How gimpy is 2.0 Ghz for a processor speed?

Most of the Canadian preconfigs for dv7's use a 2.0 Ghz processor except for one at 2.26 but I don't like the config for the rest of it. How gimpy will 2.0 be if I want to play games, watch videos, have lots of things open and browse the internet compared to 2.4 or 2.5 Ghz?

Will i get a lot less life out of the notebook going 2.0?

 

It will be fine for watching movies and browsing the internet with lots of windows open. If you want to play games, make sure you get a good graphics card. Most of the games rely on the graphics card not the processor.

 

Ahh ok thanks. What kind of things do rely on faster processor speeds?


ETA: I was pretty sure it could do all those things adequately and handle however intensive browsing, video, word processor, music, movie demands currently are now. I guess I am more concerned with the latter question and how future proof is a 2.5 Ghz processor versus a 2.0 and how much less life will the latter have?

 

Calculating prime numbers.

 

um thanks.

would someone elaborate on what that actually means in practical terms?

 

Everything else that the video card doesn't. The things that affect the most performance are CPU gpu and ram.

 

Why don't you tell us the tasks you are going to use it for and we can tell you if the difference it important.

I would agree that we in Canada get ripped off on the specs for HP. I would love to get a 1680x screen.

 

It's in my first two posts and yes I am starting to hate HP Canada. The crappy screen specs bug me too, although at least that can be remedied by hooking up with a monitor or ordering a 1680x one from a parts and installing it yourself. I wish it were that easy with the processor.

 

Well, the GPU handles games and video. Memory handles lots of apps open. What's left is internet browsing for which the 2.0 CPU is way overkill.

So to sum up, 2.0 is good enough for your purposes.

Also, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you check one out in a store first to see if you can tolerate the fan noise. It runs all the time and at too high a speed at idle resulting in excess noise IMO. I'm returning my DV7.

 

Thanks, and how about the difference between 2.5 Ghz versus 2.0 in extending the useful life of the notebook?

Right now my clock speed is 1.4 Ghz and it can get painfully slow, browsing, switching tab, watching flash and so on.

I have and didn't really notice it, but that kind of thing normally doesn't bother me anyways unless it's squealing, Thanks for the heads up though.

 

A few things that might like a fast processor: Batch files in photoshop, CAD, compiling programs.
You can upgrade the ram easily and cheaply after you buy the laptop. 4GB is less than $80 in the US.

 

Unless you start using it for software development like compiling etc., any future growth will likely be on the multimedia end of things and that taxes your GPU, not the CPU. If games get more elaborate, you are likely going to outgrow your GPU before your outgrow your CPU.

1.4 Ghz on which CPU? You really can't compare the Ghz of two CPUs if they are of drastically different architectures or generation. For example, a 4 cylinder Mazda engine might put out 90 hp whereas a Porsche 4 cylinder, 250 hp. Same number of cylinders but totally different design.

 

For everything except gaming, CAD and heavy photo editing, you're not going to notice much difference between 2.0 and 2.5GHz CPU, especially with a dual core CPU.

On the positive side, the 2.0GHz should run cooler - that's a good thing. considering most HP laptops seem to run pretty hot.