Which processor?

[Laughingman12]

I was wondering which processor is faster. I am currently buying a new computer, and need all the help I could get.

Intel® Core? 2 Duo T5500

AMD Turion? 64 X2 TL-50

 

[Atheus]

Option A - Intel® Core? 2 Duo T5500.

 

[DaveSimmons]

The CPU and Mobile tabs up above have some benchmarks, but a Core 2 at 1.86 GHz is faster than a 2.2 GHz A64 or Turion X2.

Do you plan to do any 3D gaming? If so, you need a video card! Intel motherboard graphics are 99% useless for gaming, max 640x480 screen if it runs at all. nvidia 6150 graphics are twice as good but that's still pretty bad.

 

[Laughingman12]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
The CPU and Mobile tabs up above have some benchmarks, but a Core 2 at 1.86 GHz is faster than a 2.2 GHz A64 or Turion X2.

Do you plan to do any 3D gaming? If so, you need a video card! Intel motherboard graphics are 99% useless for gaming, max 640x480 screen if it runs at all. nvidia 6150 graphics are twice as good but that's still pretty bad.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pavil.../161286/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do#tabs


I was planning all buying this. Can you tell me if this is good for at least under 1,000. Or can you recommend me a cheap computer that you could play games very well and its the best laptop that is under 1,000. Links to specs page please

 

[DaveSimmons]

That has shared / integrated graphics so it's going to be awful for games.

A Dell Inspiron E1505 from Dell Home, with the graphics upgraded , would make a decent gaming-capable laptop:

Start with the $819 base model, change the processor to Core 2 T550 (+$75), DVD burner if you need it (+$35), change the video card to Radeon X1400 (+$99).

Ignore the sound card "upgrade" it's just a software program not a real soundblaster.

 

[Laughingman12]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
That has shared / integrated graphics so it's going to be awful for games.

A Dell Inspiron E1505 from Dell Home, with the graphics upgraded , would make a decent gaming-capable laptop:

Start with the $819 base model, change the processor to Core 2 T550 (+$75), DVD burner if you need it (+$35), change the video card to Radeon X1400 (+$99).

Ignore the sound card "upgrade" it's just a software program not a real soundblaster.

I am planning to buy it from a store

And can I customize when I am in a store. I am planning to buy it form circuit city

 

[DaveSimmons]

OK, then you need to find one of the brands/models that will let you put in a Radeon X1400 or (even better) Radeion X1600, or an nvidia 7600 or 7900.

intel GMA, ATI 1100: useless
nvidia 6150: bad, but some games playable at 800x600 screen resolution

nvidia 7300, radeon x1300: still not great, but many games playable at 800x600
radeon x1400: a step up, most/all games playable at 800x600

radeon x1600: another step up, some games playable at 1024x768

The graphics card is key. The fastest core 2 processor will be worthless for gaming without a good video card.

 

[Laughingman12]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
OK, then you need to find one of the brands/models that will let you put in a Radeon X1400 or (even better) Radeion X1600, or an nvidia 7600 or 7900.

intel GMA, ATI 1100: useless
nvidia 6150: bad, but some games playable at 800x600 screen resolution

nvidia 7300, radeon x1300: still not great, but many games playable at 800x600
radeon x1400: a step up, most/all games playable at 800x600

radeon x1600: another step up, some games playable at 1024x768

The graphics card is key. The fastest core 2 processor will be worthless for gaming without a good video card.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Specific...ccd/productDetailSpecification.do#tabs

Well I was thinking of buying this model. I just only need to run games like warcraft 3 and guild wars. Not like hardcore games like oblivion.

Can you tell me if this computer is good enough for at least average gaming? And I will need it so surf the internet. Is the ram also good?( sorry I not a computer expert.)


P.s What is the graphics card into this model? I don't see it anywhere.

 

[DaveSimmons]

That has nvidia 6150 graphics, which is much less awful than intel (see list above).

Will it run Guild Wars? I don't know, you can search on "nvidia 6150" in your Guild Wars forums to see what other players say.

I don't see anything about customizing that laptop to put in real graphics, but otherwise the specs look good, with plenty of RAM and disk space.

 

[Laughingman12]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
That has nvidia 6150 graphics, which is much less awful than intel (see list above).

Will it run Guild Wars? I don't know, you can search on "nvidia 6150" in your Guild Wars forums to see what other players say.

I don't see anything about customizing that laptop to put in real graphics, but otherwise the specs look good, with plenty of RAM and disk space.

So the ram is good and the processor speed will let me surf the internet with out any trouble?

Your a very good man I thank you for your advice

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yes, it will work great for almost everything, including Warcraft 3 and other "2D" games (Starcraft, Baldurs Gate 1-2, etc.) it just isn't great for 3D games and -might- not run Guild Wars, you'll need to check.

You should also make sure you're happy with the screen. A smaller screen means the laptop weighs a pound less, but make sure you can read text on it comfortably.

 

[Laughingman12]

Hey by any chance have you play baldur's gate?

And also is 14.1 really really small?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Screen size depends a lot on the person and their eyes, some people want to run 1600x1080 on a 14" while I would not want any higher than 1024x768 at that size.

I've played Baldur's Gate I, II and the Throne of Bhaal expansion to BG2. I liked all of them but my favorite PC RPGs are still Planescape: Torment, Fallout 1-2 and Wasteland.

 

[Laughingman12]

Can I run 1280 by 1021 with 14.1 screen size??

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Laughingman12
Can I run 1280 by 1021 with 14.1 screen size??

LCD panels have a "native" resolution and can only run at that resolution or lower.

The specs for the laptop you linked to say it has a 1280 x 800 display so you can run at that or at lower.

By the way, if you order from HP's site ( www.shopping.hp.com ) and get the 15" screen models, they will let you put in a nvidia 7400 go card that's about as good as the Radeon x1400 that Dell offers.

_If_ Circuit City will let you customize like that and special-order a laptop for you, you could get a decent gaming laptop from the store if you just won't order directly from HP or Dell.

 

[Laughingman12]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Laughingman12
Can I run 1280 by 1021 with 14.1 screen size??

LCD panels have a "native" resolution and can only run at that resolution or lower.

The specs for the laptop you linked to say it has a 1280 x 800 display so you can run at that or at lower.

By the way, if you order from HP's site ( www.shopping.hp.com ) and get the 15" screen models, they will let you put in a nvidia 7400 go card that's about as good as the Radeon x1400 that Dell offers.

_If_ Circuit City will let you customize like that and special-order a laptop for you, you could get a decent gaming laptop from the store if you just won't order directly from HP or Dell.

Alright since your an expert, can nvida 6500 run world of warcraft. I mean when you put it in 800x600

 

[benplaut]

get an Asus laptop. They are light, sturdy, have respectable graphics, and the full line has anywhere from x1400 to x1600 to go 7700, and everything inbetween. A8js (can't remember) is a great machine. go7700 512 with a 14" screen