HP Envy 14 w/ Beats Quad or Dual Core?

I am looking to buy the HP Envy 14 (with Beats by Dre Audio) and I was wondering which is better - the pre-built 14-1260SE or the customized one. The only difference I would add is 8g RAM (versus 6 on the pre-built) and a 7500RPM hard drive (versus 5400 on pre-built). I'm not so much worried about the RAM because I can always add that later. But is the extra hard drive worth the extra cost and 2 weeks to build? I am using this for video editing (and email, web surfing, excel, etc.) - I would use the preloaded adobe premiere 8 initially and then upgrade to a better editing software.



I've heard that the quad-core is too much power and hurts the computer more than it helps. Any thoughts? I've seen reviews that said that HP highly recommends the pre-built over the customized for this reason. When I called and talked to HP, they agreed that the quad-core is unnecessary and could be negative, but they also said the extra hard drive is definitely worth it for my editing.



I'm so confused! I would love to get the pre-built (cheaper, faster) but if the customized is going to be better, then it's worth it.



Also, any diff on the battery life between the two? I've heard that the battery life sucks for the Envy 14.



Thanks!!!!HP Envy 14 w/ Beats Quad or Dual Core?
I'm planning on getting it the Envy 14 Beats soon too. But I'm not sure if they have the Dual Core option for that laptop anymore. They only have the quad core option on the HP website. Any way here's what I think.

* RAM:
Well since you are going to be doing a lot of work on your PC the 6GB should be enough but like you said you could upgrade that anytime you want to and go for an 8 GB one.
* Processor:
If you want a longer battery life the dual core i5 processor is the best choice. The reason being it has the switchable graphics option which increases your battery life. (I'm getting this laptop as a desktop replacement, so I will be getting the i7 quad core processor.)
* Hard drive:
All I can say is this,

5,400 rpm pros =
-They last longer due to the lower speed
-Run Cooler
cons =
-Downloading larger files will be slower
-It's pretty old technology

7,500 rpm pros =
- Faster
- More cache
Cons=
-They get pretty hot (I own 2 new HP Pavilions one dv6 and dv5 with a 500 GB 7,500 rpm HDD it's not that much of an issue because, they really improved the ventilation for the laptop. On any older laptop you would burn your lap for sure. They also have this new software which can adjust the fan speed and the ventilation, depending on where you are or whether you have it on you lap or not.)

(As for me I am getting the 256 GB SSD drive they are extremely fast and they really keep the laptop running cool and make the battery last longer.)

*Graphics:
HP uses the 1GB DDR3 ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 which is great.

Overall I would recommend you to get the Quad Core one. The reason being it comes with a faster processor, a faster hard drive, and a larger RAM. It is true that the battery life may only last for 3-5 hours but, you are getting some pretty good performance. Also, you will feel more comfortable and won't have to compromise with a lower configured laptop. Especially since you are going to be doing a lot with it. If battery life is important to you, you can get a battery slice which is on the HP website for $ 179. It's worth spending the money, instead of getting the Dual Core one, and spending more money on upgrades. HP claims the battery slice gives about 12-14 hours with the existing battery, but I've heard it comes up to 8-9 hours, which is still pretty long. By getting the Quad core you might be spending a little more money purchasing it compared the the Dual Core but, it's a worthy investment.

Good Luck!HP Envy 14 w/ Beats Quad or Dual Core?
A quad core will ALWAYS help more than it hinders it. However, before you decide on a processor, remember that it can't be changed. Ever.



I'd personally get the dual core, seeing as you don't plan on doing any gaming.