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some advice on a choice between these laptops?

M

minofifa

Senior member
Hi
well i think i have narrowed my search for a laptop down to two acer models, shown below. I'm mostly interested in performance as i want to do some home recording and maybe a bit of gaming. I'm interested to know what the advantages / disadvantages are between the two, and advice on which one to get. They are close in price, and the only difference i see are different amounts of RAM, different GPU's (X600, X700), and most important different cpu's (3.4 ghz P4, 1.73 ghz PM). I don't understand the different cpu's at all in terms of performance, so any info would be much appreciated.

thanks.

Aspire 9500
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition; Intel® Pentium® M Processor 740 (2MB L2 cache, 1.73GHz, 533MHz FSB); 512MB (512/0) DDR2 533 SDRAM; 100GB hard drive; integrated DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive; 5-in-1 card reader; 17.0" WXGA+ (1440 x 900) TFT display, Acer® CrystalBrite Technology; ATI® MOBILITY? RADEON® X700 graphics, 128MB DDR; 802.11b/g WLAN, gigabit LAN, V.92 modem LX.A6205.049
$1939 CAD

Aspire 1800
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition; Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 540 with HT Technology (3.20GHz, 1MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB); 1GB (512/512) DDR333 SDRAM; 100GB hard drive; integrated Super-Multi (DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RAM) drive; 5-in-1 card reader; 17.0" WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT display with Acer® Crystal Bright Technology; ATI® MOBILITY? RADEON® X600 graphics, 128MB DDR; 802.11b/g WLAN, Bluetooth®, gigabit LAN, V.92 modem
$2100 CAD
 
You probably get a performance gain with the P-M. The architecture of a P-M is much more efficient than the crappy architecture of the P4.
 
cool thanks guys...
i had been totally misled by a salesman.

sorry for one more lazy question that i could probably look up (but i'm studying right now), what is the advantage of the x700 over the x600? same DDR memory right? is it a difference in clockspeed or something?
 
minofifa, those laptops are not good deals.

Gateway 8510GZ - $1649.99


Here's a link with the correct specs, since the FS website lists them somewhat wrong.

Now the Acer has slightly faster DDR2 RAM, & it's a 64MB X700 vs. the Acer's 128 MB X700.

However, i would say that certainly doesn't justify $300 extra...


Now for your original question...
The P4-based laptop will be slightly faster than the Pentium in your comparison, but not by much at all.

The Pentium M will be much slimmer & lighter, & will have way better battery life, not to mention running far cooler.
The worst laptop to buy IMO is a P4-based laptop.
 
There's also another hawt deal @ FS on a 15.4" Gateway with a 4000+ A64! 😀

For some reason, it's not on their website, & Gateway's site doesn't seem to have it up yet, but i'll mention the specs from i can recall.

Gateway 7515 - $1699.99 Cdn.
AMD Athlon 64 s754 2.6 GHz 4000+ (yes, it's 2.6GHz, not 2.4 like normal s939 4000+ would be :Q)
1 GB PC2700 RAM
100 GB 4200RPM HDD
DVD burner (all formats)
X600 128 MB

I was damn impressed with it, since it would blow away anything you can buy in a laptop (excepting the video card) , & for only $1700 Cdn!
It's not a 17", but man, for the money, i'm tempted myself.
 
Originally posted by: theman
P-M kills a P4. hands down. no performance loss.
Click to expand...


Lets not exaggerate too much.

PM is a far superior architecture, no question about it.
But to say it kills all P4s is just blatantly untrue.

That review AT did shows the P-M 1.73 GHz compares to a 3.0 GHz P4, & the 1.86 Ghz one is about the same as a 3.2 GHz P4.

So it doesn't kill them at all.

Overall though, it's a far far far better solution.

I actually agree with you, just i like to be more accurate about it 😉
 
cool thanks for the gateway find. two concerns about it though:
- i don't see any mention of wifi or even LAN networking in the description, does it have wifi?
- the graphics card is 64 MB of shared memory. does shared mean integrated?
 
Originally posted by: minofifa
cool thanks for the gateway find. two concerns about it though:
- i don't see any mention of wifi or even LAN networking in the description, does it have wifi?
- the graphics card is 64 MB of shared memory. does shared mean integrated?
Click to expand...


The guys who do the FS website are morons.
It's not shared RAM, it's a dedicated 64 MB X700.
Check that Gateway link i posted; it shows the corrent specs.

And yes, it has wireless.
I use its wireless every day at work 😉
 
Just to re-enforce the P-M choice. It's perfect for laptop since it runs cooler. Performance wise and battery life it is also better.
 
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