Processor Debate

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I have been out of touch with most computer releases. I am now looking into buying a Sager NP9262 and there are 2 types of processors available for this system; the Core 2 Quad, and the Core 2 Duo. I am unable to fully research the difference at this time, but could I get some opinions?

Thanks

 

The NP9262 has the desktop variant of the 965 chipset, the P965 - has a socket LGA 775, and can support the desktop quad cores.
I would go for the Q6600 (Quad-Core), as it has 4 cores, and multi-threaded applications that can support 4 cores (eg. Supreme Commander), will have a performance edge as compared to a dual-core processor running the same application. The applications that would not stress all 4 cores of the Q6600, say only 2 cores are stressed, the rest of the 2 CPU cores will be idle and hence provide you more efficieny when multi-tasking.

The Quad-core Q6600 is cheap, fast and can be overclocked very easily. You will easily be able to increase the FSB to 1333MHz, and the CPU frequency to 3.0GHz.

So, definitely Quad-Core (Q6600) hands down. Later on, if you would want to upgrade the CPU, you could upgrade to a Q9650 or a supported Quad-Core Extreme Processor.

P.S. Upgrading the notebook (except HDD and RAM) and overclocking, might void your warranty. You should check out the Sager and Clevo forum for more knowledge regarding this notebook.

 

Except, on the flipside the quad will eat your battery by a significant amount...

 

^ You can always undervolt your processor efficiently, and reduce the max power consumption - hence reduce temps and improve the battery life.

 

I dont think the 9262 is overclockable Andy.
The Q6600 or Q6700 is the way to go for performance for the money.
the Q9450 would be nice to have, but it will probably cost you more.

Most software will start taking advantage of multiple core processors, so having a quad will definitely allow more compaibility for software for the next years to come.

K-TRON

 

I believe the NP9262 has a P965 chipset which has fairly old PLLs, so maybe it is overclockable via software, if the user knows the correct PLL. But I am sure the P965 is overclockable on desktops, and I have seen guys overclocking the FSB using SetFSB and CPUCool - all the way to 400MHz, so I guess overclocking the FSB to 333MHz is pretty safe for a laptop.

EDIT: Well, anyone who doesn't want to overclock, the Q6600 will simply decimate the E8400 in multi-threaded applications.

[Dang, NBR is slow today]

(The multiplier is locked obviously)

 

who cares about battery life on a desktop replacement, i dont even see that as a vaild argument.

Also being a step ahead and havin the quad core, as K Tron said, more multi core apps will be coming out and then you shoud be able to use all of the cores.

 

What's the point of a laptop if it's *never* going to leave the desk?
Why not buy a similarly specc'ed desktop for less?

And when it does (leave the desk), battery life comes into play.

 

for portable powerhouse of course, you can take it to work, friends house, etc things you cant do with a dekstop. people pay a premium for this, and i think they know what they are doing with their money.