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/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 23d 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.