Laptop advice (mild gaming)

[Tripwire7]

I'm looking to get my first laptop. For a few reasons, I'm probably going to be getting a Dell Studio 17. I'll be using this for general computer use, travel, and some gaming.

The Dell Studio series doesn't offer high end mobile video cards, but they have some mid-range stuff. I've put two configurations through that come out to be within $5 of each other. The biggest differences are as follows:

System 1: Intel i5-450M 2.4GHz processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 1GB video

System 2: Intel i7-720QM Quad Core Processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 560v 1GB video

I'm having a hard time finding any benchmarks that compare the two video cards or the two processors. The processor and video card in System 1 are newer and seem to take less power. I'm pretty sure that the 5650 is going to be a little faster than the 560v. However, I really have no comparison at all between the two processors. Any help or advice on which would be the better way to go?

Thanks!

 

[Brainonska511]

Don't get a 17" if you're going to do any traveling. Impossible to use on a plane and heavy to carry around.

If you're looking to play games on the go or have a smaller platform, take a look at the Acer TimelineX 4820TG - some models come with a 5650 graphics card (switchable with Intel graphics for extended battery life) and it's only 14".

The 5650 is a little faster than the 560v.
Graphics benchmark list: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

The i7 is going to be faster than the i5, but the TDP of the i7 quad core is 45W compared to the 35W TDP of the i5. (Please note that the TDP numbers of the i* series includes the memory controller and graphics controller. Previous generations had these on the north bridge and were not included in those TDP numbers. To get an accurate picture of the TDP between the last generation C2D processors and the newest i* systems, you'd need to look at the entire platform's TDP.)

Processor benchmark list: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html

 

[CurseTheSky]

Budget?

The HP Envy 14 has excellent build quality and can be had with an i5-450M, 4GB DDR3, HD 5650, and 1600x900 screen (EXCELLENT colors, contrast, and brightness) for $1100-1150 or so.

 

[Tripwire7]

Thanks for the answers. As mentioned, I'm probably going to stick with a Dell for a few reasons. I'm also pretty much set on a 17". I see probably 90% of the use of this laptop being on a desk in a hotel or a similar setting at home. Both those Dells mentioned come in around $1450, but that's with accessories like a nice backpack and a 1080p screen.

Those links are good, as I hadn't found that section of netbookcheck.com. That said, the i5-450M and the 5650 are both pretty short of benchmarks. I did find some slightly faster models of the i5 and could compare them though. The i7 quad is faster by a pretty good margin.

One last question, I was planning on going with the 9 cell Dell battery, but I've read that it sticks out the bottom. Does anyone have any direct experience on how obtrusive this is?