View Full Version : Configuring a new laptop, Core 2 Duo or 17" Screen?
Soulburner
10-19-2006, 07:05 PM
If I configure things right, the difference between the 15.4" and 17" is only around $75 which is very minimal.
Here is the deal.
Intel® Core™ Duo Proc T2250 (1.73GHz/533MHz/2 X 1MB L2 Cache)
17 inch Wide Screen XGA+ Display
Or
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5500 (2MB Cache/1.66GHz/667MHz FSB)
15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife
Of course you can do both the 17" and the Core 2 Duo but it takes the price up by $135 so it is not an option. You can also choose the 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GS but its another $180 :slobber:.
What would you choose? This will be a Dell Inspiron.
Need more data. Which inspirons exactly?
Obviously, the Core2 is an upgrade without disadvantages, whereas the display makes the notebook heavier, makes it more difficult to game at native resolution and takes more power. But if you usage is satistfied with the speed of a Core Duo and you don't want to go 64 bits then the better CPU bys you nothing when you sit trying to figure out what's going on in the movie.
Soulburner
10-20-2006, 01:45 AM
E1705 and E1505.
Rest of the specs are 1gb of RAM, 60-80gb HD, and 256mb ATI X1400.
How would the 17" make it harder to game?
And you are saying the Core Duo isn't capable of 64-bit? That might be a consideration.
perkam
10-20-2006, 04:17 AM
Stick with 15.4inch display...at higher than that...it starts becoming less of a notebook and more of a tablet pc with a keyboard.
Keep it mobile, keep it 15.4".
Perkam
E1705 and E1505.
Rest of the specs are 1gb of RAM, 60-80gb HD, and 256mb ATI X1400.
How would the 17" make it harder to game?
Presumably because it has higher resolution, but since you didn't give the resolutions I can't tell.
If you want smooth looks then even at the same resolution the bigger screen will require more antialiasing for the same smoothness.
And you are saying the Core Duo isn't capable of 64-bit? That might be a consideration.
Yes, Core Duo is 32 bits only, Core2 is 64 bits.
Soulburner
10-20-2006, 06:24 PM
I guess I didn't think about the performance impact the higher resolution of the larger screen would have.
Looks like Core 2 Duo with 15.4" is the right choice. Here is the breakdown.
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5500 (2MB Cache/1.66GHz/667MHz FSB)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
LCD PANEL 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife
MEMORY 1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
HARD DRIVE 60GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
OPTICAL DRIVE 8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
VIDEO CARD 256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory
SOUND OPTIONS Integrated Audio
BATTERY OPTIONS 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
WIRELESS CARDS Dell Wireless 1390b/g (54Mbps)
BLUETOOTH OPTIONS Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)
~$830
This was built to be the best bang for the buck basically. Considered the 17" but the higher resolution will have an impact on performance with this video card and the size will make it a bit less mobile when it needs to be taken somewhere.
It will be used for just about everything, but mostly applications and web browsing, with some gaming. It is for my girlfriend, and I think it will be perfect for her for the price. It will spend most of its time plugged in so I did not opt for the better battery. This was a cheaper build than I could do at HP, Compaq or Lenovo, and it has better specs.
I contacted Dell about upgrade coupons for Vista but they said they did not have any information on that. I will try again next week.
Soulburner
10-26-2006, 06:38 PM
Made the order.
Since they dropped prices and changed a couple things around, I'm really glad we waited. We were able to bump up the CPU from the 1.66ghz 2mb cache to the 2.00ghz 4mb cache and get a free upgrade to Vista (when its available) for only a few bucks more than before just for doing the research and waiting until today. Here is the final breakdown:
E1505 Dual Core $1,093.00
Processor Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7200 (4MB Cache/2.00GHz/667MHz FSB)
LCD Panel 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife™
Memory 1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
Video Card 256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory™
Hard Drive 80GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
Operating System (Office software not included) Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
Upgrade to Windows Vista Express Upgrade to Windows Vista Home Premium from XP Media Center Edition
Network Card and Modem Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Combo or DVD+RW Drive 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Sound Options Integrated Audio
Wireless Networking Cards Dell Wireless 1390b/g (54Mbps)
Primary Battery 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Bluetooth Options Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)
FREE Upgrade plus $10 shipping & handling payable at time of redemption - $0.00
Inspiron affiliate offer $200 off $999+ (before tax, restocking fees, shipping and handling) - $200.00
Subtotal: $893.00
Shipping and Handling: $19.99
Shipping Discount: -$19.99
Sales Tax: $62.52
Total: $955.52
:banana:
illmatik
10-26-2006, 08:59 PM
Nice price! I'm in dire need of a new laptop. Does that model have the dual pointing devices? All these years on stinkpads has me hooked on trackpoint.