Laptop CPU: T2390 vs T5550

[karl_eller]

I think this is the right section. If it isn't, please feel free to move it to the right place.

Alrighty, I'm hopefully going to get a cheap Dell Inspiron 1525 for my 21st, and I've got everything figured out except the CPU.

The 1525 comes with an Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2390 (1.86 GHz, 1Mb cache, 533FSB), or for an extra AU$85 (about US$60-70) I can upgrade it to a Core2Duo T5550 (1.86 GHz, 2Mb cache, 667FSB). The problem is I'm a bit rusty when it comes to my Mobile CPUs, so I'm not really sure if it'd be worthwhile to spend the money on the T5550.

The laptop will be running Ubuntu 95% of the time, and it'll mostly be used for programming, web browsing, note taking, so on and so forth, so it's not really going to see really heavy use.

For anyone who's curious, the rest of the specs are the base Inspiron 1525 stats: 1Gb RAM, 15.4" widescreen (1280x800, although I might upgrade to the 1440x900 for more viewing area), 160Gb HDD, Integrated X3100 graphics, wireless, etc.

Eller

[tiro_uspsss]

those are weird model numbers.. havent seen them before. Then again, I havent been keeping an eye on lappie stuff lately :D
those there is no actual clock diff? just cache & fsb?

i'd highly recommend going more ram instead.. get 2GB :up:

[karl_eller]

I've checked the model numbers on the Intel site, and yes, the only difference is double cache and an FSB increase.

RAM upgrade will come later (it's cheaper to buy RAM and install it myself than it is to buy from Dell anyway), so right now it's just the CPU I'm curious about.

Eller

[tiro_uspsss]

I've checked the model numbers on the Intel site, and yes, the only difference is double cache and an FSB increase.

RAM upgrade will come later (it's cheaper to buy RAM and install it myself than it is to buy from Dell anyway), so right now it's just the CPU I'm curious about.

Eller

thats what I meant - skip the cpu, upgrade the ram straight away, but do it urself :up:
considering the tasks u listed arent CPU intensive, skip it.. besides, u can always upgrade the cpu later down the track, u can find one on ebay for cheaper, do it urself, like the ram :D
just a suggestion :shrug:

[Miwo]

Its been awhile, I used to play around with Mobile chips on my Aopen I975xa-ydg. if I recall correctly.....

T2xxx CPUs are the Core Duo family. These were the first of the Core architecture and came out after the Pentium M
T5xxx are based off Core2Duo / Merom, but are cut in half like E4xxx desktop Allendales. The difference between a Core Duo and a Merom is about 15-20%
T7xxx are based off Merom chips with full 4MB cache. Basically mobile versions of your E6xxx desktop C2D line
T8xxx/9xxx are based off the new 45nm chips.

Since you are doing programming, I could see the benefit of the processor upgrade, but to be honest I think that $85 for the T5xxx upgrade is not worth it. If this is for school and you are doing simple applications, I dont see your programs being massive where you would save a lot of time compiling from the proc upgrade.

Are you open to other notebook suggestions? There is a fairly decent Lenovo deal going on and you can get a nice processor for the price. Doesn't come with Windows, but you'll be using Ubuntuu anyways

Use coupon code: USPMAYSAVINGS for 15% off
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/integration.workflow:ProductDisplayBundle?IsBundle =true&GroupID=37&Code=R61_14W_INTEL_LINUX&OID=:00000025:00001430:&PID=CJDFR61_14W_INTEL_LINUX&AID=10383968&SID=120661-n-10&CJURL=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.lenovo.com%2FSEUILibrary%2 Fcontroller%2Fe%2Fweb%2FLenovoPortal%2Fen_US%2Fint egration.workflow%3AProductDisplayBundle%3FIsBundl e%3Dtrue%26GroupID%3D37%26Code%3DR61_14W_INTEL_LIN UX%26OID%3D%3A00000025%3A00001430%3A%26PID%3DCJDFR 61_14W_INTEL_LINUX%26

[karl_eller]

It's uni work, I'm in my 2nd year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Software), so the programs are getting somewhat more complex.

And I think only some of the T2xxx CPUs are CoreDuo, while others are based on the Core2Duo architecture, and are basically the laptop equivalents of the E2xx0 chips, at least going off the Intel Processor Spec Finder. The T2390 is one of the latter.

I'm always open to other laptop suggestions, they just have to be available to Australia ;) The Lenovo laptops look really nice, but the ThinkPads start from about AU$900+ (at least if bought from within Aust) and have lower specs than the Inspiron 1525's.

Eller

[Corsa]

Bought that very same rig and I selected the T5550 ....plus 2Gb ram upgrade lol .....its for a relative who's taking it overseas with him, as a present for his Niece, so just wants it working out of the box. I'll let u know how it runs Vista....was ordered Tuesday morning, should be here middle next week?

[karl_eller]

Well I've pretty much settled on getting a Vostro 1510 instead of the Inspiron 1525. The Vostro comes with a T5670 (1.8Ghz, 2Mb cache, 800FSB) standard, same other specs, a few added features (bluetooth as standard, media buttons, etc), look a fair bit nicer and tend to be higher build quality. Plus it's actually a little bit cheaper :up:

Eller

[jton219]

i don't know much about laptops, but i was working on a sony 1.6ghz pentium dual notebook the other for a friend, it was horribly slow. the notebook was new, friend just asked me to clear out all the preloaded SONY crap eating up her resources. my buddies C2D at 1.8GHz was worlds faster and more responsive. cant tell you anything about benchmarks for cache or anything else, just real world experience with the penitum dual processor was bad. i would never buy one.

[Corsa]

Yea Vostro better spec'd, good choice...I couldn't just get Black for a female teenager..so I got this ;)
http://www.krunker.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/073.jpg
Inspiron 1525 @bottom featuring High Gloss Blossom :rolleyes:

[tiro_uspsss]

Yea Vostro better spec'd, good choice...I couldn't just get Black for a female teenager..so I got this ;)
Inspiron 1525 @bottom featuring High Gloss Blossom :rolleyes:

wow those look nice!

[Corsa]

wow those look nice!
...ok better post one for the Boys :cool:
http://www.krunker.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/074-thumb1.jpg
Inspiron 1525 clockwise from left...Matte Black, Alpine Gloss White, Street & Chill :up:

pics found @krunker.com (http://www.krunker.com/category/events/ces/)