New Laptop Advice

Larry · TweakNOOB Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 117 Location: UK

I’m going to university in 2 weeks and am planning to buy a laptop in the £800-1000 price range. I will be using it for assignments, listening to music and most importantly playing games. I have decided upon these 3 laptops and would appreciate your opinions.

Option 1 - £900

AMD Turion 64 ML-42
1GB DDR 400MHz RAM (upgradeable to 2GB for £125)
80GB (7200rpm) HDD
17" WXGA+ TFT Screen - featuring X-Glass
256MB ATI Radeon Mobility X700 Graphics
5 Speaker System including Subwoofer
Built-In Video Camera

Option 2 - £1000

Intel Pentium M 750 (1.86GHz)
1GB DDR2 533MHz RAM
60GB (7200rpm) HDD
17” WSXGA+ X-Glass TFT Screen (1680 x 1050 Res)
256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X800xt Graphics
Intel® Pro 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN
Support for S-ATA Hard Disc Drives
7.1 Surround Sound Output

Option 3 - £1050

Intel Core Duo T2400 (1.83GHz)
1GB DDR2 667MHz RAM
100GB (7200rpm) HDD
17” WSXGA+ X-Glass TFT Screen (1680 x 1050 Res)
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 256MB Graphics
Intel® Pro 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN
Support for S-ATA Hard Disc Drives
7.1 Surround Sound Output

Some questions/queries

How important is it to get dual core, I want to be able to use this laptop to play new game releases 4 years from now?

Is there much difference/preference in getting Intel over AMD were laptops are concerned?

Will I have enough processing power, the clock speed on laptops is very small, how do they compare with desktops?

Thanks for any feedback/opinions on this matter!
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AMD64 3200+
1Gb Corsair Ram
Asus K8N-Deluxe
Radeon 9800pro
--->XP Pro<---

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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

if you want this for longevity....get the dual core intel. Games will surely use all the power in the upcoming future.
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sickofsoyo · Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:54 pm Post subject:

anyone know when merom (the conroe for laptops) will apear?
_________________
P4 3.2ghz
lanparty pro875b
Enermax Liberty 500 Watt Modular PSU
Sony 52X CD-RW
Samsung 120gig SATA hdd
Maxtor 100gig SATA hdd
Powmax Demon case
ATI X800 XL AIW, 525 Core, 525 mem
Creative X-Fi Platinum
PDP systems Patriot Ram 2,3,2,5 timings

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Check out Acer Laptops, I bought one for super cheap and it is absolutely amazing.
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Larry · TweakNOOB Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 117 Location: UK

I would really appreciate some more feedback, im looking to purchase within the next few days.

Im leaning towards the dual-core, but the graphics concern me.

Which is the better graphics card x1600 or x700 or x800xt, my guess is (starting with worst)

X700
X800
X800xt
X900
etc
etc
X1600

Therefore if I bought option 3 this would be a good gaming machine?
What would be its exquivalent on desktop, 9800pro? x800?
_________________
AMD64 3200+
1Gb Corsair Ram
Asus K8N-Deluxe
Radeon 9800pro
--->XP Pro<---

Xal · Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:50 am Post subject:

I would guess it would compare well to an X600pro in desktops, just as a tip, the X700pro option you listed performs about on par with an X300pro in desktops. Mobile cards are not as powerfull as their PC cousins. Graphics wise the X800XT would be the best but I wouldn't trade it for the core duo if I were you. The duo is a far better CPU than the others have and though it may not make up the difference in graphics cards it will certainly be more futureproof than the Pentium M. Look at a few other options, you might find a better combination for the price you are looking at.
_________________
Phenom II x4 955 @ Stock
Asus M3N78-EM
4gb Corsair XMS2 DDR2 667 @ 800
1gb Powercolor Radeon HD 5850 @ Stock
X-fi Extreme Audio PCI E
Nexus 600W Silent PSU
Nexus Fans
Custom case

Xal · Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:04 am Post subject:

Here are some good options

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834220044
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834220031
_________________
Phenom II x4 955 @ Stock
Asus M3N78-EM
4gb Corsair XMS2 DDR2 667 @ 800
1gb Powercolor Radeon HD 5850 @ Stock
X-fi Extreme Audio PCI E
Nexus 600W Silent PSU
Nexus Fans
Custom case

FroGGer · Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:40 pm Post subject:

I figured since I have the same question I would ask it here instead of starting a new thread. I too, am looking for a laptop for my sister for college. My budget is about $1000 and will be used for assignments, music, and I know for a 1000 it won't be a gaming machine (laptops aren't anyways) but I would like some decent gameplay. Some thing good quality. The most trouble I'm having is what brand to buy?
_________________
ABIT IC7 MAX 3, Corsair PC4000 Pro, P4 2.6C @3.23 GHz 1:1, 2.5-4-4-7, 2 WD Raptors in RAID 0

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

FroGGer · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:32 am Post subject:

I heard about Acers. I'm worried, though because I read some reviews on newegg.com with a lot of people saying that there is a problem with overheating of the laptop. I'm not sure if it was a specific model, but I like the HP in the deals section of TN.
_________________
ABIT IC7 MAX 3, Corsair PC4000 Pro, P4 2.6C @3.23 GHz 1:1, 2.5-4-4-7, 2 WD Raptors in RAID 0

sickofsoyo · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:56 pm Post subject:

you could also get a barebone laptop, off mwave for example, and then add what you want to it... that way you save some money and have a nicer laptop you can say you built...
_________________
P4 3.2ghz
lanparty pro875b
Enermax Liberty 500 Watt Modular PSU
Sony 52X CD-RW
Samsung 120gig SATA hdd
Maxtor 100gig SATA hdd
Powmax Demon case
ATI X800 XL AIW, 525 Core, 525 mem
Creative X-Fi Platinum
PDP systems Patriot Ram 2,3,2,5 timings

[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

No overheating here.

A lot of the people claiming overheating is because they are usually sitting them on their laps and blocking the air cooling vents.
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Mordacain · Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 12:31 pm Post subject:

A note on overheating with Acer laptops. I have an el-cheapo Acer. It's not used for games (Sis Mirage 2 integrated) but it does get screamingly hot.

However, despite the felt heat, it has yet to reboot and has been left running for days at a time with no issues.

Also, if you're intersted in this sort of thing, the Acers do play very well with Linux. I've Xandros, Ubuntu and Kubuntu on mine with no issues (other than having to replace the included Broadcomm wireless with an Atheros chip version. It was only $18 at Newegg, so hardly a detriment when considering this option.
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Where are all the stupid people from and how'd they get to be so dumb? - NOFX, "The Decline"