Laptop Buying Guide: What Specs Actually Matter

# Laptop Buying Guide: What Specs Actually Matter

Shopping for a laptop can be overwhelming. Manufacturers throw around specs like "11th Gen Intel Core i7" and "512GB NVMe SSD" – but what does it all mean? Let's cut through the jargon.

The Specs That Matter Most

1. Processor (CPU)

The brain of your laptop.

Intel Naming (e.g., Core i5-1235U):

• i3: Basic tasks, budget option
• i5: Great balance for most users
• i7: Power users, content creation
• i9: Overkill for most people

The letter at the end matters:

• U: Ultra-low power, good battery
• P: Performance, balanced
• H: High performance, shorter battery

AMD Naming (e.g., Ryzen 5 5600U):

• Ryzen 3: Basic tasks
• Ryzen 5: Great all-rounder
• Ryzen 7: Power users

2. RAM (Memory)

• **4GB**: Too little for 2024
• **8GB**: Minimum recommended
• **16GB**: Ideal for most users
• **32GB**: Video editing, development

3. Storage (SSD vs HDD)

• **Always choose SSD** - It's the single biggest performance upgrade
• **256GB**: Tight, need cloud storage
• **512GB**: Good for most users
• **1TB**: Content creators, large game libraries

4. Display

• **Resolution**: 1080p (Full HD) minimum
• **Size**: 13-14" portable, 15-16" productivity
• **Panel**: IPS for good colors and angles

5. Graphics (GPU)

• **Integrated** (Intel UHD, AMD Radeon): Fine for most tasks
• **Dedicated** (NVIDIA GTX/RTX): Gaming, video editing, 3D work

What You Can Ignore

• **Webcam MP**: 720p vs 1080p rarely matters
• **Number of USB ports**: 2-3 is usually enough
• **Thunderbolt**: Unless you need specific accessories
• **WiFi 6E**: WiFi 6 is fine for most connections

Recommended Configs by Use

Student/Basic Office

• i5 or Ryzen 5
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB SSD
• Integrated graphics
• Budget: $300-500 refurbished

Business Professional

• i5/i7 or Ryzen 5/7
• 16GB RAM
• 512GB SSD
• Good build quality
• Budget: $400-700 refurbished

Content Creator

• i7 or Ryzen 7
• 16-32GB RAM
• 512GB-1TB SSD
• Dedicated GPU
• Budget: $600-1000 refurbished

Browse our [laptop selection](/shop) to find your perfect match!