Looking for an alternative to the zx5000

I know everyone is doing backflips and cartwheels over the ati 9600 and 9700 series mobile cards, which I'm sure I'd do too if I could. But I am on a really limited budget, as I'm a music ed major about to buy a $6000 instrument with loans and scholarships, while looking to pick up a laptop for sub $1200 if possible.

Up until that configuration change for the zx5000, I'd found everything I wanted without getting too overboard in terms of options and prices. Now I'm stuck, with about all the other 9600 conifigurations hovering just slightly out of my reach.

So I've turned to HP's zv5000v series, and I may just go with that machine instead. Basically I'm just worried about it's ability to run games (basically, what's the limit for the geforce 4 440) and most importantly, just how long this system will last. If it can give me 2, maybe 3 years, then by that time I'll be able to buy whatever laptop I choose. For now, I've just got to be super choosey.

So, if you've got comments, let's hear them!

 

If you're planning on playing all the lastest DirectX 9 FPS games in the market and then some, I don't think the NVidia 440 chipset will last you too long. Most of the games now require the ATI 9600+ or NVidia 5200+ chipsets to work at peak performance. If you definately can't afford a unint with one of these chipsets, as Quikster recommended, get a system with at least an ATI 9200 chipset.

-Vb-

 

the ati 9200 is a lot better than the nvidia chip in that machine. But as too how well it will play games, what do you play?

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

Guys, what do you think about this one:
http://www.shopharmony.com/product.asp?i=AS2012WLCI
I mean, the left one there with "ATI MOBILITY RADEONTM 9700, 64 MB DDR"? It looks great both in specs and price with one little thingie that makes me worry a bit - Intel Pentium M Processor 1.50GHz. Do you think it is a good processor? Is it going to be enough for Half-Life 2? Video card is definitely enough but the processor? I have seen somewhere that it is approximately equivalent to 1.5*1.5 = 2.25 GHz Intel P4. Still it is not very impressive. Your opinion?

Second question. Suppose that I will get zx5000 with 2.8 GHz regular Intel P4. How much is it going to be blowing heat? Is it too hot to keep it on laps? I do not want my future to get burned like that. [ ]

 

It looks like a good laptop, however you would have to look into how good they are for customer service and support, along with dependability.

As for if it will burn you I wouldn't think so, but again I have the mobile so somone with a desktop processor in there would have to answer this question.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

Wow, I basically just got the same laptop quikster has, and HP has totally screwed around there line. I bet if you wait a bit... they will through a 9700 in the ZX5000 soon enough. As for the P4 2.8, I would say its fine if they build it like that. Jeez I feel like I got a great deal now. Seroiously... wait, if you can.

HP ZX5000, P4 2.4M, 9600M, 512MG

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Wyrm