Need Help Finding a Laptop

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Ihavenoideawhatimdoinghalfofthetime

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Jan 5, 2014
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Hello everyone, I'm going to college in about 8 months and I know really good deals come around April and September/August.
However, in the time being I will build a custom desktop and I have enough money left over to get a laptop. I plan on majoring in Computer Engineering.

I can't seem to find a decent laptop. If anyone has gone through engineering and has wisdom to share please do. I didn't know if there was something I was missing or what but here is what I'm looking for:

15.6" screen
8gb ram
Strong cpu for CAD and such
Hard drive ssd but I can buy my own and put in it
Gpu don't really care cause I have desktop
***Backlit keyboard is perfered***
Under $500

Thank you all
 
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Li-chan

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from personal experience i have found laptops of the hp probook variety to be extremely reliable and powerful, they have strong processor performance, decent amounts of ram, several added features such as bluetooth etc. i have found an example of the kind of thing im suggesting in this link: http://www.ebuyer.com/723849-hp-probook-455-g3-laptop-p5t06ea-abu its a laptop that i see would also fit your budget. good luck :)
 
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Ihavenoideawhatimdoinghalfofthetime

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Thank you for your input! Do you think a laptop Like that would last 4 years of college? Basic use?
 
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

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If you will be running CAD programs on the laptops, you'd want something with a Intel i5 or even i7 CPU. In your price range i7 is a bit too much, and for a laptop that is actually made to run heavier programs you are also out of range of a new one.

This one may be good though, even though it's a refurb, great quality and has a pro video card, and a solid state drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA3TX39N6551
 
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Ihavenoideawhatimdoinghalfofthetime

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Thank you for your answer. I am leaning between these three:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834315131&Tpk=N82E16834315131
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019G7VOSO?ref_=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834321235&Tpk=N82E16834321235

I am planning on putting an SSD into any or all of these computer. But how important is the GPU for those kind of programs? Do you think a back-lit keyboard and DVD drive are that important??
 
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

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Mar 25, 2010
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All those will be slower than the T430 I linked, the U model CPUs are low power versions, and for CAD programs a decent video card is helpful, although they will run OK on anything modern. For your price you will be in basic use systems, not anything made for engineering.
 
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Ihavenoideawhatimdoinghalfofthetime

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I was told that I probably wouldn't even be using those programs till like junior year so do you think it would be better to invest in a simple laptop that can handle basic things and CAD (just not as well) and get a custom built desktop? I was told I would need to spend +$1300 to get a laptop to last all 4 years and run everything effectively...
I could build a desktop that can be upgraded for after college and get a laptop for that price

Thanks
Ian
 
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

Titan
Mar 25, 2010
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For a new system to run things very well, yes you'd need about a $1,000 system. But you don't need to get a brand new one. I don't think I bought a new computer in the last 15 years and all of my systems have run fine with no issues till I replaced them due to slowness. Up to you though, any new system in the $500 range is good enough to run CAD, just not very well. And for $600-700 you can build a good desktop for that if you want. My view is that a 2 year old $1,000 system is better than a new $500 one by far.
 
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