T7700 @ 2.4 compared to P8800 @ 2.4Ghz

My current laptop has the core 2 duo T7700 @ 2.4Ghz, and the new laptop I want to buy has a Core 2 Duo P8800 @ 2.4Ghz. It also has a larger screen, 1gb graphics compared to my 512Mb, and 1TB hrd drive compared to my 250GB.

The full specs as listed on the store site are:

HP DV7-2112TX (VK015PA) Laptop Black Intel C2D P8800 2.4Ghz, 17.3" Screen , 1TB HDD, 4GB, ATI4650/1G , WLAN, HDMI, FW, BT, Vista Home Premium.

Mostly I just want to know what kind of difference the processor will make. My current notebook is getting a little old and saggy (and hot, despite diligent cleaning and maintenance) when running games. Bioshock is unplayable, and even TF2 has started to make it really work hard and doesn't run as smooth anymore. Complex 3-D modelling in Autocad also makes it run hot and do the slideshow thing.

So yeah, please let me know if the prospective notebook offers significant advantages over my current one. Thanks guys.

Edit: I should add that i plan to put windows 7 64 bit on the new notebook if I get it; am I likely to have compatibility problems in that respect?

 

What type of GPU do you have now?

 

The CPU (P8800) will run cooler (around 10C cooler or so).
It will run cooler than even an undervolted T7700.

 

You will also probably see an extra 20 - 30 minutes of battery life with the P8800, if they both have the same GPU.

 

Do you mean P8800 or P8600? P8600 = 2.4Ghz, P8800 = 2.66Ghz

 

NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 512mb.

That's a good thing, right?

Different GPU's, but that doesn't matter as I only run it on batteries when I'm working for someone, and don't play games at that time.

That's interesting, as the stores website says P8800 @ 2.4Ghz specifically. The page is here, the description that I pasted verbatim just above the picture, if you'd like to see for yourself. I may have to call them and confirm which processor it is.

 

I went to the HP support site to get the answer on the processor question- LINK

The error was actually made by HP, the reseller was only publishing the specs that HP provided....they show a 2.4GHz P8800 (which doesn't exist)! It is either the 2.4GHz P8600 or 2.66GHz P8800. They P8800 is a current option on the dv7 here in the US and the P8600 isn't, so it may reallly have the 2.66GHz P8800! Either way, both are very capable processors.

Something else on the spec sheet (at the link above) caught my eye- it shows the ATI Radeon HD 4530 rather than the 1GB ATI Radeon HD 4650 shown on the Austin Computers site....there's quite a difference between the 4530 and 4650! Can you live with the 4530 or do you want/need the power of the 4650?

 

Forgot to answer your actual question- how does the processors compare?

Here are the PassMark (benchmark app) scores of each-

T7700- 1,354
P8600- 1,591 (237) - 17% higher score
P8800- 1,914 (560) - 41% higher score

 

Yeah, it's a great CPU.

 

Thanks, that's really helpful. I want the 4650 GPU, definitely. Those benchmark stats look promising. Thanks for all your help, I'll go to the the store tomorrow and talk to a real live human for once, and if I can be sure I'm getting the P8800 and the 4650 then I'll probably get it. If something is amiss, well, It depends, the P8600 is still slightly better than my current, but the 8800 is much better. I'd have to think about it.

 

Did some searching myself, I'm finding both claims myself. Try Googling the product number (VK015PA) or (DV7-2112TX). You'll see some sellers claiming it as a P8800 2.66 Ghz, and others claiming it to be a P8800 2.4 Ghz. Either way, it's either a P8600 2.4 Ghz, or P8800 2.66 Ghz, it's NOT a P8800 2.4 Ghz.

 

P8800 will be better and give more battery life... but its becomming old... if u can buy a Dv7 model with a Q9000 and if u got more cash buy the Dv7 with core i7...