AMD? Turion? 64 X2 vs Intel® Core? 2 Duo

I'm considering the thought of buying a D531 based on the AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile Processor TL-56 (1.80GHz 1M cache). Is the C2D far superior to the AMD mobile offering?

I plan on using it basically for the internet, light turn based strategy gaming and taking it on the road for GPS hookup via Microsoft's Streets and Trips. Will this laptop do or should I get a C2D lappy? The price is sweet $689 w/3yr warranty and a low end ATi integrated graphics card.

 

For things like that, any dual core processor will be fine. So go AMD.

What are the remaining specs on the laptop?

 

most reviews seem to show that core 2 duo is better though for your usage, I doubt you would find turion inadequate.

In fact, I do similar things(except gaming) using a 1.86Ghz core duo and my CPU is 95% of the time at 800Mhz(6x, lowest).

Modern day notebook pack more than enough power, even for the cheapest/slowest model, except for gamers.

 

PROCESSOR AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile Processor TL-56 (1.80GHz 1M)

OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition, SP2, with media

LCD PANEL 15.4 inch Wide Screen WXGA LCD Panel

MEMORY 512MB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 1 DIMM

HARD DRIVE 80GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 5400RPM

OPTICAL DRIVE 24X CD-RW/DVD w/ Cyberlink PowerDVD™

VIDEO CARD ATI® Integrated Graphics RadeonTM X1270

WI-FI WIRELESS CARD Dell Wireless™ 1390 802.11g Mini Card

My Accessories

BATTERY 6 Cell Primary Battery
PRIMARY POWER OPTIONS 65W, A/C Adapter
FLOPPY DRIVE No Floppy Drive
My Software
BACKUP OS DRIVERS AND SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION Resource CD - Contains Diagnostics and Drivers
My Support & Services
WARRANTY & SERVICE 3 Year Limited Warranty plus 3 Year Mail-in Service
ON-SITE SYSTEM SETUP No Onsite System Setup
PURCHASE INTENT Purchase is not intended for resale.
ALSO INCLUDED WITH YOUR SYSTEM
Ship Group US System Documentation, Power Cord
OS Labels Windows XP Label
Miscellaneous Latitude D531
Internal Keyboard Internal English Keyboard
Latitude D531

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$689
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Personally, I would choose Vista Home Previum over XP Home because of the added features.

 

Vista Home Premium is not an option with this lappy.

 

Turion x2 has to have 400-600MHz higher clock speed in order to be comparable.

 

Well Turions do not quite perform as well as C2D in high end tasks. But for mainstream tasks, Turions are very comparable. They perform just as well as C2D, and even if there is a difference it is insignificant. I want you to realize what benchmarks say are usually difference within seconds and sometime milliseconds, of instruction execution. Realistically, the difference is unoticable to even the best trained technician or engineer. Benchmarks test things people don't really use much any way so don't take them into consideration. For your purposes, I suggest whatever is cheaper. If the Turion is cheaper, (Which is definitley is), go for it. I highly doubt you will need more than that. It looks like a great deal, but I definitley suggest increasing the RAM, because that significantly improves performance, make it atleast 1 GB of RAM. For now stick with XP, unless the notebook comes standard with Vista. XP performs better, and the security difference is slim to none.

 

Nothing wrong with this notebook but if you like. To get the best out of it you really do need more RAM 2GB can be had for just under $100 so almost $800 OK.
Now opinions, this where yours matter not mine but here I go. If you look at my Sig (I paid $800) you will see I have a little slower CPU and Different GPU, I have 2B RAM and 160GB HDD w/XP MCE. I think you can do better w/either AMD or Intel if you look, I was in Costco today saw a Toshiba w/your AMD plus 120GB HDD 2GB RAM DVDR w/lightscribe Vista Home Premium forgot the rest $900 looked and felt sharp.

are you open to others, if so I will take a look around, what is your budget if the value is right. Maybe fill out the form of what you want we can find you better even an AMD, CPU is not the problem.

 

Btw dont expect to do much gaming on that grafix card just remeber it cant be upgraded like man people make the mistake of thinking it can be

 

I looked a little and have to admit, that price and that warranty if it works for you, you can't do bad with this. Memory cheap and easy to upgrade. The 3 year warranty has real value. For not too much more money you can get more computer but not with that warranty, so I give. Most in that price range Celeron and single cores same amount of RAM no 3 year warranty!

 

Even if it were available, the machine would need a bit more than 512MB to run Home Premium smoothly. With XP you are okay, just be aware that not much ram can be allocated to the X1270 for any 3d performance (since there is not much to take).

Anyhow, it looks like a good buy!