I am so conflicted about an upcoming purchase (cpu question)

Please someone, anyone help. I have been looking throught these forums for days, just got off the phone with Xotic pc and thought I was ready to pull the trigger on a Sager NP 9262 laptop complete with 8800GTX sli, 200GB 7200 HD, etc. I just cannot get the processor thing figured out using the internet (Intel site and Tom's Hardware) as a guide.

My question is which cpu to go with? I was ready to do choose the E8400 in the 9262 but started thinking about the X9000 in the NP5793. The E8400 is a desktop 45nm cpu I have learned and the X9000 is a mobile 45 nm cpu with slightly worse specs (speed and FSB wise) I am fine with all of that and I have been made aware (through this forum's kind help as well as Xotic on the phone) about the laptop being hotter and the battery life not as good with the E8400 in the NP 9262.

How in the heck could the X9000 with worse specs be like $600 - $800 more than the E8400 and really why is this in the Extreme processor family anyway? Cache size is the same for both (6 MB L2) and they are both 45nm Penryn family... I have to be overlooking something. The extreme title sounds impressive but the guy on the phone said the cheaper (albeit hotter and more battery draining) E8400 would make a slightly better gaming experience. This computer is for gaming! No lies about work, math stuff, projects, etc. Gaming! This has to last for at least 5 years and no upgrades anytime soon like new cards or a hard drive.

Help me figure this out so I can sleep better, make the best laptop gaming choice decision and I will be forever grateful (and stay off the threads with the newbie questions)

Thanks so much,
Coleco

 

If it's just performance, the E8400 beats the X9000, pretty much hands down. The X9000 is more expensive because it's a mobile processor and therefore eats up a bit less juice and dumps a bit less heat. But since it's already pretty far out of the realm of conventional mobile processors in terms of energy consumption and heat output, I'd say there isn't much point in not getting an E8400 instead.

 

I was thinking along those lines but not sure. I tried to find benchmarks between the two processors but could not (maybe because the X9000 is so new?) Anyway I think I will stick with the better specs on the E8400. I was just wondering if there was something obvious I was missing and would kick myself later if I did not get the X9000. (everywhere you turn you see "The most powerful mobile processor" when describing the X9000) I realize now that that is not the same as saying it is the most powerful processor you could put in a laptop.

Thanks for clearing it up. I am feeling closure at this point.

Coleco