Upgrade Compaq C700 Laptop

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garbonzai

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

#171964 7-May-2015 08:11

Hi all

I need to upgrade my trusty old C700 and am thinking of a Toshiba L50-B02R at Harvey Norman for $778, I only use it for internet and TV out put now and then, do I need (or just want) I5 CPU power or would a more budget model be better,

your thought's and any better deals up to $800.

Thanks

semigeek

1606 posts

Uber Geek

#1299640 7-May-2015 08:38

Just out of interest, what is wrong with the C700, if anything?

Samsung

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garbonzai

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1299652 7-May-2015 08:56

semigeek: Just out of interest, what is wrong with the C700, if anything?

Are nothing actually, it has t8300 CPU which is fast enough, but it is really struggling rendering web pages smoothly (with all the animation/flash stuff in them) and playing video at 720p as the x3100 gpu is to weak now.

gzt

16823 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1299653 7-May-2015 09:01

It is a very good price for the spec. Nothing much gained by going lower in price on that basis. Not sure if it will be the same build quality as your previous tho.

garbonzai

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1299694 7-May-2015 09:40

gzt: It is a very good price for the spec. Nothing much gained by going lower in price on that basis. Not sure if it will be the same build quality as your previous tho.

Yes it looks pretty good, latest i5 CPU, Radeon R7 M260, 8GB ram, 1TB HD, bluetooth, should keep up with everything for a few years.

Definitely a big upgrade from my C700 bought Dec 2007, I've had a good run with it, always been docked, so keyboard, touch pad etc still like new, even have a spare one I got for $35.00 that goes too.

As for build quality, compaq was HP budget models I think, I don't know much about Toshiba, but like all new things, they are generally made better, but constant cost cutting does show with materials and built quality, I recently got a new oven to replace my older one, pretty much same model, just 25 years newer, even though it looks better, the materials and built quality is poorer than the one it replaced.

garbonzai

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1300033 7-May-2015 17:07

About to go to Harvey Norman and have a look now, if I don't like or sold out, the c700 can keep chugging away till the next deal.

ludez

903 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1300049 7-May-2015 17:31

Will you be retiring the c700?

garbonzai

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1300073 7-May-2015 18:59

ludez: Will you be retiring the c700?

I don't know yet, had a look at the Toshiba L50-B02R, looks nice but really flimsy especially above the dvd draw, decided no.

gzt

16823 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1300107 7-May-2015 19:47

The L50 line appears to have been around a while. Usually that's a good thing the engineering gets revised each go round instead of thrown and start again from the latest fashion. Maybe it's just different to what you are used to.

garbonzai

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1300135 7-May-2015 20:01

gzt: The L50 line appears to have been around a while. Usually that's a good thing the engineering gets revised each go round instead of thrown and start again from the latest fashion. Maybe it's just different to what you are used to.

Yea, I'm just use to my 2007 C700, although mostly plastic is heavier and more ridged, just a sign of the times I suppose, I did look at some Acer and HP which were pretty much the same, the pricey ones where more solid. The sales person at HN did say they are reliable and dont have any come back.

garbonzai

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1301533 10-May-2015 17:57

Well, I have gone from this......

to this....

Did not get the new one, got a second hand one off Trademe, that no one else bid on it?, all for just over $200 and about $550 still in my pocket, not as good as the new one, but way better than the C700, a bit more CPU grunt and a lot more graphics grunt makes a difference, I'm very happy.