I am going to college this fall. I will be an aerospace and computer programming major. My parents are going to buy me a laptop, but the one I have built myself is $2,100. I am afraid to ask for this configuration if I do not need everything. Here is the laptop summary:
Dell Studio 15
Intel i7-820QM Quad core processor 1.73GHz (3.06GHz Turbo mode)
Windows 7 Home premium
8GB DDR3 memory at 1066MHz
640GB SATA hard drive
ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5470, 1GB graphics card
15.6” High Definition (1080p) LED Display with TrueLife™ and Camera/Facial Recognition SW
Intel© Centrino© Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 Internal Wireless card
backlit keyboard
Soundblaster X-Fi Hi Def Audio – Software Enabled
I want to “future proof” this laptop so it will last many years. This will most likely be my only computer for several years, so I need it to be able to do lots of things like a desktop could.
Do I need all these high-priced components? I could also get the i5-520M processor for $485 less. And I’m not too sure i need that big of an HDD, but the 320GB is only $79 less.
Help!! please and thank you.
How much better is the i7 than the i5?
Thats a great laptop.
You could use the i5 if ur on a money budget but the i7 would be so much better.
I wouldn’t go for the 820QM- the quad core laptop processors are a bit of a battery hog. They use about 20% more power. The i5 is more than enough to handle everything you’ll throw at it, you’ll get the extra battery life, and it’s cheaper. Also, unless you have a super high-end stereo system, the Soundblaster X-Fi is a waste. WiMax is useless, pretty much a dead technology. It’s officially a 4G cellular network (which means you’d need to pay a monthly bill to Sprint to use it) but Sprint was the only company in the world supporting it, so it’s not going to spread very far.
The graphics card is required. Your an aero major so you’ll probably be doing simulations and CAD. Lots of RAM is good too, so you might as well go for the 8GB. The hard drive is up to you- I’m on a 250GB hard drive right now and fine with it, but some people have a lot more stuff than I do.