Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming very quickly and you need the perfect gift for a loved one or even for yourself. Whether it’s a computer on its last legs or just looking for an upgrade to be able to play the newest games, this Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great opportunities for you to find that great new laptop this holiday season. The question now is how do we know what laptops are good and how do we know what to look for with so many different types of laptop deals out there.
The main things you want to know are what the laptop will be used for, and what type of budget you have to work with. Both of these are directly impacted by the specifications and features that each laptop offers. You will be learning what to look for when looking at laptop deals this holiday weekend and some suggestions that you can start your shopping cart with.
Integrated and Dedicated Graphics
A laptop having dedicated or integrated graphics makes all the difference, especially when it comes to gaming. Integrated graphics means that the CPU, or processor, in addition to handling normal computing is also responsible for processing the graphics and output that appears on your screen. Dedicated graphics on the other hand means that there is a separate chip to handle graphics that acts independently of the processor. While dedicated graphics in a laptop means that it is much more capable of graphical operations like gaming or content creation, this specification naturally comes at a higher cost.
The easiest way to tell whether or not a laptop has dedicated or integrated graphics is whether or not there is a graphics processor or GPU listed in the specifications. Integrated graphics are also accompanied by a much lower price tag and these types of laptops are great for people who just want a device for general use. Normal web browsing, word processing, and very light gaming are common uses for laptops with integrated graphics.
RAM (PC Memory)
Another indicator of a great laptop is the amount of RAM or Random Access Memory it has. RAM is used to store data that is used often or that needs to be able to be recalled quickly as opposed to your hard drive storage. In video games for example, textures and assets like 3D models that occur frequently are stored in RAM and are deleted when the game is closed or transitions to another scene. In laptops, the higher the amount of RAM you can find, the better. 8GB is the minimum amount of RAM you want to have if you’re a general user for web browsing, with 16GB being ideal for work or gaming. Although a more hidden specification, dual-channel memory is a very good feature to see as RAM running in dual-channel mode can process data more quickly and efficiently.
Always Get an SSD
The primary types of long term storage are HDD (Hard Disk Drives) and SSD (Solid State Drives). HDDs use a magnetic needle over a spinning metal disc to write and read data while SSDs use electrons to do the same operation. Because SSDs do not have moving parts like HDDs do, they are significantly faster and there are very large differences in PC performance when data is being written and read from an SSD. Although it is common practice now, always make sure that the laptop you are getting has SSD storage.
You will notice that your laptop will start, run programs, and move files much faster than if it were using an HDD for these operations. Regardless of whether you’re gaming, doing office work, or just web browsing from day to day, an SSD will greatly benefit your user experience. This specification does come at a higher cost but many inexpensive laptops use a combination of a small SSD with a larger HDD which is perfectly fine. Just make sure you install the programs that you want to run more quickly on the SSD.
Nice to Have Features
Although the specifications we’ve gone over already are very important in choosing a good laptop, there are some other features to look out for to add a little more to your user experience if your budget has some wiggle room.
Refresh Rate – If you notice laptops with features saying 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rates, this indicates the maximum number of times the screen refreshes each second. Most traditional and budget laptops only have a refresh rate of 60Hz or 75Hz and when you see an object move quickly such as your mouse cursor across the screen, you will see a noticeable trail following the object. This occurrence is called ghosting and when you go to a higher refresh rate like 120Hz, ghosting is much less noticeable or altogether disappears. This is a very nice feature to have especially when it comes to gaming.
IO (Input & Output) – Input and Output, or IO refers to the plugs and ports that are available on a computer or laptop. Ideally you want to see a few USB 3.0 ports, usually colored blue, and at least one USB Type-C or thunderbolt port. The connector for this port is usually an oblong oval which allows you to plug in dongles for various types of devices and can even let you charge the laptop if you see a lightning bolt icon above the port. Other nice to have ports to see are an HDMI port which allows you to connect a secondary external display and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Webcam/Fingerprint Scanners – Webcams are usually considered afterthoughts but aside from the ability to make video calls, laptops that support Windows Hello can be extremely useful. Windows Hello uses your webcam to use your face as an extremely easy and secure way to log into your computer and alongside laptops that include fingerprint readers, you can save a lot of time getting into your computer as opposed to typing in a pin or a password.
Choose the Perfect Laptop
Equipped with all the specifications and features you need to look for, you’re prepared to look for that perfect laptop for yourself or a loved one. For general web browsing, work, or gaming, there are many different types of laptops available and when the deals roll out this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you’ll be able to purchase with confidence knowing you’re getting the best value for your new laptop. Listed below are 10 great laptops to start with and possibly even buy.
1. Budget Day to Day Use – Acer Aspire 5
[amazon box=”B087MXTP2K” title=”Acer Aspire 5″/]2. Reliable Office Work – Lenovo ThinkPad E15
[amazon box=”B087YBTSR4″ title=”Lenovo ThinkPad E15″/]3. Inexpensive Gaming – Dell Gaming G3 15 3500
[amazon box=”B08DX82SD8″ title=”Dell Gaming G3 15 3500″/]4. Portability With Performance – Microsoft Surface Laptop Go
[amazon box=”B08GZKZF87″ title=”Microsoft Surface Laptop Go”/]5. Gaming and General Use – Acer Nitro 5
[amazon box=”B087RSQGSV” title=”Acer Nitro 56″/]6. Middle Tier Gaming – Acer Predator Helios 300
[amazon box=”B08842D7JS” title=” Acer Predator Helios 300″/]7. Gaming with Performance – Omen 15
[amazon box=”B08DRW2R3Z” title=”Omen1 5/]8. Performance and Longevity – Apple MacBook Pro
[amazon box=”B081FZV45H” title=”Apple MacBook Pro”/]9. High End Performance and Gaming – MSI GS75 Stealth
[amazon box=”B08965B3YD” title=”MSI GS75 Stealth”/]10. A Laptop With No Compromises – Razer Blade Pro 17
[amazon box=”B087KXDMNS” title=”Razer Blade Pro 17/]
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