Core 2 duo 1.6 Vs 1.8, 8400GS Vs 8600GT, 802.11g Vs wireless N

Kind of a loaded question. But I am wondering what the differences are going to be in these 2 notebooks. I'll be using this notebook for college and playing some games (main one being final fantasy 11) but I want this to last me my 4 years left in college. I want the DX10 card for possibilities of playing future games. I will also be converting video files to burn to DVDs So there are the basics that I want, but there are components where I dont know if I am getting more than I need, or not getting enough.

first, how big of a difference is there between a 1.6 and 1.8 GHz core 2 duo. right now I am using a single core amd 4000+ so I know I will see a jump in speed from what I am using, but how much of a jump should I expect?

next is the 8400gs good enough for the light gaming I want to do or do I need the more powerful 8600GT, how much more powerful is the 8600gt?

finally, I am hearing about this new wireless N and I was wondering If I should pay extra and get it, seeing as I want this notebook to last me 4 years.

oh, and to people who have used 15.4 inch and 14.1 inch notebooks, is the difference between the 2 great? I want something I can carry, but I dont want a screen that is too small.

Thank you for the help, I am looking at the new Dell Vostro and having trouble deciding which one to go for

 

Only because you mention gaming (even light in the future) the 8600GT is the way to go. The CPU harder, most apps including gaming not big issue, if you use for CPU intensive apps I still see little diff. If it saves money you need 1.6 fine. I can't comment on wireless N. Toss up I like 15.4 and I can carry they are what they are, one smaller one bigger, I would get 15.4.

 

The 8600M-GT is at least twice as powerful as the 8400M-GS. Get the 8600M-GT especially if you want to play DirectX 10 games.

Since you want this laptop to last four years, you might as well get the 1.8GHz CPU if you can afford it.

Wireless N is more of a luxury than a necessity. I can't see it becoming super useful because Internet connections don't even max out 802.11b (11 mbps). If you want to transfer files wirelessly then that's another story - the 802.11n is worth getting in that case.

You should go to a local computer store so you can see different screen sizes in person. A 14" laptop is much more portable than a 15.4" in my opinion.

 

if current reviews are correct, even the desktop 8600GT is too weak to enjoy DX10 games.
don't bother with the 1.8ghz, if in 4 years 1.6ghz seems like crap 10% better than crap is still crap.

 

I don't disagree but isn't that the best notebook GPU out there? What do you do? Also the math says 1.8 would be 10% to 11% above crap.

 

7950GTX is by far the best mobile GPU out there. I'm still advocating getting the 8600M GT, I'm just saying don't buy it hoping you can game at DX10. DX10 is only "worthwhile" if you turn up all the settings, or else it don't look any different from DX9 and performs worse.

from the reviews a .2ghz difference is 10% improvement in CPU intensive tasks, in other tasks its even less than 10%

 

thank you for all the replies. I am kind of looking for a replacement for my desktop to take to school with me.
right now on my desktop I have an amd 4000+ single core and an asus ati x1300 pro. I am happy with the set up as it is, will the 1.6 C2D and 8400gs be the same performance as what I have now, or will it be worse?

 

I looked and I think it will out perform your current set up both CPU and GPU. The desktop GPU is close to 8400m GS. 8600m GT much faster than both.