Starting point for a suitable laptop?

[colevalleygirl]

Use case:

• I will want to run the following programmes regularly: Family Historian 7 (not too memory or CPU intensive), Visual Code with several extensions, Vivaldi with very many tabs open, Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Money. Scrivener, a bit of image processing, maybe some video editing. I'd ideally like to play games like Myst Stray and Zork -- nothing that involves real-time reaction. I also run some pretty intensive data mining from time to time, but I currently have a 64Gb desktop PC that will continue to handle that, hopefully for 5 years (It will be replaced as my main machine by this laptop, but I'll keep it for data mining and virtual machines, and possibly experimenting with a private LLM).
• It will primarily be used in my home office, so should support connection to a large monitor and a docking station of some sort. However, weight matters -- I'll take it out on the road occasionally, including more-frequent-than-I'd-like stays in hospital and use on the sofa when I need to put my feet up) -- as does battery life.

I want to future proof it as far as possible to get 5 years out of it, including connectivity options.

Current thoughts: 32Gb, 2Tb SSD, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 15"-16" screen. What ranges should I be looking at? and what else should I be considering in the spec?

 

[SpyderTracks]

What’s your max budget?

 

[colevalleygirl]

£2k max. Less would always be better
Could push the boat out a bit if absolutely necessary, esp. for future proofing.

OK, let's be honest. I've been a nerd since 1976 -- before the word was invented. I like bells and whistles and being able to try out all the new stuff. Plus I just got my state pension which is going to fund this. But I'm not a laptop expert -- I got my current laptop out of a cupboard a few days ago, dusted it off and realised it's 10 years old with 4Gb RAM and a 256Gb hard disk. As slow as molasses and my data won't fit...

I was hoping to replace the 4-year old desktop in a couple of years' time but need a laptop now, so am effectively going for a desktop replacement

 

[SpyderTracks]

£2k max. Less would always be better
Could push the boat out a bit if absolutely necessary, esp. for future proofing.

OK, let's be honest. I've been a nerd since 1976 -- before the word was invented. I like bells and whistles and being able to try out all the new stuff. Plus I just got my state pension which is going to fund this. But I'm not a laptop expert -- I got my current laptop out of a cupboard a few days ago, dusted it off and realised it's 10 years old with 4Gb RAM and a 256Gb hard disk. As slow as molasses and my data won't fit...

I was hoping to replace the 4-year old desktop in a couple of years' time but need a laptop now, so am effectively going for a desktop replacement

So more's the question, what's wrong with your 4 year old desktop as that's fairly new?

Equivalent specs on a laptop are lower than a desktop in power, so a laptop 4070 is roughly equivalent to a desktop 4060, same with CPU's.

Plus they're not upgradeable in the same way, so with regards to the GPU which is always going to be the first bottleneck in any system, you can't upgrade it, so you spend as much as you can to lengthen the lifetime of the laptop.

So the limitation is budget.

If we're saying 2k max then, although you state

Could push the boat out a bit if absolutely necessary, esp. for future proofing.

So it's not clear if that is in fact your max?

 

[colevalleygirl]

So more's the question, what's wrong with your 4 year old desktop as that's fairly new?

Equivalent specs on a laptop are lower than a desktop in power, so a laptop 4070 is roughly equivalent to a desktop 4060, same with CPU's.

Plus they're not upgradeable in the same way, so with regards to the GPU which is always going to be the first bottleneck in any system, you can't upgrade it, so you spend as much as you can to lengthen the lifetime of the laptop.

So the limitation is budget.

If we're saying 2k max then, although you state

So it's not clear if that is in fact your max?

What's wrong with the desktop? Nothing... except I can't take it into hospital, or use it on my sofa/in bed when I'm not capable of sitting at my desk. Nor take it out and about on my good-health days (I do have some).

Let's say £2.5k absolute max.

 

[colevalleygirl]

I'll add: I could probably wrestle my way to a/the wrong specification but I value the expertise here.

 

[jaybeecee]

The 16" Recoils look really really nice - You can get one with a 4090, 16GB PCS Pro RAM and a 1TB P41+ for £2,469.00 (No Windows key, Gold Warranty)

I would recommend getting the Gold warranty, and you can pick up Windows keys for cheap online.

 

[SpyderTracks]

I would recommend getting the Gold warranty, and you can pick up Windows keys for cheap online.

Only Grey Market keys are cheap and they’re banned on the forum, you know that though as you’ve read the newcomers section.

Discussing warez on most forums is not permitted

16Gb RAM as well these days is just not enough, but especially for the OPs intended uses. Your advice is consistently poor and you run the risk of leading people needing help into making poor decisions.

 

[ubuysa]

I would recommend getting the Gold warranty, and you can pick up Windows keys for cheap online.

Disgraceful advice, shame on you for suggesting this here.

 

[colevalleygirl]

It is bad advice; luckily, I'm not stupid enough to take it.
I'm not wild about only 16Gb of RAM either; programmes are only getting hungrier.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Really sorry, just noticed you never actually got the full spec suggestion!

2k is a good budget, you can push to a 4070 which is the right GPU for the new 1440p screens that are more standard these days

Chassis & Display
Ionico Series: 15.3" Matte QHD+ 240Hz sRGB 100% LED Widescreen (2560x1600)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 24 Core Processor 14900HX (5.8GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair 5600MHz SODIMM DDR5 (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 4070 - 8.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SOLIDIGM P44 PRO GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 7000MB/sR, 6500MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB CORSAIR CORE XT MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 5000 MB/R, 4400 MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated Micro-SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x 280W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Battery
Ionico Battery 99WH
Thermal Paste
LIQUID METAL PERFORMANCE COOLING
Sound Card
2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.3
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x THUNDERBOLT 4 + 1 x USB 3.2 (TYPE C) + 3 x USB 3.2
Keyboard Language
IONICO 15 SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED IR+FHD Hybrid Webcam
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Chassis
TongFang GM5IX7A (8GB RTX-4070, i9-14900HX, 240Hz QHD)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 3 to 5 working days
Price: £1,964.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/ionico-IV-15/eFen9ZYDrN/

 

[colevalleygirl]

Really sorry, just noticed you never actually got the full spec suggestion!

2k is a good budget, you can push to a 4070 which is the right GPU for the new 1440p screens that are more standard these days

Chassis & Display
Ionico Series: 15.3" Matte QHD+ 240Hz sRGB 100% LED Widescreen (2560x1600)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 24 Core Processor 14900HX (5.8GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair 5600MHz SODIMM DDR5 (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 4070 - 8.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SOLIDIGM P44 PRO GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 7000MB/sR, 6500MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB CORSAIR CORE XT MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 5000 MB/R, 4400 MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated Micro-SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x 280W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Battery
Ionico Battery 99WH
Thermal Paste
LIQUID METAL PERFORMANCE COOLING
Sound Card
2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.3
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x THUNDERBOLT 4 + 1 x USB 3.2 (TYPE C) + 3 x USB 3.2
Keyboard Language
IONICO 15 SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED IR+FHD Hybrid Webcam
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Chassis
TongFang GM5IX7A (8GB RTX-4070, i9-14900HX, 240Hz QHD)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 3 to 5 working days
Price: £1,964.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/ionico-IV-15/eFen9ZYDrN/

Thanks for this. Looking good.

 

[steaky360]

I would recommend getting the Gold warranty, and you can pick up Windows keys for cheap online.

Just to followup and re-iterate what others have noted, please refrain from these kinds of suggestions here.

It is always recommended to purchase Windows from legitimate storefronts (typically Microsoft themselves) guaranteeing you are not perpetuating the grey markets.