dv6118eu or dv6115ea? (AMD Turion 64 X2 vs Intel Core Duo)

I posted a What Notebook Should I Buy? question on http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=89492
I got advised a HP because of good Linux support. They also suggested I look for Intel Core Duo. But this kind of limits my options though since I think a dedicated graphics card is important too and I only have a small budget (1000 Euro).

What do you think is more important? A Core Duo processor or a dedicated graphics card? And is there a big difference between Core Duo and Core 2 Duo? Some reviews say there is a substantial difference, others say Core 2 Duo is only a little bit better.

The HP dv6118eu for example looks good, but has a AMD Turion 64 X2 porcessor. It does have NVIDIA GeForce Go 7200 graphics card though. I could buy it for 899 Euro, so thats under my budget.

The HP dv6115ea on the other hand has an Intel Core Duo Processor T2050. But it has only an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 integrated graphics processor. This costs 999 Euro, which is the maximum I can spend.

So which one would be a better choice?

Or is the difference betwee Intel and AMD dual cores and between integrated and dedicated graphics to big and should I wait till I have enough money to buy a Core Duo with dedicated graphics, like the dv5285ea?

Before anyone suggests the dv6000t: it's is not an option for me, since it is only sold in the US and I live in Europe.

 

Some info for you.

(Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 places right at the BOTTOM btw)

Mobile Graphics Cards - Benchmark List

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html


The Mobile Graphics Card Info Page

http://forum.notebookreview.com/show....php?p=1246649


Upgrading a Graphics Card?
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=41454

Notebook Video Graphics Card Guide 2006
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=65548


PS: There are internet vendors that SHIP WORLDWIDE.... just a thought...

You might want to consider what I just bought, vendor within this thread I believe ships worldwide, and the GPU (the video card) is better than that 950.

http://www.notebookforums.com/thread176205.html

I swapped out the hd for a 120gig...

$500 after rebate... normal price $975

Note that they have other models as well.

Consider though on any machine if you're spending allot of money, now is really not the time to buy with the "next generation Santa Rosa machines about ready to come out.

(Translation, don't spend allot of money... and I'd consider a "Business Class" laptop over a "consumer" model)

.

 

Another thought... on this board somewhere was a post about one of the HP Business class notebooks that had if memory serves me correctly a decent gpu.... at some kind of mark-down price... the story being a big company had ordered a bunch, cancelled the order... the machines did NOT have a "fingerprint" reader... (All other "normal" versions of that model having a fingerprint reader)..

Vendors name was something like Aramuos, or something like that I think...

So the machines were marked down.

PS: How much is 899 Euro? in US Dollars? I'm thinking that was right around the price point of those marked down machines.

.

.

 

nVidia has been very supportive of Linux, so the dv6118eu with its nVidia GPU and chipset is a very good choice. Its Turion X2 CPU can also run 64-bit Linux (I've been running 64-bit Fedora Core since FC2) while the Core Duo can't (you'd need the more expensive Core2Duo). Definitely get the dv6118eu.

 

.


Ah... here it is:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=86789&highlight=WeAreNotAlone

http://www.amuras.com/prodDetail.asp?PartNumber=J96048

Here's the spec's in case anyone's wondering:

Vendor Name HEWLETT PACKARD - NOTEBOOKS
Part Number J96048
Vendor Part Number RE798US#ABA
Description NC8430: DUO 2.0GHZ 1GB
AUX Description DVD/CDRW 80GB BT WL 15.4WSXGA
Media SYST
CPU NOTEBK
Unit Price, $.$$ 1299.00
Weight, lb. 6
UPC
More Details:
AVAILABILITY: IN STOCK - 24ps

HP'S IMAGES

COMPUTERS ARE BRAND NEW, IN A FACTORY (HP) SEALED BOXES, WITH 3 YEARS HP' WARRANTY.

Designed for professionals who take their tools as seriously as their work, the powerful HP Compaq nc8430 Notebook PC combines cutting-edge mobile computing technologies, high-end graphics, and high-resolution displays into a thin and light package.

Dimensions (WxDxH):
14.1 in x 10.2 in x 1.1 in

Weight 6 lbs

Platform Technology:
Intel Centrino Duo

Built-in Devices:
Stereo speakers, wireless LAN antenna, Bluetooth antenna

Embedded Security:
Trusted Platform Module (TPM 1.2) Security Chip , SmartCard reader

Processor:
Intel Core Duo T2500 / 2 GHz ( Dual-Core )
Cache Memory 2 MB - L2 cache

RAM:
1 GB (1 1 gig dimm installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - 667 MHz

Card Reader Yes

Hard Drive:
80 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 7200 rpm

Optical Storage:
CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo - integrated

Display:
15.4" TFT active matrix 1680 x 1050 ( WSXGA+ )

Graphics Controller:
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 - 256 MB

Audio Output: Sound card

Telecom Fax / modem - MDC - 56 Kbps

Networking:
Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
Wireless NIC Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG

Input Device:
Keyboard, touchpad, pointing stick

Power AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )

Battery Lithium ion
Run Time (Up To) 4 hour(s)

Operating System:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Manufacturer Warranty: 3 years

Condition: New & Sealed