Are you looking for the best gaming laptops or simply want to know how to buy a laptop and what specs to consider? Our laptop buying guide has got you covered. From going over important things to consider, to explaining each laptop spec and its individual role! Ultimately our tips for buying a laptop should help guide you towards making the right choice based on your own needs! So, if you’re looking to buy your child their first laptop or upgrade your own, read along!
What are the functions of an operating system?
When purchasing a new laptop, you’ll first want to consider what operating system you want. You may already have a preference.
For example, if you already own an iPhone and Apple Watch, it makes sense to stick with the Apple ecosystem. In that case, macOS is likely your best fit.
Apple macOS is known for its sleek and stylish design and Apple ecosystem integration. However, macOS laptop’s are also priced on the higher side and the newer models lack ports. So it’s worth weighing the pros and cons before making an executive decision.
If you’re hunting for the best cheap laptop for your child’s first laptop for school, a budget-friendly Chromebook running Google’s Chrome OS could be a smart idea. Chromebooks are cheap but reliable, sturdy and often schools use Google Workspace in the classroom.
If you’re considering a Microsoft Windows laptop, you can be sure you’ll get excellent software compatibility, a wide range of laptop choices, and great specs for the price. It’s also worth noting that Windows 10’s end of life is just around the corner, so you’ll need to make sure the laptop you choose is up-to-date and running Windows 11.
What is the best CPU for gaming?
Essentially, the CPU (central processing unit) is the brain of your computer. It helps your laptop perform tasks. What type of CPU you have will determine how well those tasks are performed.
The CPU you choose will depend on your specific needs, so it’s worth taking the time to figure out exactly what those are. That’s where this laptop buying guide comes in handy!
If you’re a casual laptop user, who has basic needs and you’re scoping the internet for the best cheap laptop to suit said needs, then you’ll be okay with a simple Intel Core i3. However, please keep in mind that this doesn’t always land as a cheap option.
On the other hand, if you want a good middle ground laptop with decent laptop specs and reliable performance across a range of tasks, go for an Intel Core i5.
If you’re studying graphic design, searching for the best laptops for students or you’re an avid gamer hunting for the best gaming laptops, then you’ll want a CPU good for these demanding needs. A Intel Core i7 or Intel Core i9 CPU would be a great choice for gamers, video editors, graphic designers and even engineers.
What is the importance of RAM in a computer?
A laptop’s RAM (random access memory) is responsible for storing the data your CPU needs to carry out tasks, such as surfing the web or playing games. So, the more capacity your RAM has the better it can handle multiple tasks and run smoothly.
If you’re looking for the best cheap laptop for yourself or someone else, we’d recommend a minimum of 8GB of RAM. This is plenty if you’ll mainly be browsing the web, checking emails, and doing basic word processing (like working with Word documents).
If you tend to multitask, use productivity apps (such as spreadsheets), or plan on working with photo editing software, 16GB of RAM will serve you best.
For those planning to run demanding games or do heavy video editing, a higher RAM capacity, typically between 32GB and 64GB, will give you the performance you need.
Which SSD to buy for a laptop?
Your SSD (solid state drive) stores all your files, applications, operating system and everything else that you save and install on your laptop.
Older laptops use HDDs (Hard disk drives). However, SSDs have become the new norm in modern laptops. This is because they have much faster reading and writing speeds which makes booting, file transferring and response times a lot speedier!
All summed up, your SSD’s capacity determines how much your laptop can hold.
256GB, in our view, is the true bare minimum for SSD storage in today’s laptops. Some places might still recommend 128GB for budget laptops, however the reality is that 128GB basically only covers your operating system and essential programs. If you want any kind of personal storage, you’ll quickly find there’s no space left. It can work if you rely heavily on the cloud and stick to very light use, but it’s not practical for most people.
That being said, as an expert tech company, we recommend 512GB of SSD storage as the middle ground for most users. It’s an ideal choice for everyday home use and a strong contender if you’re looking for a fairly priced option among the best laptops for students. While it may cost more than 256GB, it offers a much better balance of storage, speed, and long-term value.
If you’re a media-heavy user, creative professional, or gamer, then 1TB or more of SSD storage is the smart move. This gives you faster performance, loads of space for large files, and extra breathing room for the future — making it a top pick if you’re after the best laptop for demanding needs.
What is the average battery life of a laptop?
Battery life is fairly straightforward to understand and easy to gauge based on how much you think you’ll need.
Your laptop’s battery life determines how long it can run on a full charge without being plugged in.
If you’re buying a big bulky laptop that will likely never move too far from a nearby outlet, then battery life shouldn’t be such a big concern for you. In that case, 6 hours of battery life will be acceptable. But we must also highlight that this is the bare minimum you should be looking for.
Our biggest recommendation would be to go for a laptop with at least 9 hours of battery life and even more if you see fit! With this long-lasting spec, you can be sure your new laptop won’t let you down when working and studying on the go.
It’s also a good idea to consider other battery features. For example, fast charging and USB-C power delivery can save you from being tied to a wall socket for too long!
What is the best graphics card for a laptop?
The GPU (graphics processing unit), or graphics card, is responsible for producing the visuals you see on your screen, from images and videos to games and animations. It processes and renders these visuals quickly and smoothly, ensuring a seamless viewing experience.
There are two types of GPUs: integrated and dedicated. This laptop buying guide should help you pick between the two.
An integrated GPU is built into the same chip as the computer’s CPU (central processing unit), meaning it shares the computer’s main memory to perform its tasks.
A dedicated GPU, on the other hand, is a separate card or chip with its own processor and memory, so it doesn’t need to rely on the CPU like an integrated GPU does.
If you know you’ll only be completing simple tasks on your laptop, such as streaming and basic gaming use, then an integrated GPU will do you just fine. A couple of examples include an Intel Xe or AMD Radeon Vega GPU.
If you’re an avid gamer, creative, engineer or developer working with demanding applications, you should be looking at a dedicated GPU. Try the NVIDIA RTX models or the AMD Radeon RX GPU.
What display resolution do I need for my laptop?
A laptop’s display resolution refers to how many pixels are shown on the screen at any given time. The more pixels your display has, the crisper your image will be. Therefore, if you want to improve your user experience with added detail and clarity, you’ll want to opt for a laptop with a greater display resolution, and therefore a higher number of pixels.
First up, we have FHD, also known as Full HD. Sometimes, even referred to as 1080p. FHD is a completely fine choice for users who use their device predominantly for simple tasks, such as web browsing or word processing. In fact, in these cases paying the extra money for a higher display resolution would be unnecessary.
Next up is QHD, or Quad HD, often referred to as 2K. It offers a noticeable step up from FHD with sharper, more detailed visuals. If you stream a lot of video content, the crisper picture could be worth the extra cost. For casual gamers or designers, QHD is more than capable of meeting your needs.
If you’re looking for the best gaming laptops, specifically for top-level gaming, a laptop with a display resolution of UHD, or Ultra HD, often referred to as 4K, could be the go. It’s also great if you’re a professional editor, for finer control of small details and professional results. However, 4K laptop’s aren’t as portable as their counterparts as this particular display resolution will consume a lot of your battery.
What refresh rate should my laptop have?
The refresh rate of your display is the number of times per second that the image refreshes on your laptop’s screen. The higher the refresh rate (measured in Hertz), the smoother and more fluid the visuals will appear, resulting in less motion blur, especially during fast-moving scenes!
60Hz (60 Hertz) is standard for most laptops. If you’re using your laptop for general tasks, this refresh rate will suit you well. It can also be fine for less intense tasks, such as non-competitive or slower-paced games. It’s also the more budget-friendly option, so if smooth visuals or reduced motion blur aren’t a priority, 60Hz works just fine.
For a step up, 75Hz to 120Hz is ideal. This is perfect if you want smoother visuals for faster-paced gaming or if you work with editing moving media or 3D animations. You’ll notice a clear improvement in smoothness compared to 60Hz.
Finally, if you’re in competitive or professional gaming or work with fast-moving visuals as a graphic designer or video editor, anything above 144Hz should be your go-to. The extra fluidity and responsiveness help improve accuracy and reduce eye strain.
When choosing a refresh rate, it’s important to consider how many frames per second (fps) your graphics card can actually output. For example, a 144Hz display won’t give its full benefit if your graphics card can only produce 60fps.
And that’s a wrap! We hope our laptop buying guide has been useful. If you’d like a hand picking the perfect laptop, whether for yourself or as a gift, or need help setting it up and getting comfortable with the basics, give the Geeks a call today. With our tech expertise, you can trust we’ll point you in the right direction.
