New laptop choice

[ukracer]

I am looking for a new laptop but the choice is bewildering.

I have found 2 so far...anyone care to comment or suggest a better option?

☆☆☆☆
HP Pavilion 17-Ab405na Intel® Core™ I5, GeForce GTX 1050, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD 17.3in Gaming Laptop - Black
Get ready to unleash your inner content-creating, media-craving, game-crushing potential, because this Pavilion Laptop was built to handle everything you’ve got. With turbocharged performance you can go from immersive streaming sessions to lag-free photo editing, and do it all from wherever you want.
Blue Tooth: Y
Depth: 41.6 CM
Display Size: 17.3in
Intel® Core™ i5-8300H (2.3 GHz base frequency, up to 4 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, 8 MB cache, 4 cores)
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 (2 GB GDDR5 dedicated)
1 TB 5400 rpm SATA
8 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (1 x 8 GB)
43.9 cm (17.3") diagonal FHD IPS anti-glare WLED-backlit (1920 x 1080)
2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Data transfer only)
B&O PLAY, dual speakers, HP Audio Boost
HP Wide Vision HD Camera with integrated dual array digital microphone
1 HDMI 1.4
Intel® Wireless-AC 9560 802.11b/g/n/ac (2x2) Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® 5 Combo
Graphics: Discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (2 GB GDDR5 dedicated)
Hard Drive Storage: 1 Tb
Height: 2.99 CM
Processor: Intel Core i5-8300H (2.3 GHz base frequency, up to 4 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 8 MB cac
RAM Memory: 8 GB
Screen Resolution: 1920x1080
Screen Type: Full HD IPS
Touch Screen: N
Width: 27.95 CM
Wifi Enabled: Y☆☆☆☆

Or

☆☆☆☆
N: 8YM4M EAN: 5397184120262
Dell Inspiron 17-5000 Series, Intel® Core¿ I7-8550U Processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB HDD & 128GB SSD, 17.3 Inch Full HD Laptop With 4GB AMD Radeon 530 Graphics
Introducing Dell Cinema with incredible sound and streaming: • CinemaSound: Waves MaxxAudio® boosts volume and clarifies every tone, so you experience studio-quality sound. • CinemaStream: SmartByte channels maximum bandwidth to your videos or music for a seamless, stutter-free experience. Fully immersive, completely impressive: • Clarity on display: Enjoy the crisp detail of 17.3" FHD display to see everything better. And the IPS wide-viewing screen gives you superb color consistency from any angle. • Operating System: Windows 10 Home. • Hear every detail: Waves MaxxAudio® pumps up your sound, so you can hear everything from concerts to film scores and gaming action with rich, resonant tones. A new standard for style: • Entertainment that goes with everything: The eye-catching premium metallic silver finish and sleek design look good in any room in your home. Responsive performance and ample storage: • The power to perform: The latest Intel® Core™ i processor delivers plentiful power in a sophisticated package. • More memory: With increased performance, boosted bandwidth and epic energy efficiency with 8GB DDR4 memory, you’ll be running all your apps and multitasking like a pro in no time. • Dramatic graphics: Game more smoothly than ever and tackle photo editing and other tasks with ease with the extra power and optimal everyday performance of up to 4GB of GDDR5 discrete graphics. • Seismic storage: 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD storage for powerful performance and plenty of backup. Crowd-pleasing features: • Universal connectivity: USB Type-C 3.1 charges your device, connects to Ethernet and USB and also supports both audio and video output for quick and easy connecting. • Pass on passwords: Windows Hello and the fingerprint reader on the power button makes secure logins as simple as possible, even for multiple users. • Convenient optical drive: Watch movies, play games, listen to your favorite music with the DVD drive or burn your own discs for file backups.
Blue Tooth: Y
Depth: 279.2 MM
Display Size: 17in
Solid State Drive (SSD) Storage: 128GB + Hard Disk Drive (HDD): 1TB
Display: 17.3 inch LED Backlit Anti Glare with Truelife FHD resolution (1920x1080)
Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit English
WiFi: 802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.1, Dual Band 2.4&5 GHz, 1x1
Connectivity: 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 2.0 Port, 1x HDMI Port
Connectivity: 3-in-1 SD Card Reader, 1x Ethernet Port, 1x Audio jack
Webcam: 1280 x 720 Pixel, HD Webcam, 0.92 MP, 30 fps, 720p
Audio: Stereo Speakers + Waves MaxxAudio®
Tray load DVD Drive (Reads and Writes to DVD/CD)
Fingerprint Reader
Graphics: AMD Radeon 530 Graphics with 4GB GDDR5
Hard Drive Storage: 1 Tb
Height: 25 MM
Processor: 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-8550U Processor (8MB Cache, up to 4.0 GHz)
RAM Memory: 8 GB
Screen Resolution: 1920x1080
Screen Type: IPS
Width: 415.4 MM
Wifi Enabled: Y
☆☆☆☆☆☆


Thanks in advance..

 

[pcwizme]

So in pure numbers the Dell reads better but cost and use of course make a big difference, what are you planning on doing with it?

 

[aguycalledsteve]

I'd say the Dell is the better spec. The HP doesn't confirm it has an SSD. The Dell does. If you get it, clear off all the crapware Dell impose on you and you'll have a decent machine.

 

[ukracer]

So in pure numbers the Dell reads better but cost and use of course make a big difference, what are you planning on doing with it?

Well......lol. I am 60 shortly and my son and wife have been talking and stopping when i enter the room. Them yesterday my son sends me those specs and suggests if he buys the cafe they are trying for he will need a laptop. But later that day asked the question how old my laptop was.....so i am putting two and two together and thinking it might be a ruse.

So..if it is for me i use it when away in the 5th wheel for general use.
I now have a 3D printer so will be using it for cura and sending stuff to octoprint.
Plus i spend a lot of time on forums and social media.
But i guess my biggest use power wise is for designing 3D objects in various software such as blender etc

I also want to start video editing etc etc.

 

[frank horton]

never been happier since going all Apple,
2 x 27" Mac's, 1 lap top, 1 note pad and 3 phones.......
never had a bug or major problems......
so guess what I'd recomend........hahaha......

 

[Maker]

Apple don't make a 17" laptop or any laptop for £700 though.

 

[8ob]

Jez! thats one long winded way of saying pooter

HP Pavilion 17-Ab405na Intel® Core™ I5, GeForce GTX 1050, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD 17.3in Gaming Laptop - Black
Get ready to unleash your inner content-creating, media-craving, game-crushing potential, because this Pavilion Laptop was built to handle everything you’ve got. With turbocharged performance you can go from immersive streaming sessions to lag-free photo editing, and do it all from wherever you want.
Blue Tooth: Y
Depth: 41.6 CM
Display Size: 17.3in
Intel® Core™ i5-8300H (2.3 GHz base frequency, up to 4 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, 8 MB cache, 4 cores)
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 (2 GB GDDR5 dedicated)
1 TB 5400 rpm SATA
8 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (1 x 8 GB)
43.9 cm (17.3") diagonal FHD IPS anti-glare WLED-backlit (1920 x 1080)
2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Data transfer only)
B&O PLAY, dual speakers, HP Audio Boost
HP Wide Vision HD Camera with integrated dual array digital microphone
1 HDMI 1.4
Intel® Wireless-AC 9560 802.11b/g/n/ac (2x2) Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® 5 Combo
Graphics: Discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (2 GB GDDR5 dedicated)
Hard Drive Storage: 1 Tb
Height: 2.99 CM
Processor: Intel Core i5-8300H (2.3 GHz base frequency, up to 4 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 8 MB cac
RAM Memory: 8 GB
Screen Resolution: 1920x1080
Screen Type: Full HD IPS
Touch Screen: N
Width: 27.95 CM
Wifi Enabled: Y☆☆☆☆

 

[Maker]

Jez! thats one long winded way of saying pooter

I thought that, the post would be far more readable (Especially on mobile) if you just gave us the make and model number to google it.

 

[gaz1]

your not getting any of it your just getting a cover for your old one

 

[ukracer]

I thought that, the post would be far more readable (Especially on mobile) if you just gave us the make and model number to google it.

I dont know the model as my son only posted specs... he has now told me its my wife buying it for my 60th...so i started looking and wow...dont the prices vary.

She wants it using 4 years interest free so i know littlewoods will load the price.

Its becoming a nightmare...i would like one but dont particularly need one. Lol. Every time i see another that suits the price goes up and up...lunacy.

 

[angellonewolf]

If you buy an i7 with good ram and fair graphics card the extra money will only get you a minimal amount of speed 10/20 percent speed for a lot more extra cash

Eg 700 laptop will do what you need in 60 seconds the 950 will do it in 45 seconds unless your being paid for it save the extra cash for 4 years time and buy a new 700 quid one sell the old one for a good amount 250 is the best way to go future proofing is a good way of spending lots of cash only to find it fails just as quick as the 700 quid one

At if a life expectancy of a laptop is 4 years a 1200 poi d one still has a life expectancy of 4 years for parts used

 

[gaz1]

uselaptops direct also look at refurbedunits

 

[Robbie260]

A few years back i bought a buisness model lenovo thinkpad for college from thier direct website you can get a very very good spec very cheaply or you use to be able to. They took over ibm, there were a selection of upgrades you could spec such as gaphics cards ram hard drive etc. All very cheap upgrades i thing the most costly was from 500gb hard drive to a 1tb and that was only £20. Its a very good laptop and still going strong. They built and airfreighted the laptop from the factory in china for £15 to the scottish highlands in 72hrs best deal i ever got.

 

[ukracer]

A few years back i bought a buisness model lenovo thinkpad for college from thier direct website you can get a very very good spec very cheaply or you use to be able to. They took over ibm, there were a selection of upgrades you could spec such as gaphics cards ram hard drive etc. All very cheap upgrades i thing the most costly was from 500gb hard drive to a 1tb and that was only £20. Its a very good laptop and still going strong. They built and airfreighted the laptop from the factory in china for £15 to the scottish highlands in 72hrs best deal i ever got.

I am not a brand snob so if its good i will be happy.

Problem is i think i want too much for my money. 1k is my top line i think as it will need to be 4 years interest free credit.

I have looked around and some items are essential like a 17 inch plus screen.
An SSD hard drive with Terabyte data drive as well.
Memory i would like to be able to specify 1 stick of larger memory such as 8 meg so i have a spare slot to fill later as opposed to two 4meg sticks filling both slots.

Now for processor i dont know whether to sacrifice an i7 for an i5 as much as its nice to have the best i have always gone for 1 step lower as the extra 10% speed etc costs 1/3rd of the price usually. (As was highlighted earlier in the thread.).
I have never been a graphics card guru as i rarely see extra performance from a more expensive card in my desktops over the years. But i hope to do more learning/use of 3D design programs etc.

I would like to get the price to 800 as i feel thats not indulgant and my old laptop is at least 8 years old.

 

[gaz1]

is it like the owner then ?

 

[ukracer]

is it like the owner then ?

Sorry mate...lost me??

 

[angellonewolf]

if your laptop is 8 years old any upgrade is going to be a massive differance

 

[ukracer]

if your laptop is 8 years old any upgrade is going to be a massive differance

I will check the spec tommorow...

 

[ukracer]

I will check the spec tommorow...

https://h10057.www1.hp.com/ecomcat/hpcatalog/specs/provisioner/05/XE085EA.htm

Thats the specs. I have considered replacing the drive with SSD but as it only houses one hard drive it would need to be an expensive SSD.....AND i need a new screen (big black mark on it) and keyboard as the markings keep rubbing away from a few keys. (Its on its 3rd keyboard...lol

 

[ukracer]

I am looking at this model but it seems its only available from 1 supplier.


Plus i dont know if i can get it with SSD and a 1TB storage drive