Looking at a laptop...

[Bonesdad]

Here is an HP I spec'd from HP.com...

Operating system FREE Upgrade from Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic to Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)!

Processor AMD Turion(TM) 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-56 (1.8 GHz, 512KB+512KB L2 Cache )

Display 15.4" WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)

Memory FREE Upgrade from 512MB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm) to 1GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)

Graphics Card NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 6150 with Additional Productivty Ports

Personalization FREE Upgrade to HP Imprint Finish + Webcam + Microphone

Networking 802.11b/g WLAN

Hard Drive 80GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive

Primary CD/DVD Drive LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support

Primary Battery High Capacity 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery


Total Cost: $680


This will upgrade my wifes current AMD XP 2500+ system. It will be a desktop replacement for her...spending probably 80% of it's life on the desk hooked up to a 20" LCD and full keyboard. I thought about a SFF system instead, but the mobility of a laptop is something that would be useful on occasion.

I can upgrade the above with a GeForce Go 7200 for another $35, if y'all think it would be worth it. I do occasionally game on this system...wife does not, other than scrabble, solitaire etc.

Is lightscribe all that? I can downgrade and save a few $$ there, but thought it might be fun if it was worth it.

I really don't want to spend more than $700 for this upgrade for her and the above should be quite a boost for her, no?

Any better deals out there? Better deals with equivalent or better computers, that is...

 

[corkyg]

I would opt for an Intel Core 2 Duo processor over the Turion. Intel rules in laptops.

 

[Bonesdad]

Well, going with HP anyway, using a Core 2 Duo puts me well over $800 for a system. Other mfgs have similar setups for less?

 

[Fraggable]

Considering how Vista struggles with 1GB of RAM anyway, I wouldn't plan to do any gaming on that. The 6150 video card is not for gaming, it will run Aero and that's about it.

If you want to run any games, even lighter things like CS:S on low settings, etc. you should go with 2GB and possibly a C2D CPU, and whatever video upgrade they offer, however minimal - especially if you think you're going to be gaming on that 20" LCD.

 

[JustaGeek]

Just get this one:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...m/ccd/productDetail.do

With 2GB of RAM and 160GB Hard Drive.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

a turion is more than enough for mild gaming, why do people think everyone has to get a c2d to play games....the amd should hold up fair enough. but yeah that 6150 isnt much for anything, you'll play chess in windows, thats about all.

edit: i believe anandtech has also stated that the intels use more power in standby/low power mode than the amd's as well.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: corkyg
I would opt for an Intel Core 2 Duo processor over the Turion. Intel rules in laptops.

intel rules in CPUs...

anyway, OP, i have the dv2000. you don't need a C2D. i have a dv2000t (so it has an intel cpu) but i never fully utilize the CPU's processing power so don't worry about the turion processor. do not get the go 7200. it really will give you nothing but less battery life. i have the intel gma950, my friend has the same laptop with a go 7200. i can ask him to test out a couple games and see how it is but i doubt it'll show any noticeable difference compared to the gma950, let alone the go 6150.

i noticed you got the high capacity 6-cell. i haven't found any reviews on it (i haven't looked too hard though) so i don't think anyone really knows how much difference it makes. but seeing how the laptop will be plugged in most of the time, why not settle with the regular 6-cell? it's like $29 cheaper iirc.

that way you could either get a hard drive upgrade or pocket the savings. and idk what you'd be doing with lightscribe

 

[Bonesdad]

This pc will only be used for mild gaming...CS and some other "older" games...probably not much more that I occasionally do on the 2500+ now. I'll be upgrading my desktop with C2D or Q in the next 6 months anyway.

Vista actually struggles with 1GB ram?

 

[Ichigo]

No, everyone is being a bit overzealous in their praise of Intel. The AMD cpu will hold up just fine, as will the 1GB of RAM. Don't expect either GPU to do too well in gaming. I mean, CS:S at low settings, sure, but that's about it. As for the rest, people get caught up sometimes with how well Intel is doing right now. It doesn't make everything else obsolete like that.

 

[Rottie]

I found out the GeForce Go 6150 has Windows Experience Index Base of 3.0 out of 5.9 that is very low!

 

[JustaGeek]

My Radeon Xpress 200 score is 2.0, and it is good enough for the full Aero functionality.

3.0 is actually pretty good for a non-gaming card.

 

[Rottie]

I don't know if GeForce Go 6150 work with Civ4 game?