Which mid-range laptop, and a few n00b questions..

[330CDT]

Hi guys,

So after having my basic Packard Bell i3 4gb laptop for 4/5 years now, it's time to upgrade. I don't know much about laptops, but I can understand comparing specs!

I would like it to be Windows, have an i5 Processor, 8gb Ram, 1TB+ Hard drive, possible dedicated graphics card or standard one?
15" or 17" screen size (HD), and of course a backlit keyboard! Good speakers would be a benefit aswell.

My main questions are:
Windows 8.1 or 10?

i5 processors, which is the latest generation? I keep seeing i5 5200-U processors, are these the one to go for?

Which brands? I keep going back to HP - these any good? Dell?
Budget of around £500-£600 maybe more for the right one.

I will be using it for some 2D CAD work, aswell as some 3D Sketchup, netflix and the usual internet browsing. Maybe recording videos from a Gopro at some point.

Any help seriously appreciated!
Cheers, Tom

 

[P.B]

There isn't a lot of cheap laptops on ocuk you just have to shop about on spec and performance just don't be fooled by higher numbers just because it's old tech doesn't mean it's slow you can find some really fast old gen ones discounted because eol

 

[clockwork.satan]

Hey there, 330CDT.

The specs that you provided such as a 17" screen and a backlit keyboard are what many would class as 'premium' features that are generally found on more expensive laptops, so you might need to raise your budget closer to the £700 mark if you want to get what you want. One thing you must be aware of however, is that laptop speakers are never really that great so if you're after good sound it would make much more sense to invest in a decent set of headphones or external speakers.

Windows 10 is definitely the version of Windows to go for, as it give a much better desktop experience than the confusing 'Metro' interface that 8.1 offered which, if you have not used it before, can be a frustrating experience.

In term of processors, the i5-5200U is an 'ok' CPU for everyday browsing and some light work, but since it's only a dual-core CPU you might find that it struggles a bit if you're doing more complex 3D CAD work. For between £600-£700 you should be able to find some laptops with an i7-4710HQ CPU which is going to be far more capable.

You should also be able to get dedicated graphics at that price point too and having a dedicated graphics card will definitely help with your 3D CAD stuff.

When it comes to brands, it's always going to be down to personal preference. HP and Dell are again what I'd class as 'Ok', but a bit bland and business-like. At the higher price point I'm suggesting you should be able to get nice Asus or MSI laptops with beefier specs.

Good luck in your search!