Taylor52594
New Member
I have been looking quite a bit now for a computer for college; I will be entering Chemical and Petroleum engineering in the fall. I have selected two *possible* computers. My budget is around 1100-1200 dollars, though I may decide to blow a few hundred more for a SSD if the computer I end up deciding on doesn't come standard with it.
I don't really have too, too many parameters. I really don't want to go bigger than 15.6'' and even that scares me a little bit in terms of lugging it around and whatnot. I do want to be able to game a bit on it. Diablo 3 level stuff. Other than that, I really don't think I will be doing anything too, too demanding like video editing or anything. And I want something that can last me.
Here are the specs for the two candidates at this point.
1. Thinkbook T430 with fast processing (around 1100 with these options).
Intel Core i5-3360M Processor (3M Cache, up to 3.50 GHz)
Genuine Windows 7 Professional (64 bit)- This was not the standard processor; there was an option for an i7, but for the extra money, will it really improve performance that much? Or will it only help when performing really demanding stuff?
14.0" HD+ (1600 x 900) LED Backlit AntiGlare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready- I just paid an extra 50 bucks for the extra resolution.
NVIDIA NVS 5400M Graphics with Optimus Technology, 1GB DDR3 Memory (50 dollar upgrade). Someone told me this was an outdated graphics card?
4 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (1 DIMM)- Is it really necessary to get the 8gb of ram? I just don't want to spend just for the hell of it.
320GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm- I am leaning toward purchasing and installing my own SSD. This is a perfectly viable option, I assume? I don't lose out on anything by doing it this away? Because I would prefer to see how the computer functions without one first and then I can search around for the best brand, etc, etc versus investing right here on the spot. Here is my question about this: I don't know how this works. 128 gb ssd is not a lot of memory. Will I be keeping my hard disc drive in addition to the SSD on this specific computer, or will it be one or the other? Because I really am not willing to dish out more than 200 bucks for an SSD, and if I have to bump up to a 256 gb or more, I would be forced to.
Computer # 2 (1050): Don't know as much about this guy. I have the link to the specs. I will not be needing to customize this one too much. Aesthetics aren't important to me, that much. Though if the computer appears to be on par with the other, I could lean toward it.
http://store.vizio.com/cn15a1.html#techspecs
So, any opinions, other recommendations, etc?
Thank you all so much for any help you can give me. I really don't know too much about computers.
I don't really have too, too many parameters. I really don't want to go bigger than 15.6'' and even that scares me a little bit in terms of lugging it around and whatnot. I do want to be able to game a bit on it. Diablo 3 level stuff. Other than that, I really don't think I will be doing anything too, too demanding like video editing or anything. And I want something that can last me.
Here are the specs for the two candidates at this point.
1. Thinkbook T430 with fast processing (around 1100 with these options).
Intel Core i5-3360M Processor (3M Cache, up to 3.50 GHz)
Genuine Windows 7 Professional (64 bit)- This was not the standard processor; there was an option for an i7, but for the extra money, will it really improve performance that much? Or will it only help when performing really demanding stuff?
14.0" HD+ (1600 x 900) LED Backlit AntiGlare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready- I just paid an extra 50 bucks for the extra resolution.
NVIDIA NVS 5400M Graphics with Optimus Technology, 1GB DDR3 Memory (50 dollar upgrade). Someone told me this was an outdated graphics card?
4 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (1 DIMM)- Is it really necessary to get the 8gb of ram? I just don't want to spend just for the hell of it.
320GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm- I am leaning toward purchasing and installing my own SSD. This is a perfectly viable option, I assume? I don't lose out on anything by doing it this away? Because I would prefer to see how the computer functions without one first and then I can search around for the best brand, etc, etc versus investing right here on the spot. Here is my question about this: I don't know how this works. 128 gb ssd is not a lot of memory. Will I be keeping my hard disc drive in addition to the SSD on this specific computer, or will it be one or the other? Because I really am not willing to dish out more than 200 bucks for an SSD, and if I have to bump up to a 256 gb or more, I would be forced to.
Computer # 2 (1050): Don't know as much about this guy. I have the link to the specs. I will not be needing to customize this one too much. Aesthetics aren't important to me, that much. Though if the computer appears to be on par with the other, I could lean toward it.
http://store.vizio.com/cn15a1.html#techspecs
So, any opinions, other recommendations, etc?
Thank you all so much for any help you can give me. I really don't know too much about computers.
