Which Laptop should I buy for college, computer science, game development, and gaming.
I was wondering which laptop should I get for college, since I noticed that the one that I am using right now only has 4 GBs of soldered RAM. Which is borderline no longer enough for my future plans. I have two types of laptops in mind, Framework or Enterprise class laptops.
Currently I have been living with a Gateway GWTN156-12BK which I had upgraded from 128 GBs to a TB of storage, its specs are:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3250U (4) @ 3.50 Gz
- GPU: AMD Radeon(TM) Vega 3 Graphics
- Memory: 4GB
- Storage: 1TB
I was thinking of getting a general upgrade because I wanted something that could last and be future proof as well. Theoretically I could daily drive this plastic hard-to-transport-underpowered-slab everyday for college for the next four years. But lets be frank, would I enjoy using something that slowly turned into a Chromebook with a growth disorder plus fans (sarcasm). I already tried buying a thinkpad to replace the thing for it to be handed down my family, yet I canceled the orders since there is always some issue that I had with the model. That being it hadn't any expansion RAM slots or that the CPU was intel made and therefore as 2018 to 2022 thinkpad standards, underpowered.
Overall I wanted something that can be:
- Repairable, this means having a existent RAM slot, as well as available parts.
- Light to medium gaming worthy, capable of playing Balatro to valve games to fortnite.
- Around 15 to 14 inches in length, relatively light to medium weight in the backpack.
- At least 16 GBs of RAM
- Cost somewhere between $200 to $450-ish on eBay, $700 if I gain a job and saved by then.
I was thinking something like a enterprise class or a framework laptop, I had used one 14" HP before for school yet only for a robotics competition. In fact I had been using enterprise class laptops during Elementary and Middle school. I fell in love with the idea of light up keyboards, such a game changer.
So, dear Reddit, what are your suggestions.
Posted Jun 23, 2025, 4:21 AM UTC