Question New laptop advice: what minimum GPU, RAM, & GHz do I need for...?

[kenmore3973]

I need to buy a new laptop, and I am tech-illiterate. That's why I'm asking questions here.

Basically, I want to purchase the cheapest laptop on the market which meets my needs. All I need the computer for is Internet surfing (including running videos), conducting Zoom conferences, and using Whatsapp. Also, I do a lot of office work on the computer using Apache OpenOffice software.

Presently I've got an ASUS VivoBook 15 (core i7 processor, 1.80GHz, 16.0 GB) which has done a fine job for me in the two years I've been using it. However, the laptop is breaking down. Time for a new machine.


So, given my computer needs, what's the minimum amount of the following which my new machine will require:

1. CPU size
2. RAM size
3. GHz size

Thanks in advance for any answers.

 

[kenmore3973]

Can anyone here give me some advice?

 

[hang-the-9]

I need to buy a new laptop, and I am tech-illiterate. That's why I'm asking questions here.

Basically, I want to purchase the cheapest laptop on the market which meets my needs. All I need the computer for is Internet surfing (including running videos), conducting Zoom conferences, and using Whatsapp. Also, I do a lot of office work on the computer using Apache OpenOffice software.

Presently I've got an ASUS VivoBook 15 (core i7 processor, 1.80GHz, 16.0 GB) which has done a fine job for me in the two years I've been using it. However, the laptop is breaking down. Time for a new machine.


So, given my computer needs, what's the minimum amount of the following which my new machine will require:

1. CPU size
2. RAM size
3. GHz size

Thanks in advance for any answers.

When you say the laptop is breaking down, do you mean it's actually falling apart or just not working as well? A two year old laptop should not be having issues running.

 

[kenmore3973]

Thanks for the reply. I'll explain my strange situation.

By "breaking down," I mean certain keys on the keyboard stopped working. They are the "p", "0", and hyphen keys, all of which are adjacent to each other. This dysfunction started two months ago.

In an effort to diagnose the problem, I called computer service specialists. They told me the symptoms indicated one of two problems: the keyboard conked out and needed replacement, or the underlying hardware (motherboard) is breaking down. Either way, the laptop is beginning to die from cumulative wear-and-tear.

The price of repairing this laptop would be 50% of its retail price. Not worth it. Therefore, I planned to ditch the machine and buy the cheapest substitute on the market which meets my minimum needs.

But, to my surprise, just a few days ago the broken keys started working again. I have no idea why.

 

[hang-the-9]

Thanks for the reply. I'll explain my strange situation.

By "breaking down," I mean certain keys on the keyboard stopped working. They are the "p", "0", and hyphen keys, all of which are adjacent to each other. This dysfunction started two months ago.

In an effort to diagnose the problem, I called computer service specialists. They told me the symptoms indicated one of two problems: the keyboard conked out and needed replacement, or the underlying hardware (motherboard) is breaking down. Either way, the laptop is beginning to die from cumulative wear-and-tear.

The price of repairing this laptop would be 50% of its retail price. Not worth it. Therefore, I planned to ditch the machine and buy the cheapest substitute on the market which meets my minimum needs.

But, to my surprise, just a few days ago the broken keys started working again. I have no idea why.

You can get a keyboard for well under $100 and swapping one out if you can't do it yourself should not be more than a $30 job, it takes like 10 minutes. Unless you are really hard on the laptop two years is pretty much nothing for normal wear on a laptop, I have used systems around 10 years old that were fine.

I see way too many people basically toss away perfectly good computers where the fix is like an hour of time installing new Windows or maybe swapping out a failing drive.

 

[kenmore3973]

Every place I called (and I live in a large city) said I'd first have to pay a diagnostic fee of $50 or more, just to find out if the problem is my keyboard or circuit board.

Assuming it's the keyboard, I was told by several computer outlets that they cost no less than $150. Finally, the labor charge for installing the new keyboard would be $100 at the least. Again, this information was given to me by numerous stores and repair shops.

That means at least $300 in repairs and parts. And it's not even certain the keyboard's the problem.

As for self-repair, forget it. I'm a non-techie and cannot possibly incur the risk of taking apart my machine.

BTW, the three keys just conked out again this morning.

 

[kenmore3973]

Meanwhile, assuming I've got to replace this machine (and I think I probably will), can anyone answer my original question?

I've got to identity the cheapest viable replacement laptop.

 

[COLGeek]

Meanwhile, assuming I've got to replace this machine (and I think I probably will), can anyone answer my original question?

I've got to identity the cheapest viable replacement laptop.

What is your budget? Is battery life important? What about portability? Desired screen size? The answers to your original questions are less relevant that you might think.

1. CPU size: I would recommend a CPU with at least 4-cores
2. RAM size: I would recommend having at least 16GB of memory and no less than 512GB of SSD storage (How much storage does your current system have?)
3. GHz size: Not really a relevant question, in my opinion

Last question, do you game at all? If so, what types of games. If not, your previously stated uses would be fine with an integrated video solution, vice a dedicated GPU.

 

[kenmore3973]

All I need the laptop for is schoolwork. That means 24/7 access to the Internet, including ability to watch videos (like Youtube), ability to work with Apache Open Office word processing documents and spreadsheets, and capacity to attend online classes through Zoom. That's all.

I want to get the most dirt-cheap laptop which accomplishes these tasks. I'm hoping to find something in the $500 to $600 range. Maybe $700 at most.

I'm not a gamer. Not at all.

I could have run this question past the tech people and salesmen at my local super-sized computer store (national chain). But those folks are notorious rip-off artists who are trained to sell customers unneeded tech at high prices. For example, their tech repair guys quoted me a fee of $350 for diagnosing and fixing my machine's present problem. I'm sure you know the name of the national chain store I'm talking about. No need for me to mention it here.

So, that's why I'm asking for recommendations here as opposed to going back to that store.

 

[COLGeek]

From where would you like to purchase a laptop? Amazon? Newegg? Best Buy? Microcenter? Directly from Dell?

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/del...aptop/spd/inspiron-15-3525-laptop/nn3525fjqhs

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Latitude-5590-Professional-Refurbished/dp/B07H6LXXDV/

 

[hang-the-9]

Every place I called (and I live in a large city) said I'd first have to pay a diagnostic fee of $50 or more, just to find out if the problem is my keyboard or circuit board.

Assuming it's the keyboard, I was told by several computer outlets that they cost no less than $150. Finally, the labor charge for installing the new keyboard would be $100 at the least. Again, this information was given to me by numerous stores and repair shops.

That means at least $300 in repairs and parts. And it's not even certain the keyboard's the problem.

As for self-repair, forget it. I'm a non-techie and cannot possibly incur the risk of taking apart my machine.

BTW, the three keys just conked out again this morning.

You can look up the price of a keyboard yourself. $36 keyboard for the ASUS Vivobook, of course you should look up your exact model https://www.amazon.com/Original-VivoBook-X510UA-Keyboard-Backlit/dp/B07ZZ66HB6
Research is very easy done these days online with a web search. $150 would be for higher end keyboards in high end laptops that are rare to find spare parts for, say a $2000 gaming laptop with a mechanical keyboard. $100 for 15 mins of work is also a bit much, you should be able to find a place that would do it for half that. even if you don't want to replace it yourself. Most places should have an hourly labor cost listed, even 30 mins is a long time for a keyboard swap, I can probably take a part the whole system and put it back together again to swap a motherboard in 30 mins.

Replacing one is not that hard, but if you are afraid of opening it up that is another thing. You don't need to be really technical to do it, just be able to use a screwdriver and have agility past the level of a hippo so as not to damage connectors hehe. Look at it this way, if the system is not working, how much more risk are you taking by trying to fix it for just the cost of a keyboard? See how much you can sell the system for in as in condition and then you can see what the risk of a repair is to you.

For basic school use, you can find a used working system maybe a bit slower than yours for like $200 in good shape. I love the Lenovo T430 laptops, they are easily available, very reliable and even with a newer solid state drive can be found cheap. If you are in a big city your local craigslist should have a ton of listings, or head to a computer shop that does repairs they often have used systems for sale, although at prices probably 30-50% higher than what you can get from a private seller.

 

[GHolnyuk]

I would not buy a laptop from onllne such as Newegg, or Amazon. Stay local.

 

[kenmore3973]

I would not buy a laptop from onllne such as Newegg, or Amazon. Stay local.

Why is that? What's the downside to dealing with these online merchants?

I would have thought that if the machine's new, it won't be a lemon. No?

 

[kenmore3973]

From where would you like to purchase a laptop? Amazon? Newegg? Best Buy? Microcenter? Directly from Dell?

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/del...aptop/spd/inspiron-15-3525-laptop/nn3525fjqhs

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Latitude-5590-Professional-Refurbished/dp/B07H6LXXDV/

I appreciate the suggestions, but I noticed those machines are refurbished. I definitely won't buy refurbished (too risky).

I'm looking for the cheapest new laptop available that can meet my Zoom teleconferencing needs. No special requirements beyond that.

Is a core i7 processor the minimum power I need for my needs? Or could a core i5 get the job done?

 

[COLGeek]

An i5 is more than sufficient.

 

[GHolnyuk]

Why is that? What's the downside to dealing with these online merchants?

I would have thought that if the machine's new, it won't be a lemon. No?

Lemon or not, you need tech support, and to talk to local support, or a refund. I buy parts, but not a whole laptop.