Buying a new but modified laptop, good idea?

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David321

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#268207 5-Mar-2020 09:25

Hi all,

I am currently on the hunt for a new laptop, after something with a bit of grunt although I am not a gamer I do put my current laptop to a bit of work with multiple programs running at once with the occasional Photoshop and video editing.

I am looking to spend up to about $1500 max and have taken a liking to the ASUS TUF gaming laptops, they seem to offer great power for a good price. Problem is it is hard to find any store with the models I like in stock, but there is one store (Just Laptops) that have one the looks good, but the thing is they usually upgrade their laptops before selling, something I am not to keen on but I figure they know what they are doing.

I have found this one though, they only thing they have done to it is add some RAM, I am guessing they have added another 8GB stick to make it 16GB, I figure this would be a relatively harmless modification and considering there is not much else around in stock I think i might buy it.

Does this look like a good laptop and a good buy?

https://www.justlaptops.co.nz/asus-tuf-fx505dtbq143t-156ips-fhd-ryzen-r53550h-16g-512g-gtx16504g-2ywrty-12544

_David_

lNomNoml

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#2432945 5-Mar-2020 09:31

The memory addition is nothing to worry about, the laptop will still be covered under the local NZ 2 year warranty, justlaptops are a good retailer.

For the price and specs to me it's not a bad deal, there "may" be better deals out there, the 2 year warranty is a huge plus to me though as most laptops only have 1 year.

Batman

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#2432951 5-Mar-2020 09:47

that's a decent spec for a decent price.

1024kb

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#2433453 6-Mar-2020 00:03

Added RAM is not a modification, it’s an enhancement. When ordering a new laptop, the basic spec will be displayed on the Buy Now page. The next step is to choose which options you want - more RAM, faster processor, bigger &/or faster storage drives, touchscreen or not, & maybe a choice of upgraded video card too. They’re all standard, unmodified laptops - the more options chosen, the better the laptop will be.

To consider a laptop to be questionably modified would be an aftermarket component added (water cooling for example, or maybe a higher resolution video panel replacement - properly fitted, both these would be enhancements too). A few years ago laptops came with removable CPU’s, it was easy enough to swap a 1.8GHz original chip for a 2.8GHz version - then listen to the cooling fan howl loudly from a few moments after startup. Overclocking I’d consider a modification however since it’s a software thing, it only takes a moment to return to stock condition.

A sad example I saw recently where the user had misplaced his Dell charger & the temporary, short term, shove it in the hole charger had damaged the power port. So he dismantled the Dell Inspiron 5000, removed the damaged port & replaced it with one from (I think) an Acer, so that his Acer charger would now power the Dell & fit nicely too.

In theory not a ridiculous concept, yet in practice such a naive plan, because Dell laptops recognise whether or not the power source is genuine & will adjust the performance to compensate. The result is a 2-year old Inspiron 5000 that operates at 500MHz instead of 2.2GHz - it’s so painfully slow in every single operation from booting to shutting down. Now that’s a modified laptop that any purchaser should stay well clear of!

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Jase2985

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#2433465 6-Mar-2020 05:12

1024kb: Added RAM is not a modification, it’s an enhancement. When ordering a new laptop, the basic spec will be displayed on the Buy Now page. The next step is to choose which options you want - more RAM, faster processor, bigger &/or faster storage drives, touchscreen or not, & maybe a choice of upgraded video card too. They’re all standard, unmodified laptops - the more options chosen, the better the laptop will be.

you are talking about the likes of Dell/HP, the op is looking at just laptops and its unlikely they have a stock of every configuration and they will just install the part to meet your requirement.

My MSI laptop from Just laptops came with 8gb of ram from the manufacture, they offered it with 16gb and installed the other 8gb when i picked it up. its a completely different brand of ram but with the same specs.

Yes it is modified/upgraded, but it doesn't affect the warranty or anything like that.

Dugimodo

168 posts

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#2433537 6-Mar-2020 10:40

I bought one of those Asus Tuf laptops late last year and am really happy with it. Games pretty well, has a nice screen, feels fairly solid. Much nice than the Acer I had previously. I'd happily buy that from Just laptops if it was my choice.

dolsen

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#2433538 6-Mar-2020 10:54

1024kb:

A sad example I saw recently where the user had misplaced his Dell charger & the temporary, short term, shove it in the hole charger had damaged the power port. So he dismantled the Dell Inspiron 5000, removed the damaged port & replaced it with one from (I think) an Acer, so that his Acer charger would now power the Dell & fit nicely too.

In theory not a ridiculous concept, yet in practice such a naive plan, because Dell laptops recognise whether or not the power source is genuine & will adjust the performance to compensate. The result is a 2-year old Inspiron 5000 that operates at 500MHz instead of 2.2GHz - it’s so painfully slow in every single operation from booting to shutting down. Now that’s a modified laptop that any purchaser should stay well clear of!

If they are capable of replacing the socket without damaging the motherboard, that should not stop them.

https://hackaday.com/2014/03/03/hacking-dell-laptop-charger-identification/

Edit: and I agree. Adding ram is not an issue.

1024kb

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#2433581 6-Mar-2020 11:32

dolsen:

If they are capable of replacing the socket without damaging the motherboard, that should not stop them.

https://hackaday.com/2014/03/03/hacking-dell-laptop-charger-identification/

Edit: and I agree. Adding ram is not an issue.

Even more effective would have been to leave the laptop alone & invest $20 or so on a replacement Dell charger before he damaged the power port by jammimg whatever universal power brick in there & holding it on just the right angle with gaffer tape. Obviously doesn't remember how hard he had to work for the money he spent purchasing the Dell. Once the port was damaged, the premium option was to replace that part with the correct Dell component plus spend that $20 on the Dell charger - now it's back how it should be. & would be 2.2GHz every time.

I didn't mention that there's now what was a useful Acer laptop sitting there without a power port, having been cannibalised of an essential component. I haven't pointed out to him that unwinding his feat of engineering would at least return the Acer to life. The Dell is too slow to do anything with - it'd almost be quicker to change the power port before firing it up rather than boot it in what I call Pentium II mode. Two laptops effectively became none. I have issued him with a warning - Step away from the keyboard.

I do like that hack though - the inquisitive nature of the human mind is represented in so many impressive hackaday projects.

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#2433585 6-Mar-2020 11:46

1024kb:
dolsen:

If they are capable of replacing the socket without damaging the motherboard, that should not stop them.

https://hackaday.com/2014/03/03/hacking-dell-laptop-charger-identification/

Edit: and I agree. Adding ram is not an issue.

Even more effective would have been to leave the laptop alone & invest $20 or so on a replacement Dell charger before he damaged the power port by jammimg whatever universal power brick in there & holding it on just the right angle with gaffer tape. Obviously doesn't remember how hard he had to work for the money he spent purchasing the Dell. Once the port was damaged, the premium option was to replace that part with the correct Dell component plus spend that $20 on the Dell charger - now it's back how it should be. & would be 2.2GHz every time.

I didn't mention that there's now what was a useful Acer laptop sitting there without a power port, having been cannibalised of an essential component. I haven't pointed out to him that unwinding his feat of engineering would at least return the Acer to life. The Dell is too slow to do anything with - it'd almost be quicker to change the power port before firing it up rather than boot it in what I call Pentium II mode. Two laptops effectively became none. I have issued him with a warning - Step away from the keyboard.

I do like that hack though - the inquisitive nature of the human mind is represented in so many impressive hackaday projects.

Completely agree