Compal CL56 Centrino/Radeon 9700/SXGA+Barebone

[Tokar]

Im looking into getting this for my brother for college.
It recently received the PC Mag Editors Choice.

I have found 6 places that offer this machine for similar prices, a price which is in range.
MWave
VelocityMicro
R and J Tech
GenTech
Discount Laptops
PowerNotebooks

PowerNotebooks, GenTech and Discount Laptops offers (configured to my specifications):
1.5 GHz Dothan, 512MB PC2700 RAM, 60GB 7200 RPM HD, 24xCDRW/8xDVD combo drive, b/g wireless, and a free carrying case (No OS).
After shipping costs, PowerNotebooks runs $1633.85 with 2 year warranty
After shipping costs, Discount Laptops runs $1604.49 with 2 year warranty
Afer install cost of $29 and free shipping, GenTech runs $1587.00 with 1 year warranty

RJTech had the same specs, except configured with a 1.6 GHz Dothan. The price over there was $1617.00 with 1 year warranty.

Velocity Micro base price is $1579 shipped with a 1.7 Dothan, a 5400RPM 60GB HD, and 512MB of PC2100 RAM with 1 year warranty. Upgrading to a 7200 RPM 60GB drive puts it out of my price range (+$125).

MWave is an interesting one...
1.7 Dothan, b/g wireless, 24xCDRW/8xDVD.
Then i can configure the following:
1024MB of DDR RAM...it doesnt say if its PC2100 or PC2700.
80GB 5400RPM drive (no option for 60GB 7200).
And it comes out to $1590.70 shipped.
I dont know the warranty as it doesnt list it.

All the companies have very good reseller ratings. MWave is a little lower, but there are over 1200 reviews...so...




From all those, which would any of you recommend?

Is there a considerable difference in speed/performance between 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 Dothan Centrinos?
Is there a considerable difference in speed/performance between 5400 RPM and 7200 RPM models of hard drives?
I know about the difference between PC2100 and PC2700 RAM...but on a laptop is that a big difference?

 

[xcrunner51]

i'm not sure why some use different ram or if it matters. The P-m's use a native 400mhz fsb (100 quad pumped) but can use pc2100 by way of dividers. The new T42's use pc2700 ram despite having no changes. So it depends on if that chipset supports dividers for pc2700 or not, otherwise getting pc2700 is pointless/moot

 

[jkresh]

of the 3 you listed the 7200rpm drive will msot likely make the biggest difference, with processor second and memory 3rd.

 

[imported_jon1003]

Just a suggestion to make your choices harder

Asus M6N barebone line whitebox ~882 (15.1" XGA/SXGA+ & 15.4" WXGA/WSXGA+ flavors)(Radeon 9700)
Dothan 1.7 ~295
60g 7200rpm ~182
512 mem pc333 ~98
DVD cd combo ~80
B/G pro 2200 ~35
free case
----------------------------
$1572 + OS

 

[andyman7]

i have the cl56 and i got it from discountlaptops
i can recommend it wholeheartedly

 

[Tokar]

Originally posted by: jon1003
Just a suggestion to make your choices harder

Asus M6N barebone line whitebox ~882 (15.1" XGA/SXGA+ & 15.4" WXGA/WSXGA+ flavors)(Radeon 9700)
Dothan 1.7 ~295
60g 7200rpm ~182
512 mem pc333 ~98
DVD cd combo ~80
B/G pro 2200 ~35
free case
----------------------------
$1572 + OS

the radeon though, its 64MB...
btw...where did you find that one?

mwave doesnt have it
velocitymicro doesnt have it
RJtech has it, but not for that price
GenTech has it, but not for that price
powernotebooks has it, but for $300 more for those specs
Discount laptops has it, but with a Radeon 9600.