.
When upgrade during the purchase you may pay for the differences (or a bit more) and it would be done by them.
Also for HDD to SSD most sales would include cloning &or transfer OS to the new SSD.

Overall cost you have to bargain into the final cost.
This would certainly benefit in both ways as they are the one who do the replacement and no wastage of components/parts on your part.

Many products on sale are based on minimum specifications and requirements.
Thus it is where upgrade of certain components will give them some leeway in providing the sale of the whole product to consumers.
At the same time they would & may earn some profit from these and the consumer benefit in not having to waste replaced parts and in the end cost saving involved.

I doubt they will accommodate. I called to ask from the supplier for this programme and he say they will not be able to accommodate to upgraded ram. He ask that I collect the laptop first then proceed to their service centre to get the ram upgraded. I'm not hopeful for the change of ram & ssd. If can then change, if can't then no choice... Beggars can't be picky... Haha

 

[eric3743]

I doubt they will accommodate. I called to ask from the supplier for this programme and he say they will not be able to accommodate to upgraded ram. He ask that I collect the laptop first then proceed to their service centre to get the ram upgraded. I'm not hopeful for the change of ram & ssd. If can then change, if can't then no choice... Beggars can't be picky... Haha

I see.. so this is group wholesale programme for certain limited models only.

Then you have no choice but to select the laptop model according to you budget.

Next to check on the pricing for the upgrade for RAM &or SSD so as to fit your budget.

For the replacement either DIY or laptop service shops to assist you.

In the end for budget wise it would be option 1 and include replacement of RAM and SSD.

Depend on how you want if there is no need to have DVD-drive then use this space for HDD storage and no need to have big storage SSD.
Refer to this post as an example; > https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/118405418-post20.html