WhichPresario system should I buy?R3000z or R3000T

R3000Z is:
Processor AMD Athlon(TM) 64 3200+ 2.00 GHz edit
Operating System Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home edit
Memory 256MB DDR SDRAM (1x256MB) edit
Hard Drive 40 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive edit
Primary CD/DVD Drive DVD/CDRW Combo Drive edit
Networking Built in 56K Modem+10/100 LAN edit
Display Free Upgrade from 15" XGA to 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) edit
Graphics Card 64MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) 4 440 Go +1394 & 5-in-1 edit
Productivity Software Microsoft(R) Works/Money edit
Primary Battery 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery edit



R3000t is:
the same except:

Pentium 4 2.8 GHz and ATI Mobility™ Radeon™ 9000 IGP graphics card.


They are both about the same price. I want the one that will give me better performance and graphics (I love games!). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Well, for game play, getting a unit with dedicated graphics memory will be the better choice (R3000Z). The R3000T has the IPG chipset which shares the system memory with video memory. Having 64MB of shared video memory means you only have 192MB of system memory that is usable for programs/game play. Also the IPG it will take computing power away from the CPU and allocate it to the video chipset/memory. So, from the 2 units you listed, I'd recommed the R3000Z, but I would also recommed getting 512MB of memory as well. You don't have to buy from HP, you can get the memory after market, might be cheaper.

-Vb-

 

You can also, get an R3000T dedicated with the radeon 9200 or 9600

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

 

Is the 64MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) 4 440 Go +1394 & 5-in-1 card very good? Will it be able to run Half Life 2 when it comes out? That's mainly what I am concerned with! Thanks!

 

I doubt very much that that card will handle HL2 you will want/need a 9600 or better esp. if you want to run it with any kind of extras turned on.

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

 

I agree, I'd definately recommend the 9600 graphics chip or higher if you have that option. Going for a slower/obsolete chip is not worth it, especially since you're going to play top of the line DirectX 9 games. Pay a bit now so you don't have to pay a whole LOT more later when you find out that the graphics chip won't/can't support the new games.

-Vb-