Acer Aspire 14"

[Tall Timbers]

Just ordered this laptop to replace my travel laptop. I'll move my 4 year old travel laptop downstairs to replace a very old Toshiba laptop that I use for watching movies. This one was $400 off and is a pretty nice configuration for the money. I don't need the 32 GB of memory but it won't hurt, and I would have preferred WIFI 7 but it's hard to get exactly what you want, especially in a smaller laptop. This will be my first Acer. Costco Item number: 1931331

I keep a separate laptop for traveling so I don't have to lug around my very heavy (and expensive) laptop workstation when traveling.

Processor & Memory:

• Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 processor 288V (Up to 48 NPU TOPS - Up to 67 GPU TOPS)
• 32GB LPDDR5X Onboard Memory

Drives:

• 1TB PCIe Gen 4 Solid State Drive

Graphics & Video:

• 14.0" Multi-Touch Display with IPS (In-Plane Switching) Technology, WUXGA 1920 x 1200, 100% sRGB, High Brightness (400nits) Acer ComfyView™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (16:10 Aspect Ratio)
• Intel® ARC™ 140V Graphics

Operating System:

• Microsoft® Windows 11 Home

Communications:

• Wi-Fi 6E with 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 5GHz Bands, Including 2x2 MU-MIMO Technology and Bluetooth® 5.3 or above
• FHD IR Webcam (1920 x 1080) with Blue Glass supporting 1080p video

Ports & Slots:

• 2 - USB Type-C Ports - supporting USB4® (up to 40 Gbps), Thunderbolt™ 4 & USB Charging & Power Delivery (Up to 100W)
• 2 - USB 3.2 Gen 1 Ports (one featuring power-off charging)
• 1 - HDMI™ 2.1 Port with HDCP Support
• 1 - Headphone/Speaker/Line-out Jack

 

[mattfivefour]

Nice.

 

[Baby Yoda]

Looks good to me. All I know is the lady at Best Buy said not to get AMD processors anymore, she sees more problems with them.

I just got an HP Omnibook and hope it's good.

 

[Tall Timbers]

Looks good to me. All I know is the lady at Best Buy said not to get AMD processors anymore, she sees more problems with them.

I just got an HP Omnibook and hope it's good.

I agree with not getting an AMD processor. Congrats on your HP Omnibook. My HPs have always been good.

 

[Andy C]

Im not sure what anything means in the OP, its nothing but tech geek speak to me…

All I have used for the last 13 years are IPADS. My current one is an IPAD Pro, 12.9 in screen.

 

[mattfivefour]

Never had a problem with an AMD Ryzen.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I got a system with an AMD a long time ago because it was the only thing available that would handle (well) what I needed to do (chip shortage due to significant technological development at the time and all the manufacturers were scrambling).
It was a good chip, but I'd rather IBM or Intel.

 

[Tall Timbers]

I got a system with an AMD a long time ago because it was the only thing available that would handle (well) what I needed to do (chip shortage due to significant technological development at the time and all the manufacturers were scrambling).
It was a good chip, but I'd rather IBM or Intel.

The main problems I've seen with AMD CPUs over the years was less than perfect compatibility with the other hardware. Manufacturers designed for Intel for obvious reasons. I don't blame AMD. Don't have any recent experiences with AMD but wouldn't buy a computer with AMD in it.

 

[mattfivefour]

When I put a computer together, I always use an AMD motherboard with an AMD processor and an AMD GPU. Mixing technologies is just asking for trouble.

AI has an assessment very similar to my own experience.
_________

AMD is often better for multitasking and budget-conscious users due to its strength in multi-core performance and excellent value, particularly with its Ryzen 3D V-Cache chips for gaming.

Intel is generally the best for single-core performance, which makes it a top choice for gaming and other tasks that rely on raw speed, though AMD has become very competitive in this area as well.

AMD strengths

• Multi-core performance: AMD's Ryzen series often excels at multitasking and demanding workloads like video editing, rendering, and content creation, thanks to a higher core count.
• Gaming: AMD's "X3D" chips, with their large 3D V-Cache, are considered top-tier for gaming performance.
• Power efficiency: AMD chips are often more power-efficient, which can lead to better battery life in laptops and lower power consumption.
• Value: AMD frequently offers better performance per dollar, making it a great choice for budget builds.

Intel strengths

• Single-core performance: Intel processors are known for their high single-core speed, which can provide an edge in certain games and applications that don't heavily utilize multiple cores.
• Overall market share: Intel has historically dominated the market and often has a slight performance lead in some scenarios, especially at the high-end.

 

[Tall Timbers]

Overall market share: Intel has historically dominated the market and often has a slight performance lead in some scenarios, especially at the high-end.

This may not be the case anymore. When I started looking for another laptop I was surprised to see a lot of AMD and Qualcomm CPUs and a lot fewer Intel CPUs. I decided it was as good a time as any to sell my Intel shares. I'd had no idea how far they'd fallen.

 

[Tall Timbers]

Single-core performance: Intel processors are known for their high single-core speed, which can provide an edge in certain games and applications that don't heavily utilize multiple cores.

The 13th gen i9 chip I've got in my workstation has a very strong multi-core performance. the newer core 9 in my just purchased laptop is much slower multi-core but has a better single core performance.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

When I put a computer together, I always use an AMD motherboard with an AMD processor and an AMD GPU. Mixing technologies is just asking for trouble.

AI has an assessment very similar to my own experience.
_________

AMD is often better for multitasking and budget-conscious users due to its strength in multi-core performance and excellent value, particularly with its Ryzen 3D V-Cache chips for gaming.

Intel is generally the best for single-core performance, which makes it a top choice for gaming and other tasks that rely on raw speed, though AMD has become very competitive in this area as well.

AMD strengths

• Multi-core performance: AMD's Ryzen series often excels at multitasking and demanding workloads like video editing, rendering, and content creation, thanks to a higher core count.
• Gaming: AMD's "X3D" chips, with their large 3D V-Cache, are considered top-tier for gaming performance.
• Power efficiency: AMD chips are often more power-efficient, which can lead to better battery life in laptops and lower power consumption.
• Value: AMD frequently offers better performance per dollar, making it a great choice for budget builds.

Intel strengths

• Single-core performance: Intel processors are known for their high single-core speed, which can provide an edge in certain games and applications that don't heavily utilize multiple cores.
• Overall market share: Intel has historically dominated the market and often has a slight performance lead in some scenarios, especially at the high-end.

Here's the AI on IBM chips
Their Power 11 uses AI to accelerate memory

Strengths of IBM CPU Chips​

High Performance​

• IBM CPU chips, particularly the POWER series, are designed for high-performance computing. They excel in tasks requiring significant computational power, such as data analytics and artificial intelligence.

Scalability​

• These chips are built to handle large datasets and complex models efficiently. This scalability allows systems to grow with increasing data demands without performance loss.

Enterprise Features​

• IBM CPUs prioritize security, reliability, and scalability, making them suitable for enterprise applications like CRM and ERP systems. They meet stringent corporate IT requirements, including compliance and data governance.

Innovation​

• IBM is a pioneer in developing advanced technologies, including the world’s first 2-nanometer chips. Continuous innovation keeps their CPU offerings competitive in the market.

Weaknesses of IBM CPU Chips​

Cost​

• IBM CPU solutions can be expensive compared to alternatives, which may deter smaller businesses or startups from adopting them.

Market Perception​

• There is a common misconception that x86 architecture is the industry standard, which can overshadow the capabilities of IBM's Power architecture.

Limited Consumer Market​

• IBM primarily targets large enterprises, which may limit its appeal in the broader consumer market where lower-cost alternatives are more prevalent.

Complexity​

• The advanced features and capabilities of IBM CPUs may require specialized knowledge to implement and manage, posing a barrier for some organizations.

 

[mattfivefour]

Way outside my pocketbook, sis! Even Intel is.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Way outside my pocketbook, sis! Even Intel is.

Another reason I've been getting second-hand. I can get better than I can afford new with a pretty reasonable price point. The place I buy from is a local, brick-and-mortar, sole proprietorship, and the owner provides excellent service. The Lenovos I've gotten from him are business grade and have better/similar specs and about the same price as the cheapest new consumer grade Lenovo.

The biggest disadvantages are what's in stock at any given time, not 24/7, and limited length warranty. So long as I have Carbonite, I can live with it.