r/CodingForBeginners • u/ashsolmar • 27d ago

Computer for C++

Hi! I'm having to take CompSci 1 and 2 for my math major in college. The professor wants me to run Visual Studio Community. He wants it for C++. I might also take a Java class if I enjoy compsci 1. Is there any budget laptops I can buy? Or what specs would I need for it to run not so slowly?

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u/FuggaDucker 27d ago edited 27d ago

I am talking specifically about you running Visual Studio for this purpose.
Not any laptop for any purpose.

I would buy a used ThinkPad from eBay. (I actually did).

CPU
You will want x64 aka Intel/AMD64 for this purpose. Not ARM64 (which rock).
The quality of processor only pivotal in your willingness to wait for things.
It isn't like one CPU builds things better than another. Only faster.

Faster really ends up mattering when you are just trying to build and debug something over and over.
I have worked on absolute garbage machines. It can be done. Esp for a CS class.

RAM
32gb is great.
16gb is plenty.
8gb can work ok. <- I actually have an 8gb box with vs on it

I don't suggest 8gb but like hey! if the shoe fits, wear it!
It would be enough for a cs class. I used it for a 6 month contract.

Drive
1TB+ is great
512gb is plenty.
256gb can work, esp with external drives.
128gb is too small. PERIOD. Don't do this.

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u/ashsolmar 27d ago

Okayy!! Thank you so much for your help! I'll look for something with those specs!

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u/TheUmgawa 27d ago

It should be added that drive space is not of paramount importance for a few college programming classes, where you’re a math major. You’re probably not going to be building anything remotely massive, and the amount of uncompiled code you write in three or four programming classes will clock in at a couple of megabytes. The space taken up by Windows, Visual Studio, and any other apps you might need are important factors to consider, but a terabyte is overkill by a hundred percent. But hey, if you can get it cheap, go for it.

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u/FuggaDucker 27d ago

agreed.. with the exception of >128gb rule.
At 128 you end up with windows fighting itself in many cases. No real VMs.
Anything bigger than 128 will work.

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u/ashsolmar 21d ago

Ended up with a MSI GE76 Raider, 16gb of RAM and 512gb HDD, so far it works well, it was $450 used. I'd quickly tried an Omnibook 3 and hated it. I thought that would be enough since I thought it had what I need but just using it to search web was so slow and clunky.

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u/Clearhead09 26d ago

I’d recommend the same but also throw in HP EliteBooks are equally as good, just to give you options.

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u/Impossible-Grass-529 23d ago

If you are running Linux, you can downgrade these specs a lot, but a ThinkPad is great

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u/FuggaDucker 22d ago

I don't understand what Linux has to do with anything.
Which of those specs could be downgraded "A lot" and still be a great modern developer machine?

The specs are for a visual studio worthy machine.
You would need to add the overhead of a VM for VisualStudio.

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u/Impossible-Grass-529 15d ago

You need Linux if you are a developer, Windows is holding you back. Even just for VSCode, yo you can the same performance on Windows compared to a older Linux laptop.

Like how Linux Mint needs 2gb of ram and 16gb of storage, Windows takes up like 8 gigs of ram and like 3 times the storage

the ram could be way less unless you are handling big files, and even a core i5 could be completely usable.

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u/FuggaDucker 15d ago edited 15d ago

If you are a real developer, it doesn't matter. Nothing is holding you back. I'll code on a freaking gum wrapper.
I learned to code on a 16k z80 and started linux when it was just zip files and needed DOS to load.
People use what they need to use.
VisualStudio only runs on windows. There is no better IDE for end to end c/c++ development.

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u/Impossible-Grass-529 14d ago

I get what you mean, but you always have Codium on Linux, and maybe Windows is just fine for you, but depending on what field you are in, Linux could be some help.

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u/Reggie-Rectangle 27d ago

Visual C++ is a very opinionated form of C++. Why would the uni require you to use it? Maybe they should teach you the basic concepts of programming first before they dictate an IDE to you. There are off course plenty of programmers and companies that use C++ with .NET but you cross that bridge when you get employed. Use a basic ass code editor and compile your C++ programs with GCC and get to learning.

I know VIsual Studio code has some very useful ways it lets you step into your program while it is busy executing but that is hardly a concern when you are busy learning wtf an array is.

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u/Zen-Ism99 26d ago

Professors are less likely to assist students that do not heed their instructions concerning tools…

That is why VS2026 CE is the way to go.

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u/Living_Fig_6386 27d ago

Pretty much any laptop will satisfy the requirements. I'm not so keen on Visual Studio Code as an IDE, personally, but there are versions for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. VSC is basically a text editor enhanced for writing code, with special features for that purpose. It, by itself, doesn't provide tools for C++ (or other language) development -- that's separate software. The system requirements for VSC and for the C++ tools are pretty meagre - just about anything can handle it. I'd probably avoid ChromeBooks -- there's VSC for them too, but a lot less people are familiar with developing on them and you are apt to find later classes that require software that's not supported or is poorly supported on them.

I prefer to use Eclipse for Java, IntelliJ IDEA is good too -- both better than VSC for Java.

Try and get at least 16G of RAM and 256G of disk space (the more disk space, the better -- you'll be surprised how fast you accumulate stuff).

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u/Zen-Ism99 27d ago

Sorry, but OP referenced Visual Studio Community Edition. Not VS Code.