Santa Rosa - worth the wait?

I ordered a T60p a weeks ago (03/07/07) and configured it to be a high end model that would last me about 2-3 years. The thing is, with this new Santa Rose platform, I dont know if I want to cancel my current order and wait a month or more to order a new laptop with the new platform or not. There are some things that would affect my decision: the price of the newer laptop with the same spec as my current, compatibility with apps/programs (drivers and stuff), how much of an advantage do I really get with the new platform, and it seems like new graphics card will be out for the Santa Rose (Nivida GeForce Go 8600, 8400, and 8300) and how long will it take for them to be available to buy. Im mostly using this for school, taking notes and stuff, but I also play some games that require more graphics power like Oblivion and later on probably DirectX 10 games. Is it worth the wait?

Specs on current laptop:
screen: 14.1" TFT
processor: T7600 (2.33 GHz)
memory: 2GB SODIMM 200-pin DDR2 (667MHz)
OS: Windows XP Pro
Hard Drive: 100 GB, 7200 RPM
CD-Drive: 8x Dual Layer DVD/CD
Wireless: Lenovo Thinkpad 11 A/B/G/N PCI Adaptor
Graphics: ATI FireGL v5250 256MB

Some stuff I was reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrino

 

It depends on you needs. When Santa Rosa does come out, it will be quite expensive for the first few weeks. As supply increases, the price will get lower, but it will a slow process. Also, higher end processors will be very expensive, and if you want a top of the line notebook, like the one you have stated in your post, then it won't be cheap.

If you are not doing anything really processor intensive, then I wouldn't consider a T7600. It is expensive, and the performance difference will be pratically nothing if you are doing something really processor dependant. The same can be said for the Santa Rosa processors. When Santa Rosa does release, it won't be instantly available. It will take a few weeks before manufacturers will have notebooks that support it. Dell will most likely be one of the first.

DX10 graphics cards are a different matter, although they do have some consideration, similar to Santa Rosa. The first being availablity. Not many notebooks will support the new cards from the very beginning. It will take time before the majority of manufacturers have them in their notebooks. Also, unless you really need the added benefit of DX10 cards, there not really worth waiting for.

The notebook you configured at the moment looks very good. Form the tasks you have mentioned, I don't think you will benefit all that much from getting Santa Rosa factoring in the extra time you will have to wait for Santa Rosa. If you can wait, then you will end up with a more futureproofed system, but not necessarily a faster one.

 

Are you using CAD? that's the main reason to get a FireGL notebook. Umm santa rosa will not be a huge performance increase, the biggest thing for it is a FSB increase and better (much) integrated graphics. If you don't need the IG then its hardly worth the wait. That and well there is a new socket if you are thinking about pulling the CPU in the notebook yourself and changing it or something. BTW this notebook is overkill for taking notes.

 

It's never a good idea to buy into the first round of a new cpu. In a year they will have balanced the components to really make the systems hum and in two years the price will hit a sweet spot. By then, something new will be on the horizon.

 

It's not worth the wait though imo. The bump in FSB speed to 800Mhz (you can overclock ?) and the draft n (when it finalises, buy an external wireless with n support).