2.5 or 2.8 GHz

I'm deciding between these two:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T9600 (2.8GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)

If cost isn't a factor, which one should I choose? Does the 2.8 GHz use more power and drain the battery? (I'm getting a six cell)

Also, does choosing a 320gb harddrive over a 250gb mean that it will use more power and write slower and make the laptop more bulky?

Thanks for any advice

 

2.53 has same TDP as the 2.8ghz
320GB is the same physical size as the 250 eccept faster, I don't know about power draw.

if cost isn't a factor I would take the 2.8Ghz, and the 320GB HDD.

 

The T9400 will use a tiny little bit less battery, not much performance increase anyways. Maybe a tad hotter.

320Gb Hdd means that you will have a faster hdd and it will use a tiny tiny bit less because of the faster transfer speed but it isn't noticeable.

 

If cost isn't a factor, T9600 hands down. Same TDP, but o.27ghz more performance. If cost is a factor, think about what you will be doing on your computer, because the difference between those two is only the multiplier (no clock speed, etc.). Overclocking is something you should consider as well (FSB OC). 320gb hdds will not affect laptop size and weight, and will overall increase performance due to the increased data density. Battery difference should be from insignificant to none assuming they are the same rpm & brand, so if you have the money, by all means get the 320gb.

 

Both processors will consume the same amount of battery.
It depends upon the brand/make of the HDD to determine whether it will consume more/same power when comparing the 320GB vs the 250GB. (Weight is same)

If you are inclined towards battery life, go for the P processors (P8400/P8600) if possible, and get the lowest HDD config and then swap that for a better, retail HDD, which would give you the liberty to choose a HDD which has a lower power consumption.

 

Go with the P8600 or P8400 if you can to save more money and power

 

Thanks a lot guys! This makes the decision a lot easier.

 

Hi all, excuse me for stoling this topic. It happens that I have the same doubt. I have the money for the T9600, T9400, P8600 or P8400.

I need power to use photshop, video editing, movies, and lots of multitasking. Also, I'm buying 4 gb of DDR3 RAM, and 200 gb @7200 HDD. I don't know if it worth to pay the extra bucks for the T9600, or qith the P8600 should be fine.

thanks for the help.

 

I guess the price difference between the upgrade to the T9400 and to the T9600 is pretty steep, so I would go for the T9400 or the P9500 (if available), since you'll be running CPU intensive tasks quite often (right?)

The P8600 will be fine, if you're on a tight budget, since it is a pretty powerful processor as well.

 

i forgot to tell you> i'm buying Thinkpad T400. There's no P9500.

And yes andy, I will do lots of multitasking (while i'm doing an advertising in photoshop and illustrator, my boss will aske me to check the sales in excel, my friends will be chatting me in msn, i'll be reading stuffs in notebookreview.com, opening several websites of my enterprise to download information, listening music, using outlook at the same time, and downloading a few songs)

Battery it's not too much a problem, cause i'm buying a 4 cell battery and a 6 cell battery.

Also, if i buy the T9600, i won't buy an Advanced Mini Dock, 2 gb flashmemory (olimpic logo!) and a belkin messenger bag (red/black).

 

Well, the upgrade to the T9400 is $200 cheaper than the upgrade to the T9600. I would say go for the T9400....
You're already buying 4GB RAM (x64 OS), and a fast HDD, so multi-tasking will be real smooth .

 

Thanks Andy. then I'll go for the T9400. It's not that hot or battery-eater, isn't it?

 

No, it won't really make a difference. You can undervolt when not doing intensive tasks, which would drop down the max power consumption and temps by ~10 W and ~10*C each, which will help you improve battery life.

 

Thanks man. I'll take your advice. Also, the T400 graphic's switch will help to improve battery's life.

 

Graphics Switch - Hybrid ?

 

Yeap. You can Switch to integrated when you don't need the dedicated GPU. You know more of this than me!

 

If cost isn't a factor? That is a rhetorical question.

 

I am more familiar to the term Hybrid, and I am a complete alien to GPUs

 

Ithink, if cost isn't a factor, then get the fastest you can.

By the way andy, i don't know nothing of GPU's neither, but I know that having dedicated and itegrated is good.