Is this a good processor? for a student?

[deepakvrao]

I am buying a gift for a 17 yr old about to start engineering college.

Would this satisfy basic needs?

Mobile AMD Sempron? processor 3000+ (1.8GHz) with 128 KB of L2 cache, AMD PowerNow!? technology, and AMD HyperTransport? technology support

Chipset: SiSM760GX

The rest of the specs as follows
Operating system


Linux

Platform


Mobile AMD Sempron? processor 3000+ (1.8GHz) with 128 KB of L2 cache, AMD PowerNow!? technology, and AMD HyperTransport? technology support

Chipset: SiSM760GX

WLAN: integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED? solution, supporting Acer SignalUp technology

Memory


256 MB of DDR333 memory, upgradeable to 2 GB using two soDIMM modules

Display


15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite color TFT LCD, 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, supporting simultaneous multi-window viewing

16.7 million colors

Graphics


Integrated 3D AGP graphics with up to 128 MB of shared memory (system memory: 512 MB or higher)

Integrated 3D AGP graphics with up to 64 MB of shared memory (system memory: 256 MB)

Microsoft® DirectX® 8.0 support

Dual independent display support

External resolution/refresh rate:

* 2048 x 1536: 75/60 Hz
* 1600 x 1200: 120/100/85/75/60 Hz
* 1400 x 1050: 60 Hz
* 1280 x 1024: 160/120/100/85/75/60 Hz
* 1024 x 768: 200/160/120/100/85/75/60 Hz
* 800 x 600: 200/160/120/100/85/75/60 Hz

Audio


Audio system with two built-in speakers

Built-in microphone

MS Sound compatible

Storage


60 GB ATA/100 hard disk drive

Optical media drive


* 8X DVD-Dual double-layer drive

Disk performance compatibility:

* 8X DVD-Dual double-layer drive

o Read: 24X CD-ROM, 8X DVD-ROM, 8X DVD-R, 4X DVD-RW, 8X DVD+R, 4X DVD+RW, 2.4X DL DVD+R
o Write: 24X CD-R, 10X CD-RW, 8X DVD-R, 4X DVD-RW, 8X DVD+R, 4X DVD+RW, 2.4X DL DVD+R

Communication


Modem: 56K ITU V.92; Wake-on-Ring ready

LAN: Fast Ethernet; Wake-on-LAN ready

WLAN: integrated 802.11b/g1 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED? solution, supporting Acer SignalUp technology

Size and weight


364 (W) x 279 (D) x 33.9/38.9 (H) mm

(14.3 x 11 x 1.3/1.5 inches)

2.8 kg (6.17 lbs.)

Power


ACPI 1.0b power management standard: supports Standby and Hibernation power-saving modes

8-cell 4400 mAH Li-ion battery pack

* Upto 2.25 hrs battery life
* 2.5-hour quick-charge, 3.5-hour charge-in-use

65 W AC adapter

Special keys and controls


88-/89-key keyboard, inverted "T" cursor layout with international language support; 2.7 mm (minimum) key travel

Touchpad with 4-way integrated scroll button

12 function keys, four cursor keys, two Windows® keys, hotkey controls, embedded numeric keypad

Four easy-launch buttons: Internet browser, email with LED, Acer Empowering Key and user-programmable button

WLAN LED-button

I/O ports


Three USB 2.0 ports

External display (VGA) port

Type II PC Card slot

Ethernet (RJ-45) port

Modem (RJ-11) port

Microphone/line-in jack

Headphones/speaker/line-out port

DC-in jack for AC adapter

 

[edmundoab]

sempron? hmm, never like the idea of nerfed processors.
but if its a notebook to just do some word processing, excel and some surfing/ programming,
should be kewl

should u need to have engineering software installed.. do get a better processor.
matlab or some cad programs can be heavy

 

[drum]

that will work just fine

 

[IeraseU]

Everything looks good, but I would love 512mb of ram instead of 256.

 

[deepakvrao]

Originally posted by: IeraseU
Everything looks good, but I would love 512mb of ram instead of 256.

That can be arranged. I'll get that upgrade

 

[deepakvrao]

Originally posted by: edmundoab
sempron? hmm, never like the idea of nerfed processors.

Whats a 'nerfed' processor?

but if its a notebook to just do some word processing, excel and some surfing/ programming,
should be kewl

should u need to have engineering software installed.. do get a better processor.
matlab or some cad programs can be heavy