Hello Britt,
Depends I have 4 cores and I can play pretty much any games sadly my Graphics card won't be able to handle it.
Here is what I recommend.
If you have the funds of course I am a little biased here cause I do specialize in Mac Computers as an I.T. guy at work so for someone who uses word processing and writing articles and watching YouTube and do basic web surfing and want portability so you can carry it to coffee shops and such the MacBook Air is strongly recommended.
Here is the specs for one.
Processor: M1 this chip is more than enough for everyday use. I have tested it for couple years now and it is truly amazing!
RAM (Memory): 16 GB RAM this is recommended so you don't have issues with programs and multi-tasking and also running your macOS.
Storage: 256 GB SSD this will be enough to hold many documents and some videos. I strongly recommend you invest in a External Drive so you can backup your data in case you need more storage.
Cost: $1,200 without tax USD I don't know how much that will be in other parts of the world.
Warning!: You are stuck with the USB-C power port and you don't get the nice Magsafe 3 power port.
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Windows Laptop
I recommend Dell I have used Dell and to be honest it has last pretty long and outlasted my other Windows laptop. Dell Inspiron is a nice line for basic use.
Processor: get i5 processor at least. It is in the middle and is going to last in the long run for processor power.
RAM (Memory): 16 GB RAM this is the industry standard now. You don't want to go lower than this cause you might experience lags and other issues in the future. 8 GB RAM is bare minimum and to be honest I don't recommend. Because RAM is needed not only for programs but for the operating system as well.
Storage: 256 GB SSD and above! Get Solid State Drive this will be faster in speed. lt also doesn't have moving parts so perfect for an Laptop!
Cost: The cost in USD will be around $700 to all the way up to $1000. I would search your local tech store and see for sales and discounts.
I hope this helps Britt. If you have more questions please let me know thanks!
