Looking for a Laptop...

[TayeedzSA]

Hey Guys, how are you all doing?

Lil' Quick Side Note: Finally solved my internet issues, wifi booster for the win.

Now I have another issue. I'm currently on the market for a new laptop since my Acer right now is starting to fall apart despite me taking care of it. This time round however, I'm looking for something now to cater to my needs as well be reliable and have more power than before but on a budget.

Firstly let me establish what use my current Acer for and what issues it's giving me now. At the moment my laptop is an Acer Aspire 5733 with an I5-560M, 6GB of DDR3 Memory and Intel HD Graphics. It was great when I first got it but now I've outgrown the power, but that's not the only reason why I wanna get something better. I use my laptop for schoolwork and also plenty of graphic activities such as photo editing and video editing plus also rendering videos with an external game capture device (El Gato). Cue 1 and a half years later, an expired warranty and next thing I know, BOOM, problems start showing up. The screen hinges need a tightening, 2/3 USB ports are dead (An expensive fix...) and now whenever I render more than 1 video or just use the laptop at full power for more than an hour it will crash. I'm not even that extensive though...

So now I've decided to fix my current laptop and give it to a relative who needs one. For now I'm looking for something that won't fail on me and also I need something that's futureproof. I've been taking a look as of late with brand new laptops but not only are they expensive, they have some things I don't need, like Windows 8 and a touchscreen... Yeah...

Yesterday I managed to source a few used Dell XPS L502x, which for the price vs power and reliability seems great for me! I'm talking about the I7 versions though. However, since they're secondhand, I have my skepticism but then again I know Dell makes reliable products plus as far as I know you can't go wrong with an XPS and making sure you don't buy a lemon.

So I'm thinking, should I buy a used XPS or is there better out there? I'm being told by some that since I edit graphics I should get a comp with a good CPU and GPU then I won't have any issues, particularly if I want to install more programs and I can run my El Gato smoother. By the way, my budget is R5000-R7000. What do you guys think?

Thanks for reading my long post, I like giving all the details, here's a potato

 

[Pho3nix]

Hey Guys, how are you all doing?

Lil' Quick Side Note: Finally solved my internet issues, wifi booster for the win.

Now I have another issue. I'm currently on the market for a new laptop since my Acer right now is starting to fall apart despite me taking care of it. This time round however, I'm looking for something now to cater to my needs as well be reliable and have more power than before but on a budget.

Firstly let me establish what use my current Acer for and what issues it's giving me now. At the moment my laptop is an Acer Aspire 5733 with an I5-560M, 6GB of DDR3 Memory and Intel HD Graphics. It was great when I first got it but now I've outgrown the power, but that's not the only reason why I wanna get something better. I use my laptop for schoolwork and also plenty of graphic activities such as photo editing and video editing plus also rendering videos with an external game capture device (El Gato). Cue 1 and a half years later, an expired warranty and next thing I know, BOOM, problems start showing up. The screen hinges need a tightening, 2/3 USB ports are dead (An expensive fix...) and now whenever I render more than 1 video or just use the laptop at full power for more than an hour it will crash. I'm not even that extensive though...

So now I've decided to fix my current laptop and give it to a relative who needs one. For now I'm looking for something that won't fail on me and also I need something that's futureproof. I've been taking a look as of late with brand new laptops but not only are they expensive, they have some things I don't need, like Windows 8 and a touchscreen... Yeah...

Yesterday I managed to source a few used Dell XPS L502x, which for the price vs power and reliability seems great for me! I'm talking about the I7 versions though. However, since they're secondhand, I have my skepticism but then again I know Dell makes reliable products plus as far as I know you can't go wrong with an XPS and making sure you don't buy a lemon.

So I'm thinking, should I buy a used XPS or is there better out there? I'm being told by some that since I edit graphics I should get a comp with a good CPU and GPU then I won't have any issues, particularly if I want to install more programs and I can run my El Gato smoother. By the way, my budget is R5000-R7000. What do you guys think?

Thanks for reading my long post, I like giving all the details, here's a potato

Dells are really reliable but would say, save a little more for a new machine or atleast one with warranty.
Could you list the applications you need to be running?

 

[TayeedzSA]

@Pho3nix , I'm using Sony Vegas Pro, Adode After Effects, Photoshop and the recording software that came with the El Gato.
I tried to Install other software like Hitfilm Express and Open Broadcaster Software (Streaming and recording but for PC only) but I couldn't install because of my limitations.

Can't I get an extended warranty from Dell?

 

[Pho3nix]

@Pho3nix , I'm using Sony Vegas Pro, Adode After Effects, Photoshop and the recording software that came with the El Gato.
I tried to Install other software like Hitfilm Express and Open Broadcaster Software (Streaming and recording but for PC only) but I couldn't install because of my limitations.

Can't I get an extended warranty from Dell?

You can get an extended warranty if it's still covered. Think you need a month for everything to be sorted. Best ask for the service tags and find out.
Check Carbonite as there might be a bargain to be had. Maybe up your budget to R8.5-R10k as well?

 

[TayeedzSA]

I'll do some snooping around. Thanks Pho3nix, I'll check Carbonite as well.

I considered upping it to that much but yoh it's expensive as it is right now. Not really feeling the new machines that much but I found a perfect one off Newegg.com, only issue is that Importing is expensive!

 

[RyanPCMR]

Consider buying a new laptop cause according to your post you tend to give up easy on a technical problem.

Bought my previous laptop (hp dv5224ea) in 2006 and it still runs smooth with a memory upgrade and Win 7.

 

[TayeedzSA]

Consider buying a new laptop cause according to your post you tend to give up easy on a technical problem.

Bought my previous laptop (hp dv5224ea) in 2006 and it still runs smooth with a memory upgrade and Win 7.

The laptop is breaking quicker than it should, I troubleshooted the problems, phoned 3rd Party Technicians, Phoned Acer themselves and it's going to cost a lot of money to repair it plus I want more power now so I decided to think about a new laptop. So simply "give up easy on a techinical problem" is not the case here.

 

[kolaval]

As always

SS

wait for it

D!

 

[TayeedzSA]

As always

SS

wait for it

D!

I heard those are the business

Man..... I've done more research and the XPS L502x is exactly what I need. I7, 2gb Nvidia Graphics, 6gb DDR3 (Though I'll upgrade that later), aluminium chassis and I heard the XPS range is top notch. The ones I'm seeing for sale are 5 months- 1.5 years old and work well. Also been looking up the common problems. Mostly driver related stuff but for more heavy things. I think I'll be good on this but hey.

Any other advice with regards to buying used laptops anyone?

 

[Rickster]

Is a desktop out of the question?

 

[TayeedzSA]

Is a desktop out of the question?

Pretty much. I like to be mobile with my kit. Plus I do photography and stuff so it's nice to have a PC ready if I need.