Laptop for Home Use (Dell Vs Lenovo) - Budget $1000

Lbargainhunter98 on 16/08/2022 - 21:51
Last edited 17/08/2022 - 09:54 by 1 other user

Seeking help from the tech/laptop gurus as I'm looking to buy a new laptop around $1000 (plus minus $200) for home use and light gaming.

These 2 look good spec wise but I'm not sure whether AMD Ryzen™ 7 5825U or 11 Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 would actually perform better? In fact never used a AMD PC before.

https://www.dell.com/en-au/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-lap…

https://www.dell.com/en-au/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-300…

I'm currently using Lenovo T480 at work and I love it. However I believe it's way above my budget. I've read in various forums that Lenovo's are better than Dell?
What's your experience?
Also any Lenovo you'd suggest around the same budget?

Is it also worth buying refurbished laptops for home use to save $$? Which site you'd suggest? What's the Max warranty I can get?

Probably have asked too many questions? 🙄

Thanks in advance for helping out🙏 🙂

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • oscargamer on 16/08/2022 - 23:07
    +1

    Lenovo

  • Kiminoth on 16/08/2022 - 23:08
    +1

    Having a quick look, the Ryzen is newer, and performs better https://nanoreview.net/en/cpu-compare/intel-core-i7-1165g7-v…

    I was in a similar boat to you, prior to last year I'd only ever owned Intel, but last year when I built my PC I decided to go AMD. I use websites like the above as a rough guide if I had to pick between them, but if one costed a few hundred dollars more for only a minimal gain, I wouldn't do it. But I've had no issues since changing, I feel like it's a lot more of a level playing field now.

    After years of owning Dell laptops for work (with decent specs) and having average or at times subpar experiences, I decided to purchase a Lenovo yoga a few months ago for personal use, and I've loved it. My partner has a gen older version and struggled to work from it (which I attribute to the 8gb of RAM), but she's also enjoyed hers overall.

    I find 16 GB of RAM a min (hell, my desktop has 64), but it really depends on what you'll be doing. If you're just browsing the web and not working from it or anything, I think you'd be alright with 8, but 16 gives you a lot more leeway, and me personally, I wouldn't go 8 ever again as I find it way too easy to fill up.

    I've never bought refurbished, so I can't attest to that. Reading the recent bargain regarding a refurbished computer, it looks like they're stringent enough regarding quality control and warranty https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/719031

    If there's decent enough warranties around them, I'd happily go refurbished if I'm knocking 50%+ off the RRP and it's not too old (i.e. 11th gen)

    • bargainhunter98 on 17/08/2022 - 07:12

      Thanks that's really helpful 🙏.
      Inclining towards Rayzen 7, 16 GB and Lenovo.

  • scrimshaw on 16/08/2022 - 23:43
    +3

    If you want to buy a laptop right now, the best option might be the Intel NUC M15. I recently recommended it in a similar forum post

    I've read in various forums that Lenovo's are better than Dell?

    Dell and Lenovo's have loads of product lines, some products are made for the consumer market while others are made for small / medium business / corporates. If you want reliability and extended warranty options you have to purchase the business grade machines.

    If you buy an Inspiron 15 3000 or Lenovo IdeaPad 3 series they basically belong on the same tier — cheap & cheerful for the value conscious. They'll have plastic chassis and the cheapest kind of LCD panels (think 250 nits with 45% SRGB coverage). Try to avoid this if you can, because you'll often find the older, more premium laptops selling for not much more going on sale quite often.

    If you want something a little more premium and durable then you've got to spring for the Lenovo Thinkpad series (E-series for essentials, T or X series for business grade, and the L series is somewhere in between). Then there's also the Yoga series which are premium ultrabooks. This is probably out of your budget however.

    On the Dell side of things there's the Inspiron 3000, 5000 and 7000 line (bigger number: the more premium), Vostro (budget business), Dell XPS (consumer-premium) & Latitude series (Business-grade).

    Is it also worth buying refurbished laptops for home use to save $$?

    If you want to go the refurbished route, buy a business-grade machine from a retailer that offers a decent warranty period (usually 6 months or more) and who are not likely to go out of business during that time. The best option is actually the Dell Outlet (they'll give you a full 12 month manufacturer warranty), then followed by 3rd party refurbishers like Australian Computer Traders / Fusetech.

    The T480s you're using at work is actually worth $500 or less nowadays. You can still buy them on eBay. These are great value if you can get your hands on one in good condition.

    • bargainhunter98 on 17/08/2022 - 07:17

      Great info and advice. Should wait for some discount to get my hands into budget business at least.
      Thanks so much 🙏

    • bargainhunter98 on 17/08/2022 - 11:05

      ThinkPad E14 Gen 4 AMD with Rayzen 7 and 16GB RAM selling for $1209 in Lenovo website. Whats your thoughts on this, re performance? Also you think more discount can come through? Thanks in advance

      • scrimshaw on 17/08/2022 - 11:46
        +1

        They are okay but I'd wait on a deal for these to be posted. You should be able to grab them closer to $1000 (20% off the price you're currently quoted)

        The NUC M15 is better value at this stage — the CPU is not as fast but you don't really need a high end R7 for officework.

  • aub on 17/08/2022 - 08:26
    +1

    I've had very good experiences with second-hand thinkpads.
    As long as you buy them still in (Lenovo) warrantee, you can extend the warrantee and Lenovo will honour it. I've had several system board replacements (I thrash my machines a lot), and the service is pretty good for that.
    I'd go onsite if it's an option.

  • sTein0 on 17/08/2022 - 19:00
    +1

    The lenovo ebay store has some good deals due to the 20% off offer they have at the moment. For example, the Lenovo Ideapad 5 Pro (14) would be perfect for you due to the ryzen 6800hs with the new 680m igpu, but it is $1300. Otherwise, the Acer Swift X could be a great option due to it having a 1650 gpu, but it does have a slightly older 5700u and a 16:9 display.

  • scrimshaw on 18/08/2022 - 16:15
    +1

    Just an FYI, the NUC M15 is now available at an even lower price of $850. You'll need a Afterpay account however.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/719619

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