Spec Advise

davefox772

New member
Hi.
Just wanted some advise on getting the below spec. I currently have a surface book (I got this about a year ago so not sure which model it is)


I was just wondering about how good the screen would be on the below spec compared to the surface book?

I've chosen the below because I work away a lot and cant connect to monitors hence the big screen. I have to use google maps a lot looking at streets and have found good detail on surface book, but when I've used cheap laptops, the detail isnt great.


Ive chose 16gb RAM as im maxing out my current 8gb.

Any help would be great to change spec or laptop with same screen with price around £1000





Chassis & Display
Cosmos Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD IPS 60Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Six Core Processor 8750H (2.2GHz, 4.1GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 - 4.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st Hard Disk
1TB SEAGATE 7mm SERIAL ATA III 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 128MB CACHE (7,200rpm)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor
2 x 120W AC Adaptor
Battery
Cosmos VII Series 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Thermal Paste
COOLER MASTER MASTERGEL MAKER THERMAL COMPOUND
Sound Card
2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema 3
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-9260 M.2 (1.73Gbps, 802.11AC) +BT 5.0
USB Options
1 x USB 3.1 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language
SINGLE COLOUR BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 4 to 6 working days
Quantity
1

Price £1,044.00 including VAT and delivery

Unique URL to re-configure : https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/cosmosvii-17/vwrBgeKXra/
 

davefox772

New member
I have to use google maps a lot looking at streets and have found good detail on surface book, but when I've used cheap laptops, the detail isnt great.

Ive chosen a high RAM as i have alot of things running at once including CAD.
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
I take it you're going with the GTX 1050 graphics card because CAD will benefit? Otherwise stick to the cheaper option. A better graphics card won't improve image quality, only the performance of certain applications or video games.

The surface book has a much higher resolution screen (3000 x 2000, in 3:2 aspect ratio). This is presumably because Microsoft are trying to ape Macbooks with their very high-res displays.

Almost all mid/high end conventional laptops will have 1080p (1920x1080, in 16:9 aspect ratio).

Cheap laptops in the past, and sometimes even today, will have 1366x768 resolution screens, which is quite low-res and frankly pretty horrible to use. I've also seen some screens look a bit 'blocky' as if you could see the grid on them rather than just being presented with a smooth image.

Also, Windows will sometimes be set to scale things above 100%. I've seen laptops with 1080p screens set to scale 125%, so that even though it's a nice, sharp 1080p screen, everything still looks blocky. That just requires changing a Windows setting.

That might be why you've had bad experiences with cheap laptops - 1366x768 res screens and Windows scaling.

But while you don't want lower than 1080p, there's actually not always much point getting a screen that's above 1080p resolution either. See: https://www.techradar.com/news/mobi...gorgeous-but-they-re-not-worth-it-yet-1291430

So it's possible the screen won't be quite as nice as a Surface Book if you're used to that, but 1080p is absolutely standard for mid/high end laptops, is more than fine for productivity, and ought to give a solid display of google maps. It's 72% NTSC, which is decent and it's an IPS screen which means good viewing angles. I use google maps fine on my 1080p laptop, and the screen is not as good as 72% NTSC.

If you use your laptop on the go a lot, and use CAD, I would very strongly recommend setting an SSD. E.g. a 256gb Intel 760p from the M.2 SSD Drive menu (or the WD Black / 970 Evo if you're happy spending a little more).
 
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