About to buy a 17" Laptop... help!

[palindrome]

I'm looking for a new laptop and I don't know what to look for... I'm mainly a desktop guy and I'm really fluent in those, but not as much in notebooks. So, I guess what my question is, what notebooks should I be looking at? Here's what I want:

- dedicated GPU (maybe 7600 Go?)
- core 2 duo cpu or able to replace with a core 2 duo cpu
- 17" screen (1600x1050 or better res.)
- dvd burner
- decent battery
- decent reliability

I'm not too worried about ram, i can replace that as needed. But I don't really know where to look. Also, I don't know if its possible to upgrade core duo to core 2 duo, etc.

So, a short lesson in laptops would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TheStu]

Ok, generally, for most laptops, unless you put together a barebones machine, you cannot change out the processor.

Define decent battery. I would define it as 3 hours or more on a charge, with wireless on, and actively using the machine. To get that on a 17" laptop with a 7600Go or better card is asking a bit much.

Again with decent reliability. If you redefine it as build quality then we are talking, but otherwise reliability is too broad, and can include things like the OS, which are not generally within the purview of the manufacturer (Apple excluded obviously).

Why are you insistent upon the 17" screen? You can get that res (1680*1050 is the actual value) on a 15".

Most of the machines you will get right now will be Core 2. There are a few Turion X2s out there, but as of this writing, the Core 2 is the mobile king.

Ok, that about covers it. Got any more questions or things that you are looking for?

 

[huynhc]

how much are you looking to spend?

 

[fralexandr]

how bout something like this?
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=2022698&enterthread=y

core duo and core 2 duo aren't too different performance wise, core duo is generally about 0-10% slower, and for that price, i don't think you can find anything better. most laptops with 7600 gos are 1100$ and up, although there is a 400$ rebate on it :S.
nvm looks like the rebates dead atm...
Alot of people seem to like the ASUS offerings, but i don't think they have a 17" with a geforce go 7600. Do you really want 17"? alot of people think 15" and 14" are plenty big enough. 17" isn't gonna be very movable. So unless your gonna replace a desktop with it i wouldn't suggest it.

 

[palindrome]

I like 17" because I don't travel out of the house with it much... Plus, it fits me better, I'm 6'3" ~220... lol.

So are core duo and core 2 duo able to be swapped, or are they soldered on the mobo?

Ultimately, I'm looking for something at or around $1000

 

[Fraggable]

Originally posted by: palindrome
I like 17" because I don't travel out of the house with it much... Plus, it fits me better, I'm 6'3" ~220... lol.

So are core duo and core 2 duo able to be swapped, or are they soldered on the mobo?

Ultimately, I'm looking for something at or around $1000

Good luck finding that out. The manufacturer will even lie to you outright and tell you it's soldered if they would rather you weren't messing around in there. HP did that to me.

It really depends on the BIOS for the system. Core duo's and Core 2's use the same socket, so if it is a socket CPU and you find a BIOS change file saying that a version supports Core 2's, then there's a pretty good chance it will work fine.

 

[Brainonska511]

As long as you don't get a Santa Rosa model (Intel Mobile Chipset 965), you can swap a Core 2 Duo for the Core Duo inside. There also must be the necessary BIOS and hopefully the chip isn't soldered to the board, but that is most likely to be found only in the thinest notebooks (so they can save a little width by removing the socket).

 

[fralexandr]

looks like the deal's back on if your still looking for a 17"
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=2022698&enterthread=y

 

[palindrome]

bought the 9207 from compusa on Sunday. Even barebones can't touch that deal.... Anyone know if this Core Duo CPU can be swapped for a Core 2 Duo?

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: palindrome
bought the 9207 from compusa on Sunday. Even barebones can't touch that deal.... Anyone know if this Core Duo CPU can be swapped for a Core 2 Duo?

Yes you can, just make sure you have the latest BIOS to ensure compatibility.

 

[palindrome]

zweet

 

[fralexandr]

aw the old links don't seem to work anymore stupid forum changes