Need a mid range laptop

[Svnla]

CPU: C2D T7xxx
RAM: 2GB
HD: 160GB or larger
Optical: DVD/CD burner combo
Display: 15.4 WS screen 1280x800
Graphics: Nvidia 8400M GS
OS: Vista Home Premium

This computer will be use for office apps, internet, finance stuffs, and some moderate games.

Is this a decent choice or anyting I need to change or any suggestions? TIA.

Here is another one I saw about 2 weeks ago.

I saw an ad at our local CC for a closeout Gateway laptop with a $650 plus sales tax.

Specs:

Core 2 Duo 5250
2 GB of RAM
160 GB HD
15.4" WS screen
Vista Home Premium
Not sure it is intergrated graphic or not. I think it is integrated.

Is this a good price?

Should I wait for better deal? Anything new (hardware speaking) coming down the pipeline? I hate to buy obsolete parts.

Can someone tell me if the AMD chip is good for laptop? And what are their order of power? (For example, Intel mobil chip = 7000 series, then 5000 series and so on)

I would order it right away if the CPU was 7000 series. And I will mostly use the laptop for office works, internet, watch DVD, play some casual games but not heavy 3D gaming.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Sadly all new laptops even brand new ones are obsolete. And for what you want to do you do not need the newest thing, also the newest laptop technology is going to cost you more then $1000.

The first laptop you listed seems fine for what you want to do. Although with a 15.4" screen you are going to want a highe resolution other then 1280x800, otherwise go for a smaller screen.

 

[CatchPhrase]

Laptops are crap for games. Just custom build your own pc if you want games.
Gateway is the worst kind of laptop.
Get a toshiba or hp.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: CatchPhrase
Laptops are crap for games. Just custom build your own pc if you want games.
Gateway is the worst kind of laptop.
Get a toshiba or hp.

CatchPhrase - If you had read his post he had stated he doesn't intend to do any heavy 3D gaming, and I'd imagine he wants a laptop for portability, not an uber PC gaming. Also, Every company has their faulty products, there is no need to troll on Gateway with just a blanket statement like that.



OP- I suggest you look at Dell first. Usually they offer coupons discounting their laptops when configured to a certain price. You should be able to find a laptop with those specs for well less than $1000 through any promotion or coupon. I also suggest looking at HP and Asus as they offer quality laptops for the price as well.

Here are some sub $1000 Asus Laptops on newegg (Although they only offer AMD cpu's in this range, but the Graphics cards even out the deal).

I was also able to configure a Dell notebook with your specs for under one grand (Though they only offer XP on the 1520 series it seems now).

Good luck on your purchase!

 

[accguy9009]

Check out the Dell laptops. You can't do better than a Dell.

 

[fffblackmage]

i just bought a dell inspiron 1520 less than a month ago... specs are:

T7500 (2.2GHz 800MHz fsb 4MB L2 Cache)
1GB ram (i spent $40 upgrading to 2GB on my own, not really hard, but it's a lot of trouble)
120GB 7200rpm HDD
Geforce 8600M GT
Vista Home Premium
15.4" WXGA Matte Screen (1280x800)

That came up just shy of $1000 after tax (free ship) with a $300 discount
The laptop was valued at about $1200 minus the $300 discount. The $300 off for Inspiron laptops $1199 or more is still going....

 

[Svnla]

Thanks for all the replies.

I am just concern about the CPU, shall I wait for the T7xxx or just buy the T5xxx now? What is a good midrange to low mid range graphic card?

copunk - i like to keep the 15.4 screen, 17 is a bit too big, what is the 15.4 resolution you recommend?

catch - i don't need/want high end 3D games, only midrange, not sure I want to build a laptop on my own. I did it with desktop before.

rockin - thanks for the tip, I am using Dell desktop now for the last 5 years, it just died on me (PSU burn out). May get a Dell laptop later.

accguy - may do that (see my reply to rockin)

fff -look like you got a good deal, but I will have to let Dell do the RAM upgrade. Like I said before, I can do desktop but not laptop.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: Svnla
I am just concern about the CPU, shall I wait for the T7xxx or just buy the T5xxx now? What is a good midrange to low mid range graphic card?

Well, both the Merom chips (T7xxx & T5xxx series) are currently out so I assume your asking about the Penryn (T9xxx & T8000 series) chips. Anand just put out an Article today about the benefits of the new 45nm technology. From what I've read of the article- if I we're in the market for a laptop today, I'd surely wait the week or so until its release.

The current Laptop GPU's considered 'mid and low-range' are for nVidia the 8600 and 8400 series, and for AMD/ATI the 2600, 2500 and 2400 series. What games do you plan on playing, and at what settings? I understand you don't need "high-end 3D games", but for all we know that could imply anything less than Crysis maxed out at HD settings

Originally posted by: Svnla
fff -look like you got a good deal, but I will have to let Dell do the RAM upgrade. Like I said before, I can do desktop but not laptop.

Upgrading laptop RAM is really an easier task than you may assume. On my Dell I have to literally unscrew two screws, lift that latch and I'm at the RAM modules. Unless the laptop comes base configured with 2GB of RAM, most places will charge you up to $100 just to upgrade to 2GB. In reality, you can get a whole 2GB set of laptop RAM modules for under $50 with today's market. If you can replace desktop RAM then you can surely do so for a laptop.