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What's more important in a gaming notebook?

S

SouljaAC

Member
There are two computers i'm looking at, both from Acer.
Basically choice one has a much better video card, a wide screen, a 64 bit processor and gigabit lan. Choice two, however, has a faster processor, twice the ram (DDR2 instead of DDR), and two more hours (supposedly) of batterly life.
Which one is the better buy if the price is constant?

Specs:

CHOICE 1 -

Operating System Windows XP Professional
CPU Type 1 x AMD Turion 64 Mobile Technology ML-30 (1.6 ghz)
CPU L2 Cache 1MB
Screen 15.4" WXGA TFT
Memory Size 512MB (512/0) DDR333 SDRAM
Hard Disk 100GB
Optical Drive DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive
Graphics Card ATI MOBILITY RADEON X700 graphics
Video Memory Dedicated 64MB DDR
Communication Modem, Gigabit LAN and WLAN
Card slot Type II PC Card slot, 32-bit PC CardBus architecture
Battery Life 3.0hours
Dimensions 14.3" W x 10.9" D x 1.3" H
Weight 6.6lbs
Tech AMD Turion 64 Mobile Technology

CHOICE 2 -

Operating System Windows XP Professional
CPU Type 1 x Pentium M 760(2.0GHz)
Screen 15.0" XGA TFT
Memory Size 1GB DDR2
Hard Disk 100GB
Optical Drive DVD-Dual DVD±R/RW Drive
Graphics Card Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Video Memory shared memory
Communication Modem, LAN and WLAN
Card slot PC Card slot for one Type II card
Battery Life 5.0hours
Dimensions 13.2"W x 11.2"D x 1.4"H
Weight 6.2lbs
Tech Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
 
Pentium M / Intel Core is a better CPU than Turion.

But... integrated anything graphics are terrible if you're planning on using games made after 2002. Even the ATI X600 is going to kick the crap outta the Intel GMA 900. Integrated graphics also slow down the rest of the system by stealing memory and memory bandwidth from the CPU.

True, integrated graphics are slowly getting better over the years, but they're still t3h suxx0r compared to any semi-modern GPU.
 
Yea, I mean if the second choice had something like the 6600 go or something, then you could have a debate. But there is absolutely no question that if you plan on playing games, you shouldn't even be looking at choice 2. At all.
 
What ev'one else said about the graphics card- integrated=BAD.

And the RAM really isn't a factor as you can upgrade that yourself later (ie- Newegg). The CPU's a bit of a bother, but otherwise, the widescreen and vidcard options on #1 definitely give it the go if those are the only 2 laptops that you're considering.
 
I don't know why Acer is using the ML chips either, MT's are easier on the power. I've been looking at that Acer 4402 also but I think I'm going to build my own based on the MSI 1029 bare bones for only about 200$ more.

Msi-1029 barebones for 820$ shipped from an ebay store
-X700 128 meg video
-CD/DVD +/- RW combo drive

MT-32 chip, 80 gig 5400rpm Seagate, wifi card, and 1 gig stick memory for 450 off newegg
 
Nice setup.

EDIT:
For the OP, your best bet is an Asus Z71V laptop from JNCS.com. You can configure it however you like, and it includes a 6600 graphics card, which performs about as well as the x700. I'd go for a Pentium M 1.7 ghz and upgrade the ram yourself; you'll save some money.
A good setup will run you about 1500$.

NOTE: JNCS.com is a very good systems distributor. I'm likely to buy my next laptop from them.
 
go for 1.

memory is pretty much garanteed in modern laptops to be upgradable
processor, good chance that you may be able to plug in a faster one.
video cards, on the other hand, are almost garanteed to be there until you replace the laptop itself.
 
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