Laptop enginering student

[gabis34]

Hello,

I will be studying engineering this fall and would like to purchase a computer before. I'm looking for a computer who will be able to handle most of the tasks. I don't know exactly which software I'm going to use, most probably solid works. I would also like a computer with a good battery life. I've looking at a few laptops however I'm still unsure and would like some advice. The lenovo y50 seemed nice however I''ve heard many critics concerning the sreen, and the battery life doesn't seem to be great. The lenovo yoga 2 with i7 processor, 8gb ram 500gb SSHD + 16gb SSD also caught my attention however I'm not sure if the the intel greaphics HD 4400 will be sufficient.
Then I also found a few laptops at the best buy site:

http/www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-envy-touchsmart-17-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-12gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-natural-silver/6522006.p?id=1219275642768&skuId=6522006&st=hp-and-lenovo-laptops-124160&cp=1&lp=3

http/www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-envy-x360-2-in-1-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-natural-silver/6647029.p?id=1219231129104&skuId=6647029&st=hp-and-lenovo-laptops-124160&cp=1&lp=2

Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[Josh French]

Hi. from what i hear, it sounds like you will be using programs that require an dedicated graphics card. To be honest, most laptop computers with separate GPU's have 3-5 hours battery life with few and far between getting 6+. I can't exactly say give you the best advice without without knowing more however, i'd say you would be looking at mostly ASUS's, LENOVO's and MSI's from bestbuy. As for the ones you choose, i tend to stay away from HP, just because i've had 2 laptops that haven't lasted an year through them. If i had to choose though, i'd say that the envy X360, just because it has that intel 4600 intergrated GPU.

Look at the lenovo Y50, because it has a 5 hour battery and an GTX 860 for the GPU, and an touch screen. Also look at the Lenovo u530, as for the battery life might be 6 hours on that, as well as the MSI GS60 Ghost-003 and the asus q550. The Y50 abd GS60 are the best of the group i'd say.

Lenovo:
Y50 (i5): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-y50-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-8gb-solid-state-drive-black/7513018.p?id=1219276505191&skuId=7513018&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=2&lp=12
y50 (i7):http/www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-silver/6443007.p?id=1219217424749&skuId=6443007&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=7
u530 (i7): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-silver/5829006.p?id=1219163970041&skuId=5829006&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=1

ASUS:
Q550 (i7): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-aluminum-black/3703007.p?id=1219093053506&skuId=3703007&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=2

MSI
GS60 (i7): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/msi-gs60-ghost-003-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-1tb-hdd-128gb-ssd-brush-aluminum-gray/6495172.p?id=1219222476183&skuId=6495172&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=2&lp=8




Search results (hub): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/olstemplatemapper.jsp?id=pcat17071&type=page&st=categoryid%24abcat0502000&sc=Global&nrp=15&sp=-bestsellingsort+skuidsaas&qp=operatingsystem_facet%3DOperating+System~Windows+8%5Eoperatingsystem_facet%3DOperating+System~Windows+7%5Eoperatingsystem_facet%3DOperating+System~Windows+XP%5Esoldby_facet%3DSold+By~Best+Buy%5Egraphics_facet%3DGraphics+Chip~NVIDIA%5Egraphics_facet%3DGraphics+Chip~AMD%5Eprocessorbrand_facet%3DProcessor+Brand~Intel%26%23174%3B%5Econdition_facet%3DCondition~New%5Eharddrivesizerange_facet%3DSAAS~Hard+Drive+Size~1TB+-+1.9TB&usc=All+Categories&fs=saas&browsedCategory=abcat0502000&seeAll=&gf=y&cp=1

Also, when looking, look for an GPU that is higher than an Nvidia GT 730. Look for an intel i7 with an 4700 or 4710 for the most performance, while an 4500u will give better battery life. and look for modern convinces, like an 7200 RPM 1TB HDD, an backlit keyboard, THINNESS, usb 3.0( blue usb ports) and an touch screen. And, if you are even remotely hard on your laptops like i am, GET THE LONG WARRANTY! Good luck

 

[gabis34]

Hi. from what i hear, it sounds like you will be using programs that require an dedicated graphics card. To be honest, most laptop computers with separate GPU's have 3-5 hours battery life with few and far between getting 6+. I can't exactly say give you the best advice without without knowing more however, i'd say you would be looking at mostly ASUS's, LENOVO's and MSI's from bestbuy. As for the ones you choose, i tend to stay away from HP, just because i've had 2 laptops that haven't lasted an year through them. If i had to choose though, i'd say that the envy X360, just because it has that intel 4600 intergrated GPU.

Look at the lenovo Y50, because it has a 5 hour battery and an GTX 860 for the GPU, and an touch screen. Also look at the Lenovo u530, as for the battery life might be 6 hours on that, as well as the MSI GS60 Ghost-003 and the asus q550. The Y50 abd GS60 are the best of the group i'd say.

Lenovo:
Y50 (i5): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-y50-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-8gb-solid-state-drive-black/7513018.p?id=1219276505191&skuId=7513018&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=2&lp=12
y50 (i7):http/www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-silver/6443007.p?id=1219217424749&skuId=6443007&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=7
u530 (i7): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-silver/5829006.p?id=1219163970041&skuId=5829006&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=1

ASUS:
Q550 (i7): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-aluminum-black/3703007.p?id=1219093053506&skuId=3703007&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=2

MSI
GS60 (i7): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/msi-gs60-ghost-003-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-1tb-hdd-128gb-ssd-brush-aluminum-gray/6495172.p?id=1219222476183&skuId=6495172&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=2&lp=8




Search results (hub): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/olstemplatemapper.jsp?id=pcat17071&type=page&st=categoryid%24abcat0502000&sc=Global&nrp=15&sp=-bestsellingsort+skuidsaas&qp=operatingsystem_facet%3DOperating+System~Windows+8%5Eoperatingsystem_facet%3DOperating+System~Windows+7%5Eoperatingsystem_facet%3DOperating+System~Windows+XP%5Esoldby_facet%3DSold+By~Best+Buy%5Egraphics_facet%3DGraphics+Chip~NVIDIA%5Egraphics_facet%3DGraphics+Chip~AMD%5Eprocessorbrand_facet%3DProcessor+Brand~Intel%26%23174%3B%5Econdition_facet%3DCondition~New%5Eharddrivesizerange_facet%3DSAAS~Hard+Drive+Size~1TB+-+1.9TB&usc=All+Categories&fs=saas&browsedCategory=abcat0502000&seeAll=&gf=y&cp=1

Also, when looking, look for an GPU that is higher than an Nvidia GT 730. Look for an intel i7 with an 4700 or 4710 for the most performance, while an 4500u will give better battery life. and look for modern convinces, like an 7200 RPM 1TB HDD, an backlit keyboard, THINNESS, usb 3.0( blue usb ports) and an touch screen. And, if you are even remotely hard on your laptops like i am, GET THE LONG WARRANTY! Good luck

Thanks a lot!!!
I'm going to look closely at the laptops you posted

 

[Arcturus314]

If you will be using solidworks, a gaming card won't affect performance. Most 3D CAD programs ( including Solidworks) only use the GPU if it is a professional line of GPUs like Nvidia's Quadro or AMDs FirePro. The Dell Precision line is a good series of workstations with professional graphics. Their smallest model is the Precision M3800, which is similar to their XPS 15 but includes a Quadro K1100M. The M3800 gets 6+ hours of battery life. From there it ranges up to the M6800, a desktop replacement with 5+ hours of battery life, and has many customization options.

 

[gabis34]

Hi. from what i hear, it sounds like you will be using programs that require an dedicated graphics card. To be honest, most laptop computers with separate GPU's have 3-5 hours battery life with few and far between getting 6+. I can't exactly say give you the best advice without without knowing more however, i'd say you would be looking at mostly ASUS's, LENOVO's and MSI's from bestbuy. As for the ones you choose, i tend to stay away from HP, just because i've had 2 laptops that haven't lasted an year through them. If i had to choose though, i'd say that the envy X360, just because it has that intel 4600 intergrated GPU.

Look at the lenovo Y50, because it has a 5 hour battery and an GTX 860 for the GPU, and an touch screen. Also look at the Lenovo u530, as for the battery life might be 6 hours on that, as well as the MSI GS60 Ghost-003 and the asus q550. The Y50 abd GS60 are the best of the group i'd say.

Lenovo:
Y50 (i5): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-y50-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-8gb-solid-state-drive-black/7513018.p?id=1219276505191&skuId=7513018&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=2&lp=12
y50 (i7):http/www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-silver/6443007.p?id=1219217424749&skuId=6443007&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=7
u530 (i7): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-silver/5829006.p?id=1219163970041&skuId=5829006&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=1

ASUS:
Q550 (i7): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-aluminum-black/3703007.p?id=1219093053506&skuId=3703007&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=2

MSI
GS60 (i7): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/msi-gs60-ghost-003-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-1tb-hdd-128gb-ssd-brush-aluminum-gray/6495172.p?id=1219222476183&skuId=6495172&st=categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=2&lp=8




Search results (hub): http/www.bestbuy.com/site/olstemplatemapper.jsp?id=pcat17071&type=page&st=categoryid%24abcat0502000&sc=Global&nrp=15&sp=-bestsellingsort+skuidsaas&qp=operatingsystem_facet%3DOperating+System~Windows+8%5Eoperatingsystem_facet%3DOperating+System~Windows+7%5Eoperatingsystem_facet%3DOperating+System~Windows+XP%5Esoldby_facet%3DSold+By~Best+Buy%5Egraphics_facet%3DGraphics+Chip~NVIDIA%5Egraphics_facet%3DGraphics+Chip~AMD%5Eprocessorbrand_facet%3DProcessor+Brand~Intel%26%23174%3B%5Econdition_facet%3DCondition~New%5Eharddrivesizerange_facet%3DSAAS~Hard+Drive+Size~1TB+-+1.9TB&usc=All+Categories&fs=saas&browsedCategory=abcat0502000&seeAll=&gf=y&cp=1

Also, when looking, look for an GPU that is higher than an Nvidia GT 730. Look for an intel i7 with an 4700 or 4710 for the most performance, while an 4500u will give better battery life. and look for modern convinces, like an 7200 RPM 1TB HDD, an backlit keyboard, THINNESS, usb 3.0( blue usb ports) and an touch screen. And, if you are even remotely hard on your laptops like i am, GET THE LONG WARRANTY! Good luck

I was looking at the u530 on the lenovo website, and was wondering if the Lenovo u530 with the Hybrid 500GB 5400RPM+8GB SSHD + 15.6" FHD LED AntiGlare Multitouch is better than the one Best Buy is selling. The one on the lenovo website however only has the Intel® HD Graphics 4400 whereas the best buy one has NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M.

 

[Urumiko]

My Dell XPs17 (now 4 years old) got 6+ hours battery life due to excellent power saving of the I7, and a big 9 cell battery.

I'd suggest stick with a lower power I7 chip, and have a look at after market battery options which might provide you with extended battery life.

Also swap your HDD for SSD.

When buying a laptop I usually look a the warranty/parts availability as i ike to keep it running for more than 1 year before it explodes

I find toshiba/dell have the best warranties though dell charge a lot.