Can this be true?? (DV6 faster than HP desktop with i7 960)??

Here's the deal: I had a DV6 with the i7 2720QM 2.2GHz processor. Sent it back due to failure of Radeon card to ever engage (HP spent many hours dialed in to my laptop trying to make it work).

Because of all the uncertainty regarding Switchable Graphics, I'm contemplating getting a desktop instead, but upon looking at comparisons of the CPU's at PassMark Intel vs AMD CPU Benchmarks - High End, it appears to me that the performance of the DV6 I had is actually BETTER than an i7 960 - 3.2GHz. And for that DROP in performance, I'd be paying slightly MORE for the "privilege" of having a desktop instead of a laptop. HUH??? I thought desktops should be cheaper, all things roughly equal, but in this case, it seems it's inferior. Am I missing something? Is the laptop processor (2720QM) superior to an i7 960 or are the figures lying (on the Passmark site)?

 

no that should be about right the second generation Core i Series are substancially faster than the first gen ones. HP is cleaning out their old desktops, look for a second gen i series and see the same difference between mobile and dektops as you normally are.

and I would be shocked to see a desktop more expensive than a laptop unles it has alot of goodies or a much better spec on some components

 

The sandy bridge processors are a very major upgrade over the previous core-i series processors. Also remember that the turbo boost in the 2nd gen core i series processors is much more aggressive, so in addition to being more efficient they are significantly faster.

The desktop versions of the sandy bridge processors that cost 1/3rd as much as the previous gen top end processors outperform them. I'm still excited for Q4 this year when the high end processors based on the LGA2011 socket come out.

 

yep,the 2720QM is on the same level with the i7-960.

 

The biggest difference is the 45nm fabrication in Arrandale versus the 32nm fabrication in the Sandy Bridge.

 

Sort of. A 2720QM running at 2.2GHz will not outperform the 960. However, the 2720QM can Turbo up to 3.0GHz with all 4 cores active. Whether or not it goes that high and how long it stays there depends on how hot it gets. Thus, if you give it an excellent cooling system, then yes, it can beat even the quad-core desktop Nehalems.

 

ah, thanks. the price difference is due to the fact I've never found a discount at HP.com for desktops (other than their paltry $250 "discount").

 

Thanks to EVERYONE for your explanations!