We aren't looking at a Pentium here, but we are looking at a newer generation. http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare.../m34360vsm3645
The difference isn't big enough to call it an actual upgrade. Since the 3556U is weaker than this Pentium anyway, you won't even notice much of a change compared to what you have now.
A Core i3 is noticeably better, but let's be real—it’s still not a massive leap. If you actually want to feel some progress, look into an i5 instead. I can't give you anything more concrete without knowing which laptops you're eyeing or what your criteria are.
Don't hold your breath waiting for a sale. Those massive big-box retailers throw discounts around all the time even when their prices are still ridiculous, while the budget online shops barely have any room to move because they're working on razor-thin margins.
The dollar is up, so prices can only go one way: up.
This one looks alright: http://www.amazon.com/s?k=Y0A64EA It’s pretty rare to find a 17.3" laptop running Windows that isn't total junk.
You can set up those specific criteria on Amazon Business.
Here are a few that actually hit the mark: http://www.nabava.net/prijenosna-rac...-ghz__21713851 http://www.nabava.net/prijenosna-rac...-ghz__24033001 I’d personally go with a > just for the warranty and build quality.
This one looks great, but it only has 4GB of RAM. Who needs that?
Look, if you aren't planning on gaming, then whatever. I'm pretty skeptical about whether this actually has an IPS screen, though. If it does, then honestly, stop looking.
Any laptop in this price bracket with a dedicated GPU is going to have it soldered directly onto the motherboard. (Basically) Most modern laptops require a complete teardown just to get to the CPU heatsink. Maybe the HP ProBook series is an exception, but I'm not sure how they handled their latest lineup. Once we rule those factors out, let's get to the actual recommendations...
I’d suggest this Lenovo: http://www.nabava.net/search.php?q=80RU00FXSC+ It features a killer processor—easily the best in its class—along with a solid GPU, 8GB of RAM, and an IPS display. If you want more speed later, you can always pop an M.2 SSD into the empty slot it comes with. You might be able to scrape together another $66 if you stretch the budget a bit. But honestly, you won't find anything even remotely decent for less than that.
Try digging through the Device Manager using the Intel ID, but honestly? I wouldn't hold my breath. Especially since you're running a 32-bit OS—half these drivers weren't even built to handle modern components.
Replacing the screen is actually pretty straightforward. If it's an LED panel—which it should be for that year—you just need to check which side the connector is on and buy one that matches. You can find plenty of them for 300-$167 on eBay. It doesn't even have to be listed specifically for your exact laptop model. Taking the screen off is usually a breeze; don't overthink it. I'm sure there's a YouTube tutorial for it somewhere.
As for the keyboard, you can find cheap ones on eBay for under $33, but honestly? Most of what I've ordered from there is absolute garbage. They show up bent, warped, or with keys that barely work and lettering that rubs off instantly. Whatever you find on local marketplaces is probably just as bad. So, where do you get a decent one? Buying brand new from an authorized service center is a total rip-off. Your best bet is to hunt down a used, original part on a site like Craigslist or eBay. You can swap that in yourself too—it's hard to screw up.
Windows 7 Starter ran fine enough on my old IBM laptop. It had a 1GB RAM upgrade and I think it was running an Intel Core 2 Duo or some kind of Athlon processor under the hood.
The Core 2 Duo absolutely crushes that single-core Athlon we're talking about here. It isn't even close.
Why bother struggling with Windows 7? Even with the Starter edition, it’s still going to run significantly slower than Windows XP.
As far as software support and compatibility issues go, I highly doubt anyone is going to be running heavy-duty programs on a piece of junk like that anyway. Honestly, the bigger headache will be just trying to hunt down all the drivers for Windows 7 on that relic. I’ve had enough trouble finding drivers for much newer laptops than that.
How "cheap" are we talking? If you actually need a professional-grade machine, you aren't going to find happiness without dropping a serious amount of cash. Honestly, I wouldn't dare recommend anything else.
Donna Sullivan80 said:Hey there. Can I get some advice? (I'm a total newbie here.) Is it worth getting the Epson XP 225? It’s currently around $200, and looking at the prices, the replacement ink seems pretty cheap. I mostly need it for printing in black—mostly just during finals week for papers, study guides, etc. Otherwise, I barely use it. Do you think a printer like this will actually last me a few years?
Don't bother with an inkjet if you're mostly doing black and white.
The Brother HL 1110 is cheaper upfront, but the toners cost more and have a smaller capacity.
By the way, just ignore all the nonsense hollowmarlin27 is preaching. He's just a guy selling used printers, and every single one of his "tips" is just a sales pitch to get you to buy from his wholesalers.Unless, of course, you want to buy from someone whose website looks like this.
Printing 100 pages a week falls squarely into office territory, and honestly, you won't find any luck with those cheap consumer printers. You might be thrilled if one of those budget models actually survives 10k pages, but at your volume, you'll hit that limit in two years tops.
For example, something like this is perfectly fine for home use—say, 50 pages a month. It’ll probably last 5 to 10 years without breaking a sweat, and third-party toner is dirt cheap. http://www.nabava.net/search.php?q=LBP6230dw If you don't strictly need duplex printing or Wi-Fi, there's an even cheaper option. http://www.nabava.net/pisaci__110/hp...r-c-b__3908671 We have a few of these running at our office; they've swallowed plenty of random off-brand toners without a single hiccup, and they've all cruised past the 5,000-page mark without failing.
hollowmarlin27 said:What exactly does this young lady stand to gain from all this?
So you're just going to tell me exactly what's what? Interested? So, which printer manufacturer actually knows what they're doing?
You could just say that to my face. Interested. What kind of states are we talking about here?
So, does this girl think the manufacturer and the government are actually on the same page? Interested..
Look, just try looking at it from that perspective for a second.
Or maybe the bottom line is this: both the government and the manufacturer are totally in cahoots. They’re just looking for any excuse to fleece a girl like this, all while putting on this massive act about being compassionate humanitarians or socially conscious. They pretend everything they do is for her benefit, but we all know the score, right?
So how is anyone supposed to suggest or secure some solid alternative that doesn't just line the pockets of the people mentioned above without getting slapped down for it?
Look at it from that perspective for a second. Ready when you are. What have you got for me?
The bottom line? You’re just spinning whatever narrative keeps people buying your used junk.
What they aren't contributing to those funds, they’re draining from yours. That’s exactly why letting someone run free advertisements on this forum is such a massive mistake.
Do you honestly think anyone in their right mind would buy anything from a company that can't even afford a decent website or actual advertising? The web is basically a relic from the Stone Age. Spamming every single forum out there is just going to scare off any actual customers. Do people really think a serious company is going to fall for that? Not a chance.
Man, when people land on your site, they honestly think they’ve been accidentally redirected to some digital archive from 1995. That whole aesthetic? It’s like stepping back in time. You just don't run into products from that era very often anymore.
Mark Hill90 said:It feels like we’re still stuck in the nineties. Seriously, you guys are still talking about the same old stuff? For now, the conversation hasn't changed a bit, but newsflash: it's 2016.
The products actually match the website's aesthetic.
Don't go messing with the voltage. Stick to whatever your charger says it should be. A tiny bit of variance isn't the end of the world, but I don't think 1V is exactly "tiny."
As for an SSD, look for a Samsung 870 EVO, an Intel Core i3 setup, a Samsung EVO, or maybe a SanDisk Ultra... just grab whatever you can find from those. Whatever you do, stay away from the Crucial BX500 or the Samsung 850 EVO.
The general rule? Put the SSD where the primary drive goes and swap the HDD into the optical drive slot. Why? Because those optical drives usually run on older SATA II ports, which means you won't even see the full speed of an SSD—though, honestly, who cares when it's just an HDD?