Is it true that my hp stream 14 laptop can't run more modern games on it?

[Supergodman12]

My friend says it doesn't have the specs for it like the processor or graphics card it has a n4020 processor

[msc545]

What games do you want to run or are trying to run? What are the specs on the laptop - processor, graphics card, memory, HD size & space, etc? If you are unsure about this stuff, install and run Speccy on it and post the relevant results here on Gag.

https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy/download

[Supergodman12]

I'm not trying to run any games on it I don't use it for gaming

[Supergodman12]

How is the hp stream 14 to you?

[msc545]

I don't have that laptop. I have a very high-end Asus laptop that I use mostly for business work. I also have several desktops which I use for both gaming and business and I built them myself.

[msc545]

You mentioned games in your original question here which is why I thought you wanted to run games on it. I don't think you will be able to do that very well.

[Supergodman12]

It's processor is the N4020, it has 4GB of ram and it's a 64 bit computer

[msc545]

That is not enough to run most modern games. It needs more RAM and a faster processor.

[llorando]

Also a faster GPU, doesn't need to be dedicated, just decent. N4020 is slower than the i5 in my old laptop, and it could barely play games from 2010's. Recently upgraded to a budget ($350) laptop with a 5700u and 16 gigs of ram, it's not the fastest, but the performance difference is night and day compared to my old laptop, and can play games at a respectable 35-45fps instead of maxing out at 10, so OP doesn't need to spend a lot to get a vastly superior spect laptop.

[Supergodman12]

I put in my older mouse and it runs much faster with it plugged in

[llorando]

Really? That's interesting, mouse doesn't effect performance, unless it's faulty or not configured properly.

[llorando]

*usually

[Supergodman12]

It's just faster now and the mouse doesn't look that old

[msc545]

@llorando Right - I forgot about the GPU. I'm not sure if there is even a separate one but if there is it going to be slow...

[msc545]

The mouse you plugged in might be cleaner.

[llorando]

@msc545 He has an HP Stream 14, virtually none of them came with a dedicated GPU. I don't know if you know, but HP Streams are basically Chrome books with windows.

[msc545]

@llorando I do know - I am trying to be kind here. He wants it to be more than it is.

[Supergodman12]

Ok but I can browse just fine on it have had no issues thus far

[llorando]

Like I said before, if it suits your needs and your happy with it, then continue using it. Just be warned, Windows 10 reaches end of life October 2025, so no more security updates from Microsoft making your laptop vulnerable on the Internet. Like I said before, you will either need to switch to Linux or buy a Windows 11 laptop if you don't want to risk using Windows 10 after it reaches end of life. There's a little program called universal USB installer, that lets you boot ISOs from flash drives, I use it all the time to test different Linux distros. Many Linux distros are a more user friendly than they used to be, and most have the option to try without installing, so no changes are made to your computer. Personally Elementary OS is my favorite. Linux distro.

[Supergodman12]

Llorando I can upgrade to windows 11 on my laptop it has the capability

[msc545]

Ok, then why the concern? If it does what you want it to that is great for now.

[llorando]

I'm trying to be helpful without coming off as rude/mean, but sometimes I do without meaning to. My main concern is him making the same mistake my sister did and use Windows after it reaches end of life, her computer got infected because her security was no longer support her version of Windows.

[Supergodman12]

It is pretty fast while I'm browsing the web there's no lag or anything

[llorando]

Just remember Windows 11 has a minimum 4gig ram requirement unlike Windows 10 that has a 2 gig minimum requirement, so you may find after upgrading to Windows 11 your laptop will be slower, due to Windows using more memory than Windows 10.

[msc545]

@llorando I think Malwarebytes will continue suporting W 10. Better than nothing...

[llorando]

Very true. The n4020 is slower than my old laptops 12 year old i5 and it can't even handle games that were out when it was released. Some games won't even load on a n4020.

[Supergodman12]

Is it still a good laptop?

[llorando]

For basic web browsing it is. I felt my old laptop was showing it's age so I bought a new on. $350, for a 5700u paired with 16 gigs of ram and 512 gig SSD. Not the fastest laptop, but it can handle my games pretty decently on low-med settings.

[Supergodman12]

My hp stream 14 was 300$ something

[llorando]

Could have gotten an i3 or R3 for around the same price. Mine was originally $599.99, but was on sale for $349.99, great deal for an I core laptop that's upgradeable.

[Supergodman12]

Mine has the Intel Celeron how's that?

[llorando]

It's OK for very basic tasks, but not much else. The n4020, was designed to be a cheap and low power processor, which is why it's only good for basic tasks like web browsing and word processing. My rule of thumb when buying a laptop, is never go lower than an i3 or R3, it'll be more useable upfront and in the long run.

[Supergodman12]

Should I keep using it or buy a new one?

[llorando]

In my opinion, I'd buy a new one and keep the old one as a backup.

[Supergodman12]

How the one I have is only 3 years old

[Supergodman12]

I mean I had a hp stream 11 that was made in 2015

[Supergodman12]

This one I have is newer and has windows 10 home on it

[Supergodman12]

The hp stream 11 only had Win 8.1

[llorando]

While the laptop is only 3 years old, the processor is both older and low end, plus next year windows 10 reaches end of life, meaning no more updates which is a huge security risk. You could upgrade to Windows 11, but I do not recommend it, with only 4gigs of ram and a n4020, it's going to be painfully slow. FYI, stay away from HP streams, you can get a proper laptop for not much more. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but it's the truth.

[Supergodman12]

I don't know it runs basic tasks just fine and gets pretty fast when I use smart defrag and advanced system care on it plus I use the driver updater on it

[llorando]

If my suspicions are correct that you're HP stream has an SSD, you do not want to use smart defrag, defraging an SSD is not only not needed, but will shorten its life span. If I'm wrong and it has a mechanical hard drive you should be fine. If it suits your needs, just fine, then I'd continue using it till Windows 10 reaches end of life, then either switch Linux or buy a new laptop with Windows 11.

[Supergodman12]

Yeah but this is the newer laptop that I have currently

[llorando]

It's age isn't the problem, it's running Windows 10 which reaches end of life, October 2025, which means no more security updates making it vulnerable and risky to use on the Internet. You either risk continuing to use Windows 10, or switch to Linux if you want to continue to use the laptop, or you'll buy a new one with Windows 11. You have a whole year to decide and think things over.

[Supergodman12]

It says the N4020 is better then some i3s out there

[llorando]

What says and which i3s?

[strateguy632]

You can play but stuff will freeze especially in online games.

[jshm2]

Son, it barely qualifies as a computer.

Your mobile phone can probably run better games than an Intel N4020

[msc545]

Unfortunately, this is probably true. Looks like it is pretty deficient in the hardware department, but let's find out for sure...

[Supergodman12]

It's pretty fast though I can play some games on it from the windows store

[msc545]

Which games?

[Supergodman12]

I did play asphalt on it and it ran pretty well

[llorando]

Yeah, which game? Candy Crush is not a legit game.

[Supergodman12]

I don't play any games on it I use it for serious things like paying bills and Facebook and car insurance payments

[msc545]

ok...