Tips For Getting The Best Deal On A New Laptop
Whether you are an amateur gamer wanting to up your skills or a talented video editor on the road, you will need a laptop that can withstand the jobs you throw its way. However, laptops can come with a myriad of features, and these features result in an equal assortment of high prices. However, if you know strategies that involve cherry-picking components along with strategizing your buying window, you can end up with a top-notch laptop at prices you could not obtain if you randomly visited your favorite store and simply grabbed what was on display.
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Match the components to your specific needs
If you are a gamer or a video editor in charge of animation and special effects, you might need a specific graphics card that can handle the computations necessary to power your visuals. Additionally, you might need a laptop crammed with RAM. In this case, you should compare graphics cards and look for at least three or four that can provide you with the power you require.
Because a good graphics card can cost hundreds or even thousands, you should focus on the amount of video memory you need along with the number of CUDA cores the GPU offers. Depending on your needs, if you get too much video memory or CUDA cores, you will not see an appreciable increase in processing speed, but you will end up paying significantly more.
Once you find several options, you can begin assessing each laptop and determine which one offers the best trade off between sheer power and price. For instance, any laptop fitted with an RTX 3080 or RTX 3090 will chew through anything you throw its way. However, if you find one with a Radeon RX 6900, you can often get all the power you need at a savings of $400 to $500. In terms of power, the RTX might be more powerful, but both the RTX and the RX models rank in the 99th percentile for performance.
Know what you do not need
Getting a great deal on a laptop also means not overspending on things you do not need. For instance, if 16GB of RAM will suffice, you should avoid a machine with 32GB of RAM or more. In addition to avoiding spending too much on something like extra RAM if you do not need it, a laptop with maximized RAM will likely also have top-tier features that you might also not need.
Additional types of accessories that you might not need include kits or sets.
- plug-in or wireless speakers
- packaged software
- laptop case
- external keyboard
- three-year or five-year warranty
The final thing you want to avoid if you want to get a good deal is packaged subscriptions. For instance, many machines might come with subscriptions for Microsoft programs or game programs. A laptop might also come pre-packaged with some antivirus software subscription. You might need some or all of these, but you will save money shopping for a program rather than selecting one recommended by a retailer.
Finally, some things you do not need are built into certain laptops. For instance, a larger monitor might not be something you require. Additionally, touch-screen capability might be a handy feature, but if you want to save money, buying a laptop that relies on a traditional mouse might be the choice to make.
Ask a sales technician
You might not think it, but sales people are not necessarily evil. In fact, the vast majority will want to help you find what you need because making a sale that gives you want you want can end up paying them a decent commission. Consequently, you should ask a sales technician about what types of components you can get that can save you money. In terms of RAM or a graphics card, you might be able to find a machine that will accomplish your tasks while also saving you a couple hundred bucks.
Shop around
All laptops of the same power will cost roughly the same, but the difference in price between one retailer and another can end up saving you between 10 percent and 20 percent. In addition to shopping around to get the best average price, you can also stumble upon last-minute sales by visiting multiple retailers.
In terms of prices on new laptops, auction sites often have buy-it-now offers, or they have offers on new laptops that can be customized to suit your needs. The basic thing to remember is that just because a laptop is on an auction site does not mean it is used.
Avoid visiting the same website twice from the same computer or IP address
Online retailers track people's shopping behavior, and if you visit a site from your phone or a computer, the retail site will track your interests and your IP address. Subsequent visits can result in the retailer suggesting so-called deals for you based on your previous shopping behavior. Additionally, the prices can be adjusted depending on how the site perceives your need. To ensure the best deal, you should use a VPN, which will mask your IP address, allowing you to get the best or most objective deal.
Yesterday's technology
A new laptop can often be fitted with somewhat older technology. For instance, if you can find a laptop with a GTX 1080, you can get a new laptop and an older graphics card that once was the fastest GPU on the planet. Because most people's needs are not so extreme that they need the current fastest component along with the current highest price, you might be able to get an incredible machine at a bargain price if you are able to configure it with technology from last season.
Buy with an eye to upgrade
One of the best ways to get the best laptop and still save money is to shop for a laptop with components that can be upgraded at a later time. For instance, you can purchase a new laptop with a smaller hard drive along with minimal RAM and decent graphics. If you then wait six months to upgrade the drive and increase the RAM, you will find that doing so might allow you to take advantage of future price drops. Of course, the end result is that you will not have to spend top dollar to end up with a top-tier machine. In fact, buying a laptop and upgrading at a later time can end up saving you 30 percent.
Newsletter or push notification
If you find a retailer or a store that you like, you can often save money by simply signing up for notifications on upcoming sales. There is no real magic in this process because it involves simply staying informed. Although you might not be able to get the laptop you want today or even tomorrow, you will be able to get it soon and own a top-tier laptop for the rest of your life.
Avoid sales tax and shipping
If you purchase a $2,000 laptop, you can often count on forking over between $100 and $200 in sales tax. However, if you purchase online from a retailer that does not charge sales tax, you can save this money or even upgrade the laptop of your choice to suit your budget.
Similarly, you should attempt to find a retailer that offers free shipping. Doing so might involve a slower shipping process, but it can save your $50 or more. If a website has a physical presence, you can also have it delivered free to the store.
Know when to shop
Everyone thinks that shopping after Christmas is better if you want a good deal. However, retailers know this strategy and can end up increasing prices right after Christmas.
In fact, to save money, you should postpone shopping until the last month of a retailer's fiscal year. The reason is because many companies will push to have products moved off of inventory and into the sales register. If you time your purchases accordingly, you can end up snagging a great deal.
For many online retailers, this translates into either February or July because these are two months that fall either after a major holiday or right before a major holiday's season. Another period to shop occurs during the second week of November because the time right before Thanksgiving is often a slow period for retailers. Finally, if you like to get up early on the day after Thanksgiving, you can often enjoy drastically slashed price tags on a variety of laptops.
Of course, knowing when not to shop is also critical to getting the best deal. In terms of spending too much money, you should avoid buying a laptop during the second weeks of the following months: January, March, and April.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.
