Laptop - CPU and video chipsets guide needed

[oynaz]

I need a new laptop to replace my very old 100 mhz Pentium-based monstrosity.

However, while I know my way pretty good around desktop PCs, I know nothing about the performance of laptop CPUs and video chipset.

Can anyone give me an overview, or post a link to benchmarks on another site?

 

[stevty2889]

Well, just about anything will be faster than your old laptop lol, but anyway..it would help if you could be a LOT more specific about your needs. What are you going to be doing with the laptop? Gaming, encoding, multitasking, or just internet browsing and office applications?

Core Duo is pretty much the best at the moment, laptop version of core 2 duo should be showing up in the next couple of months.

 

[tcsenter]

I need a new laptop to replace my very old 100 mhz Pentium-based monstrosity.

Good news for you is that just about anything manufactured after 2000 will be a huge improvement. lol!

I would avoid graphics by S3/VIA or SIS. They are OK for strictly business/office users and have decent hardware video decoding features, but driver refinement isn't up to par and 3D performance is...ahem...underwhelming. I see a lot of problems reported with external video output to anything but standard aspect CRT monitors, especially displays with widescreen ratios.

Intel GMA 900 and GMA 950 graphics are not a lot better WRT 3D performance, but Intel cannot be accused of having sub-par driver refinement. Although Intel GMA lacks most of the same hardware GPU features as S3/VIA graphics (e.g. no hardware T&L), game compatibility is a lot better and this can only be explained by better driver refinement. I have seen no similar pattern of problems with external video output and support for widescreen displays.

It appears there are still some new entry-level notebooks selling with Intel Extreme II graphics, which is the predecessor to GMA 9xx. Though Extreme II would be better than S3/VIA (or SIS), I would recommend Intel GMA 9xx over them all. There is no price advantage to Extreme II these days, notebooks with Intel GMA 9xx can be found in the same price range.

I highly recommend a notebook that features an Intel PRO 2200BG or 2915ABG wireless adapter. With the latest drivers (v10.5) from Intel, my brother's laptop with Intel PRO 2200BG wireless consistently performs better than three different desktop wireless adapters I have tested on his desktop located in the same room (three feet away from the laptop); TrendNET 'Super G' USB2.0 Wireless Adapter, NetGear WG111T 'Super G' USB2.0 Wireless Adapter, and US Robotics 'Super G' Wireless PCI Adapter with an upgraded 5dBi antenna.

Unlike most other manufacturers of wireless adapters, you can download the latest driver releases straight from Intel, even if the manufacturer of your laptop doesn't update its drivers (and most don't). Good luck getting the latest driver releases from Broadcom or Atheros, they do not release drivers to the public. I seriously wish Intel would release a line of wireless adapters for desktops.

I didn't like the Intel PROset Wireless utility, though, which can be uninstalled leaving Windows to manage wireless connections. The Intel WDM driver allows control over most features, accessed through Device Properties in Device Manager.

BTW, there is a forum category for notebooks.

 

[oynaz]

I totallly missed the notebook category. How embarrasing.

Thanks for your answer, it helped a great deal, but I still have some questions.

The most available video chipset around here (Denmark), seems to be the Intel 900, Intel 950, and ATI X1300. Do you know how they compare to each other, and to the Radeon 9800 Pro in my desktop?

BTW, I will be using it for M$ Office, managing my pictures, and some light gaming (World of Warcraft, and Half-Life 2). I do not need any eye candy turned on in the games, I just need them to be playable.

 

[tcsenter]

The most available video chipset around here (Denmark), seems to be the Intel 900, Intel 950, and ATI X1300. Do you know how they compare to each other, and to the Radeon 9800 Pro in my desktop?

GMA 900 < GMA 950 < X1300 < < < R9800.

There isn't much comparison between a discrete GPU like the R9800 and any current integrated graphics. R9800 would be hugely superior to all the above across the board.

BTW, I will be using it for M$ Office, managing my pictures, and some light gaming (World of Warcraft, and Half-Life 2). I do not need any eye candy turned on in the games, I just need them to be playable.

I recommend not less than Intel GMA 950 but you will be better served by ATI Mobility X1300 if you can afford the premium, or even ATI Xpress 200.

Here is a comparison test (note that Mobility X1300 would perform slightly better than Xpress 200):

ATI Xpress 200 vs. Intel GMA 950

 

[oynaz]

Thankx a lot. I seems like ATI Mobility would suit my needs. Is this set the best for the price?