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Laptop Upgrade

I

imported_Dimicron

Senior member
This laptop is going to be used for both general web browsing as well as some gaming (EQ2 mostly).

Sony VAIO PCG-GRT170
SiS-based mobo/P4 Northwood-A 2.8GHz/512MB DDR333 (2 x 256MB)/Geforce FX 5600U 64MB Dedicated memory/60GB 4200RPM 2MB Cache Hard Drive/17" LCD

I was thinking about upgrading, but would like opinions. What is better between:

2 x 512MB DDR333
1 x 60GB 5400RPM 16MB Cache
1 x 60GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache

Battery life isn't a concern (I use the battery more as a UPS than actually doing stuff on the road!). Noise is only a slight concern as this laptop has a desktop P4, and not a throttleing/Speedstep enabled mobile chip so the internal heatsink is usually on, and is quite loud. Gameing away from home is the main purpose of this laptop, so what would make it better?
 
For EQ2 you will NEED 1GB.

Trust me, I was running the AX6 with 512MB when playing EQ2 and it sucked, totally sucked. Added another 512MB last night and it was like night and day.

Save yourself some headaches, get the 2x512MB...it was so bad that I lagged up while under water and drowned and then drowned trying to get my shard with 512MB 🙁
 
Get 1x1GB; it is about the same price as 2x512 and you will still have a slot open.

In regards to the HDD's: the 5400RPM will be the better bang for the buck. If money doesn't matter, go 7200RPM; but since money is usually a factor get the 5400RPM. To see the performance benefits of 4200RPM-->5400RPM--7200RPM, check our RPM Guide here:
http://www.laptoplogic.com/resources/guides/35/1/1/
 
I'm sorry...but I just have a realy problem with Sony VAIO...its not a quality issue...its value for your $ issues. Sony just seems to exact a unreasonable premium for the sake of their name.
 
Originally posted by: deathwalker
I'm sorry...but I just have a realy problem with Sony VAIO...its not a quality issue...its value for your $ issues. Sony just seems to exact a unreasonable premium for the sake of their name.
Click to expand...
We're discussing upgrades, not whether or not to buy it. Let's not start a flame fest as in that other thread 😀

In regards to your machine: getting 1x1GB stick is ideal because that way you have another open slot to put more memory in later if you so choose. I wouldn't bother with 2GB right now, unless you want to play something like BF2. Altho with memory as cheap as it is, there hasn't been a better time to buy 🙂

Just understand that in terms of general Windows and most gaming performance, you won't see a big diff in performance between 1GB & 2GB.
 
Originally posted by: deathwalker
I'm sorry...but I just have a realy problem with Sony VAIO...its not a quality issue...its value for your $ issues. Sony just seems to exact a unreasonable premium for the sake of their name.
Click to expand...


I actually agree with you, however when you buy it used from a friend who worked at circuit city when he purchased it awhile ago... it's not as bad a deal as it could've been 🙂
 
I realize this is an old thread but wanted to post an update. Tried a 1GB stick of ram from newegg, gigaram brand (same brand I use in my desktop 🙂 ) but it wouldn't boot up. Not knowing if just the stick I got was DOA or the laptop just didn't like it, I took the easy way out and had newegg swap it for 2 x 512MB sticks of RAM for it. Also got a 5400 RPM 16MB cache 60GB hard drive for it (since cost was an issue). Between those two upgrades it feels like a whole new machine. Thanks to all who gave advice 🙂
 
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