Which Processor To Get? Etc...

Chassis: Clevo D901C
Display: 17" WUXGA (1920 x 1200)
RAM: 4GB 800MHz
GPU: Nvidia 8800m GTX SLI (2x 512mb)
OS: Vista x64
Purpose: Hardcore-Gaming/School laptop.

The two processor choices are
Intel® Core™2 Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz/45nm/1333MHz/12MB)
Intel® XEON QUAD X3360 (2.83GHz/45nm/1333MHz/12MB)

From what I understand the Q9550 is a Penryn (not bad at all, if you're impatient for non-hyperthreading octo-nehalem like myelf). While the XEON is generally intended for a server. Beyond that, my knowledge is limited. So the question basically is, given my intentions, is there any real benefits to the XEON processor, as I gather it's intended for being a server-processor?. I've only found ONE retailer offering the chip, also, so it makes me wonder if it's a bad idea (and I've LITERALLY viewed over 30-40 retailers, the company I'm looking at is PCMicroWorks.

Additionally: This retailer (see above) seems odd in that they are offering stuff a lot of the other retailers (e.g. xoticpc, sager, powernotebooks, m-tech, lynnbay, darksmileys, gen-x-pc, etc) do not offer. Such as 320GB HDDs and 8GB RAM (I know the machines are "capable", but they are among the very rare willing to offer it, which makes me wonder if there is a reason for this [e.g. overheating/compatability problems]. Also, has anyone ever bought from (or heard of) PCMicroWorks? I'm giving them a consideration atm, given the July 4th $500 rebate they're offering (the other retailers I'd liked didn't have any specials going on). The rebate will last for a few more days, maybe 2-3.

 

I don't remember much, but I think one of the difference is the XEON requires ECC memory. There might be one or two more difference that escapes my memory right now. Try Wikipedia (search for Intel CPU).

With regard to PCMicroworks, there is a lot of controversy about them now, but you're right in that they always offer something other resellers usually don't offer. I haven't read anybody complaining about their system overheating, etc.

320GB HDD is normal, and 8GB of memory, even HP and Dell offer machines with 8GB RAM.

 

Hwbot isn't always the best place to go, but this gives you an idea of how these two chips stack up against themselves as well as against a Q6600. The Q9550 wins, and I'd have recommended it for you anyways for gaming since the X3360 probably wasn't so much as optimized for gaming as it was for multi-tasking/virtualization. Either way, you'd be getting extreme performance out of your notebook. It's amazing that they actually pack chips like these into the notebooks of today, that's insane.... though don't be surprised if you run into problems w/ cooling

 

f4ding
I'll look up some more about it to be sure, guess wikipedia can't hurt. What kind of controversies have you been hearing about with PCMicroWorks? I'd be really interested in knowing more about that, because I will probably be buying from XoticPC or PowerNoteBooks otherwise (which I believe are well-liked retailers on this forum, no?).

Benx009
Ha-ha, yea, cooling is a major concern of mine. I've been investing a LOT of time into how to take care of that (undervolting, arctic silver 5, 7-in-1-card-reader-fan, notebook cooler, wire taughting/organization, etc). I expect to be running "RED" in the heat department with a laptop of this configuration, otherwise.

I've never used hwbot site before, but that was a great breakdown, thank you! It even showed the overclocking capabilities (something that was a thought in the back of my mind, but didn't bother bringing up).

It's settled that the Q9550 is the winner. With one potential caveat... What if I am hosting games? Ha-ha. I tend to host games for about 15 ppl on the same computer I play with at times. That's why I was considering the "server" processor, I figured it might be better equipped for that. Perhaps this is false thinking, however?

Btw, great avatar choice. Witch Hunter Robin is one of my favorite animes.
Edit: ha-ha. You changed it after I said that. Didn't want people knowing, huh?

 

PCMW offers things others don't (I've heard) because others (except for Falcon NW) wait for Clevo to test and ok parts before they start shipping PCs with those parts first.

 

I was afraid something like that might be the case... That alone is likely a significant enough reason for me to shy away from getting the hardware specs that only they seem to want to offer. I wonder if that makes replacing the HDDs with my own 500GB 10,000RPM HDD a bad idea then, hrmm. If no one offers it, then following your logic, clevo didn't reccommend it.
Alright, thanks sirmetman (you know, you've come to my aid on a # of assorted questions. Consider this a cumulative +Rep, ha-ha).

 

Note that although PCMicroworks offers something that others usually don't, in fairness to them, I've also never hear anybody complaining about them either (i.e. their system overheating, etc.)