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    Compaq Presario R3220CA

    Discussion in 'HP' started by ShaneNg, Sep 27, 2004.

  1. ShaneNg

    ShaneNg Newbie

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    Hello everyone,

    This is my first post. I have been looking around for a notebook to replace my desktop(dying-Athlon XP 1700+, 516 Ram, integrated video)for a few weeks now. This is what I have found and interested in buying. Before I jump on this, I would like to know if anyone has experience with this notebook..Compaq Presario R3220CA, PF159UA#ABL.

    Currently the price of this notebook is CDN$1499.99 @ WWW://shopping.hp.ca/ plus CDN$40 shipping charge.

    The local Future Shop has it for CDN$1699.99.

    I am curious if I have found a good deal. I need to know if this is a good price, especially from Canadian notebook users or anyone who knows more about notebook/pricing than me. This is the least expensive notebook with 15.4" WXGA that I can find. I am curious about the Athlon XP-M 3000+ 1.6GHz that it came with. Is this why this notenook is less expensive? What is the equivalence of this chip, let's say, to a Pentium 4 or Pentium M. I am very price concious because I have to buy an external hard drive to store all my files which will cost me about CDN $200.

    I will be using this notebook for MS Office applications, web browsing, photo editing, watching DVD movies and a little video editing. I do not want to spend CDN$1499.99 on a notebook that will not perform better than my old desttop. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

    Thank you,

    Shane
     
    ShaneNg, Sep 27, 2004
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  2. brianstretch

    brianstretch Notebook Virtuoso

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    It'll perform much better than your desktop. I'd check out the configure-to-order R3000z at hp.ca and configure an Athlon 64 3000+ or higher, plus some of the other goodies they offer. The XP-M in these notebooks is just an Athlon 64 with the 64-bit section turned off and much less L2 cache. 3000+ means roughly equivalent to a 3GHz P4, though I think the speed ratings for the XP-M's are less conservative than the ones for the 64-bit chips. The XP-M is still a good chip but the 64 is significantly more future-proof.

    One caveat: 4200RPM notebook HDs are slow. Consider configuring the 80GB 5400RPM HD or swapping in a Hitachi 7200RPM HD on your own. It makes a HUGE difference.
     
    brianstretch, Sep 27, 2004
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  3. Venombite

    Venombite Notebook Virtuoso

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    Also, if you're planning on getting this unit, you may want to get it from Futureshop. They'll give you a price match + 10% of the difference. So your unit will only cost you approx $1479.99 and it's free shipping with any order at Futureshop.ca

    -Vb-
     
    Venombite, Sep 27, 2004
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