Gentle, Highly effective and Reasonably priced – Funding Moats

A couple of 12 months in the past, I made a decision that if I have to journey and transfer round extra, it could be a good suggestion to have a laptop computer with me.

I used to be nonetheless primarily utilizing my trusty HM 90 that I wrote about. It was three years previous and was in all probability a generations again laptop however it it serves numerous my private and work processes fairly properly. It nonetheless is and now it’s practically 4.5 years previous.

I’ve all the time primarily purchased and used second hand laptops since I began work. I may have gotten a model new one, however I additionally surprise if getting a model new laptop computer, except for the battery goes to supply me large upside.

However since I’d want some sturdiness, I’d not go together with one thing that’s the standard $200 to $400 worth vary.

I’m wondering if I am going for a better priced second hand laptop computer, would the expertise be completely different.

Prior to now there could be a distinction if you happen to go from paying $200 to $300 in that as an alternative of a 1366 by 768 show decision, you get a Full HD. I be taught that Full HD appears higher however is definitely not as essential as different issues.

I suppose I want for a greater battery however primarily I hope the laptop computer is sturdier and likewise can do what my HM90 can do.

Once I set out discovering what would match my wants, my thoughts was a clean about which laptop computer I most well-liked. There have been the same old Dell, Lenovo and HP enterprise laptops. It’s doubtlessly simpler to get spare elements from China for these prevalent enterprise laptops if one thing like trackpad, keyboard, ports are defective.

1. If the laptop computer is cheaper, they’re older in technology, and if they’re dearer, they’re often probably the most newest. However the place is the candy spot between new sufficient however not too previous?
2. The next grade enterprise laptop computer is made up of higher supplies and extra sturdier, and likewise lighter. If I have been to purchase a laptop computer to be all the time linked to energy, these specs wouldn’t be too helpful however since I’d be travelling, weight and sturdiness is extra essential so it is sensible for me to think about that.

Whether it is weight then I assumed the Dell XPS collection is what I take into account. There may be additionally the Lenovo X240, X270, X280 collection. The attraction of the X2 collection is that they’re 12 inch, very glossy and the chassis may be very sturdy. The draw back is a few might discover the 12 inch display to be small. I all the time admire my ex-colleagues who occur to have an X2 as a result of it appears so moveable.

However I quickly uncover the Lenovo collection which I’d ultimately be getting: the X1 Carbon collection.

First an schooling. Each of Dell, HP and Lenovo can have their very own collection to focus on numerous market segments:

• T-series (T14, T14s, T16) — the workhorse for workplace and residential work.
• X1 collection — the crown jewel of the entire ThinkPad line; the X1 Carbon particularly is constructed for journey and premium really feel — thinnest, lightest, carbon-fiber chassis, greatest show choices, first to get new Intel/AMD platforms.
• P-series — cellular workstations, for CAD/inventive/engineering work, devoted GPU.
• X1 Yoga / ThinkPad Yoga — the convertible flagship, a “business 2-in-1 ThinkPad” (completely different from client Yoga)
• L-series — value-tier ThinkPad, extra primary
• E-series — entry-level enterprise ThinkPad

I at the moment have a 2020 E14, E-series one at work. It’s at this level fairly near a bit of rubbish and I nonetheless want to make use of it. Typically you’ll hear individuals say your laptop computer will “flex” which isn’t a really favorable habits. Its mainly if you happen to use pressure to try to “bend” your laptop computer you may really feel how flimsy or stable the chassis is. You possibly can actually really feel the flex on my E14.

The P-series is probably the most highly effective however it is probably not probably the most moveable.

A whole lot of my colleagues are issued with the T14 now. The T14 is stable however they don’t seem to be probably the most moveable. However speaking to my colleagues, the present T14 appear to be a bit sucky with some persistent issues.

I finally got here to know concerning the X1 Carbon.

I purchased a second hand X1 Carbon, particularly the 2021 ninth Gen X1 Carbon.

The X1 is mainly attempting to have the T14 however in a carbon-fiber chassis.

A 2021 laptop computer is taken into account new to me as a result of most of my second hand laptop computer previously was about 9-years previous. My dad would used to purchase lorry that’s 1.5 years left when he was a renovations contractor. I mainly attempt to apply the identical idea however to laptops.

The Specs of my laptop computer:

1. Intel Gen 11 Core i7-1185G7 3.00 GHz
2. 16 GB Ram (soldered)
3. Intel Iris Xe Graphics (128 MB)
4. 1 TB arduous disk (however I finally change it to a 2 TB NVME)
5. 14 inch display.
6. 16:10 display side (as oppose to the normal 16:9 so it’s taller)
7. Touchscreen (however I intentionally disable it)
8. USB Charging.
9. 57,000 mWh battery
10. Battery well being 90+-%
11. 1.1 KG (2.4 lb)

I purchased it from an Indian man and needed to journey to love Bukit Timah for $650.

After the acquisition, I instantly felt that in my aim to purchase a dearer laptop computer, I might need overpaid for this. However after about 10 months with this X1 Carbon Gen 9, I feel its an honest worth.

In its hey day as a brand new PC, this X1 Carbon would have value $2200.

Your query is after 4 years, have know-how improved a lot such that these spec is outdated.

The reply is a agency no except I would like one thing actually optimized for AI-workloads.

This X1 Carbon is first rate for me due to just a few causes. It’s so mild, skinny sufficient, but it offers you 14 inch viewing with 16:10 side ratio. You’ll say I even have touchscreen however I’ve to determine the best way to disable the touchscreen as a result of I can’t stand touchscreen on a laptop computer. I’d by accident hit it a lot.

The burden is so mild that I take pleasure in taking it round. I’m fairly certain this X1 Carbon is lighter than a Mac but it nonetheless feels rattling sturdy.

I finally introduced this X1 Carbon with me on my Bangkok journey and Guangzhou journey final 12 months. This was what I exploit to intensively code the Home windows C# model of Gilgamesh, earlier than I convert it with an LLM to a PHP model hosted on Funding Moats right here.

These days, I’d convey this laptop computer to the workplace and since I’m within the practice by 6.30 am the practice from Sengkang to Outram would often have seats, I’d do some mild work whereas sitting down.

Whereas the battery life shouldn’t be its greatest efficiency, I discover myself solely needing to cost it a few occasions per week. After all, if I do intense work, I would want to cost day by day. The charging may be very quick.

Suffice to say, this X1 Carbon is as energy as my HM90.

16 GB in RAM is greater than sufficient and to be honest I feel an i5 processor is greater than sufficient for many of you. I feel if you’re putting in Linux working system resembling Linux Mint, you may make do with 8GB of RAM.

The Efficiency Distinction Between Totally different Intel CPU Generations

I notice that I might need additionally lucked out selecting the Gen 9. I used to be really trying on the Gen 8, which might be utilizing a tenth Gen Intel CPU.

There’s a important step up in Built-in Graphics with the Iris Xe Graphics from tenth Gen to Eleventh Gen Intel.

In case you are shopping for second hand laptop computer, you may wish to get accustomed to this.

Usually, in case you have the selection:

1. At the very least have a Intel eighth Gen because the core depend double for the U-series
2. Eleventh Gen for higher built-in graphics.
3. Twelfth Gen – extra important multicore workload positive factors.

Right here’s the breakdown, laptop-focused (Intel U/P-series, since that’s what’s in an X1 Carbon), highlighting the place the true jumps occurred vs. the place it was largely a rebrand.

sixth Gen (Skylake, 2015) → seventh Gen (Kaby Lake, 2016)
Minor. Similar core structure, barely increased clocks. Not value chasing a technology bump right here.

seventh → eighth Gen (2017)
That is the primary huge one. Intel doubled the core depend in U-series laptop computer chips (dual-core → quad-core). Actual-world multitasking and multi-threaded efficiency jumped considerably — this can be a significant line if you happen to’re evaluating a used X1 Carbon Gen 5 (seventh gen) vs Gen 6 (eighth gen).

eighth → ninth → tenth Gen (2018–2019)
Principally incremental — clock pace and cache tweaks, tenth gen added higher built-in graphics (Iris Plus) and Thunderbolt 3 assist. Not an enormous CPU efficiency delta.

tenth → Eleventh Gen (Tiger Lake, 2020)
Modest CPU positive factors (roughly 10–15%), however a giant graphics/Thunderbolt 4 improve. Value it primarily for I/O and show assist, not uncooked CPU pace.

Eleventh → Twelfth Gen (Alder Lake, 2021) — the one largest leap on this complete record
Intel launched the hybrid structure (Efficiency-cores + Effectivity-cores) in laptops for the primary time. The second largest efficiency leap is from the tenth to Twelfth technology CPUs for laptops (25% enhance), however generation-on-generation the Eleventh-to-Twelfth leap particularly was even sharper — multicore workloads noticed positive factors within the 50%+ vary since you’re abruptly getting additional E-cores dealing with background duties whereas P-cores give attention to the lively job. In case your article has one “that is the place it’s value paying up for a more recent used unit” second, that is it. Laptop computer Examine

Twelfth → thirteenth Gen (Raptor Lake, 2022)
Actual however smaller achieve — largely extra E-cores added, modest clock bumps. There’s solely a 7% efficiency achieve from the Twelfth to thirteenth gen for laptops for the i3 line, although higher-end i7/i9 cellular elements noticed a bit extra from additional threads. Laptop computer Examine

thirteenth → 14th Gen (Raptor Lake Refresh, 2023)
Broadly thought to be a rebadge with minor clock bumps. Skip this technology if you happen to’re chasing worth — a used thirteenth gen and 14th gen X1 Carbon carry out virtually identically.

14th Gen → Core Extremely (Meteor Lake / Sequence 1, 2023–24)
It is a completely different form of leap, not a raw-speed one. Intel restructured the entire chip (tile-based design) and added an NPU for on-device AI. Uncooked CPU efficiency was really a lateral transfer or barely down in some workloads — the Core i9-14900HX pocket book outperforms the Core Extremely 7 155H by greater than an element of two in heavy multi-threaded work, although that’s evaluating a high-power HX chip to a thin-and-light U/H half, which isn’t fairly apples-to-apples for an X1 Carbon purchaser. The true story right here is battery life and effectivity, not pace. PCWorld

Core Extremely Sequence 1 → Sequence 2 (Lunar Lake, 2024)
One other efficiency-focused technology. Core Extremely Sequence 2 processors are nice for informal gaming however not meant for skilled duties requiring large computational efficiency, resembling 3D rendering or video enhancing. For on a regular basis duties, the Core Extremely CPUs are the higher alternative as they’re extra power-efficient whereas nonetheless being highly effective, and if you happen to’re on the lookout for a laptop computer with lengthy battery life, the Core Extremely CPUs are the most suitable choice proper now. That is the technology the place “efficiency” stopped being the principle axis Lenovo/Intel have been optimizing for within the X1 line — battery life and AI options grew to become the pitch. Laptopmedia + 2

Core Extremely Sequence 2 → Sequence 3 (Panther Lake, 2025–26)
Newest technology, continues the effectivity/NPU trajectory with modest CPU uplift over Sequence 2.

The X1 Carbon Gen 9 is Cheaper In the present day on Carousell

A verify on Carousell appears to record them at:

1. i5, 16GB ram for $520
2. i5, 16GB ram for $490

Man it makes me really feel like a carrot head to purchase an i7 at $650.

There aren’t numerous Gen 7 X1 Carbon however extra X1 Carbon Gen 6.

Yow will discover each Intel seventh Gen and eighth Gen CPU within the Gen 6 X1 Carbon.

The Gen 6 is about 2.5 lb as examine to the Gen 9’s 2.4 lb however I feel you shouldn’t really feel the load distinction.

Finest Choice: Altering the Laborious Disk to a 2TB Samsung Evo Plus

I’m additionally unsure what obtained over me, however I’d often not be too bothered with the concept that a second hand arduous disk will fail on me.

However i feel along with this increased grade second hand laptop computer buy, I want to see simply how a lot of a efficiency enhance if I am going for a greater arduous disk.

So I purchased a Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB PCIe Gen 4 NVME for $155.66 on Amazon.sg

Right here’s the acquisition element:

Seems that this considerably not so pressing buy was such a very good choice as a result of that is the value of the identical rattling factor as we speak:

The value went up like 500%!

This NVMe worth is value greater than my complete X1 Carbon Gen 9!

It type of taught me that typically it isn’t about “do you want it, if you happen to want you then purchase”.

We all the time know that RAM and arduous disk costs are unstable and cyclical however didn’t notice it will likely be this excessive. This and our expertise with how a lot electrical energy costs can rise in scarcity ought to have an effect on how we view about funds planning.

Really the KXG6AZNV512G TOSHIBA NVMe that comes with this X1 Carbon is already not dangerous. That is how the metrics seemed:

Epilogue – Do Watch Out for the Lenovo X1 Carbon if You Want a Lighter and Sturdy Laptop computer

I used to be actually glad I had the possibility to expertise the X1 Carbon and though I’d nonetheless get battery life nervousness, I feel I managed to handle it over time after going by a section of not charging and occasional utilization with out bringing a charger.

If this isn’t one thing you contemplate, do have a look.

In 2026/27, this 2021 Gen 9 will nonetheless provide you with a very good mixture of:

1. Sufficient ram (for the 16GB)
2. Very mild and carbon fiber.
3. Touchscreen.
4. Good processor

You might be in all probability this within the $400 to $550 vary.

Second laptop computer at this second make higher funds sense than mini PC if you’re on the lookout for a house processing use. I’d simply cite this:

1. 16GB DDR4 Ram (not DDR5) value $105 – $130
2. 512 GB NVMe arduous disk value $160, 1TB about $240

For most individuals’s workloads, if battery shouldn’t be a giant consideration, a 2017/2018 8/9 12 months previous laptop computer with an Intel Gen 8 processor would go for $200 – $350 on Carousell.

The promoting worth is sort of equal to the RAM and NVME alternative value as we speak!

And also you get the processor, show and every little thing else without spending a dime.

I ought to know as a result of after shopping for this X1 Carbon, I additionally purchased:

1. A Dell Latitude 7300 with Gen 8 i7, 16GB Ram, 512GB SATA for $200 in April 2026
2. A Dell Latitude 7480 with Gen 7 i7, 32GB Ram, 512GB SATA for $230 simply yesterday

I’d in all probability write concerning the two of them in some unspecified time in the future however if you happen to worth productiveness per greenback value, then the candy spot is within the second hand market.

I like to jot down about these computing choice as a result of I’m additionally feeling my technique to what’s the “ground” of an important rigid compute productiveness spend for many individuals.

Proper now it feels very near $250 for two years haha! So that’s like $10 monthly if you happen to want to be sure to can have an honest computing productiveness expertise as probably the most important rigid spend.

This works out to be an annual $120.

On completely different Secure Withdrawal Charges, you will want a portfolio capital of:

1. 4%: $3000
2. 3.5%: $3430
3. 3%: $4000
4. 2.5%: $4800
5. 2%: $6000

The portfolio worth for revenue to supply perpetual productiveness compute shouldn’t be actually that top and lots of of you may obtain not less than this kind of freedom. After all, if you happen to worth a Mac expertise, that’s not a vital rigid spend already. That may be a discretionary want. Some would say, Kyith these days if you happen to speaking a couple of naked minimal, your $250 cell phone can do the job, so why want one other one? That may be very true.

I write about these $450 Mini PC, $200 10-year previous Dell Mini PC in my Dwelling a Worth Pushed Way of life part. You may wish to verify them out if you happen to share the identical worth.

Kyith is the Proprietor and Sole Author behind Funding Moats. Readers tune in to Funding Moats to be taught and construct stronger, firmer wealth foundations, the best way to have a Passive funding technique, know extra about investing in REITs and the nuts and bolts of Lively Investing.

Readers additionally comply with Kyith to discover ways to plan properly for Monetary Safety and Monetary Independence.

Kyith labored as an IT operations engineer from 2004 to 2019. At the moment, he works as a Senior Options Specialist in Charge-only Wealth Advisory Agency Providend. All opinions on Funding Moats are his personal and doesn’t symbolize the views of Providend.

You possibly can view Kyith’s present portfolio right here, which makes use of his Free Google Inventory Portfolio Tracker.

His funding dealer of alternative is Interactive Brokers, which permits him to put money into securities from completely different exchanges everywhere in the world, at very low fee charges, with out custodian charges, close to spot foreign money charges.

You possibly can learn extra about Kyith right here.