Help on Asus Z70VA Configuration - is the 2.26 GHZ P-M worth it?

I have a budget of about $3000

Below is my configuration

1 ASUS Z70Va - V
1. Display: 15.4 inch WSXGA+ (1680x1050) TFT LCD
2. Processor: 2.26GHz Intel Pentium M 780 w/2MB L2 Cache - 533MHz FSB (+$250.00)
3. Thermal Paste: High Density Polysynthetic Silver CPU Thermal Compound Paste (+$20.00)
4. Graphics & Video: ATI Mobility Radeon X700 PCI Express w/128MB VRAM
5. Memory: 2.0GB DDR2-533MHz Memory (2x1024MB-Dual Channel) (+$229.00)
6. Hard Drive: 100GB 7,200RPM Ultra DMA HDD (+$255.00)
7. DVD/CDRW Drive: Combo 8X DVD-Dual/RW/CDRW w/Software (+$60.00)
8. Wireless LAN: Built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2915 Tri-Mode 802.11A/B/G LAN
9. Bluetooth: Built-in Bluetooth (+$60.00)
A. Main Battery: 8-Cell Smart Li-ion Battery: 4+ hours
B. Second Battery: 2nd Battery - Swappable with DVD/CDRW Optical Drive (+$125.00)
C. Second Hard Drive: 2nd Hard Drive House Kit - Swappable with Optical Drive (+$30.00)
D. MS Windows OS: MS Windows XP Professional w/SP2 CD (+$145.00)
E. MS Office XP Software: None.
F. AC Adapter: Spare Auto Switch 110/240V AC Adapter (+$60.00)
G. Auto/Air Adapter: None.
H. Port Replicator: None.
I. Carrying Case: Asus Free Deluxe Carrying Case
J. Gigabit LAN: Built-in Broad Com 10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet LAN w/RJ-45 Jack
K. IEEE 1394 & Modem: Built-in IEEE 1394 (Firewire) and 56k V.90 Fax/Modem
L. Mouse: None.
M. Warranty: 3-Year Parts/Labor, Lifetime Telephone Technical Support (+$95.00)

Subtotal: 2927.00
Shipping: 85.00
Tax: 0.00
Total: 3012.00

Now Discountlaptops.com has a similar configuration with CORSAIR RAM and the 2.13 GHZ processor for $500 dollars less. Now considering I am maximizing my budget with the above, is the extra processing power worth $500 for a person who can afford it? What about CORSAIR RAM, should I go for that, the 2.16 GHZ and save $500?

 

by the way my above config for $3012 (with shipping) is from Agearnotebooks
The one from discountlaptops is $2620 (with shipping) and has a slower processor (2.13 GHZ instead of 2.26) but has CORSAIR RAM.

So basicaly I am asking...take the extra 1.3 GHZ or take the CORSAIR RAM and 400$?

 

I asked a similiar question a while back and the answer I got was that the latest CPUs are always priced at a premium. They don't have the performance to justify the price difference.

I'd go with the cheaper option + Corsair.

 

I'd go even lower. Unless you are running a CPU intensive application, I doubt you'd notice a difference.

 

I agree... even lower like 2.0 or even 1.86 will do you jsut fine.
There isn't too much of a performance difference between these Pentium M processors...not enough to justify hundred of dollars, a least.

 

Yes, the step up to the latest processor is not significant enough for the major step in pricing. But that's just the way it is. I we can get it lower, we'd sell it lower. As for the Corsair RAM, we use Kingston KVR's - very reliable and affordable. A trusted name and Lifetime warranty- I've never had a problem with them or seen anyone with a problem. You're not going to get a significant boost or any bells & whistles with the Corsair or Crucial or anybody else.

 

The 2.26GHz CPU will run 6% faster than the 2.13GHz, but only when the CPU is fully utilised. For example if you have a CPU intensive task that takes 100 seconds to run with the 2.13GHz CPU, then it should complete in about 94 seconds with the 2.26GHz CPU (provided that the CPU and not HDD or RAM is the bottleneck on performance).

Under conditions not needing 100% CPU utilisation both CPUs will cruise along at the same speed.

John

 

Based on current prices and CPU performance, go with the 2.0ghz as I did, or go with the 2.13, but check updated prices on CPU's and make a decision based on using the 1.86 as a baseline and go from there.

You won't need the 2.26, but if you can afford it then go all out of course, as it won't hurt

Wow that's really expensive for a Z70Va. Check my specs, as I have a pretty darn good configuration and it didn't cost me more than 2000 after tax Canadian. I paid 1960 something after tax. Also, I know that with RAM brands DO matter, but with DDR2, it's more latency, than speeds that matter, go google it, so I'd suggest getting some cheaper RAM as it wil perform just as well. My brand, Apacer did extremely well against those top name brands, and it costs next to nothing. I also did some benchmarking on my memory system and it competed with those performance RAM modules. Remember this is a laptop not a desktop computer, and it's running DDR2, so do some reading before using DDR1 mentality to make a decision on RAM.

I'd say go with a 5200RPM harddrive, as it will cost you less, give you more battery life, and won't heat up as much. Try Western Digital's new Scorpio drives and make sure you're getting the 8mb version as I forgot to mention it to my vendor and they put in a 2mb, not a big deal, but still

Anyhoo' back to my stupid essay, as I am leeching off someone's wireless at a local Second Cup coffee shop that's near a residential area, hehehe *evil grin* shhhhhhh~
Don't tell anyone~!!!

Cheers,
Mike

 

2.13ghz is great... who needs a 2.26ghz?! it's only 6%, the status of crown, and bragging rights haha but i ONLY paid... nevermind, ya'll wouldn't believe me

 

I stopped at #3... 20 bucks for silver paste! Are they going to give you the whole tube or just put on a thin layer? I can already tell this place is expensive, heh.

 

I would probably grab the V6Va instead. It goes for around $2000.

A quick search at Ebay shows plenty of similar spec'd Z70Va for around $2000.

 

I agree...the V6Va is probably superior to the Z70Va; however, if widescreen is a preference, the Z70Va is better.

 

Yeh way to expensive bro i got the z70va assembed and all for around 2100 buck canadian after taxes. Got the 2.0 with 1gig of namebrand ram and a 5200RPM 80gig hitachi HD. I also got the wireless card of course along with thd 8x DVD +/- R dual layer burner. Also got the bluetooth chip installed in it too.

 

What vendors did you all purchase it from?

 

What's so great about the V6Va?

 

Take a look at it here.

This thing is just beautiful! Not to mention the specifications are wicked for a Thin & Light notebook. Radeon X700 128MB, Pentium M etc.

Dimension and Weight : 33.1 x 27.2 x 2.54~3 cm , 2.33kg


Click the picture to enlarge.

Click the picture to enlarge.

 

personally id choose my z70va over that but its personal preference. I bought mine at www.ncix.com . They will pricematch using their pricematch system when you add to your shopping cart, so look around for the best prices you can find then go there add to the shopping cart and pricematch all the items you found for cheaper. Thats what i did and believe i got a really good price. If you want them to assemble it too, its best to set up your shopping cart then call them and talk to a salesperson and let them know what you want done. I talked to Gary Lai at the burnaby store he was realy helpful and included free assembly.

 

i'd choose (and CHOSE, haha) the z70va over the v6va any day. the only thing the v6va has over the z70va is it being a little thinner (and not a huge deal since the z70va is already pretty thin, so it's marginal). i personally like the way the z70va looks far more! i think everyone is just a little awe inspired cuz it's new. i'm sure it would be the other way around if the z70va came out after the v6va .

 

You want both Second battery and second HDD? I would say just go for the external HDD if you really need it.