Need a bit of help with CPU selection for new laptop.

I am just now catching up with the newest hardware after I realized my current PC was 6 years old. So I am getting a new one, and this time a laptop. I'll most likely go with the Sager np5793. The following quote is from a review on cpu types and information by Lithus.

"Just remember to keep this in mind: even though I’ve listed quite a few processors, the ones within 3 or 4 slots of each other run so similarly that it would be wiser to save your $100 and get the lesser processor."

I am debating between these 3 models of the new intel penryn series to go with my Sager np5793...

45nm Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8100 / 3MB L2 Cache, 2.10GHz, 800MHz FSB

45nm Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 / 3MB L2 Cache, 2.40GHz, 800MHz FSB [+$55.00]

45nm Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9300 / 6MB L2 Cache, 2.50GHz, 800MHz FSB [+$140.00]

You can see the price differences between them, and orginally I was just going to pay the extra $140 and get the T9300 thinking it would keep me updated and last longer than the other 2 lower models. But after what I read I wanted to know is it important that I get this model? Will it use more battery life? Or could I just go for the 8100, or 8300? Is the 3MB cache difference big? I just dont want to feel like my PC is lacking in 2-3 years. I have not really played any of the really demanding games like crysis, but I am interested in them and would like to have the option of checking them out... along with any new games or software that comes out.

I also read a bit guide from the same person and am going with a 64 bit system, with 4 gigs of ram. So maybe that is a factor as to what cpu I should get... im not sure.

Also, I hear that gameplay is affected mostly by the graphics card not the CPU. I am leaning towards the nvidia 8700M GT instead of the $400 more expensive 8800M GTX. How far will the 8700M GT get me? And how long will it last me? If you could help I would really appreciate it. Thanks for your time.

 

the 8700gt is not that great of a card whereas the 8800m gtx is a great card. Top of the line in notebooks so far. If you really want to game, get the 9300, the 6mb cache will really help and it will be a good match for the 8800gtx

 

^^^ I agree except not even available a month or two ago? So now we hit a magic point? In a few months we will hit another, and guess what a few months after that we will hit another, and so on and so on. I think the 8300 is a compromise and 8700m GT. I don't want to be rude and I will exclude gamers but how far behind the curve do you think businesses are? beyond 5 years. And you are saying what does that matter? Well if I make the best application that is so killer but only 5% of the population can use? This is such common sense I guess what I am saying is a large part of your concerns are artificial and feed the big machine. If the driving force is 5 years behind the curve, I would guess being 3 months is a good place to be.

 

Cpu wise I'd be tempted by the T8300, but If you're worried about not overspending then the 8800M GTX would be much more worth it than an upgraded cpu.

If it were 8800M GTX and T8100 or 8700M GTX and T9300 I'd take the former.

I guess this is all based on what kind of games you want to play. If you tend to like new releases I think the 8800M GTX would be worth it. I can't see the T8100 and T8300 being much of a bottleneck for gaming at the moment.

 

My opinion is get a slower CPU and add money to the GPU. In this case I would recommend getting the 8100 and 8800gtx since as you mentioned, the GPU is the bottleneck in games. The 8100 is still quite a beefy processor and won't let you down.

 

No matter what you buy now, it'll be obsolete in a year. Period.

All of the new Penryns are 64bit, so that is not a factor in CPU choice.

The large cache on the T9300 does matter greatly in some tasks, but as mentioned, you be much more affected by the GPU in a gaming laptop. That being said, I'd second the general sentiment here which is to save money on the CPU to get the better GPU if you cannot afford both.

 

For your needs, I suggest the T8100 and 8800M GTX.

Why? Well the 8800M GTX is twice as fast as the 8700M GT, while the T8100 is still equal to the speed of the T7500, which is more than capable.

 

I myself am getting a np5793, I was a little stuck on the processor selection too, however, I was stuck in the differences between the 9300 and the 9500. All in all, I'm finding that the 9300 is the better bang for the buck.

 

Yeah.. the T9500 is one of the most pointless intel processors ever made. Way more expensive than the T9300 for something like a measly 3% speed boost.