Laptop Recommendations for the Holidays

The holiday season is upon us, and there’s no better way to spread joy than by giving a thoughtful and practical gift. If you’re looking for a present that will make someone’s eyes sparkle with delight, consider the gift of a laptop. In this blog, we’ll offer some recommendations tips on how to choose the perfect one for your loved one.

You can get the best warranty ordering directly from the manufacturer’s website – an on-site warranty. We always recommend this because if you have to return the computer to say, Costco or Amazon, Where is it going and who is handling your data? It’s a security risk. Dell, HP and Lenovo all offer on-site warranties where they will send a technician to you.

Basic PC:

CPU
- Intel Core i5 (12th Gen or newer)
- AMD Ryzen 5 (7000 series or newer)
GPU
- None (Integrated)
RAM
- 8GB Minimum
Storage
- Depends on user’s needs
  - 256GB is if there’s not much
  - 512GB for most users
  - 1TB if lots of photos, music, etc.
Display
- Up to user – 1080p is typical

Business PC:

CPU
- Intel Core i7 (12th Gen or newer)
- AMD Ryzen 7 (7000 series or newer)
GPU
- Optional
  - If editing photos/video etc – yes
    - Any modern GPU should suffice
  - Otherwise none/integrated is fine
RAM
- 16GB Minimum
Storage
- Depends on user’s needs
  - 512GB for typical stuff – never run out of room
  - 1TB if lots of data
  - 2TB if lots of photos/video
Display
- Up to user – 1080p is typical, 1440p is nicer if you have a GPU or do anything graphical

Performance PC:

CPU
- Intel Core i9 (12th Gen or newer)
- AMD Ryzen 9 (7000 series or newer)
GPU
- Nvidia
  - RTX 3060 or higher
- AMD
  - RX 6700 XT or higher
RAM
- 32GB Minimum
Storage
- Depends on user’s needs
  - 1TB – just start here, you’re already in deep
  - 2TB – if 1 TB isn’t enough
  - 4TB – Honestly at this point we should probably be looking at a NAS
Display
- Up to user – can do 1080p but recommend 1440p at least, or you’ll never enjoy the benefits of the GPU