One of our technicians at RB’s Computer Service recently bought a new car. During the buying process, we often discussed things at the shop to ask about and look for. Doing some basic online research, we learned many things to consider that we didn’t even think about. As a result, we thought it would be an excellent idea to write a blog about the things to look for when buying a new or previously owned laptop, a topic we know a lot about. Because most of our customers use PCs with Microsoft Windows as an operating system, we decided to write our guide focusing on processors, graphic cards, RAM, and storage options most laptop buyers would run into during the buying process. While you explore options in this blog, if you get stuck figuring out which ones make the most sense for you, don’t hesitate to contact RB’s Computer Service.
How Much Processing Power Do You Need?
The first thing to consider is what type of processor you need. A processor is also referred to as the “chip” or the CPU. The two most common ones you’ll run into are Intel and AMD.
For the typical user who does web browsing, uses Microsoft Office, and perhaps even dabbles in some photo editing, you’ll want to consider the Intel Core i5 10th-generation or later processor. The type of processor is usually displayed on a sticker on the laptop, something like “Intel Core i5.” If you can afford it, an Intel i7 chip makes a nice upgrade and will make your laptop feel faster. The extra power often means shorter battery life, though, so you'll need to balance that with your needs. A gaming laptop, on the other hand, would use an i7 (or i9) chip, but an i5 is usually fine for less demanding tasks. Likewise, for the average user, the AMD Ryzen 5000 series should meet your needs, but the Ryzen 7000 makes a nice upgrade. Again, the tradeoff is shorter battery life.
Lastly, on processors, if you run lots of software, say Quick Books, edit videos, or work with very large databases, you're going to want more processing power. A good suggestion is the Intel i7 or Ryzen 7000. But, if you do this, you’ll need more RAM. Please see more about RAM below.
What About a Graphics Card?
All laptops technically have graphics cards (also called “discrete” graphics and GPU), but most are bundled into the motherboard with the processor. This is called “integrated graphics,” and it works well for the average PC user. You can watch HD movies and play a lot of games without any issues. However, if you're a gamer, graphic designer, or video creator, you'll want a laptop with a discrete graphics card that is separate and more powerful than the average graphics card. AMD and Nvidia make most of the graphics cards you'll find on laptops for this purpose.
Generally, most Intel-based laptops will be paired with an Nvidia graphics card in the GeForce line—usually one of the Max-Q cards, which is the power-efficient, laptop-friendly spinoff of Nvidia's desktop cards. They are usually labeled with the card name, then Max-Q: for example, the GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q. (A 3000- or 4000-level card will be more powerful but may have worse battery life.) The Max-Q cards are generally about 15 to 25 percent less powerful than the desktop versions but are still plenty powerful for gaming and video editing.
AMD's GPU line is called Radeon and ranges from the top-end Vega and RX cards down to R-series cards that mirror the Ryzen naming scheme, where the Radeon R9 is faster and more powerful than the Radeon R7 series, which is more powerful than the Radeon 5 series. Of all the factors to consider, choosing the best graphic card seems to be the most cumbersome to navigate for RB’s Computer Service customers. If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to RB’s Computer Service at 763-441-3884 or email us at help@rbsmn.com.
How Much RAM Do You Need?
It is never a bad idea to get more RAM and storage than you think you need. This is called “overprovisioning” (for more information on overprovisioning, check out our blog). RAM stands for random-access memory; it is what your laptop uses to hold data while the processor does its processing work. Think of RAM as your kitchen countertops. All the things you need throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, and supper need to fit on it, like the Keurig, Air Fryer, blender, banana rack, knife holder, etc. If your kitchen counter (RAM) space is too small to fit the things you need, you won’t be able to prepare (process) what you need to. If you run out of RAM, you won't be able to open any more browser tabs or finish compiling a video you are working on. Eventually, your laptop will freeze up and need to be restarted.
Even if you don’t use your laptop for work, the average laptop user saves a lot of images and videos these days. As a result, it is a good idea to start with 16 GB of RAM when you are looking at buying a laptop. For gaming, 16 GB of RAM is the bare minimum. One thing to investigate before you buy is whether the RAM is soldered to the motherboard. If it is, you won't be able to upgrade the RAM yourself, which is another reason to consider overprovisioning. For programming, running software, or editing video clips, 32 GB RAM is a necessity. One last thing about RAM. Ask RBs or investigate to see if the laptop's RAM has DDR4 next to it. DDR stands for double data rate. DDR4 RAM is faster. DDR3 RAM is older and less common these days. Most laptops have DDR4 RAM, but manufacturers will list the type on their sites next to the amount, so it's worth checking before you buy. DDR5 RAM has made its way to laptops as well, but it isn't yet widespread. If you do see a laptop with DDR5, though, it will likely be a bit faster at RAM-intensive tasks like gaming and video editing.
How Much Storage Do You Need?
After RAM, the next thing to decide is how much storage you need, which is the hard drive. The hard drive is where you'll store all your data. Your hard drive is like your kitchen cabinets….the place files are stored when you are not using them. The most common choice these days is a solid-state drive (SSD). Like RAM, it makes a lot of sense to consider “overprovisioning” (for more information on overprovisioning, check out our blog).
Generally, laptop buyers fall into three main buckets for SSD storage needs: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB to 1TB of SSD Storage.
• 128GB of SSD Storage is the Bare Minimum for Consumer Use
Although 64GB of SSD storage is sold frequently in laptops, it is NOT enough for consumer use these days. A safer bet is 128GB of SSD storage. SSDs slow down and lose performance when they are full and near capacity. For a low to moderate PC gamer, social media participant, video downloader, and uploader, you should be able to utilize the full 128GB of space on your SSD drive without it slowing down.
• 256GB is Better for the Average PC User
Based on anecdotal conversations with our PC customers at RB’s Computer Service, 256GB seems to be the sweet spot. With 256GB of SSD storage, you can install some large applications, like Microsoft Office, store more data, and still have some room to spare. Plus, 256GB also happens to be the minimum SSD size requirement for Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs.
• 512GB to 1TB of SSD Storage Should be the Minimum for Business Use, Marketing Pros, and Avid Gamers
Also, based on anecdotal conversations with local business owners, marketing pros, and avid gamer customers at RB’s Computer Service, 512GB of SSD storage seems to be a sweet spot for them. However, if you need more than 256GB of SSD storage, the trick is not to overspend on unused capacity. For basic web browsing, office work, and streaming media, 256GB is more than enough. But if you plan on storing lots of large video files or installing PC games, you’ll need more than 512GB of SSD storage, like 1TB of SSD storage.
For more information on SSD storage, check out our blog, “How much SSD storage is enough?”
Bottom Line
There are several factors to consider when buying a previously owned laptop or a new one. For the most part, once you determine your needs, you can dial up or down to meet them when selecting processors, graphic cards, RAM, and storage. The higher the number, the more power you will have. While overprovisioning is generally a good idea, if you are buying with a fixed budget, this could be too costly. At RB’s Computer Service, we get it. Don’t hesitate to pick our brains. We love helping customers; call us at 763-441-3884 or email us at help@rbsmn.com. We sell previously owned commercial-grade Dell laptops for $495 that come with Windows 11, Intel Core i5/16 GB, and a 512 GB SSD Drive. Plus, we sell Dell towers for $470 that come with Windows 11, Intel Core i5/16 GB, and a 512 GB SSD Drive (while supplies last). If you need a custom-built computer, we can help with that too.
References
How to Choose the Right Laptop: A Step-by-Step Guide
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-buy-the-right-laptop-for-you/
How much RAM do I need? Here's how to know
https://www.tomsguide.com/features/how-much-ram-do-i-need-heres-how-to-know
7 mistakes to avoid when buying a graphics card
External SSD Drives are More Flexible and Portable
https://rbsmn.com/external-ssd-drives-are-more-flexible-and-portable
How much SSD storage is enough?
https://rbsmn.com/how-much-ssd-storage-is-enough
Bigger SSD Drives Are Almost Always Better
https://rbsmn.com/bigger-ssd-drives-are-almost-always-better