T5750 vs. T7250 C2D and O/S+graphics options

A friend of mine has asked me to select the best specifications on a Dell Inspiron for around $750. The current 25% off $999+ coupon makes the goal $1,000 with no discounts.

Processor- I'm looking at two options for upgrading the T2370 Pentium Dual-
Core. The new T5750 is $100 and the ubiquitous T7250 is a $150 option. Both are 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo with 2MB of L2 cache memory, the only difference being the T5750 has a 667MHz FSB vs. 800MHz in the T7250. Especially given the budget, I'm leaning toward the T5750 based on specs alone but I have seen very little info about it yet....thoughts?

Operating System and Graphics- A little more complicated question. She has told me that she does NOT want Vista with integrated graphics, so that narrows things down considerably. She is flexible on display size, so 14.1" and 15.4" are both fine for her needs.

The Inspiron 1420 and 1520 are the two finalists. The 1420 is Vista-only, but does have the 128mb nVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS graphics card as a $100 option. The 1520 is now an XP-only machine but Intel integrated graphics (X3100) is mandatory- no upgrades.

I'm leaning toward the XP/integrated setup- she's using a 4-year old ThinkPad at present and the X3100 has to be a huge upgrade from the integrated graphics in it.

It just occured to me to check out the Outlet for a Vostro 1400/1500 with XP AND discrete graphics.......

Ideas or recommendations?

 

I would get the t50 whatever. In my opinion, it is not worth $50 to get a miniscule amount of performance gain, which is probably not even noticible. I would definetly get the 1420. The dedicated graphics card justifies itself.

 

The T5750, like you said, is just a 667MHz FSB version of the T7250. Honestly, I'd bet there's very little difference (performance wise) between the two chips, almost certainly not worth the 50 dollar upgrade cost.

I would go for the Vostro 1400, largely because I prefer the 14 inch form factor and XP. Second choice with be the 1420 with Vista. My sister has a yellow 1420 with the 8400 and Vista Home Premium and it ain't too bad.

 

If you do not play games, all integrated cards (except the 7150M, which apparently has driver issues) performs fine with Vista. ATI and nVidia just want you to believe you need a dedicated card.

 

I say Vostro, but wait I think the sale might come back.