When you’re looking for a new computer, the components we discuss here are some of the ones you’ll need to know about.

Processor

The processor, often known as the chip or CPU, is the first item we recommend looking at. The CPU is the brain of your computer. Intel and AMD are the two primary CPU manufacturers. In terms of sophisticated technology, Intel dominates the market, although AMD provides competing products at cheaper rates.

Source: PC Mag

Processors from Intel

The Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9 are Intel’s most popular CPUs. The Core i3 processor is the weakest, while the Core i9 processor is the most robust.

Intel employs cryptic sequences of numbers and characters under all of these chip lines to provide extra information about the chip’s capabilities and release date. You’ll be able to make better purchasing judgments if you can comprehend it. (Intel’s model naming guide may be found here.)

The kind of CPU may be listed on a laptop maker’s website as Intel Core i5-8279U.

Let’s have a look at it in more detail. The first two numbers (“8”) correspond to the chip’s generation; in this example, it’s a chip from the eighth generation. The very next two or three digits (“279”) are performance-related; the higher these numbers, the more powerful the processor. Intel’s identification for the chip’s functionality is the letter at the ending of the chip designation (“U” in our example); H chips are designed for performance, while U chips are focused for power efficiency.

Processors from AMD

AMD’s chip names are comparable to Intel’s. The “3” represents the gen (how old it is; greater is better) and the “6” represents its strength (the higher the number, the more powerful it is). The next two digits have no bearing on anything. A “X” at the end denotes great performance, but a “U” denotes ultra-low power.

Is the gap between Intel and AMD CPUs significant? Outside of extremely specific benchmarks, similar-generation processors are barely distinguishable. When you’re doing activities like surfing the internet or editing documents, they’re comparable.

The other area where you’ll notice a change is graphics performance. In tests, AMD’s integrated graphics outperformed Intel on graphics-intensive applications like as video editing and gaming, in both benchmarking and real-world scenarios.

RAM

RAM, or random-access memory, is what your notebook uses to store data while the CPU processes it. Consider RAM to be your workstation. If you run out of RAM, you will be unable to open any more browser tabs or complete your movie compilation. Your laptop will eventually freeze and have to be rebooted. It’s better if there’s a lot of it!

Source: Bleuwire

For the ordinary Windows user, 8 GB of RAM should enough, but increasing to 16 GB will significantly improve your laptop’s performance – this is important for gaming!

Again, you’ll need at least 16 GB of RAM if you’re creating and compiling applications or editing visual content, both of which take a lot of RAM. If you can manage it, you’ll probably be pleased with 32 GB.

Before making a purchase, check to see if the RAM is attached to the motherboard. You will be unable to upgrade the RAM by yourself if it is the case.

Go for RAM that says DDR4 on it. The abbreviation DDR indicates “double data rate.” DDR4 RAM is fast and just what you need. DDR3 RAM is an older type of memory that is becoming less popular. Most laptops feature DDR4 RAM, but makers will indicate the kind with the quantity on their websites, so double-check before you buy.

Storage

All of your data, including the operating system, will be stored on the storage drive. If you can, get an SSD because it’s the preferred option these days. SSDs are speedier, especially if they employ an NVMe interface, which transfers data more faster into or out of the drive than the previous SATA standard.

Source: Newegg

Laptops using an SSD with NVMe to handle the operating system and an old SATA drive to store data are sometimes available. This provides you the perfect mix: speed where you really need it while remaining cost-effective.

We recommend a minimum of 256 GB of storage. You might well be able to do with less if you save most things in the cloud or you are considering Chromebooks. But it’s always nice to have the extra capacity. Installing many games or programs or saving a lot of images or video may quickly fill up your hard drive.

Other Things You May Consider

The following are some other factors you might also want to put in mind when trying to determine the right laptop for you:

• Screen size and portability – Bigger size will be better if you are buying for video editing, for instance. But remember that this impact on portability. And the smaller the size, the easier to carry around.

• Graphics card – Most regular laptops come only with integrated graphics. If you need one for gaming or video editing, you want to purchase one that offers or supports a graphics card or GPU.

• Operating system – You could go with the market leader Microsoft Windows. MacOS, Linux and Chrome OS are alternatives to consider.

• Ports – If you’ll be hooking a lot of stuffs to your laptop, you should pay attention to the number of ports. Consider getting a notebook with at least two USB ports (including a USB-C), mic/headset jack, and a card reader.

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Acer

Design and Build

One thing that will first strike you on setting your eyes on the Aspire S13 is its elegantly slim and lightweight design. Ultrabooks in this Acer range have been widely known for their slim factor. This one has a thickness of just about 15 millimetres and a weight of approximately 1.3 kilograms, beating the MacBook Air in both regards.

However, you are likely to find it disappointing that the lid of an elegant notebook like this one is made of plastic, just as you would find on budget laptops. Acer appears to hope the Nano-imprinted cover on the ultrabook would help buyers overlook the less-than-premium build. The Acer Aspire S13 features an embossed aluminium hinge and diamond-cut chamfered edges.

Display

The 13.3-inch display uses In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology and boasts Full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels for sharp images. You will be right to expect crystal-clear, wide-angle viewing experience on this laptop. The screen will also be available in a touch option. It supports its maker’s BlueLightShield feature which helps to reduce blue light emission.

Hardware

The Acer Aspire S13 is available in different configurations. It is powered by a sixth-generation Intel (Skylake) processor. You could choose a unit driven by Core i3, i5 or i7 CPU. The processor is paired with an integrated Intel HD Graphics 5200. This is no laptop for gamers, but it should still fare decently well for playing older game titles. There should be no serious hitch if you intend using this for just your regular computing needs at work or school. Performance is also boosted with support for up to 8 GB of LPDDR3 RAM. The use of solid-state drive (capacity up to 512 GB) also helps as well.

Miscellaneous Information

As would be expected, the Aspire S13 runs on the latest operating system from Microsoft, Windows 10 (64-bit). It has power supplied to it by a juicer said to be capable of delivering runtime of up to 13 hours. There are three USB 3.0 ports, one of which is a reversible USB Type-C. One of the ports enable you charge your devices even with the ultrabook turned off. Available interfaces include an HDMI port and an SD card slot. An HD webcam, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11ac with MU-MIMO are also part of the package. There is also support for Dolby Audio for decent sound.

Pricing

At launch, the starting price for the base model of the Acer Aspire S13 was about $700. But it is possible to get it from some online sources around $670 at this time. Although it may still appear rather costly, but you should remember this is an ultrabook. Comparable MacBook Air costs significantly more – between 40-50 percent more. With the current state of exchange rate, you are looking at a price in the range N285,000-N395,000 in Nigeria for the Aspire S13. The Aspire S13 also comes in cheaper than the similar-size Dell XPS 13. It is not cheap to get an ultrabook with latest Intel Core i series processor, you know.

Acer Aspire S13 at a Glance

– Ultra-slim design
– 13.3-inch Full HD IPS display
– Intel Skylake (6th-gen) Core i CPU
– Up to 8 GB of RAM
– Up to 512GB SSD storage
– Windows 10 (64-bit) OS
– Up to 13-hour rated battery life
– Wi-Fi 11ac with MU-MIMO
– USB Type-C

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HP

Build and Screen

The Pavilion 15 has not moved further away from its predecessor in terms of design and build quality. Its chassis is made entirely of plastic. HP describes the design as ‘eye-catching,’ although that is open to a debate. The laptop comes in diverse colours to enable you add a bit of personal touch to your own unit. It features a chiclet-style keyboard with optional backlighting. The LED-backlit display is massive at 15.6 inches making for a good one for viewing content and movies. The optional touchscreen offers up to Full HD (1,080p) resolution.

Performance

As is common with HP Pavilion 15 series, there are diverse configurations to choose from, depending on the size of your pocket. You could have a unit powered by a rather lightweight AMD APU or up to sixth-generation Intel Core i processor. RAM of up to 8GB helps to boost performance and responsiveness when running numerous processes concurrently. It is possible to get a model with discrete NVIDIA GeForce graphics card to enable some level of gaming.

Sundry Specs and Features

The HP Pavilion 15 boots the latest Windows 10 operating system offering access to several exciting new features. It offers ample storage space of up to 2 TB capacity for holding hundreds of movies, songs, photos and applications. You should note this is hard drive storage, though. You get a SuperMulti DVD-RW optical drive on the laptop as well as an HD webcam.

Buyers get dual stereo speakers. On some models of the Pavilion 15, if not all, enjoyable sound is enhanced by B&O PLAY audio technology. You get three USB ports (two USB 3.0 ports) and an HDMI port for connectivity.

Pricing

The HP Pavilion 15 starts at a price of about $330 for an AMD-powered model, which would have meant a highly cost-effective 15-inch Windows 10-running laptop, but for the prohibitive exchange rate in Nigeria. At the current rate, you are looking at a price in the range N80,000-N100,000. The highest-end model sells for about $900.

HP Pavilion 15 at a Glance

– 15.6-inch optional Full HD display
– Optional backlit keyboard
– Up to 6th-gen Intel Core i processor
– Up to 8 GB of RAM
– Optional NVIDIA GeForce graphics
– Windows 10 OS
– B&O PLAY

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Design

This affordable desktop PC is almost as small as a flash drive. The Intel Compute Stick is just about half an inch thick and, at approximately two ounces, is quite lightweight. It is arguably the smallest mini desktop on the market today from a major manufacturer. The device flaunts a nice body constructed with plastic and sporting a glossy black finish.

Source: Intel

Hardware

A quad-core, 1.33GHz Intel Atom processor is fitted into the Compute Stick for a responsive performance and efficient use of electric power. This chip is more powerful than those used on rival devices, made possible in part because of the integrated fan. The micro-PC comes integrated with Intel HD Graphics for a great experience when viewing images and videos or when playing games. It is provided with 1GB or 2GB of RAM – decent enough to drive a responsive performance.

Setup

To tap into the full computing power of the Intel Compute Stick, you only need to connect it to a monitor or a compatible TV through an HDMI port, attach a keyboard and mouse and you are good to go. The device is already preloaded with an operating system – buyers can choose between Windows 8.1 with Bing and Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. You will be guided through the regular windows setup process, which takes few minutes to complete.

Sundry Specs

The Windows version of the Intel Compute Stick comes with 32GB onboard storage, while the Ubuntu variant has 8GB storage memory. Extra storage memory of up to 128 GB can be added using a microSD card. The device features Intel HD Audio for improved sound experience when listening to music or watching movies. It has a USB 2.0 port, which supports the use of a USB hub for attaching diverse peripherals. The Compute Stick has Bluetooth 4.0 and built-in Wi-Fi 802.11ac.

Price of Intel Compute Stick

The Windows version of the Compute Stick sells for $149, which works out to less than a N30,000 price in Nigeria. The Ubuntu model attracts a cheaper price of $89, less than N20,000 by current exchange rate.

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