Buying a Surface Pro 3 512 GB

Windows 8

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I have decided to go all out on my next tablet, and go for something with some serious hardware in it...

Surface Pro 3:
8 GB DDR3 RAM
Intel Core i7 4650U (up to 3.3 GHz)
512 GB SSD

I can only imagine how well RT apps would run on it, lol. Lag? What's that? :p I intend to use it as my main PC, also for energy efficient computing (runs on only 36 watts!) The very low power should mean it wont get super hot like laptops tend to do but it still has serious hardware for fun and getting stuff done.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4790k @ 4.6 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI Z97 U3 Plus
    Memory
    8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R9 285 (2 GB GDDR5), and Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Integrated HD audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VW246H 24.6 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 (natve)
    Hard Drives
    512 GB Crucial SSD (SATA-III)
    PSU
    800W NZXT PP-800
    Case
    CoolerMaster HAF 932 Advanced Edition (Steel fulltower)
    Cooling
    Liqtech 240
    Keyboard
    Razer Lycosa
    Mouse
    Logitech G35
    Internet Speed
    11 Mbps download
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG free (and common sense :P)
My i5 SP3 with 4G ram and 128G ssd does all I need it to do. I couldn't justify spending the additional money to go with the i7/512G but I'm sure it's an awsome machine.

Since you are planning to use it as your main PC, I'd recommend getting the dock for it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 Pro (desktop), W10 (laptop), W10 Pro (tablet)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built i7-8700K, Hp Envy x360 EVO Laptop, MS Surface Pro 7
    CPU
    3.7Ghz Core i7-8700K, 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7 4.7Ghz, 10th Gen Core™ i5-1035G4 1.1Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF Z370-Pro Gaming, HP, MS
    Memory
    16G, 8G, 8G
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon RX580, Intel Iris X Graphics, Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4
    Sound Card
    ATI High Definition Audio (Built-in to mobo)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Samsung U32J59 32 inch monitors, 13.3" display, 12.3" display
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160 (Desktop), 1920x1080 (laptop), 2736x1824 Pro 7
    Hard Drives
    500GB ssd boot drive with 2 & 10TB Data (Desktop), 512GB ssd (laptop), 128GB SSD (tablet)
    PSU
    Corsair CX 750M
    Case
    Antec 100
    Cooling
    Coolermaster CM 212+
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M - used continuously since 1986
    Mouse
    Microsoft IntelliMouse
    Internet Speed
    665Mbps/15Mbps down/up
    Browser
    FireFox, MS Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender on all
    Other Info
    Retired in 2015 after working in the tech industry for 41 years. First 10 years as a Technician, the rest as a programmer/software engineer. After 1 year of retirement, I was bored so went back to work as a Robotic Process Automation Consultant. Retired for 3rd (and final) time in 2019.
Cool. Let us know how it works out for you. As Strollin said, you should plan to get the dock.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
I am definitely getting the dock. I have already tried a Surface Pro in a Microsoft store, so I already know I will like it (I would not spend that much money unless I am certain of it being useful for me).

I plan to run some VMs in it, and develop Android and Windows 8 apps on it (should be ideal for that!).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4790k @ 4.6 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI Z97 U3 Plus
    Memory
    8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R9 285 (2 GB GDDR5), and Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Integrated HD audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VW246H 24.6 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 (natve)
    Hard Drives
    512 GB Crucial SSD (SATA-III)
    PSU
    800W NZXT PP-800
    Case
    CoolerMaster HAF 932 Advanced Edition (Steel fulltower)
    Cooling
    Liqtech 240
    Keyboard
    Razer Lycosa
    Mouse
    Logitech G35
    Internet Speed
    11 Mbps download
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG free (and common sense :P)
I have the dock for my SP3 and love it. It's fantastic to have external monitor, speakers, hard drive, ethernet, etc... attached to the SP3 easily by just putting the SP3 in the dock. I use a Bluetooth mouse and the type cover keyboard but you could easily attach USB mouse and keyboard thru the dock as well.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 Pro (desktop), W10 (laptop), W10 Pro (tablet)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built i7-8700K, Hp Envy x360 EVO Laptop, MS Surface Pro 7
    CPU
    3.7Ghz Core i7-8700K, 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7 4.7Ghz, 10th Gen Core™ i5-1035G4 1.1Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF Z370-Pro Gaming, HP, MS
    Memory
    16G, 8G, 8G
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon RX580, Intel Iris X Graphics, Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4
    Sound Card
    ATI High Definition Audio (Built-in to mobo)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Samsung U32J59 32 inch monitors, 13.3" display, 12.3" display
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160 (Desktop), 1920x1080 (laptop), 2736x1824 Pro 7
    Hard Drives
    500GB ssd boot drive with 2 & 10TB Data (Desktop), 512GB ssd (laptop), 128GB SSD (tablet)
    PSU
    Corsair CX 750M
    Case
    Antec 100
    Cooling
    Coolermaster CM 212+
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M - used continuously since 1986
    Mouse
    Microsoft IntelliMouse
    Internet Speed
    665Mbps/15Mbps down/up
    Browser
    FireFox, MS Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender on all
    Other Info
    Retired in 2015 after working in the tech industry for 41 years. First 10 years as a Technician, the rest as a programmer/software engineer. After 1 year of retirement, I was bored so went back to work as a Robotic Process Automation Consultant. Retired for 3rd (and final) time in 2019.
Hi there

I've had mine for a little while now - in spite of the cost I absolutely LOVE it. For serious computing though a Docking station is a real must - plus I'd also get a USB3 (powered) hub as well if you've got any external USB3 drives.

Works great as a tablet as well when travelling. I have a wireless Icelandic keyboard (also good for ENG) instead of the Ms one though.

Battery life is also amazing even on the i7 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM model. - Using a standard Laptop just feels really old fashioned now - people who see my device get crazily jealous - most of these people are real "Tablet haters" but in no way is the SP3 just a plain "tablet".

Ms has come up trumps with this one - OK I've paid more because it's really the first of this type of USEABLE convertible device - and early adopters always pay over the odds.

If you just want a tablet then this is NOT the device to get - but as a replacement for a laptop - or even a desktop then it works well - provided you get the dock plus a mouse, keyboard and a USB (powered) hub.

Running VM's on it works just fine too.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
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