Help with prebuilt laptops options

Sky03

Distinguished
Oct 21, 2009
1
0
18,510
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&series_name=dm4tbe_series

I want to buy this laptop and thinking of taking some upgrades.

+$20 upgrade from i3 2.4ghz to 2.5ghz (small increase but it's pretty cheap anyways)

+$100 to upgrade from 1366x768 monitor resolution to 1600x900

+$100 to upgrade from built in gpu (intel hd3000) to a 7470M

Or, forget about above and just get a 160gb ssd upgrade (+$220)

Used mainly for office docs, web browsing, etc. games would be nice but i know gpu can't handle it.
 

kelthic

Honorable
Feb 28, 2012
52
0
10,590
The link you provided lists options with i5 processors. If you want to game, it wouldn't hurt to check out those options.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMYWqYEc7LI This is a new game on a 7470m video running fairly good. Seems to to be handling it pretty well. For Gaming, i would definitely consider this upgrade.

The SSD would boost performance by a lot also. However, with the link you provided, the option for the 160GB ssd does NOT include a mechanical drive for your data, so if you take a lot of photos, have a lot of games, a large music library, home videos, etc., that 160GB is not going to last long. I do see an option in that link for $150 with 32GB SSD and 7200rpm mechanical option. The 7200 mechanical is going to be faster than the stock 5400rpm, with a SSD to hold your OS which will make the computer boot quickly.

 
"office docs, web browsing, etc. games would be nice"
Workload really doesn't say you 'need' a $220 SSD to my way of thinking. It's a luxury you add once you've added the other options.

The real productivity options are the 1600x900 monitor upgrade and i5 CPU upgrade.
For gaming the 7470M gives you more options - but it's a pretty weak card.