Need a notebook expert to help me compare systems.

[Hoplon]

Compaq X1000
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Processor Pentium(R) M 1.5GHz (maybe a 1.4 for $50 less)
Operating System Microsoft(R)Windows(R) XP Home
Memory 256MB DDR SDRAM(1X256MB)
Hard Drive 30 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
Application Software Microsoft(R) Works/Money
Primary CD/DVD Drive DVD Drive edit
Communication Built in 56K modem+10/100 LAN
Display 15.4" WVA WXGA (1280x800)
Graphics Card 64MB Mobility Radeon(TM) 9200
Warranty Upgrades 2-year express repair warranty upgrade
Primary Battery 8 Cell Lithium Ion battery
1,473.99 -10%off Coupon - $100 mail in rebate =~1226.60

The only reason i can afford this system on my pay is because of the financing options, assuming i'm approved.

Compaq Presario 2172us
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processor Mobile AMD® Athlon? XP-M Processor 2500+ (1.87GHz) with PowerNow!? Technology
operating system Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
memory 256MB DDR SDRAM (1x256MB) at 266MHz; maximum memory 1024MB DDR SDRAM (2x512MB)
hard drive 40GB Enhanced IDE hard disk drive
multimedia drive DVD/CD-RW combo drive
display 15.0" XGA TFT (1024 x 768) display
communications integrated V.90/V.92 56K modem (RJ-11 connector); integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
video ATI® MOBILITY? RADEON? 4X AGP and 3D architecture (with 64MB DDR DRAM shared memory)
sound internal speakers; volume control button and mute button
$999.99 - 10% - 100 =~799.99
I would probably upgrade this system to at least a 1year warranty.

*note both systems would have an additional stick of 256 ram added. I just don't want to pay $100 for it.

Ok, now obviously there is quite a bit of difference between the two systems. One is a high performance system, the other is a more value based system. What i'm trying to figure out is exactly how much difference their really is.

Questions:
1) What would be the performance differance between these two based on the processor? I'm guessing that the athlon is slightly more powerful, right?

2) I'm going to list some games that i enjoy playing. In your reply list each game as playable, simi-playable, unplayable. I consider anything over 25fps playable, 15-25 simi-playable, anything under unplayable. If your unfamiliar with any of the games just leave them blank.
Counter-strike-
Morrowind-
Dues ex-
Jedi knight2-
SWG-
Bf1942-
And i know nobody knows for sure because it's never been tested but do you think Hl2 will be playable on either system? Possibly at a resolution like 800x600?
3)I will be playing dvds frequently. Will these systems have about the same amount of playback time? Will the screen quality make much of a difference(aside from the fact that one is wide screen).
4)If you were in my position which system would you choose and why? Keep in mind that the majority of my extra money would be tied up for half a year if i go with the more expencive system. I have $600 saved up now, i'll have $900 to invest by december. Any amount over that is going to have to be financed.

5)If there are any other systems or places with better finacing options available please post some links.

 

[manko]

I think you should probably go with the X1000 if you can swing it. I think the processors may be pretty closely matched performance-wise (battery life is another story), but the shared graphics vs. 9200 is no contest, which is important considering that you will be gaming. Not only will shared graphics be slower, but it will also reduce your system RAM by the amount it uses, which is a double performance hit.

x1000 Forums - Check it out. The forum has plenty of user impressions and alot of specific info on game performance.

Of the games you list, most will probably be fine (semi-playable/playable at lower resolutions) on the shared graphics except for Morrowind and maybe BF1942.

Again for dvd performance, check out the x1000 forum.

 

[kayatai]

I doubt that any of those 3d games will run very will on the notebook with integrated video (video with shared ram).

 

[Hoplon]

Originally posted by: manko

x1000 Forums - Check it out. The forum has plenty of user impressions and alot of specific info on game performance.

Thanks for the link! According to that site it's likely that the x1000 will be getting upgraded to a r9600, or at least will have it as an option. I'm going to wait and see what happens.

 

[rainypickles]

hp ze4300 amd 1800+ (something around there) and integrated graphics CAN play bf1942. it gets hot though and you need a patch from the support site.

 

[dnuggett]

If you are playing games and asking if you can play them before they are even released yet, you have just one choice given those two models.-
The X1000. If anyone tries to post something different, ignore it.

 

[Bateluer]

Shared video is useless for anything more intensive than Office. Of those two choices, the X1000 is the best . . . but its still a compaq.

 

[Frightcrawler]

i would disagree with you, Bateluer.
Trust me, " integrated intel graphics" are not as bad as most people think.
I'm not saying they're good - far from it.
But, they are sufficient in playing games such as Half-Life, Diablo II, and barely, Warcraft III.
I know first hand that integrated intel graphics are useable, and dont let anyone tell you differently.

Of course, if i had a choice to choose between a good video card, I would choose it, no questions asked.
In short, Yes, get the X1000.