The only thing worse than having to run the already treacherous gauntlet of back-to-school shopping is the inevitable return trips. Sometimes you simply don’t know what you truly need until the school year is already well underway. Other times, you start out the year fully prepared only to discover that your current PC isn’t quite up to the task… or that it craps out on you just when you need it most.
Thankfully, our friends at AMD—GeekDad’s newest sponsor—are here to remind you that help is close at hand. A suitable computing solution is only a brief drive to your local big-box store (or a couple of mouse clicks) away!
Here’s a handful of specially picked options for the students in your life.
HP Pavilion 15-aw068nr 15.6″ Touch-Screen Laptop – AMD A9-Series APU with AMD Radeon R5 Graphics – 4GB Memory – 1TB Hard Drive – Windows 10 Home
from $449.99 (plus shipping)
At $450, this is a powerful portable computing solution at a budget price. With a 1TB hard drive and AMD Radeon R5, it has the goods to deliver everywhere from the lecture hall to those late night streaming media binges in the dorm. Plus, the added touch-screen functionality combines the intuitive interface of a tablet with the processing and performance of a traditional notebook.
Lenovo ideapad 310 15.6″ Laptop – AMD A12-Series APU with AMD Radeon R7 Graphics – 12GB Memory – 1TB Hard Drive – Windows 10
from $581.99 (plus shipping)
The Lenovo ideapad 310 is a veritable monster boasting an AMD A12-Series APU with an AMD Radeon R7 and 12GB of DDR4 RAM, but, at under $600, it’s a delightfully affordable monster. Best of all, it’s also a 15.6-inch notebook weighing in at 4.8 lbs, meaning it travels as well as it performs. Supporting HDMI output, Bluetooth 4.0, and USB 3.0 (on one of its three integrated USB ports), it has everything you need—including a DVD-writer for that oft-ignored cohort that still finds comfort in physical media.
HP Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6″ Touch-Screen Laptop – AMD FX-Series Processors with AMD Radeon R7 Graphics – 8GB RAM – 1TB Hard Drive – Windows 10 Home
from $649.99 (plus shipping)
AMD’s FX-Series processors are nothing to sneeze at, and the Envy x360 pairs this 8-core GPU with a Radeon R7 and a 7200 RPM 1TB hard drive for students with media-heavy curricula… or simply those with more discriminating viewing habits. Its hinged design means you can position this handsome touch-screen laptop for optimum viewing, comfort while typing, and all points in-between.
But even that is just the tip of the iceberg! From unique mobile computing platforms to powerhouse components for revitalizing your aging desktop, AMD has you covered: Enabling today. Inspiring tomorrow.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be taking a deeper dive on each of these featured models—to help assure that you and your students get exactly what you need for the tasks ahead. Keep an eye on your RSS reader for our next installment, “Style and Substance — HP Pavilion 15-aw068nr.”
This is a sponsored blog post for which GeekDad was compensated. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
