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    X61 v X300 - noticeable difference in processing power?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Big-O, Jun 24, 2008.

  1. Big-O

    Big-O Notebook Guru

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    All - I'm debating between a X61 and an X300 for business school.

    I'm wanting about 2-3 years of useful life from the laptop, and I'm concerned that my processor won't cut it.

    The X61 has a T7500 processor (2.20GHz), whereas the X300 has SL7100 processor (1.20GHz)...

    If I put XP into both of them, and the same amount of RAM (4gb), will I notice a big difference in processing abilities? I know the X300's SSD might help speed up things a bit more.

    Thoughts?
     
    Big-O, Jun 24, 2008
    #1
  2. mgslegrand

    mgslegrand Notebook Geek

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    You won't notice it much if you don't run processor-intensive applications. But you'll definitely notice it the second you start using more demanding programs.
     
    mgslegrand, Jun 24, 2008
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  3. Big-O

    Big-O Notebook Guru

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    Ready to see how big of a n00b I am?

    What's an example of a processor intensive application? Excel calculations? Photoshop? iTunes encoding?


     
    Big-O, Jun 24, 2008
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  4. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    XP can only use 3GB of memory no matter how much you put in there.

    It depends on what you are doing. Light photo editing probably won't be a big difference. Audio encoding is will be faster on the X61, but it's not like it won't work on the X300. It'll just be a bit slower.
     
    ZaZ, Jun 24, 2008
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  5. Ethyriel

    Ethyriel Notebook Deity

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    Well, technically XP can address the full 4GB. It's just that devices are addressed using memory addresses, and anything like a video card with it's own dedicated memory will eat into that 4GB limit. With something like an X series, which has integrated video, you can actually control how much VRAM is available, so you don't lose nearly as much as something like a 512MB GeForce card. On the other hand, you're going to lose some system memory for VRAM regardless, so if you stick with 3GB you'll have even less memory available than if it ate away from the 4GB.

    The other good part about getting 4GB is that you can run dual channels, which IS beneficial.

    But honestly, just get Vista Business 64bit and turn off Aero.
     
    Ethyriel, Jun 24, 2008
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  6. Big-O

    Big-O Notebook Guru

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    Why Business and not the others? And why 64 bit?

    I'm thinking I really want XP...
     
    Big-O, Jun 25, 2008
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  7. Ethyriel

    Ethyriel Notebook Deity

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    64 bit so you can absolutely address the full 4GB of memory.
    Vista because XP 64 bit never really caught on, and you may even have problems with drivers for the built in components.

    Business because that's what Lenovo offers in 64 bit, otherwise you'd have to buy another OS on top of what Lenovo ships. Home Premium might be more fitting, but Lenovo isn't offering it on their website.
     
    Ethyriel, Jun 25, 2008
    #7