HP laptops for kids in college

[RockinRnR]

What are your thoughts on a laptop that is set up to use 4gb ram+16gb octane??
This is the 2019 - Series: 15-da0056od, Model: 4SU40UA.
Some specs:
High-performance 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U proc, 1.60 GHz up to 3.40 GHz, 6MB Cache.
15.6-inch diagonal HD BrightView WLED-backlit Display (1366x768), Intel UHD Graphics 620.
1TB 5400rpm HD.
,
It sounds like a good laptop for general, non-gaming use. My only reservation is what sounds to me like ?shared? memory...so am I being overly concerned about this arrangement or is it a good set up??!

 

[Snipeye]

Octane memory is memory meant to improve the efficiency and speed of data transfer between the CPU, RAM (4GB) and hard drive. It's NOT a replacement to DDR memory. It's just making it faster, such as adding a supercharger to a conventional gas engine. It's not needed to make the car run, but it helps make it run faster.

Reviews on this model are very few and far between, but it appears to be fine for a student or general, non-gaming use. "Shared memory" typically references the lack of a dedicated video card, and the computer is reliant on the onboard video, in this case the Intel UHD Graphics 620. With no dedicated GDDR memory to utilize, the CPU-based graphics engine will instead rely on and use the regular DDR memory.

So if you're doing powerpoint, typing essays, youtube browsing, even Netflix. You're fine. The moment you want to boot up a CAD program, or play something that's not Windows Pinball or Solitaire, prepare for a slow, painful experience.

Personally, I'd rather get an SSD instead of the 5400 rpm, especially how cheap SSD's are going for these days. Can't imagine a student filling up more than 256GB of storage unless they're playing games or running big, GPU-intensive programs, and this laptop would be a pointless buy then.

 

[Simon]

Personally, I'd rather get an SSD instead of the 5400 rpm, especially how cheap SSD's are going for these days. Can't imagine a student filling up more than 256GB of storage unless they're playing games or running big, GPU-intensive programs, and this laptop would be a pointless buy then.

Agreeing with everything else Snipeye said - but not having an SSD is almost unberable at this point. 5400 RPM drives are the WORST and make any machine feel ancient so quickly. I'd look for something that comes with an SSD to keep them happy for a very long time.

 

[Rock offroad]

Agreeing with everything else Snipeye said - but not having an SSD is almost unberable at this point. 5400 RPM drives are the WORST and make any machine feel ancient so quickly. I'd look for something that comes with an SSD to keep them happy for a very long time.

I can tell you out of experience that 5400 RPM drives are the worst as I used to use a laptop with one and 8GB ram and a I7 and would recommend you get a SSD instead. Try see if you can get a SSD installed instead of having the 5400 RPM drive as I know that there are places that do it.

 

[dryden]

but not having an SSD is almost unberable at this point.

^