Intel Duo T2050 vs AMD Turion 64 x2 TL-50

[bald eagle]

Every time I think I've learned something, I come to a forum like this and find out how ignorant I am. My kid is going to college and needs a laptop. She has narrowed it down to 2 choices, an HP and a Toshiba. I would like to know which is the faster/better processor, since it appears that everything else is similar if not exact. From Officedepot.com - Toshiba A105-S4254, T2050 Core Duo Processor, 1.6 GHz, 2 MB L2, 533 MHz FSB. The HP Pavillion DV6110US has an AMD Turion 64 x2 TL-50 processor, 1.6 GHz, 512 KB L2, 1600 MHz FSB

Both have 15.4" screens, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, DVD burners, 802.11 wireless, and 80 - 100 (HP) 5400 RPM hard drives. The Toshiba has 4 USB's vs 2 for HP and weighs 6 lbs vs 6.8.

I'm looking for opinions as well as an education as to why one is better than the other. I already have bought two Toshibas, one HP, and one Lenovo laptops for other family members, and have two Dell Desktops as well. The Emachine desktop was junk, as was a Gateway Laptop that I owned. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[alimoalem]

from what i've searched using the model numbers provided, the two laptops each run for around $900. depending on the situation, she could be getting better laptops at the same price. if you answer the following questions, i think it'll help us give better recommendations:

1. is $900 the budget? or are the prices i found on officedepot.com different than those you saw?
2. has your daughter ever owned a laptop? if so, what size was it? because i have a 14" hp and i feel anything heavier/bigger could possibly constitute as uncomfortable.
3. would word processing, internet use and a possibility of photoshop be the most resource intensive things she'll be doing?
4. will she be getting an extended warranty that would deduct from the given budget?
5. is a dvd burner required or is a cd-rw/dvd player suitable for her needs?
6. do options, such as bluetooth, webcam, etc. matter?

here are some laptops that may work for her listed in no particular order:

IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad R60
Screen: 14.1" XGA TFT (add $25 to total price for 15" screen)
CPU: Core 2 Duo T5500 (1.66GHz)
GPU: integrated graphics
RAM: 1gb DDR2-667 (2x512mb)
HDD: 80GB 5400RPM SATA
Optical: DVD-RW (save $50 dropping down to CD-RW/DVD player)
Fingerprint reader for added security (optional): add $30 to total price
bluetooth (optional): add $29 to total price
Total: $885
source: lenovo.com

HP dv6000t
Screen: 15.4" BrightView upgrade included in price
CPU: Core Duo T2250 (1.6GHz)
GPU: integrated (add nVidia GeForce Go7400 for $50)
RAM: 1gb DDR2 (2x512mb)
HDD: 80GB 5400rpm SATA
Optical: DVD-RW
battery: 12-cell upgrade included in price
microphone included; add $30 for webcam; add $15 for bluetooth
wireless card upgrade included in price
source: hp.com and costco.com (look under the computer tab and select notebooks)

Total: from HP.com - $843AR. from Costco.com - $827AR. a $50 rebate is already deducted from the HP and Costco price. Costco has the same base cost as HP.com for the laptop, but all upgrades are 10% off

HP dv2000t
Screen: 14.1" BrightView upgrade included in price
CPU: Core Duo T2250 (1.6GHz)
GPU: integrated
RAM: 1gb DDR2 (2x512mb)
HDD: 80GB 5400rpm SATA (subtract $33 for 60GB)
Optical: DVD-RW
battery: 12-cell upgrade included in price
microphone included; add $30 for webcam; add $15 for bluetooth
wireless card upgrade included in price

Total: from HP.com $894AR, from Costco.com $864AR ($50 rebate factored into HP and Costco price).
source: hp.com and costco.com (look under the computer tab and select notebooks)

i think the 3 listed notebooks are great. i personally have the HP dv2000t, so i have first hand experience with it. i wish i got the built-in webcam but it's ok. as for the lenovo r60, my dad has a t60 and has had 2 other T-series IBMs before it so i know the thinkpad line is top-notch.

all of these seem to fit your budget and, best of all, are customizable. the HP and Toshiba you listed have preselected parts so you can't add/subtract things you don't need. feel free to go to the sites i customized these on and see if upgrading/downgrading anything would make your daughter happier.

any questions on the recommendations or anything else?

EDIT: Apple has reduced the price on its refurbished MacBooks by $100 if your daughter is interested. the cheapest is running at $849 (only real bad thing is it comes with 2x256mb ram). the cheapest BlackBook (black version of the MacBook) is $999. keep in mind, they are refurbished, but they come with a standard 1 year limited warranty

 

[KuJoe]

From my personal experience, HP has great customer support and their warranty service is great. When the laptops start to get close in performance, start looking at warranties and unless your daughter is a computer whiz then a warranty is a life saver for a college student (especially when you have to ship it back to the company and have to get it back fast).

 

[bald eagle]

The price for the HP is $700 after rebates, the Toshiba $850, although it not on sale yet. I would prefer to remain under $900 and closer to $700 if possible.
The kid has never owned a laptop, but will live in a dorm at a small school, so she will not be carrying the laptop. A 14.1 would be OK, but she is going to do all schoolwork for the next 4 years on this computer so I don't want her to struggle with seeing. No warranty, I am not a big believer in them as not one has ever worked for me in any way. (and Cnet, consumer reports agrees). Does not have to burn DVD's. Bluetooth not necessary, webcam would be a plus though. That can be added aftermarket cheap enough though. Thanks for your help, and what is you opinion on the processors?

 

[bald eagle]

Also failed to mention that my daughter picked the laptop based on appearance. It is my job to get the right stuff in side. I took her there because they had 20 laptops displayed and told her to pick one.
The DV6000t appears to be equipped the same as the 6110, except that it has Intel instead of AMD processor. It is also $130 more.
I have a Lenovo laptop myself, and I consider it OK only.
To me it appears that the rebates make a big difference in the cost of these laptops. I will look at the HP site and configure something, just to see what it will look like vs. Office depot.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Great post alimoalem!

In terms of just the processors, it is a tossup at that point. I think the Core Duo will have better battery life, but performance will be a tossup overall.

 

[bald eagle]

So no difference between the two? I had read that AMD was kicking the butts of Intel, but that was before they came out with duo processors. Then I read that Intel was back to dominance. If the processors are the same then there isn't that much difference between the two, and I should go with the cheaper price.

 

[KuJoe]

If she's not going to be taking it with her anywhere then battery life shouldn't be a big deal right? I would just go to HP's website and pay the extra money for the TL-52 or (for $125 more) the TL-60.

 

[bald eagle]

Which only brings more questions. What is the difference between a core duo processor (T2050), and a core 2 duo processor (T5500)? I didn't see the TL60 when I was building it on HP. so I must be on a different page as you.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: bald eagle
Which only brings more questions. What is the difference between a core duo processor (T2050), and a core 2 duo processor (T5500)? I didn't see the TL60 when I was building it on HP. so I must be on a different page as you.

core T2050 is 1.6GHz vs the T5500's 1.66GHz (i think). in addition, core 2 duo is roughly 5-10% faster in benchmarks than core duo, similarly clocked. something that may actually matter is that core 2 duo is 64-bit while core duo is simply a 32-bit processor. if a 64-bit processor is a must, then core 2 duo is the way to go. if the two are similarly priced, definitely go with core 2 duo.

btw, i'm not sure i stated this in my first post or not but the HP would be a much better buy. at $150 cheaper and pretty evenly spec'ed, it's a nobrainer. plus, i actually like the HP's appearance more than the Toshiba's.

 

[bald eagle]

Now that is an answer I was looking for If the processors are equal, then I would save the money. As of today though, the Toshiba is on sale for the same price. It all comes down to which processor is better.
T2050 Core Duo Processor, 1.6 GHz, 2 MB L2, 533 MHz FSB or the AMD Turion 64 x2 TL-50 processor, 1.6 GHz, 512 KB L2, 1600 MHz FSB? Is one significantly faster than the other?

 

[bald eagle]

Close the thread, and thanks for your help. I bought the Toshiba. $699 after rebates.