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How to pick
Before buying anything, work out whether your machine is old or just clogged. A computer that was quick two years ago and crawls now is usually not worn out, and the single biggest fix is swapping a spinning hard drive for a solid state one, which costs a fraction of a new machine and makes it feel new. Add memory if it has 8GB or less. If you are buying new, the things that matter in order are: a solid state drive, never a spinning one; 16GB of memory, because 8GB is already tight; and a screen you can actually stand looking at all day. Processor speed is far down that list for normal use. Ignore any laptop still sold with a mechanical hard drive, whatever else it claims.
What I recommend
NVMe or SATA solid state drive
If your computer takes minutes to become usable, this is almost certainly why. Swapping the old spinning drive for a solid state one is the difference between waiting and not waiting, and it costs far less than replacing the machine. Check whether yours takes an M.2 stick or a 2.5 inch drive before ordering.
- Impact
- The upgrade people feel most
- Check
- M.2 stick or 2.5 inch drive
- Size
- 1TB is the sensible default
- Brands
- Samsung, Western Digital, Crucial
Laptop or desktop memory upgrade
If the machine has 8GB or less and slows down whenever you have a few things open, more memory helps. Look up your exact model to find what type it takes and whether it can even be changed, because a lot of thin laptops have it soldered in.
- Worth it if
- You have 8GB or less
- Check first
- Whether yours is soldered in
- Type
- Look up your exact model
- Buy as
- A matched pair where possible
USB-C docking station
One cable to the laptop gives you the monitor, keyboard, mouse, network and charging all at once. If you plug and unplug four things every time you sit down, this fixes that. Check your laptop supports video over its USB-C port, because not all do.
- Gives back
- Monitor, keyboard, network, power
- Check
- Your laptop does video over USB-C
- Cables
- One to the laptop
- Brands
- Anker, UGREEN, Dell
Windows laptop
The things that matter, in order: a solid state drive rather than a spinning one, 16GB of memory rather than 8, and a screen you can stand looking at all day. Processor model matters far less than people think for normal use. Avoid anything still sold with a mechanical hard drive.
- Must have
- Solid state drive, never spinning
- Memory
- 16GB, not 8
- Screen
- One you can look at all day
- Matters less
- Processor model
Related reading
Not sure if it is worth upgrading?
Send me the model and I will tell you honestly whether to spend the money on it or put it toward a new one.