Which budget fast laptop

[CX53]

Hi all

I’m after a new laptop as my current one is ridiculously slow.

In fact, it’s been slow and rubbish since it was new. I don’t know why, but it’s very frustrating to use.

I want to spend as little as possible. I’m not using it for anything too heavy, just online browsing, emails, Skype and some software like SAGE while I’m doing an online course.

Anything anyone can recommend?

[Catnapper]

Have a look on
www.scan.co.uk

[MellerT]

I found Lenovo laptops to be fast and reliable. They might be a bit pricey but maybe you'll find some deals. ASUS are rated very highly too but at least my friends are all gamers that use ASUS.

[Paddymcc]

Just make sure it has an SSD hard drive fitted to it along with 8gb of memory and a relatively modern processor that's an i5 or better and you will get quite a few years use from it.

[TEKNOPUG]

Probably just replacing mechanical drive with an SSD and reinstalling Windows is all you need.

[Silverbullet767]

TEKNOPUG said:

Probably just replacing mechanical drive with an SSD and reinstalling Windows is all you need.

This, 100%. If you can change it out, do it. You won't find a cheaper way.

[LordGrover]

...assuming it's not a celeron or similar.

[CX53]

Thanks everyone...

I’m not quite sure how I’ll go about changing the hard drive, I’m not the most computer savvy person in the world, but I’ll definitely look in to it. If I do keep the current one it’ll definitely need windows reinstalling because my Mrs managed to make it unusable when she borrowed it.. it was already slow but think it’s riddled with viruses now!

[Bluesgirl]

There's a lot of help on Google/YouTube.

I've just done exactly this on my Macbook Pro (2012). I installed 1Tb SSD and 8Gb memory by following YouTube instructions. You'll need a few tools which you can get on eBay or Amazon and of course the hardware, also from Amazon and an external hard drive for a backup/clone.

I gather not all laptops can be upgraded this way, but it will be easy to find out and, if you can, it transforms the performance.

[HM-2]

Paddymcc said:

Just make sure it has an SSD hard drive fitted to it along with 8gb of memory and a relatively modern processor that's an i5 or better and you will get quite a few years use from it.

Anything with 8GB, an M2 SSD and an i5-5200U or better seems to be the "sweet spot" for fast everyday usability if you aren't going silly with workloads. I bought an 14" HP with the above spec and a decent 1080p screen for less than £400 back in January.

Edited by HM-2 on Friday 29th March 08:24

[DuncsGTi]

I just picked up an Asus X556U for my lad for £220 on FB marketplace.

Its got a 128Gb SSD, 8Gb ram and a 6th gen i7 running Win 10.

Its absolutely immaculate and a bit of a bargain I thought. Worth looking at something similar I'd say

[CX53]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

Lots like this for sale, I imagine should do the job?

[Integroo]

Chromebook if the various things you need to run will work in the environment.

[sparkyhx]

Bluesgirl said:

There's a lot of help on Google/YouTube.

I've just done exactly this on my Macbook Pro (2012). I installed 1Tb SSD and 8Gb memory by following YouTube instructions. You'll need a few tools which you can get on eBay or Amazon and of course the hardware, also from Amazon and an external hard drive for a backup/clone.

I gather not all laptops can be upgraded this way, but it will be easy to find out and, if you can, it transforms the performance.

jesus - didn't realise internal SSD's had become that cheap. When I read the above my immediate thought was 'yeh right'...……..I humbly consider myself re-educated.

[jingars]

Don't know what the OP's budget is, but Mrs jingars is two weeks in to using this Ryzen 3 based HP from ebuyer and is very happy with it.

[Venisonpie]

I'm looking for something similar to the OP. Ideally a £400 budget, it seems used ones are good value but at what risk?

Use is home office only (no games) and internet.

At £400 where would your money go?

[AJB88]

Venisonpie said:

I'm looking for something similar to the OP. Ideally a £400 budget, it seems used ones are good value but at what risk?

Use is home office only (no games) and internet.

At £400 where would your money go?

Depending on what you do on office you could possibly sit with a mid range Chromebook for £400.

[CX53]

Thanks for your replies all

I bought this in the end

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

It’s like new and lightning fast. Perfect for £180!

[Venisonpie]

AJB88 said:

Venisonpie said:

I'm looking for something similar to the OP. Ideally a £400 budget, it seems used ones are good value but at what risk?

Use is home office only (no games) and internet.

At £400 where would your money go?

Depending on what you do on office you could possibly sit with a mid range Chromebook for £400.

Yeah, I've got a chromebook now. Thing is it doesn't store documents, fine when working in Google drive but many other businesses don't which can make sending/ sharing docs a bit frustrating.

[AJB88]

Venisonpie said:

Yeah, I've got a chromebook now. Thing is it doesn't store documents, fine when working in Google drive but many other businesses don't which can make sending/ sharing docs a bit frustrating.

I can store documents on mine on the built in SSD or Cloud. You have the option to export documents as Micorsoft formats as well.