Purchase advise for causual laptop with low power quiet 6/8 core CPU

[medhunter]

Hi, Guys

I need a laptop/mini PC with focus on Performance, low power and quietness and upgrade abity .I will do casual work, no gaming

Hi , guys.I built a desktop 3900x, 32GB,2060S.But a year later I found myself not using it to the max. Didn't really get into serious PC gaming. So, will sell it. My needs are way lower.I could get away with my old i3,8gb miniPC.

 

I have M1 macbook air but cant run linux yet, so it can't be my main machine.

 

But I rather new AMD one.I saw prices are comparable miniPC Vs Laptops, so, I may go for a laptop

 

I would use as desktop replacement , hook to 4k HDR TV. So, screen, KB, trackpad and battery are not priority by any means. Yet I would love a good processor, quiet,upgrade-able RAM (I found my self using less than 8GB anyways).

 

Use: heavy browsing, office work, perhaps 4k 60 HDR playback

 

My initial thought 5500 and 5700.8 or more ram , whatever ssd.

 

Country KSA. This HP 5500 is 620 USD. 2 year warranty

Or Amazon SA can get lenovo flex 5 from amazon US with warranty for just 3 month for a 80 USD more

Or 5700u but warranty 3 months because it is imported from amazon US. Price 620 USD

 

Budget 600--->700 USD

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

I have this: https://store.minisforum.com/products/hx90

 

I have the barebone version, but see below for what I put in it.

[medhunter]

Was my initial thought (another 5700 varient) but I have no experience with the warranty and Minisforums as after sale service.

Actually I am not sure I can trust them. Can you elaborate about your experience with them?

Just knew that they dont ship to KSA

Edited February 8, 2022 by medhunter

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

I have it running for 2 months now. Had to buy the RAM/SSDs separate. Was just waiting to pay off the HX90. Got it on early bird special at end of August. I got it at the end of September.

 

It took anything I threw at it. Even running every core at 100%, (stress test) It doesn't budge 55C. Being the RAM is at 64GB, I can easily run all my VM's, with no sweat.

 

I thought they shipped worldwide. No?

[grunger106]

OptiPlex 3090 Micro Form Factor, or a previous generation of the same.
They're tiny and solid little things....
What we deploy at work.

[medhunter]

On 08/02/2022 at 20:40, Mindovermaster said:

I have it running for 2 months now. Had to buy the RAM/SSDs separate. Was just waiting to pay off the HX90. Got it on early bird special at end of August. I got it at the end of September.

 

It took anything I threw at it. Even running every core at 100%, (stress test) It doesn't budge 55C. Being the RAM is at 64GB, I can easily run all my VM's, with no sweat.

 

I thought they shipped worldwide. No?

Unfortunately not But I can get them at premium from amazon.

Like this: 720USD: UM700 Mini PC AMD Ryzen 7 3750H Desktop Computer | 16GB DDR4+ 512GB

 

Amazon SA only has that miniPC.Otherwise alot of laptops like in the first post

On 08/02/2022 at 20:50, grunger106 said:

OptiPlex 3090 Micro Form Factor, or a previous generation of the same.
They're tiny and solid little things....
What we deploy at work.

Powerful and sleek yet not available except 3000 USD config.

 

I guess this leaves only the choice of a laptop

[+Warwagon MVC]

How about something like this ...

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144377064762?hash=item219d8b2d3a:g:ff0AAOSw2XZhxECC

 

This one is $177 HP EliteDesk G2 800 Mini i5-6500T 3.10Ghz 8GB 500GB m.2 SSD Power Adapter

 

I have the prodesk version as my main workstation in the basement.

 

 

 

[medhunter]

On 09/02/2022 at 01:04, warwagon said:

How about something like this ...

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144377064762?hash=item219d8b2d3a:g:ff0AAOSw2XZhxECC

 

This one is $177 HP EliteDesk G2 800 Mini i5-6500T 3.10Ghz 8GB 500GB m.2 SSD Power Adapter

 

I have the prodesk version as my main workstation in the basement.

 

 

 

It looks good.But I would avoid intel.I have another laptop i7 7500u but I gave it away to a relative.

 

 

I guess I am heading for a laptop

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

On 08/02/2022 at 16:13, medhunter said:

It looks good.But I would avoid intel.I have another laptop i7 7500u but I gave it away to a relative.

 

 

I guess I am heading for a laptop

They do make those HP EliteDisks in AMD, too.. Just not the latest 5k series stuff.

[medhunter]

On 09/02/2022 at 01:30, Mindovermaster said:

They do make those HP EliteDisks in AMD, too.. Just not the latest 5k series stuff.

It didn't get my wife's approval.

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

On 08/02/2022 at 17:09, medhunter said:

It didn't get my wife's approval.

Just saying 

[medhunter]

On 08/02/2022 at 17:01, medhunter said:

lenovo flex 5

I may go for it because it is more versatile 360, 2 in 1, the pin,16GB ram and fingerprint sensor which all work in linux.  But Not upgradable which should be ok for the simple use case. The next 3 years should be fine using manjaro linux KDE or any distro I guess.6 cores is fine.USB-C with PD is cool.but I will pay 90 USD more for these features.

Or

I can simply swap GPU and CPU for an APU 3400g, 5700g but I dam not sure how it will save, electricity wise.

Edited February 10, 2022 by medhunter
thought

[medhunter]

On 08/02/2022 at 18:46, Mindovermaster said:

I have this: https://store.minisforum.com/products/hx90

 

I have the barebone version, but see below for what I put in it.

Update: I could find a way to get it through AliExpress with 75 days money back gurantee. Found GRE5 Beelink ryzen 5900hx as well but 5% cheaper.

Should I pull the trigger? or get 5600U or 5800u. 5900HX is propably an overkill. I have built 3900x desktop and I see as future proof and overkill for casual use.

 

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

I recently received a Lenovo Legion 5 17ACH6 eval unit.  It's a gaming laptop (17" 144Hz, AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, up to 64GB RAM, 2 M.2 or 1 M.2 and 1 2.5", RTX 3050, 230W power adapter), but I'm not much of a gamer—or, at least, not very  good at many of them—so have not looked into that aspect of the system.

 

What I did do upon receiving it is perform some memory and storage upgrades, and then install the OS and get that updated, and throughout that whole process, it has been whisper-quiet.  I suspect it would remain so for all the sorts of non-gaming activities you mentioned.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

[hellowalkman Reporter]

If you are still looking for a laptop and can wait for a while, maybe you can have a look at some of the new Ryzen 6000 laptops. They are just starting to come out. Only the high end ones for now but the more budget models should also start arriving in a couple of months.

 

 

[medhunter]

On 18/02/2022 at 17:34, hellowalkman said:

If you are still looking for a laptop and can wait for a while, maybe you can have a look at some of the new Ryzen 6000 laptops. They are just starting to come out. Only the high end ones for now but the more budget models should also start arriving in a couple of months.

 

 

with the next RDNA PS5 like chip 6800, I guess it is not mandatory to me because I won't be gaming using it. But it could worth the wait. 

In this scenario, I can get a used ryzen 7 3750 laptop or a new r7 3750 miniPC for 400USD and wait on it for a while.

But i  will wait for a while and buy twice.this is not optimal. Right?

On 18/02/2022 at 16:57, goretsky said:

Hello,

I recently received a Lenovo Legion 5 17ACH6 eval unit.  It's a gaming laptop (17" 144Hz, AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, up to 64GB RAM, 2 M.2 or 1 M.2 and 1 2.5", RTX 3050, 230W power adapter), but I'm not much of a gamer—or, at least, not very  good at many of them—so have not looked into that aspect of the system.

 

What I did do upon receiving it is perform some memory and storage upgrades, and then install the OS and get that updated, and throughout that whole process, it has been whisper-quiet.  I suspect it would remain so for all the sorts of non-gaming activities you mentioned.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

It is pretty good, but will be 35% more expensive than 5900HX miniPC with iGPU.

[medhunter]

On 08/02/2022 at 18:46, Mindovermaster said:

I have this: https://store.minisforum.com/products/hx90

 

I have the barebone version, but see below for what I put in it.

I found a 10% cheaper similar Beelink 750 USD variant 5900hx, 32, 512GB

How about it?

I could go with another 430USD R7 3750H ,16gb , 256GB and upgrade later for ryzen 6000 apu or later.Still casual use

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

I don't know much about Beelink, I have seen news on it, but wasn't really interested since I had my eyes on the HX90.

 

But, if it works for you, get it.

[medhunter]

On 23/02/2022 at 14:31, medhunter said:

I could go with another 430USD R7 3750H ,16gb , 256GB and upgrade later for ryzen 6000 apu or later.Still casual use

For a year or two?