Written by Deanne
Edited on
9 September 2024
·
13:10
How do you choose a fast laptop?
Do you want to buy a faster laptop, but aren't you sure what to keep in mind? You don't want to have to wait for long while your laptop starts up or programs open. How much RAM do you need? And how much storage capacity? In this article, you'll read what you should keep in mind when you buy a fast laptop.
Usage situations
| Processor | RAM | Work in multiple programs at the same time | Video card | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet, text processing, and watching movies | Any processor | Any RAM | At least 8GB | No video card required |
| Play games | At least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor | At least 8GB | At least 16GB | At least GTX, RTX, or RX |
| Photo editing | At least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor | At least 8GB | At least 16GB | No video card required |
| Video editing | At least an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor | At least 8GB | At least 16GB | No video card required |
| Industrial design | At least an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor | At least 16GB | At least 32GB | At least RTX, Quadro, or RX |
| Game design and 3D animation | At least an Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen | At least 16GB | At least 32GB | At least RTX, Quadro, or RX |
The right processor
The processor is the heart of your laptop. It determines what your laptop is suitable for and how fast it works. We recommend processors that ensure you can work with a fast laptop per usage situation.
- Internet, text processing, and watching movies: any processor
- Gaming: from an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 with an RTX, Quadro, or RX video card
- Photo editing: from an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5
- Video editing: an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7
- Creating industrial designs: an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 with an RTX, Quadro, or RX video card
- Game design and 3D animation: an Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen 9 with an RTX, Quadro, or RX video card
An SSD
A fast laptop has an SSD drive. This drive is partially responsible for the speed of your laptop. If you boot a program and transfer files, this goes smoothly and quickly. This means you need an SSD drive for a fast laptop. Many laptops used to have HDD drives. These are much slower, which is why you barely find these in new laptops anymore. Some laptops have a Flash or EMMC drive. These drives aren't as fast as SSDs.
RAM
The RAM of your laptop determines how quickly you perform tasks. With every laptop, your laptop uses RAM. For example, to run programs, switch between programs, and when you edit photos or videos. Generally speaking: the more RAM you have, the faster your laptop is. Do you want to multitask with various programs easily? We recommend 16GB RAM or more.
Video card
You need a video card for specific usage situations. For example, you need a video card for industrial designs and to create game designs and 3D animations. You also need a video card for gaming. A video card doesn't determine how quickly you can perform specific tasks, but it does allow you to perform tasks smoothly and ensures your image looks smooth. That way, you're not slowed down as much.
Article by Deanne
Laptop Expert.
