Laptop CPU confusion, recommendation....

[coomarlin]

Looking to get a lowcost laptop ~$450 or less. I haven't really kept up with mobile cpu tech and I'm confused. Looking at Bestbuys site there seem to be dozens of CPU configs. I notice a lot of lower cost laptop use an intel Pentium B940 cpu. Apparently this is a new CPU. Is this the equivalant of the celeron CPU? How would a 2ghz B940 this compare to a Core i3 370 cpu clocked at 2.4ghz? I read something about a new AMD laptop processor being the best band for the buck but I can't seem to find anything available.

I'm not expecting a hotrod in the $400 range, but would at least be able to get the best bang for my buck.

This were a few I noticed at Bestbuys website:
Toshiba - Satellite Laptop / Intel® Pentium® Processor B940 / 15.6" Display / 4GB Memory / 320GB Hard Drive $379
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+...&skuId=2833778

HP - Pavilion Laptop / Intel® Pentium® Processor B940 / 14" Display / 4GB Memory / 320GB Memory $349
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pav...&skuId=2753496

Gateway - Laptop / Intel® Core™ i3 Processor 2.4ghz/ 15.6" Display / 3GB Memory / 320GB Hard Drive $379
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gateway+...&skuId=2804985

Any better deals out there? What processor should I be looking for?

 

[corkyg]

The B940 is one of the new Sandybridge mobile processors being fielded by Intel. There are some comparisons out there, but the consensus seems to say that the I3 is about 10% faster.

http://www.reviewspecs.com/846/intel-will-launch-nine-new-mobile-processors.html

 

[Maverick6969]

The B940 is one of the new Sandybridge mobile processors being fielded by Intel. There are some comparisons out there, but the consensus seems to say that the I3 is about 10% faster.

http://www.reviewspecs.com/846/intel-will-launch-nine-new-mobile-processors.html

That just silly on Intel's part to offer a new CPU within their lineup that is within a 10% differential than the core i3. Seriously what's the point?

If they're going to offer a CPU that's so similar the i3, they had better drop the prices on it -- enough so that buying it over a similarly configured i3 is compelling. The prices that the OP has linked to above all have the same price within a $30 spread.

 

[corkyg]

That just silly on Intel's part to offer a new CPU within their lineup that is within a 10% differential than the core i3. Seriously what's the point?

My thought also. Maybe it will eventually replace the I3 - but if given the choice, I would buy the I3 if it was within my budgedt range.

 

[gsaldivar]

Try to get something based on Intel Core i3:

Intel Core i3/i5/i7 > Core 2 Duo > Pentium / Dual-Pentium > Celeron > Atom

 

[OS]

the newer pentium is probably better, if nothing else because it's sandy bridge based with HD3000 graphics

 

[coomarlin]

Sounds like the B940 is reasonably close in performance to the i3 and is based on the newest sandybridge. Since the HP is the lightest of the 3 and has the 14" monitor rather than the bulkier 15.6" I may just get it. It's also the cheapest. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't as slow as a celeron or low end AMD mobile processor.