CPU, video card, hard drive speed questions for first laptop.

Hi, I’ve read the “ultimate CPU guide” – thanks to the author and all the responders.

I’m buying my first laptop, and I’ve gotten some e advice from the “what laptop should I buy?” thread. They don’t answer my CPU questions and related questions, however, so I figured this might be the proper place to inquire.

I plan to continue to use my desktop PC, a Dell Dimension 4550 with a Pentium 4, 2.53 GHz CPU and 512 MB of RAM, which I’m upgrading to 1 GIG. I use XP.

I’m a pretty simple in my computer needs: I word process a lot, do simple spreadsheets, surf a lot, usually with multiple (5 to 20) web sites open simultaneously, and I watch sports with video streaming. I don’t game. I hate waiting for programs/web pages to open, and for the computer to boot up.

I’d like my laptop to be as “good” (fast, responsive, etc) or better that my desktop, and from the Ultimate CPU guide I know that I can’t compare CPU’s based on clockspeed. So which Dual Core processor should I consider my bottom line for the laptop? I’m trying to get what I need for as little money as possible, of course!

Second question – since I don’t game but do like to watch video-streamed sports with as little jerkiness as possible, should I get a separate video card, or will an integrated one do?

And will the speed of the hard drive, 5200 or 7200, make a diff for the sports (I did read the thread on that, but couldn’t discern the answer to my question)?

I tend to keep my computers for a long time.

Any other considerations?

Many thanks, Rex

 

Any processor from the Mainstream category is enough. Video card only if you plan on playing games or HD content. 5400 RPM is enough for basic use.

 

I would say get a deticated GPU. Yeah, any CPU from Mainstream. I would recromend the 7200rpm for extra speed in loading and boot time.

 

i agree w/ ah1395
mainstream cpu and dedicated gpu- you'll like it better!!

 

What are you guys talking about? The OP clearly stated no games or GPU-intensive apps. A dedicated card would be a waste of money, and an Intel X3100 would do.

 

thanks lithus, ah395,nobscot6 and bc135! So any new opinions or changed ones re: integrated or dedicated GPU? And does anyone else think 7200 RPM?

Rex

 

no 5400rpm is good enough for me. i use it for gaming but don;t really know the difference so there wouldn't be much dif on the applications either but if price different is small than go for 7200rpm. Integrated if you are not going to play anygames, except some like starcraft . Dedicated cards you can get later and the cycles are quick for it as well

 

i would get the 7200rpm, but then us girls like speed..... in cars and computers..

same applies to the gpu.....

just my opinion, but if you can spare the cash-> get it- you'll be wondering why you didn't later-> and you can't go back........

 

I haven't used 7200RPM drives before, but 5400RPMs can perform just as well with a greater platter density. That is, if the data is more tightly packed together, the HD has shorter distances to travel to read/write data and so performance is increased. So a 120/160GB 5400RPM HD could actually match or outperform a 100GB 7200RPM. Neat eh?

As for the graphics card, I would strongly advise an integrated GPU as stated before since they can easily handle your needs. Dedicated solutions are unnecessary and costly for your purposes unless you plan to play games.

 

Any mainstream notebook OP buys will blow away their Desktop! I agree w/the bird on all! They do not need any of the upgrades mentioned.

 

Are you going to bring your notebook around? If you any bit interested in having some sort of battery life, I would consider an integrated card and a 5200rpm hard drive.

Since it seems like multitasking is important for you, I would consider getting 2GB. A dedicated GPU does not help in most forms of video rendering. Seriously, my old notebook with a crappy integrated ATI X200 express was playing 720 content effortlessly. What matters most is your CPU which does most of the video decoding. A Core2duo processor ( merom 2-M), is a good choice and is more than enough for your needs.

 

Thanks, everyone - I think I have a much better handle on all of this, and I'll save a bit of money.

Rex