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    64 Bit or Dual Core?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by GodAtum, May 31, 2006.

  1. GodAtum

    GodAtum Notebook Enthusiast

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    I need to get a laptop for university this summer. To make it future proof should I get a 64 bit processor or a dual core processor? Also, when will a 64 bit dual core processor be available?
     
    GodAtum, May 31, 2006
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  2. pbdavey

    pbdavey Notebook Consultant

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    What are you doing for school? This can impact that choice quite a bit. 32-bit will be fine for years to come, but some scientific and engineering programs (and if you are programming your own stuff) will take advantage of the 64-bit processor. Of course if you can wait, both will be available in the same package soon.
     
    pbdavey, May 31, 2006
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  3. GodAtum

    GodAtum Notebook Enthusiast

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    I will be doing Computer Science, so probably only use Visual Basic. I cannot really wait, I have to get a laptop by September.
     
    GodAtum, May 31, 2006
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  4. pbdavey

    pbdavey Notebook Consultant

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    I highly doubt you'll do Visual Basic in Computer Science. Most likely Java, and maybe some other stuff in certain courses. Computer Science doesn't really need 64-bit computing, but it could be nice. Look around for release date of Merom, Intel's 64 bit dual core. Also, very very soon, notebooks will be shipping with AMDs 64bit dual core solution (it was released 2 weeks ago).
     
    pbdavey, May 31, 2006
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  5. GodAtum

    GodAtum Notebook Enthusiast

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    Merom is the Core 2 Duo?
     
    GodAtum, May 31, 2006
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  6. brianstretch

    brianstretch Notebook Virtuoso

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    AMD Turion X2's are just starting to come out, we should see lots more announcements next week at Computex Taipei (educated guess). That gets you 64-bit and dualcore. Wait a few weeks. If you want something that's easy to carry to class, the already announced HP dv2000z and Compaq V3000z series notebooks (Turion X2, GeForce 6150 integrated video, 14" widescreen) will be a good way to go. Those should be on retail shelves by the end of June and be available direct from HP sooner than that.
     
    brianstretch, May 31, 2006
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  7. danielsjang

    danielsjang Notebook Guru

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    you really really really don't need the 64 bit capability right now, or even a year from now (b/c of lack of programs that utilize it, etc) so I'd say get the cheapest Core Duo CPU now, and wait until merom (Core 2 Duo) comes out later this year and upgrade. The new CPU is supposed to be quite cheap, too, so upgrading is quite feasible. This is what I'll be doing.
     
    danielsjang, May 31, 2006
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  8. pbdavey

    pbdavey Notebook Consultant

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    AMD doesn't have the market presence that Intel has in the notebook world. I'm not really a big fan of any companies that utilize AMD's mobile solutions right now, though hopefully the Turion X2 will get more companies on board, giving consumers more choice. Apple, Lenovo (Thinkpads), and Toshiba are typically the top of reliability, service, and support surveys (I never would have guess Toshiba...whatever) and they are all Intel only notebooks right now (at least I don't remember Toshiba having any).
     
    pbdavey, May 31, 2006
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  9. GodAtum

    GodAtum Notebook Enthusiast

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    Can you really upgrade a laptop processor?
     
    GodAtum, May 31, 2006
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  10. Nrbelex

    Nrbelex Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Yes, it is believed that Yonah processors in the Napa platform will be easily upgradeable to Merom processors with a BIOS flash (but will void the warranty). Personally, I plan to wait for Merom's to be put in the old Yonah Models or for the new Merom models to come out a little after August.

    Good Luck,
    Brett
     
    Nrbelex, May 31, 2006
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  11. MGS2392

    MGS2392 NAND Cat!

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    Or, you can get 64 bit and dual core now, for pretty cheap. We're not 100% sure if this store has it yet, as our MSI informants (CoffeeShark, Unleaded, and NoClue4UHere) never said they had them yet. However, it's worth a try...

    MSI MS-1058/S271
    AMD Turion X2 TL-50 1.6GHz
    802.11b/g wireless and Bluetooth
    Super Multi Drive built in (DVD Burner, I believe)
    512MB DDR-2 533MHZ RAM
    80GB 54000RPM HDD
    $1093.35

    If you don't like these specs, I'm sure you can swap out some compnents, as MSIs are designed to be built by consumers (but this is prebuilt).
    http://www.avadirect.com/product_details_configurator.asp?PRID=5637
     
    MGS2392, May 31, 2006
    #11