Laptop Help

[[5.SS]Strother]

I'm going to college and I'm going to need a laptop to take with me and I want it powerful enough to play games. My price limit is 1,700 bucks or a bit over and I'm buying off IBUYPOWER.com since they have the best selection and customization.


I have narrowed it down to two choices

1. http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/store/configurator.aspx?mid=139

2. http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/store/configurator.aspx?mid=177

For number one I could get the 3.4 ghz-2mb cache with 2 gb ddr2-533 ram plus 120 gb HD but I've read a review on the laptop case and it weighs 9 pounds, it isn't that sharp looking, it blows air out the right side onto your mouse, is noisy, the keyboard is a bit "flimsy", and there is more backlight glare on the screen than most laptops, but the video card is "user Upgradeable"

Laptop Number Two I can get the 2.2 ghz-1mb cache with 2 gb ddr-400 corsair ram and a 120 gb HD. I havn't found any reviews for that case yet. The price comes out at 1,600 so I can spend 100 more on the blue color or a sound card.


Is the 3.4 ghz intel head and shoulders better than the 2.2 amd? Which of the video cards is better? I'd really appreciate some opinions because I'm really stuck.

 

[Manstein]

well if what you're comparing is:

Option 1:
P4 3.4 GHz
6800 Go (user-updradeable)

Option 2:
AMD Turion 64 2.2 GHz
Mobility ATI x1600

I'd go with option 2, I guess it depends on if you're really going to want to upgrade the vid card, but I like AMD's over Intel

 

[SgtH3nry3]

well if what you're comparing is:

Option 1:
P4 3.4 GHz
6800 Go (user-updradeable)

Option 2:
AMD Turion 64 2.2 GHz
Mobility ATI x1600

I'd go with option 2, I guess it depends on if you're really going to want to upgrade the vid card, but I like AMD's over Intel

OMG DON'T DO IT, IT'S A BLOODY TURON.
They suck, get an Athlon 64 or Core Duo.

Look at the new Toshiba P100-203, it has a 2.0GHz Core Duo, 1GB DDR2-533 RAM memory (upgradable to 4GB DDR2-533!!) and a GeForce Go 7600 (I think it's user-upgradable aswell because it's using a x16 PCI-Express)...

And don't buy that soundcard, just get an Extigy for that dough...

 

[[5.SS]Strother]

So a 2.0+ ghz processor can outperform that 3.4 ghz intel?
Which of those video cards are better?

 

[Rrralphster]

So a 2.0+ ghz processor can outperform that 3.4 ghz intel?
Which of those video cards are better?

AMD CPU numbers compare to an intel CPU of the same generation (I didn't explain this very well the last time I tried to explain this).

So an AMD 64 3400 performs as an Intel CPU of the same generation with a clockspeed of 3.4 GHz.
An AMD 3700 = a Pentium of the same generation running at 3.7GHz
According to AMD
AMD's run at a lower frequency, that's why they produce less heat but they perform just the same.

AMD= good at multi-media
Pentium= good at running multiple programs at once

Hope this explains

 

[[5.SS]Strother]

Thanks, but the processor in selection number 2 is a AMD Turion, so how does that compare to the intel 3.4?

 

[myzko]

You should buy one of the newer Acer laptops, they're really good for gaming

 

[Comrade Wasabi]

Try cyberpowerpc.com, they have a great selection, I'd rely on them more than someone like IBUYPOWER.

 

[[5.SS]Strother]

Thanks wasabi.

What do you guys think of this laptop http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/ntbkx649900.asp?v=d

I want it in blue with everything but the AMD is a turion and I'm not sure what difference that makes, I can also get the creative audigy soundcard with it too.

 

[Comrade Wasabi]

Turion is to AMD as Celeron is to Pentium.

It looks like Turion is all that's available. Upgrade to the best Turion processor, IMO you should also go with the Audigy card that's available (NOT THE EXTERNAL ONE), and get the 2gb of Corsair ram. That brings it to $1650 or so.

 

[myzko]

You should aim for a 100+ GB hardrive, as movies, music, and games all take alot of space

 

[[5.SS]Strother]

I'm not sure if I should go with the 256 mb video card or 128, I'm thinking 256, If I get the 128 I could possibly get a better processor, but I havn't checked them out yet.

 

[Comrade Wasabi]

Get the 256. It's almost a must.

 

[[5.SS]Strother]

I found a couple more laptops

http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/store/configurator.aspx?mid=173 I can get the 120 gb HD 2 gb corsair ram and the core duo 2.0ghz 2mb cache

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/ntbkx649500.asp?v=d This one I can get in blue with 120gb HD, 2 gb corsair ram, creative audigy two soundcard, and an AMD Turion 2.2 with 1 mb cache.

The top one with the intel seems good cuzz its two core and 2mb cache with same video card and everything else, the only thing I don't get is the blue color and the creative audigy soundcard.

 

[Comrade Wasabi]

Don't bother getting a Dual Core especially a Celeron DC. Stick with the upgraded AMD Turion... the second PC has a lot more to offer you.

 

[[5.SS]Strother]

I thought dual core was the future?

 

[Comrade Wasabi]

I suppose so, but I still would absolutely NOT buy a Celeron. That dual-core Celeron probably has approximately the power of that Turion.

 

[[5.SS]Strother]

K thanks for the help, I've give this a few more days of thought.

 

[[5.SS]Strother]

I have decided upon this one http://cyberpowerpc.com/system/ntbkx649500.asp?v=d#configurator_top

There is one identical to that one, except on the main page where you select your laptop it says that the one I have intentions on buying has ATI 450 sb motherboard while the other identical one has the ATI 400 motherboard. But when I select the 450 laptop it says it is a 400...I read somewhere that the 400 has a problem with cpus or something and that the 450 won't bottleneck the cpu as much.

Well anway I'm getting the 2.2 AMD turion 1 mb cache that uses low voltage (less heat!) 2 gbs of corsair ram, 120 gb HD, ati x1600 256mb video card, and creative audigy 2zs soundcard. I plan on getting it in the reflective blue color. There is a 5% instant rebate today and it has free shipping for today, so it is hard to pass it up when I don't see anything better for the price.