Whether you’re buying your first personal laptop or venturing into a laptop upgrade to handle your fast-approaching academia workload, figuring out what specs to look for is a journey within itself. Between determining the ideal amount of storage to the most impressive screen resolutions, there are plenty of tech elements crowding your perfect laptop checklist.
But what exactly are the must-have features? We’ll walk you through the most important thing to look for when buying your perfect laptop for college.
1. PC Type
The modern age has graced consumers with a vast spectrum of personal PC styles that serve different purposes and come built with different form factors.
Depending on your preferred computer manufacturer, you’ll be able to choose between everything from HP Chromebooks and Acer 2-in-1 convertibles to Lenovo workstations and Razer gaming laptops. Though many may look the same on the outside, no two laptop models are created equally.
Begin your search by narrowing down the style of laptop that will prove most beneficial to you and your studies over the course of the next four years.
2. Processor
The central processing unit (CPU) of a computer is thought of as the brains behind the sleek, mechanical beauty. Responsible for handling all your input tasks and delivering the proper outputs, the might of your processor determines how speedily you can get you work loaded and completed.
For college students, we recommend sticking with dual-core processors. Quad-core processor chips are made for heavy-duty, high-definition video editing and other media-intensive tasks that most students won’t be busied with. Although, for those earning degrees that do require these high-processor-intensity tasks, a quad-core may be the right choice.
3. RAM capacity
Random Access Memory (RAM) is the computer memory form tasked with reading and storing working data and machine code. The more impressive the RAM specs of a PC, the faster it’s able to compute and perform. For most college students, 4GB of RAM is more than satisfactory. However, should your courses require a lot of multi-tasking, opting for an 8GB or 16GB RAM may be the superior choice.
4. Storage
Storage isn’t as much for a deal-breaker or decision-maker as it used to be. Because so many people depend on cloud storage for all their files, the need for onboard storage has been on a steady decline. In addition to choosing between how much storage you want, you’ll have to decide between selecting a Solid State Drive (SSD) or a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) for your laptop.
SSDs typically run more expensive per gigabyte than hard drives, but they’re much faster and require no moving parts for full functionality.
5. Peripherals
Your collection of PC peripherals are the things that will make your computer your own. Depending on your work and play habits, your collection might be expansive, or it might be minimal. It comes down to figuring out what accessories will elevate your workflow best. Consider stocking up on these peripherals
- Mouse
- Monitor
- Speakers
- Headphone
6. Graphics card
For students studying a form of visual arts or video-gaming after school hours, having a laptop with impressive graphics specs is incredibly important. All laptops come equipped with an integrated graphics chip, but it’s the quality and capability of the GPU that makes or breaks a PC deal.
If you’re looking for a laptop that can handle the latest gaming titles, you should opt for a slim gaming laptop that can operate at top speed while delivering HQ graphics. If you’re looking for a laptop that can turn your Netflix binges into cinematic quality, choose a laptop with a mid-level graphics card than can support your high-definition needs.
other valuable tips:
What is the Best Kind of Laptop for College Students?
15 Reasons Why Every College Student Needs to buy a Tablet Computer
7. Battery life
Laptops have become the people’s choice form of laptop for one obvious reason: portability. Being away from a plug proves most crucial when you’re in class for hours on end. You need a strong internal battery to keep your PC alive class after class. Fortunately, most modern laptops are equipped with batteries that can last between 6 and 14 hours— this of course depends on the PC you select and the battery hog specs that live inside the machine.
Heading off to college is a huge next step in your life. Be sure to step onto the campus you’ll quickly regard as “home” with all the tech tools needed for academic success!
Image Credit: Pixabay
end of post … please share it!
GUIDE: FREE downloads for college decision making
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
end of post idea
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
view home improvement ideas at our Photo Remodeling center
Helpful article? Leave us a quick comment below.
And please share this article within your social networks.
