Core Duo with 2GB or Ram or Core 2 Duo with 1GB of Ram

Just wondering what's better, Core Duo with 2GB or Ram or Core 2 Duo with 1GB of Ram. These are the computers that I'm looking at:

Toshiba Satellite 15.4" Widescreen Notebook PC (A205-S4597)
• Intel Core Duo T2350
• 160GB hard drive
• Burns DVDs and CDs • 2GB of DDR2 memory
• Built-in 802.11agn wireless
• Windows Vista Home Premium
$1019 @ Circuit City


Sony VAIO® 17” Widescreen Notebook PC (VGN-AR230G)
• Intel Core 2 Duo T5600
• 200GB hard drive
• Burn DVDs and CDs • 1GB of DDR2 memory
• Built-in 802.11abg wireless
• Windows XP Media Center
$949 @ Circuit City

Thanks

 

In this case, I'd say that it depends on what your use is...

 

I would say the Toshiba because the Sony has a slow 4,200rpm hard drive plus your getting 2gb of RAM with the Core Duo and you wont notice a difference between the Core Duo and Core 2 Duo.

 

The two machines are very different.

The Toshiba has a better build quality and a much smaller power adaptor, not to mention a 802.11n wireless adaptor. However, the non-64bit CPU is a bit of a let down.

The Sony is big, heavy, comes with a gigantic power brick, has no 802.11n adaptor, and the Core2Duo CPU it comes with only has 2MB of cache.

If I had to choose between those two, I'd go Toshiba. Although I would personally prefer a HP or something.

 

I really like the HP too but that's the computer that I am returning. I purchased the DV6324US and it keeps making a buzzing noise (I looked it up and saw several people complaining about that on HP notebooks) and it is just really slow for graphic design and windows vista in general. It has only 2 x 256 level 2 cache - not sure if this could be part of the reason..

 

For graphic design, a good graphics card and CPU is essential. Yes the small cache in the HP that you bought is the reason why it wasnt enough for you. Get the Intel C2D with a dedicated graphics card, you just got the wrong HP model. Your ideal laptop here would be an Intel C2D T7200 or higher with 2GB of RAM, a 5400 or 7200rpm drive and a dedicated graphics card like go7400 or better.

 

It really depends on what you plan to use it for, but if it's just between the Core Duo/2gb ram and C2D/1gb ram. Go for the Toshiba, like usapatriot said, faster HD, more memory, wireless n, vista, and more mobile.

 

He is right.

Except the cache part, I don't think that would matter much but you do need a decent CPU and decent GPU for 3D design.

 

I wouldn't even look at the CPU first. Realize that the Sony is a 17" monster that isn't too keen on being carried around. Battery life and portability is going to be worse than the Toshiba by far.

Right now you either don't care about what kind of laptop you get (in terms of size) or you aren't aware than a 17" is totally different from a 15.4" in terms of how you are going to use it. I've used both and had to take the 17" back due to the sheer bulk it had.

 

What's the difference between Core Duo and Dual Core? I know that Core 2 Duo is the best but I see all 3 listed.

I'm thinking of getting the Intel Core Duo T2350 with 2GB over the Intel Core 2 Duo T5300 with 1GB.

Thanks

 

Core Duo is a Dual Core CPU. Dual Core is an architecture, Core Duo is the name of Intel's recent Dual Core CPU range.

I personally think that a Core2Duo with less than 4MB of cache isn't worth investing in. So yeah, go Toshiba (unless you see something better).