Just bought a Core Duo notebook - excited!

[therealnickdanger]

I'm going to be replacing my P4 s478 3.0GHz HTPC with this notebook and I'm curious how this will change my computing life.

Dell e1705
Windows Media Center 2005
Intel Core Duo T2300 (1.6GHz)
512MB DDR2-533MHz
60GB 5400 RPM HDD
nVidia GeForce GO 7800
Intel Pro Wireless
Bluetooth
17" 1920x1200 display
8X DVD+-RW DL

After tax and shipping, the total came out to $1125.00 - it was an amazing bargain, I think. I opted out of getting more RAM or a larger HDD since Dell charges about a 200% premium on upgrades. I'll be getting 2GB of DDR2-667 and a 7200RPM HDD off Newegg as soon as I play with the notebook a bit.

This is my first notebook, but more importantly, this is my first true dual-core CPU. What are some of the tricks of the trade for dual core CPUs? Is there any useful software or games that take advantage of them? Computer use for me involves the following:

Music - MP3s mostly, some APE
Movies and videos - all sorts of formats from low-res to HDTV, DVDs "shrunk" to HDD, sometimes compressed to XviD with AutoGK. Constantly using FFDShow along with WMP and MPC... sometimes VLC...
File-sharing - eMule and BitComet
Internet browsing/forums
Gaming - HaloPC, UT2K4, emulation, going to try Auto Assault... maybe Oblivion.

So how will my CPU tackle these? I guess I know that my computer will run everything just fine (except Oblivion, probably), but I'm more curious as to the how. Do dual-core CPUs share the load straight down the middle? Do they automatically assign affinity to one or the other? Are there manual commands to maximize performance of applications? Any Windows XP mods?

I'll probably also get into overclocking both my GPU and CPU... not sure yet. Anyone done this with a Core Duo?

 

[stevty2889]

wow, you got a very very good price on that sytem. It should handle anything you throw at it quite well. Overclocking on the other hand is unlikely being both Dell and a Laptop. Clockgen may work for you, but I wouldn't expect much, and the GPU will probably put out a bit too much heat to handle if you overclock it much.

 

[pcoffman]

Originally posted by: therealnickdanger
DVDs "shrunk" to HDD

Intel CPUs are especially strong running DVDShrink, if that's what you use.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
wow, you got a very very good price on that sytem. It should handle anything you throw at it quite well. Overclocking on the other hand is unlikely being both Dell and a Laptop. Clockgen may work for you, but I wouldn't expect much, and the GPU will probably put out a bit too much heat to handle if you overclock it much.

He probably won't be able to overclock it at all. I have a pretty new Dell lappie and it has no provisions for tweaking whatsoever. One way to attempt to combat heat is to get the very nice Centrino Hardware Control program (Google it)) which allows much more granular control of CPU speeds was. CPU wattage. I recommend it.

Obviously get more RAM.

 

[therealnickdanger]

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
He probably won't be able to overclock it at all. I have a pretty new Dell lappie and it has no provisions for tweaking whatsoever. One way to attempt to combat heat is to get the very nice Centrino Hardware Control program (Google it)) which allows much more granular control of CPU speeds was. CPU wattage. I recommend it.

Thanks, I'll check that program out. I wonder if it would be possible to update the BIOS to something that could be tweaked (without bricking it). I sure hope this is the case since I'm sure a BIOS update will be necessary in order to upgrade to a Merom later.

Originally posted by: DadofamunkyObviously get more RAM.

Haha, yeah, I'm ordering 2GB DDR2-667 off Newegg as soon as I configure the laptop and ensure it is stable. This is my first Dell and I've heard a lot of good and bad about them...

 

[SunnyD]

I'm about to start ordering Latitude D820's for work... and then also ordering Gateway M285 Tablets for work too.