Where to buy a refurbished laptop?

Echolab said:
Thanks Aghori. That wootware laptop would be great but it's about 4k toooo much. It really looks like a descent machine.
Red Viking our budget is max 15k and that's pushing.
Your guys input has been great though, thank you.
Click to expand...
Hmmm... You should be able to get something at that price range, but don't think you'll get much in terms of warranty / guarantee. Which is probably what that extra 4K will give you on the Wootbook (Tong Fang). So then probably a 2 - 3 year old higher spec laptop, but no warranty.

I guess it all also depends on what you expect in specs or consider higher spec.
 
www.nucleustech.co.za

Dell Latitude 3440 i5-1335U/256GB/16GB RAM | Nucleus Tech

Dell Latitude 3440 - New 13th Generation Intel Core i5-1335U (10 cores, 12 threads, 3.40-4.60 GHz, 12MB cache) 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM 256GB M.2 PCI-e SSD 14.0″ FHD (1920×1080) Non-Touch, AG, IPS, 250 nits, FHD Cam, SLP, ComfView+, WLAN/WWAN(5G) Intel Iris XE Graphics Single Pointing Backlit...
www.nucleustech.co.za www.nucleustech.co.za
www.nucleustech.co.za

Dell Latitude 3540 i5-1335U/256GB/16GB RAM | Nucleus Tech

Dell Latitude 3540 - Demo 13th Generation Intel Core i5-1335U (10 cores, 12 threads, 3.40-4.60 GHz, 12MB cache) 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM 256GB M.2 PCI-e SSD 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) Non-Touch, AG, IPS, 250 nits, FHD Cam, SLP, ComfView+, WLAN/WWAN(5G) Intel Iris XE Graphics Single Pointing Backlit...
www.nucleustech.co.za www.nucleustech.co.za

@Flashgear
 
ponder said:
www.nucleustech.co.za

Dell Latitude 3440 i5-1335U/256GB/16GB RAM | Nucleus Tech

Dell Latitude 3440 - New 13th Generation Intel Core i5-1335U (10 cores, 12 threads, 3.40-4.60 GHz, 12MB cache) 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM 256GB M.2 PCI-e SSD 14.0″ FHD (1920×1080) Non-Touch, AG, IPS, 250 nits, FHD Cam, SLP, ComfView+, WLAN/WWAN(5G) Intel Iris XE Graphics Single Pointing Backlit...
www.nucleustech.co.za www.nucleustech.co.za
www.nucleustech.co.za

Dell Latitude 3540 i5-1335U/256GB/16GB RAM | Nucleus Tech

Dell Latitude 3540 - Demo 13th Generation Intel Core i5-1335U (10 cores, 12 threads, 3.40-4.60 GHz, 12MB cache) 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM 256GB M.2 PCI-e SSD 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) Non-Touch, AG, IPS, 250 nits, FHD Cam, SLP, ComfView+, WLAN/WWAN(5G) Intel Iris XE Graphics Single Pointing Backlit...
www.nucleustech.co.za www.nucleustech.co.za

@Flashgear
Click to expand...
Yes, I was just gonna ask why nobody has recommended Nucleustech yet.

Get in touch with @Flashgear on the forum. I have bought a few from him and have always had great service.
 
Ponder the looks like it might be it. Will show the wife and see what she thinks.
 
Whats your budget?

Everytime I had a look at a certified refurbished laptop I ended up just getting a new one for about the same price, for example I see a lot of Dell Latitude i5 8th gens for R9k, same price you can get a HP255 Ryzen 5 5500U
https://www.takealot.com/hp-notebook-255-g8-15-6-amd-r5-8gb-256gb-nvme-win11-home/PLID93001135 , just upgrade the nvme and ram when its convenient for you.

The HP 255 is Hps entry level business laptop, reasonable build quality while being a bit plasticky I found that they last a very long time in a business environment.
 
Hi FeSMaN. I was hoping to spend between 10 to 15k for a semi decent laptop that my wife could mess around with music production software.
The software she's looking at using doesn't really seem to need very high apeca but I'd like to get her something a bit better than the minimum requirements
Below are the required specs.

Windows​

  • Windows 10 (version 22H2) or Windows 11 (version 22H2 or higher)
  • 5th generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor or AMD Ryzen processor (CPU supports AVX2 instruction set)
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 1366x768 display resolution
  • ASIO-compatible audio hardware for Link support (also recommended for optimal audio performance)
  • Approximately 3 GB disk space on the system drive for the basic installation (8 GB free disk space recommended)
  • Optionally up to 76 GB disk space for additionally available sound content
 
Echolab said:
Hi FeSMaN. I was hoping to spend between 10 to 15k for a semi decent laptop that my wife could mess around with music production software.
The software she's looking at using doesn't really seem to need very high apeca but I'd like to get her something a bit better than the minimum requirements
Below are the required specs.

Windows​

  • Windows 10 (version 22H2) or Windows 11 (version 22H2 or higher)
  • 5th generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor or AMD Ryzen processor (CPU supports AVX2 instruction set)
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 1366x768 display resolution
  • ASIO-compatible audio hardware for Link support (also recommended for optimal audio performance)
  • Approximately 3 GB disk space on the system drive for the basic installation (8 GB free disk space recommended)
  • Optionally up to 76 GB disk space for additionally available sound content
Click to expand...
If it is ableton. Maybe consider a mac and get a good external soundcard. Those are really min. specs. However with mac even the built in audio should be fine. For Windows you definitely want to invest in a soundcard I would say.

But yes, definitely mac for audio. It's a no brainer.
 
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Hi RedViking.
Yes it is ableton. We've spoken about macs and I know it's always advised as the preferred machine but we've always used windows and she would prefer a windows machine. She's not a pro, not yet at least so this is more experimental than anything else and I think macs might be out of our budget.
When you say a sound card, are you talking about an external sound card. Sorry I'm not all that tech savvy but I understand laptops can't really be modified?
Thank once again guys for all the input
 
Echolab said:
Hi RedViking.
Yes it is ableton. We've spoken about macs and I know it's always advised as the preferred machine but we've always used windows and she would prefer a windows machine. She's not a pro, not yet at least so this is more experimental than anything else and I think macs might be out of our budget.
When you say a sound card, are you talking about an external sound card. Sorry I'm not all that tech savvy but I understand laptops can't really be modified?
Thank once again guys for all the input
Click to expand...
An Audio Interface is probably the better term , like the Focusrite Scarlette 2i2 or M-Audio M Track or whatever you can afford. Can then also plug in an instrument or mic.

Windows Drivers can be terribly bad to my experience and high latency when recording.

Could try something like Asio4ALL if you don't have an audio interface. It's an Audio driver for Windows which should work with Ableton or any other DAW.

Macbook M1 should be in your price range? I'm just always worried about the limited storage for recordings and find 256GB of storage unacceptable. But could just use an external. Apple also has Logic Pro which is well supported with sounds and plugins (alternative to ableton ). But yes, Apple likes your bank account but it's just simply the best when it comes to music production.

Otherwise Windows should be okay I guess. I use Windows (just messing around) with an Audio Interface (Scarlette 2i2), but sometimes I want to pull my hair out.
 
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Echolab said:
Hi FeSMaN. I was hoping to spend between 10 to 15k for a semi decent laptop that my wife could mess around with music production software.
The software she's looking at using doesn't really seem to need very high apeca but I'd like to get her something a bit better than the minimum requirements
Below are the required specs.

Windows​

  • Windows 10 (version 22H2) or Windows 11 (version 22H2 or higher)
  • 5th generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor or AMD Ryzen processor (CPU supports AVX2 instruction set)
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 1366x768 display resolution
  • ASIO-compatible audio hardware for Link support (also recommended for optimal audio performance)
  • Approximately 3 GB disk space on the system drive for the basic installation (8 GB free disk space recommended)
  • Optionally up to 76 GB disk space for additionally available sound content
Click to expand...
@FaSMaN ;)
 
Lol RedViking I've seen my wife do the nearly pulling her hair out a few times because of her current laptop hence I thought I'd get another I'm bald enough for the two of us. She has previously mentioned something about an interface. I'll have to look into that to I guess....... sounds like the budgets getting stretched. Maybe a slightly balding wife is not such a bad thing.

Thanks rooigev@@r I can see I'm going to be spending the whole weekend scrolling through refurbed laptop websites.
Appreciate it mate.
 
Echolab said:
Hi FeSMaN. I was hoping to spend between 10 to 15k for a semi decent laptop that my wife could mess around with music production software.
The software she's looking at using doesn't really seem to need very high apeca but I'd like to get her something a bit better than the minimum requirements
Below are the required specs.

Windows​

  • Windows 10 (version 22H2) or Windows 11 (version 22H2 or higher)
  • 5th generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor or AMD Ryzen processor (CPU supports AVX2 instruction set)
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 1366x768 display resolution
  • ASIO-compatible audio hardware for Link support (also recommended for optimal audio performance)
  • Approximately 3 GB disk space on the system drive for the basic installation (8 GB free disk space recommended)
  • Optionally up to 76 GB disk space for additionally available sound content
Click to expand...

I had a quick look, and the one I posted does tick all the boxes including AVX2 ( https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-5-5500u.c2372 ) No idea about ASIO tho, its not something I am familiar with but I would presume she will use a good compatible USB Dac?

With the extra you save you can up the ram or storage, or buy a nice DAC :)

Edit: I see RedViking mentioned some good dacs, and is way more knowledgeable on audio than I am.

​

 
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@Echolab - if you're still shopping, I can +1 for Universe Direct, can also vouch for PPS Africa:

Refurbished Laptops : PPS Africa, SA’s #1 Dell Refurbished IT Equipment Supplier

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Hi guys yup we still in the market for a laptop but we'll only get a chance to look through the lists this weekend when she gets back.

Flashgear will drop you a message as soon as I know which way she wants to head. Have a great long weekend guys. It's off to work for me for today.
 
Hi Flashgear I have sent you a pm hope you have something for us.
 
Corelli said:
Takealot. Universe Direct is good but expensive.

Honestly if I were you, I would look 2nd hand for an HP Elitebook 820/40/50 ideally a G5 and newer. To upgrade use Crucial Ram (can buy from Takealot) and Samsung NVME (also from takealot)

You can also buy some Elitebooks on takealot, I think some come with warranties but they are refurb.

If you want more grunt but more heavy get a HP Zbook (most of these come with dedicated graphics meant for cadwork). But Ideally the normal chunkier model. Not the U models.
Click to expand...
Hey just found this post now when I wanted to create a new post about the EliteBook G5

I bought one and compared to my monitor AND my Dell Laptops screen, the EliteBook is just cr.ap

You HAVE to view directly in line with your eyes, any angle of the screen and you cant see much

I google and it seems this is an issue with their PWM or something software or HP graphics app
Some said they removed it, others said they cant

But side by side with a Dell or other brands, this Elitebook is c.rap AND the colours are different no matter what I do in the settings

Has anyone else noticed the viewing angle issue with HP Laptops?
 
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