Buying a laptop is something that demands spending time analyzing your needs and picking the right specs that best fit your requirements. Even if you know what exactly you need, finding the accurate tech spec is difficult.
The article will help you determine everything from the operating system to ports and memory to storage that you must buy.
Operating System
Before you start your laptop hunt, deciding the operating system will boil down your search to specific devices. Review the apps that you want to run and determine the operating system that you need to use the selected apps. It will also help you determine the hardware you need for your work-specific needs.
Suppose your work requires running MS Word, Access, Outlook, and more, select Windows devices. macOS is comparatively more user-friendly and coupled with Apple’s hardware which allows for better sync. Go for the Linux operating system if you won’t mind a learning curve. Moreover, if your work is browser-specific, you may go with Chrome OS.
Processor
Once you know the operating system and software you are going to use, you can figure out the hardware specifications for your computer. You have two different options, including Intel and AMD Ryzen. Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 can be ideal options, but that also means a shorter battery span, so you will have to balance these things while using your computer.
If you are a power user such as a graphics designer, video editor, or programmer, you may need a higher processing power than other users. If you are using Chrome OS, you will not require a larger processor; however, you can install a quad-core processor inside your Windows and macOS.
Graphics Card
Most laptops usually come with integrated graphics cards bundled within the motherboard. If you are an average user, this can be a minimal requirement for you. However, if you are someone dealing with high-end graphics and images, a discrete GPU is what you need to install in your computer unit.
For those dealing with video rendering tasks in their day-to-day life, get an Nvidia or an AMD graphics card. If you go with Intel, Nvidia’s GeForce lineup is what you will get. With an AMD graphics card, you will get the Radeon series. If you do a lot of gaming or graphic designing, the graphic cards will make a noteworthy difference in the output.
RAM
The memory in your computer holds data temporarily while the processor is working on it to get the desired output. RAM accommodates all the programs that you try to run in a given time; therefore, you must have sufficient memory space available. Having a higher RAM will result in maintaining the performance of your computer.
8 gigabytes of RAM is sufficient for average users but get a laptop that allows upgrading to 16 GB. Analyze if the RAM is soldered to the motherboard as it will not allow you to upgrade the memory in the future. Having a computer with upgradeable RAM will enable you to use your computer flawlessly when the need for downloading multiple high-end apps arises.
Storage
The more, the better. The hard drive in your laptop will store all the data, so it is advised that you pick a larger one. When it comes to storage, there are two different things that you need to consider. One is the total storage limit, and the second is the type of storage media installed in the computer.
As far as the storage volume is concerned, go for at least 500 GB. For storage type, go with the latest SSD (solid-state drives) that are faster than the traditional hard drives and power-efficient as well. If you are a programmer or need to tackle large volume databases, pick at least 1TB storage.
Battery
The battery in your laptop must be huge and allow you to work for long hours even when you are away from home. Make sure your laptop is capable of holding a charge for at least 6 to 8 hours at a minimum. A long-lasting battery is as important as other hardware and software components in your computer.
When using a laptop, make sure no unnecessary apps are running in the background as they consume battery power. Also, minimize the visual effects to save battery drainage to some extent. However, there are various ways to improve the battery performance, and you can refer to this article to learn more tips.
Ports
Another important component that you consider while buying a laptop is the type and number of connectivity ports. Ports are important as they allow for plugin things such as a wired or wireless mouse, keyboard, external storage drive, speakers, headphones, printer, and other peripherals.
The number and types of ports that you must have on your laptop are based on your profession. For example, if you are a photographer, check if the computer you are looking to buy has an SD and a MicroSD card reader. Your laptop must have a USB-C and USB-A port along with a headset or microphone jack.
