Replacing An Old Desktop: Think About A Laptop!   by John Marcus

in Computers / Laptops    (submitted 2011-08-24)

Are you thinking about replacing your outdated desktop computer with a laptop? A lot of people might think a laptop can't operate as well as a desktop but that is not the case for most people. If you are thinking about making the switch there are quite a few options out there with plenty of things to think about such as:

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

Picking a CPU when deciding on a new laptop is a lot like picking a new engine inside a race car; the more power the better. For maximum power a good choice would be either the Intel i7 or AMD or AMD Turion X2 being the current top of the line models available. One thing to keep mind however is that with more power comes a lot more heat and a shorter battery life.

RAM (System Memory)

One key but often overlooked aspect of a computer is the system memory. This is especially important if you are trying to replace a desktop computer with a laptop. I recommend getting the most RAM that you can afford. Make sure you know the minimum memory requirements of your most used applications to get a good sense the minimum amount of RAM you will need..

Video Card

Any gamer out there knows that if you want maximum performance you absolutely must have a good graphics card. The top two manufacturers right now are ATI and nVidia. One thing to look for if you are a gamer or use any programs that are graphically intensive are the terms "integrated graphics" and "discrete graphics". Integrated means that the graphics are handled by an onboard card and "discrete graphics" are handled by a separate display adapter. If graphics matter, always buy systems offering "discrete graphics".

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

While many people don't really want or need a laptop with a huge hard drive, those that are replacing a desktop computer should consider a larger drive than normal. You should also pick a larger drive if you are the type that plays games rather frequently as the majority of current video games are rather space dependent.

If you must have the absolute fastest performance you should really get an SSD (solid state drive). These hard drives have no moving parts which means data is generally safer and performance is much faster. These little guys are pretty sturdy a bit pricey in comparision to standard drive and also have a lower capacity.

Screen Size

The size of your laptops screen can be an issue depending on how and where you plan on using your laptop. If you will be using your laptop mostly at a desk with an external monitor then you can get away with purchasing a laptop with a smaller screen.

If you are not using an external display you should either pick up a laptop with at least a 15 inch screen. Personally, I would go with a 15 inch laptop as opposed to a 17+ incher. To me a 17 inch screen is just too bulky to lug around.

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