Computer purchase

🚩 Note: This is work in progress. It is being setup to help you select your next laptop or computer acquisition. I am writing this because people think I am an expert on CPUs and laptops - it is really up to you - it's your choice, because I only purchase equipment when needed. The last laptop purchase was a Hp Envy 360 for my wife last year, and it was 6 years ago I purchased a Metabox work-horse gaming laptop when I needed a mobile Linux platform. I have kept that machine going by upgrading the M.2 SSD and the hard-drive bay to a total of 4TB. It is used to run multiple Linux VMs which is why I maxed it to 32GB of RAM (later models can have 64GB). I also run Windows VM, and emulate other processors. For the office, I usually purchase headless NUC and raspberry pi machines. Though I have acquired many laptops - most are too slow except to run as a Linux jump-box; you could call it laptop city at our place. See Re-purpose_a_laptop which is why they are accumulating - waiting for a needy recipient.

🚩 Note: many laptops are now sold with a touch screen. I like touch screens for the convenience, but I also use other laptops that do not provide a touch screen. If you are the class of user that does not like touch screens, with fingerprints all over the view, then under Windows 10 you can disable touch screen features. You can also disable under Linux.

🚩 Note: I have migrated most of my operational machines to using Linux, and I program in IDEs and bare metal, various other non-Windows OS, even systems-programming - please don't ask for advice on Windows nor Windows development.

Equipment I have used in the past follow ...

acer

• acer

del

• alienware - puchased 12 years ago
• dell https://www.dell.com/en-au/lp/laptops - last purchased 12 years ago

Intel NUC

Well these are not laptops, they make good headless computers, and I even use them as servers.

Metabox

Gaming laptops https://www.metabox.com.au/store/index.asp that do not have touch screens.

• Metabox_Alpha_N850EJ_Clevo_N8xEJEK - purchased 6 years ago (re-branded clevo)
  • 8th Generation Cofee-Lake Intel Hexa (6) Core i7-8750H (2.20, 4.10GHz Turbo), 9MB L3 cache
  • Intel HM379 Express Chipset
  • Supports DDR4 Dual Channle via twi 260Pin SODIMM expandable to 32GB 2400NHzz/2666MHR DDR4
  • 15.6" FHD 1920 x 1080 WVA Matte 120Hz LED backlit
  • Intel 630 UHD graphics
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 4GB GDDR5 VRAM
  • 32GB DDR4 2400MHZ (2 x 16GB)
  • M.2 2280 SSD,PCIe Gen3 x2/x4 or SATA interface: Western Digital 240GB SATA 3 M.2 SSD
  • Storage 2.5" 7.00mm (H) HDD/SDD,SATA Interface: 1TB 7200RPM Slim line HDD
  • High Definition audio interface
  • builtin array microphone
  • 2 builtin speakers
  • Sound Blaster Cinema 5
  • Integrated touchpad
  • Keyboard RGB colour illuminated 3-zone with numeric pad
  • Ports
    • 1 HDMI 1.4 output with *HDCP)
    • 1 mini display port 1.3
    • 1 mini display port 1.2
    • 1 USB 2.0 Port
    • 1 USB 3.0 Port
    • 1 USB 3.1 Gen 2 Port (Type A)
    • 1 USB 3.1 Gen 2 Port (Type C)
    • 1 headphone jack
    • 1 microphone jack
    • 1 RJ-45 LAN (10/100/1000Mbps)
    • 6-in-1 Cardreader (MMC/RSMMC.SD.Mini-SD.SDHC/SDXC)
    • Built-in Gigabith Ethernet LAN
  • Intel 9560 AC Dual Band WIFI/BT (up to 1.73 Gbps)
  • backlight https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=287190
• Alpha SE https://www.metabox.com.au/store/Alpha-Se-Range from $1,799
  • Intel Gen 12 i5-13500
  • 16 threads
  • 4070 NVIDIA TTX
  • ports
    • 2 x USB 3.2 (gen 2 type-C)
    • 1 x USB 3.2 (gen 1 USB blue type-A)
    • 1 x USB 2.0 (USB black type-A)
    • 2-in-1 audio
    • 1-mic in
    • 1 x HDMI and inbuilt microphone
    • 1 x mini-display port
    • 1 x RJ45 LAN port
  • Built-in Gigabit Ethernet LAN
    • Intel AX201 Dual Band WIFI/BT (up to 2.4 Gbps)
    • Killer 1650 AX Low Latency WIFI/BT (up to 2.4 Gbps)
    • Killer 1675 6E AX Low Latency Tri Band WIFI & Bluetooth 5.3 (up to 2.4 Gbps)
    • Intel AX211 6E AX Tri Band WIFI & Bluetooth 5.3 (up to 2.4 Gbps)
  • micro-sd reader
  • touch-pad
  • 2.0 MP FHD camera
  • built-in array microphone
  • Sound Blaster cinema 5 with 2 built-in speakers. HDAI
  • up to 64GB 5600MHz RAM (default 16G)
  • up to 16TB PCIe nVME SSD (default 512 Mb - 1Tb)
    • one M.2 2280 SSD PCie Gen4x4
    • one M.2 2280 SSD SATA/PCIe Gen3x4 (with RAID 0 or 1 supported on 3x4 interface)
• RBG colour illuminated keyboard with numeric pad
  • TPM 2.0, Intell PTT and Kensington lock
• metabox optimus prime - purchased 7 years ago

spare parts

• Alpha keyboard A$95
  • https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/163431089439?hash=item260d40851f:g:sJ4AAOSwFbFdUnQi
  • https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/233503039126?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20201210111314%26meid%3D00ff6583050b4c6bbd955a56c4f980bf%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D163431089439%26itm%3D233503039126%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv9PairwiseUnbiasedWeb%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851