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I am looking to buy
this laptop, as I will be going off to college next fall for 8 years.
First, does anyone know if that is a fast processor, or if I would be better off with a new one?
Second, I'm looking to buy at least 8GB of DDR3 1333 RAM for it. I know that with dual core processors, 1333 will be restricted to functioning like 1066, but what about with the quad core?
Help would be appreciated.
That CPU is quite powerful but it's hard to say definitively without knowing what you'll use it for. Newer quad cores have been released by Intel recently, successor to this is the i7 2670QM.
Not all dual cores make it 1066 MHz I believe, check each dual core's specs on Intel's site.
Probably unrealistic to expect a laptop to last 8 years and still be "fast" without upgrading but that's just me.
The latest dual-core processors use DDR3-1333 memory. It was only for the first generation of Core i-series processors that the duals used DDR3-1066 and the quads DDR3-1333.
Don't buy that laptop!!! The screen is terrible, and it in general costs too much for the specs you're getting.
The screen is 15.6" with 1366x768 resolution. 1366x768 resolution in a 15.6" screen makes everything onscreen really big and makes it difficult to fit more than one window onscreen at a time because 1366x768 is the same resolution used in 12-inch laptops. 15.6" 1366x768 screens also have awful image quality with low contrast ratios and image graininess since they're budget-grade screens. This is the worst type of screen available in a 15.6" laptop and has no place in a $1400 laptop. Acer has a reputation for awful screens.
The screen makes more of a difference than any other spec because it affects everything you do. The processor, RAM, and even GPU only affect certain things. For a laptop that costs this much, don't look at the other specs until you've made sure you've got a decent screen.
EDIT: The Alienware M14x with the 1.5GB 555M and the 1600x900 display upgrade is also a decent alternative. The 1.5GB 192-bit 555M (don't bother upgrading to 3GB, makes basically no difference) is more powerful than the 128-bit 2GB 555M.
For most intents and purposes, faster RAM yields no REAL world benefits.
As stated above, 8 years is alot to expect out of a normal notebook, even out of a business class machine. You may want to fill out the form Charles posted so we can better help you pick out a notebook if you aren't dead set on that Acer.
For a machine you want to be with you for the next 8 yrs you need a business class machine (or, you really need to baby the consumer line Aspires and other consumer oriented notebooks).
If I would be putting together a system like that today - I would be getting 16GB RAM minimum (and upgradeable to 32GB in the near future) and the latest mobile 4 core cpu available such as the i7 2670QM.
The gpu? I don't care about - but then again - I don't game either.
The screen, as others have pointed out, is another area where I would be concentrating on getting the highest resolution, brightness, colour gamut and Adobe 1998 RGB coverage you can (hint: big $$$).
I'm not giving a specific recommendation because your question is too vague (what are you going to college for...), but a ThinkPAD would be my first choice for such a long-term system.
If you're able to wait until early next year, I would be looking at the Ivy Bridge version of these same systems you're looking at now - they will be much better equipped to be meaningful in 8 yrs as they will be the optimized, tweaked and polished versions of today's cream of the crop processors.
Yeah, all I'm recommending is that the CPU is the very latest you can buy (at the time you need to buy it) and that the RAM is upgradeable to as high as we can forsee at this time (32GB RAM in a 4 slot by 8GB per module configuration is not out of the question, for me).
Keep in mind that in those next 8 yrs you will replace the HDD/SSD at least a few times (if performance really is important to you) and you will also 'need' to do an O/S upgrade or two or three too. But, that is the 'normal' upgrades that we can do to any system, but the CPU and the RAM capabilities need to be built-in to the platform you will marry for the next 8 yrs to make those 'normal' upgrades feasible.
If you want to 'game' on this system - forget it - at least in the long term.
If you want to use this single system for business/accounting/web surfing/typying/pdf creation and other 'basic' stuff - indefinitely - then buy such a beast as I'm suggesting above. If you know your needs won't change in the time period indicated.
If, however, you want a more balanced approach to having the 'right' amount of processing power and the least $$$$ into it over the course of several years, then simply buy what you need now and sell (it) and buy what you'll need in the future (if/when your then current system doesn't deliver what your changing needs require at that time).
What size notebook do you prefer? Mainstream (15 - 16-inch screen)
What brands do you like or dislike? Dislike: Apple
Would you consider a refurbished laptop? No
What are the primary tasks you need this notebook for? Web Surfing, Photo Editing, Video Editing, Computer Programming, 3D CAD Design
Where will you be using this laptop? Will be used different places
How many hours of battery life do you need? 7
Will you be buying online or in store? online
Which OS do you prefer? Windows 7
List the screen resolutions that interest you: Max Resolution (1920 x 1080)
Do you prefer a glossy or matte screen? Matte is fine
Is the laptops design important to you? No
Approximately what date will you be buying this laptop? Around 05/17/2012
How long do you want this laptop to last? 8 years
How much storage capacity do you need? 500 GB
Are you interested in SSD for storage? Maybe
Do you want a built-in optical drive, what type? CDRW/DVD-ROM, DVD Burner
I will be going to college for electrical and computer engineering. It won't be for gaming, mostly work, audio/video work, and internet. The i7-2670QM sounds good to me. I'm not looking so much for super graphics quality, just being able to keep up with hd videos. At least 8gb of ram would be good.
So you want your laptop to last you until May 17, 2020? I think you are thinking a bit too optimistically. 5 years from the purchase date, even a top of the line laptop will be slower than new bottom end laptops.
You should buy a $1000 laptop now and see how long that lasts you, then buy another laptop when you need too. In your planned 8 years in school you will need at the very least 2 different laptops, most likely 3. And it isn't just about it becoming extremely outdated, but unless you leave it sitting on your desk all day every day, it is going to get a lot of wear and tear. Also stuff will break and you will want to upgrade things, but that sort of stuff quickly becomes not cost effective.
I'd come back in 6 months and then ask the same question. You are looking WAY too soon for a computer. Ivy Bridge should be out by then, same with the Nvidia 6xx series and AMD 7xxx series.
Well, I've only had my little Aspireone for a little over a year, so I don't have much experience with laptops. Lasting at least 4 years with upgrades would be nice. By then, they'll have ddr4, and probably 5 core processors, so will see.
a $10K+ ThinkPAD bought in 1997 was still in working condition 10 yrs later and is/was actually used daily for 'light' work until a year or so ago...
Still isn't dead - but simply not worth using anymore.
This was the cadillac of notebooks. Built like a tank and dependable/reliable no matter what.
For $2K in 2001 you could buy a ThinkPAD with 4x the performance (for 5x less money in less than 4 yrs).
In 2003 a ThinkPAD for $1K with at least double the 2001's system performance could be had.
Are you starting to see the picture?
Even with a $1.4K starting price in 2011/12 do you think this system is worth putting up with for 8 yrs time?
With the incredibly cheap/plastic construction (vs. magnesium alloy of the ThinkPAD's above) it wouldn't even be worth to upgrade a single part should it fail - but the biggest glaring point you're missing is that the performance of the 2020 systems will so outclass this machine you will be actually going backwards by using it, rather than simply getting a new machine (or two) in that time frame.
With your intended usage, I would suggest any of the $600 - $800 machines for now and, like I said already, sell it/give it away in a few yrs and buy a then current machine (repeat at least once more to get you through school).
The current machines for 1/2 the price of the one you're considering will be more than enough for your needs and with the money you save - you can buy at the same price point in a few yrs and double/triple or even quadruple your systems performance and still have spent the same money over the same time frame.
I agree 8GB is enough for you (for now).
This is even more applicable as you'll be purchasing in 9 months time.
There is no single system that will keep/make you happy at the end of that time period. There can even be a case made to spend $500-$1500 more (up to ~$3K in total) over the course of 8 yrs, but have 4 new computers over that time period too.
If performance over time is what you're seeking (I don't think you really know what it is you need/want..) then buying a new system every two yrs is a better way forward than buying once (and relatively cheap) now.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
