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    processor, memory and hard drive for hp dv4t?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by shinkirou, Jul 9, 2009.

  1. shinkirou

    shinkirou Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am thinking about buying a custom built dv4t series from hp, and I was wondering what to do for the processor, memory and hard drive.
    For the cpu, I was going to get a 2.4 ghz but they don't list it as an option any more :( , so would 2.26 ghz or 2.53 ghz be better? The price diff is 100$. Is there a noticeable difference in speed? I will be running photoshop and some games.
    As for the memory, I am choosing between 3GB DDR2 and 4GB DDR2 [price diff 50$]. I will be running 64-bit Vista. Again, what is the difference?
    And I am choosing between 320 GB and 250 GB for the hard drive [price diff 50$]. Is there a lot of difference, and is the 70GB worth the extra 50?

    Sorry for all the questions! I am trying to keep it all under 1000$, after 15%coupon. I am rather new to all the technical stuff too. Thanks for helping out!
     
    shinkirou, Jul 9, 2009
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  2. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The cheaper processor will suffice. The difference btw the two isn't noticeable in most situations and definitely not worth $100 more.

    Unless you have another older DDR2 notebook (then you can buy a kit from Newegg and swap memory), just pay the $50 to upgrade the memory.

    Hard drive, I wouldn't upgrade for $50 since you can buy a new one for that price. If you need more space, buy a 500GB 5400RPM drive and use your 250GB with an external enclosure.
     
    sgogeta4, Jul 9, 2009
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  3. shinkirou

    shinkirou Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you! That was great advice!
     
    shinkirou, Jul 9, 2009
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  4. adesai

    adesai Notebook Consultant

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    In general I agree for most tasks the processor does not matter. BUt if you going to keep the laptop for a couple of years i would go for the 2.53Ghz processor compared to the 2.26Ghz processor.

    I agree with the previous poster regarding the Ram and harddrive.
     
    adesai, Jul 10, 2009
    #4
  5. davidkneiber

    davidkneiber Notebook Consultant

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    ok... make sure you get a decent graphics card... way more important than the cpu
    save your money
    get the cpu upgrade if you really really want it..
    it is only a difference in clock speed... maybe later you could just overclock your laptop and SAVE 100 US DOLLARS!!!!!!
    lol
    as for the ram stick with 3 gb and upgrade later when you have enough courage to take out 1 screw on the notebook and pop in more ram for $25 (installing ram is so easy my 16 year old sister could do it! and she spent 3 hours trying to figure out what was wrong with her mouse... dead battery!)
    no... 70gb for 50 dollars is not worth it at all...
    think of it this way... the more upgrade you get the more bling HP is ripping you off for!
    as for the $200 you saved.. maybe in a year you could get a 750gb hard drive and 8gb of memory for that money!
     
    davidkneiber, Jul 14, 2009
    #5