Hey! Congrats on the new laptop hunt—it’s wild how much has changed. Since you’re coming in fresh, here’s a quick breakdown with some unconventional but useful context (including why that 146GB 15K RPM SAS HDD in your old server/closet might still matter!):
1. RAM: Why 8GB is the New "Minimum"
Modern OS/software can run on 8GB, but it’s tight. 16GB is the sweet spot for future-proofing (Chrome + Slack + a game = ~12GB).
SAS HDD Parallel: Like how 15K RPM SAS drives were once "high-end" but are now niche, 32GB RAM is today’s "pro" tier (but overkill for your needs).
2. Thermals: They’re (Mostly) Fixed… Sort Of
AMD/Intel chips are way more efficient now. Ryzen 7 runs cooler than old i7s, but avoid ‘HX’ CPUs (e.g., i7-13700HX)—they’re desktop chips crammed into laptops and get toasty.
SAS HDD Lesson: Like how 15K RPM drives needed heavy cooling, modern laptops throttle hard if vents are blocked.
3. Bus Speeds & Hidden Bottlenecks
NVMe SSDs (PCIe 4.0) make HDDs (even 15K SAS) feel ancient. A slow SSD (SATA) is now the bottleneck, not RAM/CPU.
SAS Throwback: That 146GB SAS drive had ~180MB/s speeds; even a budget NVMe hits 3,500MB/s. Prioritize SSD specs over HDDs.
4. CPU: Ryzen 7 vs. i7
Ryzen 7 (e.g., 7840U): Better battery life, cooler, iGPU crushes Intel’s for light gaming.
Intel i7 (e.g., 1360P): Faster single-core (good for emulators/older games).
5. Your Use Case + Budget
€600-900: Look for:
Ryzen 7 7840U or i7-1360P
16GB RAM (soldered = no upgrades, so don’t settle for 8GB)
512GB NVMe SSD (avoid HDDs or eMMC)
IPS screen (no TN panels!)
Durability: Lenovo ThinkPad T-series or HP EliteBook—used enterprise models (with your SAS HDD’s ruggedness) often fit your budget.
SAS HDD Fun Fact:
That 146GB 15K RPM drive was a beast in 2010 (~4ms seek time!), but today’s SSDs are 100x faster. If you still use one, repurpose it as an external backup drive (via USB-SATA adapter).
Pitfalls to Avoid:
‘Upgradeable’ RAM that requires disassembly.
TN screens (washed-out colors).
‘Premium’ brands charging €200 for a logo.
Deal Example: Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro with Ryzen 7, 16GB, 512GB SSD often dips to €850.
Hope this helps! Would love to hear if you’ve got that SAS drive still running somewhere.
