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    Aspire 5738G - 800MHz CPU FSB but 1066MHz DDR3 RAM??!!!!

    Discussion in 'Acer' started by kaustav_deybiswas, Jun 15, 2009.

  1. kaustav_deybiswas

    kaustav_deybiswas Newbie

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    I was planning to buy the Aspire 5738G model:
    http://www.newtechnology.co.in/acer-aspire-5738g-pricespecs/
    But then I noticed this in the specs:
    Intel Core2 Duo CPU T6400 ( 800 MHz FSB)
    4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz RAM
    The combination means I will actually get DDR2 performance! :(
    Are these Acer guys trying to trick us??!!! :mad:
    Either they are nuts, or they take their customers to be so!!! :mad: :mad:
     
  2. powerfull499

    powerfull499 Notebook Evangelist

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    Hey, the difference between DDR2 ram and DDR3 ram is not big :)

    But yes, most of the laptop companies put 4 GB ram in their laptop and make them cheap, because a lot of people think they did a great deal because it has (WOW!) 4 GB ram!

    That's ridicalous, because it's no problem to play games at high settings even if you only have 2 GB ram. It's all about the processor and the GPU, but in the commercials they always set focus on the ram because the rest of the laptop's hardware is problaly crap (Don't worry, your laptop is not bad :p).

    I think I went a little off topic. BACK TO TOPIC XD!
     
  3. kaustav_deybiswas

    kaustav_deybiswas Newbie

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    May be you are right... due to the ever increasing size of L2 cache, the operating frequency of RAM may not get to play the all important role in the perf of the system. But still, there has to be a noticeable difference between DDR2 & DDR3.
    Why would they need to trick us with this anyway?? They could have put in a 1066 FSB cpu with a slightly higher price, or they could have put in DDR2 RAM and get the price down a bit!! What are they trying to gain with this strange combination??? :(
     
  4. TehSuigi

    TehSuigi Notebook Virtuoso

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    Hey, there's nothing stopping you from going onto eBay and purchasing a 1066 FSB CPU (except maybe your warranty).
    And there's also the possibility of another model WITH a 1066 FSB CPU.

    EDIT: The L2 cache comment is bull - you're talking about 4-6 MB of L2 cache, and 3-4 GB of RAM. It's still incredibly important.
    The DDR3-1066 RAM may still operate at that speed, or they could run a FSB:RAM ratio other than 1:1.
     
  5. q8cornel

    q8cornel Newbie

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    I was attracted to this laptop because of its specs - but i guess that theses specs are designed to just be eye popping.

    I am really confused with the acer 5738G and the dell studio 15- I would like to use the laptop for a few years at least and i am inclined to believe that dell is the more durable of the two.

    on the other hand I like acer's price point but i'm not sure about its durability.
     
  6. nklive

    nklive Notebook Evangelist

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    What do you mean they are trying to trick you? Have you looked around? If they had a processor with 1066 FSB, the laptop would have been more expensive and not for your budget. Now they give you the possibility of a future upgrade if you wish and having DDR3 it makes the laptop even more future proof. Almost all the brands are using the T6/5xxx series (800MHz) for their budget laptops. To upgrade to a T/P7xxx and more you will need more money sometimes. After all the T/P7xxx series have more L2 cache and can have higher FSB as well, which makes these processors much better than the T6/5xxx series (budget CPUs). All manufacturers have some specific motherboards and they only have to change the CPU, RAM, GPU, WIFI and the HDD to meet the price range.
    It would make more sense to put a CPU with 1066 FSB but still the laptop could have been more expensive. Take a look at the difference in price between the 5738 laptops here
    Also take a look at the Processor ratings Intel have put on for the mobile processors.
    Intel Processor Ratings
    It is actually Intel's fault that they haven't made a cheap CPU with 1066 MHz FSB. The T6xxx series should have had higher FSB otherwise what's the point, the T6xxx has the same specs with T5xxx series (their only difference is the manufacturing technology, big deal). Give us a break Intel
     
  7. TehSuigi

    TehSuigi Notebook Virtuoso

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    Intel's budget CPUs dating all the way back to the original Core Duo have always used a lower FSB than the top-of-the-line.
    Core Duo T2x50s used 533 when the max was 667. Core 2 Duo T5xx0s used 667 when the max was 800. Etc.
     
  8. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    There is nothing wrong with the specs. You won't notice a difference in performance. Most of those numbers are more marketing than they are for performance.
     
  9. mikeytrav

    mikeytrav Newbie

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    hey, sorry to be dragging a dead thread back but google pointed me this way.

    i got one of these 5738g's, my old laptop died and i was short on cash. but now im lookin to upgrade it.

    ive already choose my ssd, just waiting for payday :)

    but what cpu would you guys recomend, one with 1066 fsb.

    cheers
     
  10. TehSuigi

    TehSuigi Notebook Virtuoso

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    No problems with the bump, mikeytrav, but next time feel free to start your own thread if you can't find one in the first few pages that's topical.

    The 5738G should be able to handle any of the fast dual-core CPUs out there. The T9600, T9800, and T9900 will be blisteringly fast at 2.8, 2.93, and 3.06 GHz, respectively (but also progressively expensive).
     
  11. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    CPU cache tends to make very little difference. At least with the core 2s.

    You can pick up P7350 type chips very cheap. Even my P8700 was not that expensive.
     
  12. mikeytrav

    mikeytrav Newbie

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    thanks guys the t9600 looks a gud en..

    how much difference would i see in, just for arguments sake, a 2,2 800fsb and a 2.2 1066??

    would cooling not be a problem
     
  13. TehSuigi

    TehSuigi Notebook Virtuoso

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    Cooling shouldn't be a problem at all; both the T6400 and T9600 are rated for 35W of thermal output. Plus, I'm positive the 5738G is sold in some areas with a fast T-series stock.

    In terms of difference between a 2.2/800 and 2.8/1066, I can relate. I went from 1.83/667 to 2.4/800, and found that even system start-up was snappier. CPU-intensive tasks like video encoding really jumped in performance. Even certain games enjoyed an FPS boost (TF2 in particular).