Any input on which laptop to buy?

[fox_91]

Gotta start somewhere, figured you guys might have a good idea on what route to take

I was working on building a laptop trying to stay around 1200 at the top of the range. I'm not going to be hardcore gaming on the machine but I suppose compared to my current machine (3500+ 9800pro) the laptop could probably take over as the gaming rig and normal use PC for the time being haha.

All three of the machines have similar parts HD wise and such. Now all I have just configured with 1 gb of ram, because i will up the ram to 2gb from new egg or somewhere i can get the ram for cheaper than the builder. So I will basicly just list the CPU and GPU, and anything that makes the machine stand out. All the machines have the normal DVD burners, and 100+gb HD's.... my question is, which machine should I go at, keeping in mind, that I will use this for school work (computer major) some gaming when I have time.

1) HP Pavilion dv6000t
-Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo processor T2450 (2.0 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB)
-15.4" WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
-256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7400
-160 GB HD
Price $1072

2) Dell Vostro 1500
-Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7100 (1.8GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
-15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD Display with TrueLife™
-256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8600M GT
-160 GB Hd
Price $1193

3) Dell Vostro 1500
-Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
--15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD Display with TrueLife™
-128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS
-160gb HD
Price $1104

I basicly configured 2 Vostros because I am kind of torn on the vid card. they offer the 8600 and the 8400 with a price difference of about 160. The processor is also differnet and is about a 50$ difference or so. Only other thing is the monitor. Now if i used it at my desk I would be hooked into a 1680x1050 monitor, but for mobile use i would thing 1200x800 would be good enough.. 50 bucks gets me 1440x900 or somthing

So can anyone help with this choice? Is that 2.0ghz with 4MB cache going to be a ton faster than the 2mb cache 1.8? Should I go with the better vid card? or do both? Keep in mind that either will probably blow my current desktop away, but I would like to be good for at least 2 years.

Any help would be great!

 

[lostandwandering]

Since upgrading the CPU and graphics would still be in your range, I would go with that. Take the T7300 and the 8600 especially if you want to game. The cache on the CPU tends to help in games more than it does in rendering/encoding. You provide an interesting conundrum with the screen too. I personally like the crisper resolutions (my laptop had the choice between 1680x1050 or 1920x1200 and I chose the 19x12) so I would get the 1440x900 as well. So my vote is upgrade all three, but that would probably put you out of your price limit.

Get the better CPU and the better graphics card for sure and if possible get the better screen. If you can't upgrade the screen you will still have one screaming machine.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

For gaming go with the Vostro with the GF8600M-GT IMO.

The more powerful CPU would be nice, but of the two choice I'd say go for the significantly more robust graphics than a slightly more robust CPU. The GF7400 is terrible don't even think it. The only option of your three are the last two.

Personally I'd spend another $50 on the middle rig to push the CPU into the T7300 range and just be done with it.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Get the better CPU and the better graphics card for sure and if possible get the better screen. If you can't upgrade the screen you will still have one screaming machine.

Yeah, obviously by my post, I agree.

And I feel the same way about resolutions, but if he plans on hooking it up to an external monitor, it's less of a concern IMO, and I'd put the money towards the other two if you had to choose.

 

[lostandwandering]

Yeah, obviously by my post, I agree.

And I feel the same way about resolutions, but if he plans on hooking it up to an external monitor, it's less of a concern IMO, and I'd put the money towards the other two if you had to choose.

Kinda what I figured. It worked out differently with me. I got a lappy with 1920x1200 res and an lcd that runs at 1280x1024. No reason for me to use the desktop lcd, lol.

 

[fox_91]

Hey guys, thanks for the quick replies. I think I am going to see if I can swing the 2.0 ghz, and the 256mb vid card. I think that will give me the best performance for the 2 years that I am hoping to use the machine. For sure the 256mb vid card if anything.

Anyone know by chance how long that Vostro 300 off at dell is good for? Do they do those for a week? Anyone know how often those go on sale? Thanks

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Rememeber it's not the size of the memory but the speed of the VPU. If the GF8600 had the 128 and the GF8400 had 256 then you'd still be best off with the GF8600.

IIRC sales for DELL end Wed and start on Thursday nigt.
Should have an expiry on any coupon codes or deals, etc. Best to check first.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Kinda what I figured. It worked out differently with me. I got a lappy with 1920x1200 res and an lcd that runs at 1280x1024. No reason for me to use the desktop lcd, lol.

Yeah and you know even having both a 19x14 and a 20x15 CRT on my desktop didn't keep me from slowly migrating mostof my time to my laptop. Worst thing was when I finally was able to do light editing on it, then going to my dual MP rig just fellt like too much hassle for only a small benifit at the time. And voila, down from 3 computers to 1.

Now I'm looking forward to the return to dual core/CPUs. I've never been a big gamer, so I don't miss my gaming rig, but multi-tasking on a dual system was the one thing I missed.

 

[fox_91]

So the 350 off the Vostro should end tomorrow? Like If i wanted to order, i could still order tomorrow and be ok right? Whats your thoght on the deal? I would get 337 off if i get the package i picked (has the 2 yr warranty built in the price) Do you think waiting will have much affect if i wanted to buy in the next couple weeks? I know the Home deals seem to have lots more coupons and stuff.

I'm wondering if a back to school special might be better? I know the Vostro wouldn't get that, but do you think the price i would pay (around 1300) is going to be topped in the next couple weeks, either in home or office with similar parts (2.0 ghz proc, with 256 mb card) ?

I want to order my laptop, but don't want to buy now and regret in a couple weeks lol, and don't buy laptops often enough to know

 

[lostandwandering]

Dell ALWAYS has coupons online. If you miss the one this week, you can get one next week or the week after or the week after.If you want to wait to see what specials Dell runs themselves then do that and don't worry about the coupon because you will always find another. One of the reasons people like Dell.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Yeah I with L&W, don't worry about the deals running out, there will always be more.

It's a nice combo you have and 2yr warranty is good (usually the time you'll own an average laptop as a primary PC before turning it into a second user browser, etc).

But if you have any reservations then hold off and wait for the next deal, there's always deals, that's how DELL keep people coming back.

 

[HardWareBoss]

We'll have to change dells name to deals are us.

 

[lostandwandering]

We'll have to change dells name to deals are us.

I agree, it sounds catchy. Dell may not have some of the best looking laptops, but if you need one on the cheap they are hard to beat.

 

[nick2124]

IMO, Dell Vostro 1500 - great deal.

Dell are a good company. My friend purchased a laptop recently, whenever he had issues with Vista they'd talk him through it, and one time they sent out a technician to look at a few things. No charge. Subsequent visits from the techie are free for the first year I believe.

 

[AuDioFreaK39]

I just got my cousin an HP Pavilion dv9543cl for $1299 from Costco after rebates

Specs:

Intel(R) Core2 Duo CPU T7300 @ 2.00GHz

2GB DDR2 SDRAM

320GB hard drive (160GB x 2 - they don't tell you that until AFTER you read the fine print )

GeForce 8600M GS 256MB (128-bit / 16 stream processors)


I just received it today and I'm tweaking it out right now. I'm going to run 3dMark06 in a minute actually...

 

[lostandwandering]

I'll see if I can transfer the installer files to my laptop and we'll compare 06 scores. It's the laptop in my sig. I just wanna see how the 8600 compares to the 7950.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Remember his GF8600 is a GS with half the SPUs of the GF8600GT.

 

[lostandwandering]

Oh yeah, I forgot HP doesn't offer the 8600GT. Oh well. Never mind then.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Yeah I was considering the HP series until then, now only the HDX has my attnetion with it's HD2600XT but HP still say no to Canada, and they won't honour US warranty here (and won't offer an int'l one for the HDX [I can get it for their business laptops])

I'm still wobbling between ASUS and Fujitsu, but I think I may go fujitsu if I can straighten a few things out first.

 

[lostandwandering]

I always forget about Fujitsu laptops. I guess I just never see them anywhere.

Any idea what the stars are under our names? Just curious.