Author Topic: Picking a laptop (Read 4814 times)

Kari · « **Reply #1 on:** August 04, 2009, 01:02:54 PM »

I'd say it's sort of a toss up between number 2 and 3. #3 has the (theoretically) slightly faster processor and the vid card is the better of the two. However, it has less RAM as default (which, honestly, is very easily upgraded and not that expensive to do) and the processor is an Intel, whereas @2 has the AMD... which, in my opinion, is likely to run you better in the long run. However...

While the RAM and the processor would be upgradable in both, the video card is very likely not. Processors and RAM aren't that expensive to upgrade. Vid cards are usually integrated, so what you get when you buy the laptop is what you're stuck with (to my dismay.) In my opinion, based on that, I'd buy #3, and see if you can at least swing a RAM upgrade to get that last gig.

archangel.arcanis · « **Reply #2 on:** August 04, 2009, 01:11:32 PM »

Well changing a cpu in a laptop is a bitch so i would recommend planning on not having to change it. Also double check your OS for all of them. Unless it is the 64 bit version anything more than around 3gb is a waste.

Based off of what you said you want to do with it i think any of the listed ones will work fine for you. Though i don't know what brand #3 is, i do like HP as they have provided good support every time i have had to deal with them.

Another consideration is the power plug. I know between the US and UK there are different plugs and standards. I would double check to make sure Finland and Scotland use the same standards, i'm euro-deficient so i don't know if it is a shared standard or not but figured it didn't hurt to make you think about it.

Kari · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2009, 01:15:42 PM »

Changing a laptop processor isn't that hard.

(I've upgraded several.)

Tshern · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2009, 01:46:16 PM »

Number 3 is an Asus. Hope this helps a bit.

Quote

Another consideration is the power plug. I know between the US and UK there are different plugs and standards. I would double check to make sure Finland and Scotland use the same standards, i'm euro-deficient so i don't know if it is a shared standard or not but figured it didn't hurt to make you think about it.

I have to get a few adapters anyway for my cell and whatnot, so this is not too grave an issue. But yes, the people in the UK do use different plugs.

Cheers for everything so far.

altpersona · « **Reply #5 on:** August 04, 2009, 02:06:35 PM »

1 and 3 have full strength cpu's. 2 has a laptop power optimized cpu.

3 having less ram, i would go with 1 or 2, depending on if you want cpu power or battery life.

Tshern · « **Reply #6 on:** August 04, 2009, 03:25:34 PM »

In case the battery life is less important to me than CPU power, which would you pick then?

PhaedrusXY · « **Reply #7 on:** August 04, 2009, 04:31:08 PM »

RAM is extremely easy to upgrade. I wouldn't let that be much of a factor (just make sure the PC has the capacity to use more RAM. To get full benefits of 4+ GB, you'll need a 64 bit OS, as already mentioned).

altpersona · « **Reply #8 on:** August 04, 2009, 04:46:22 PM »

as far as OS's go, personally being a nix user, i wouldnt worry about what os it comes with, as i would ditch, or dual boot it anyway..

i'd have to check toms hardware to see about the amd or the intel being the better cpu as horsepower goes..

altpersona · « **Reply #9 on:** August 04, 2009, 05:50:49 PM »

i think overal i prefer #1.

the t58050 is a mobile cpu like the turion.

i dont have any experience w/ asus laptops, so as to manufacturing quality, cant say..

i have had my hands on 3 hp's a dell and a gateway...

atm we basically have 3 laptops, my mrs, my boys and my mothers... all hp's.. all nearly the same specs as what you have listed.

they all blow my desktop away... 1 has a turion, the others have athlons... the good one is the proper hp, w/ the turion. the others are hp compaqs, the case and such are best on the proper hp, preformace wise they are all about the same..

my mothers compaq hp, has the num pad which i like... when i eventually breakdown and get my owns i'll probly aim for a numpad also.. its handy..

Tshern · « **Reply #10 on:** August 05, 2009, 06:25:33 AM »

I am getting plenty of two cents here, perhaps enough to increase my budget!

Do you people think 512 mb is enough for the video card?

altpersona · « **Reply #11 on:** August 05, 2009, 07:55:32 AM »

are you going to try n play age of conan on it? if no yes, if yes, the your going to be sad.

Tshern · « **Reply #12 on:** August 05, 2009, 08:06:58 AM »

Definitely not Age of Conan, but I'd love to give Old Republic a try when it hits the market. The problem is there is no information about what kind of hardware it requires.

How important is it to have a HDMI plug? And Laptop 1 has the largest hard drive, but it costs the same as Laptop 2 (although 40 euros less than Laptop 3). I don't think I need 500 gb worth of hard drive, because I intend to buy an external hard drive at some point anyway. So, which would you prefer in case the hard drive capacity was a non-issue?

Kari · « **Reply #13 on:** August 05, 2009, 11:48:11 AM »

HDMI plug is only if you intend to run your laptop off a HDTV at some point. If you don't ntend to do that, it means nothing.

As for playing TOR, its going to be a while before we learn the min specs for it. Maybe not until next year, unfortunately.

archangel.arcanis · « **Reply #14 on:** August 05, 2009, 11:52:06 AM »

512 on the video should be sufficient. Unless they plan on blocking out most of the market, even many mainstream desktops have less video mem than that.

altpersona · « **Reply #15 on:** August 05, 2009, 02:22:47 PM »

hd size was a non issue for me..

im sure they do plan on blocking out most of the market.

i would look at what ever the latest similar game released was and check its specs... then add abit.

my boys compaq with i think a ql64? athlon play warcraft @ 30 fps, no where near max settings. when i get home i can test it @ max and see its fps and give a full stat break down.

Tshern · « **Reply #16 on:** August 05, 2009, 03:59:17 PM »

Kari: That's definitely good news. There is very little point for me to get a HDTV, because I really don't watch TV and I will be very low on cash when I get there.

archangel.arcanis: That's what I was sort of thinking. My current video card is 512 mb and I haven't had any troubles so far. We'll see what the Old Republic demands... Edit: Just saw your comment about 64 bit operating systems. Is Windows Vista Home Premium one of these? Edit 2: It would seem to be.

altpersona: If you really don't mind doing that favour, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Currently I am balancing between numbers 1 and 3, but nothing has been decided yet. Thanks for the help, again, everyone!

altpersona · « **Reply #17 on:** August 05, 2009, 05:05:16 PM »

home premium should be 64 bit.

one of our hps is 32 the other is 64, both are vista.. i'll check to see which is what.

Tshern · « **Reply #18 on:** August 05, 2009, 05:38:48 PM »

Then again, none of the computers actually have more than 4 gb of RAM...

altpersona · « **Reply #19 on:** August 06, 2009, 12:55:16 AM »

this is on hp/compaq cq60 224 gets 7 fps on wow w/ max ish settings.

but this is a youtube/web browsing lappy, not optimal for games..

here are laptop specs

]http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01632155&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3866427&lang=en[url]

News:

Author Topic: Picking a laptop (Read 4814 times)