Laptop Deals Master Thread

[mevinyavin]

my daughter is taking a course and instructor asked for following specs. whats my best option?
An i7 or i9 CPU
At least 16GB of RAM & 256GB of storage
A 64-bit operating system
A dedicated (internal) graphics card (ex. NVIDIA) – not integrated!

These recs are bogus (too tired to explain why just now). What is the course on?

[Luvtotravel]

These recs are bogus (too tired to explain why just now). What is the course on?

recs or specs? autocad and revit
would love explanation when youre more rested 

[mevinyavin]

recs or specs? autocad and revit
would love explanation when youre more rested 

Recommendations, one of the words that I misspell half the time even though I'm an editor. (Everyone has a few words that never stuck right.)
I'll post back here in a few hours IY"H.

[mevinyavin]

recs or specs? autocad and revit
would love explanation when youre more rested 

Any list of processor requirements that does not include the generation of processor and possibly the TDP is bogus. For example, there are powerful current-gen high TDP i5s that outperform a low TDP i7 from just one generation earlier (and usually even the same generation). There are still 11th gen i9s on the market; the current i3s often do better than that.

Having said that, my AutoCAD and Revit recommendations are:
High TDP i5 (12th gen+ ends with P, H or HX) / Ryzen 5 (5xxx or newer, ends with H, HS or HX), in a laptop with stellar cooling ability if you can afford to not care about weight or battery life. If you must get a portable laptop (with the resulting hit in cooling), you should compensate by getting at least an H-series i7 from the 13th gen or newer.
16GB of RAM, preferably upgradeable. If you expect to use more than 300MB files for Revit, 32GB.
Video controller: at least 4GB of VRAM
Storage: whatever comes with the other specs

If you want me to look around for you, you'll need to tell me if a monster computer is fine, or you need something portable.

Sources
https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2022/ENU/?caas=caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-Autodesk-Revit-2022-products.html#value
https://www.creativebloq.com/buying-guides/best-laptop-for-cad#section-how-we-test

[baron]

Even if you can get by with it, Won’t this make it less future proof to CAD?  Less than the best for a CAD person isn’t worth the risk, you can have real losses and aggravations from that 1 time. Plus everything else in the CAD using office/person on the same computer at the same time. Student could be different…

[mevinyavin]

Even if you can get by with it, Won’t this make it less future proof to CAD?  Less than the best for a CAD person isn’t worth the risk, you can have real losses and aggravations from that 1 time. Plus everything else in the CAD using office/person on the same computer at the same time. Student could be different…

I've been watching CAD requirements for fifteen years. When I say get by, I mean it should be fine but I can't guarantee it.
I've heard "student could be different" too, but what you are basically saying is, get one computer for school and get a new one after school. The requirements for school in this case are so close to work that you may as well go the rest of the way.

[baron]

I've been watching CAD requirements for fifteen years. When I say get by, I mean it should be fine but I can't guarantee it.
I've heard "student could be different" too, but what you are basically saying is, get one computer for school and get a new one after school. The requirements for school in this case are so close to work that you may as well go the rest of the way.

Thanks! Yes I agree to not cheap out for students. משמעות is get the better one unless you’re gonna make the student argument which I wouldn’t do. Your expertise is very appreciated as usual.

[Luvtotravel]

If you want me to look around for you, you'll need to tell me if a monster computer is fine, or you need something portable.

Sources
https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2022/ENU/?caas=caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-Autodesk-Revit-2022-products.html#value
https://www.creativebloq.com/buying-guides/best-laptop-for-cad#section-how-we-test

tx! definitely portable

[mevinyavin]

Price mistake? Listing mistake?
Probook 14" with old 4000 series Ryzen 5 PRO, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, listed as new for $300.
Probably not new.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-845-g7-14-1920-x-1080-full-hd-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-pro-with-16gb-memory-256gb-solid-state-drive-silver/6587505.p?skuId=6587505

ETA: listed as refurb in the Q&A... but the original listing hasn't been fixed.

[mevinyavin]

@Luvtotravel

tx! definitely portable

Note that 14" come without number pads.
$679 - a very very good budget option, a bit low in the VRAM but shouldn't be a problem for school for sure. Could be by the time it is a problem she'll be ready for a desktop.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1822163-REG/asus_k3405vf_es74_14_wuxga_16_10_vivobook.html/specs

$800 - for number pad. Also more processor, same haara on the graphics but also the RAM is not upgradeable.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1807565-REG/asus_k5504vn_ds96_15_6_vivobook_s_15.html/specs

$900 - if you decide portability doesn't matter, this checks every box except that.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/gaming-laptops/g15-gaming-laptop/spd/g-series-15-5530-laptop?cjdata=MXxZfDB8WXww&cjevent=8ec2bc952fa811ef8011676b0a18b8f9&dgc=CJ&publisherid=4516888&publisher=&aff=H2L+Media+GmbH&affid=4516888&aff_webid=7791525&aff_user_id=&gacd=12325410-28459961-5750457-344824743-177283908&dgc=af&VEN1=7791525&dclid=CJm38_yj7IYDFXVSQQIdWnMMAA

$1150 - portable version of no-holds-barred. https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-zephyrus-g14-14-165hz-gaming-laptop-qhd-amd-ryzen-9-with-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4060-512gb-ssd-moonlight-white/6535495.p?skuId=6535495

$1200 - portable full-size, no haaros except the cost and the specs don't run as great as they sound due to thermal constraints. (Also true with first option and second option - portability usually does this - but the $1150 above is an exception.)
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-16-plus-laptop/spd/inspiron-16-7630-laptop/usichbto7630gmlk?ref=variantstack

Prices subject to change before I am back to answer your questions. To be clear, ALL OF THESE ARE good. Ask someone else for clarification because I may not be available to answer before Sunday morning.

[Yehudaa]

Could be by the time it is a problem she'll be ready for a desktop.

Out of curiosity, why  do people buy desktops instead of a laptop+dock? I work all day on a good laptop with a a good dock, with no issues. I love the flexibility of being able to pick up and go.

Is it just a matter of price?

[Chuchum Ainer]

Out of curiosity, why  do people buy desktops instead of a laptop+dock? I work all day on a good laptop with a a good dock, with no issues. I love the flexibility of being able to pick up and go.

Is it just a matter of price?

Desktops last much longer and can be much more powerful.
You can also customize the peripherals (screen, speakers. Keyboard, mouse. Webcam) much more, though that's the same with a dock.
Of course laptops are more portable.

[mevinyavin]

Desktops last much much longer and are almost always much more powerful.

So far as I can tell. The thermal constraints of a laptop, both due to cooling needs and to insure it sips power and therefore can run off the wall, are very different.
That's why once you have a monster laptop which is definitely intended to be used plugged in, the performance gap with desktops closes.
Secondly, the main reason laptops die (if not banged around) is dust buildup finally causing something to pop. Desktop cooling is much better with this. So it is a chiddush for a laptop to last more than five years, and a chiddush if a desktop dies before seven years.

[Luvtotravel]

@Luvtotravel
Note that 14" come without number pads.
$679 - a very very good budget option, a bit low in the VRAM but shouldn't be a problem for school for sure. Could be by the time it is a problem she'll be ready for a desktop.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1822163-REG/asus_k3405vf_es74_14_wuxga_16_10_vivobook.html/specs

$800 - for number pad. Also more processor, same haara on the graphics but also the RAM is not upgradeable.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1807565-REG/asus_k5504vn_ds96_15_6_vivobook_s_15.html/specs

$900 - if you decide portability doesn't matter, this checks every box except that.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/gaming-laptops/g15-gaming-laptop/spd/g-series-15-5530-laptop?cjdata=MXxZfDB8WXww&cjevent=8ec2bc952fa811ef8011676b0a18b8f9&dgc=CJ&publisherid=4516888&publisher=&aff=H2L+Media+GmbH&affid=4516888&aff_webid=7791525&aff_user_id=&gacd=12325410-28459961-5750457-344824743-177283908&dgc=af&VEN1=7791525&dclid=CJm38_yj7IYDFXVSQQIdWnMMAA

$1150 - portable version of no-holds-barred. https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-zephyrus-g14-14-165hz-gaming-laptop-qhd-amd-ryzen-9-with-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4060-512gb-ssd-moonlight-white/6535495.p?skuId=6535495

$1200 - portable full-size, no haaros except the cost and the specs don't run as great as they sound due to thermal constraints. (Also true with first option and second option - portability usually does this - but the $1150 above is an exception.)
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-16-plus-laptop/spd/inspiron-16-7630-laptop/usichbto7630gmlk?ref=variantstack

Prices subject to change before I am back to answer your questions. To be clear, ALL OF THESE ARE good. Ask someone else for clarification because I may not be available to answer before Sunday morning.

truly appreciate the time this must have taken! will look into them all.

[mevinyavin]

truly appreciate the time this must have taken! will look into them all.

Prices all the same now but anything can end or go out of stock. Think fast.

[Luvtotravel]

Prices all the same now but anything can end or go out of stock. Think fast.

or drop in price? 

[Luvtotravel]

what about the integrated graphics card? is that bought separately?

[mevinyavin]

what about the integrated graphics card? is that bought separately?

These all have what you need.

[mevinyavin]

or drop in price? 

Sure, maybe. More often the sales end and I need to spend more time looking for a new sale.

[mevinyavin]

Lenovo Slim 7 tch 14" with 28W 13th gen i7, 16GB RAM (soldered), TB SSD for $700 at B&H
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1821788-REG/lenovo_83a40003us_14_slim_7i_multi_touch.html

LG UltraPC (AKA not the Gram but still very good), Ryzen 5 7530U (15W Zen 3), 16GB RAM (soldered) and 512GB SSD, $500
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1767093-REG/lg_16u70r_n_apc5u1_16_ultra_laptop_ryzen.html