Small, light, good CPU and ION or better

fish99

fish99

fish99

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Joined
19 May 2005
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Doncaster
Hi,

I'm really struggling to find the right laptop. I had my eye on a EEE 1201N for ages but have finally ruled it out due to the CPU (dual core atom).

I'm looking for something smaller and lighter than my Vostro 1500 (T8300, 8600M GT, 15.4" screen, 3 kgs), but with most of the performance. That means 12" or 13" screen, 1366*768 or 1280*800 resolution. Absolute minimum video chip would be ION (8400M), integrated is no good. And I'm looking for around a 2GHz dual core CPU, although I could compromise here. Everything else I'm flexible on.

Uses will be 3D modelling and rendering (3DSMax), light/casual 3D gaming (something like Torchlight), maybe some UDK and D3D developement, plus the usualy web/e-mail. My Vostro can easily handle all this, but it's too big and heavy.

I did have my eye on a Samsung Q320 a while back but they don't seem to be making them anymore. It's not that easy to know what's out there in the laptop market.

Hoping someone can suggests something, thanks in advance.
Simon.
 
Have you looked at the acer aspire timeline X series?

The number at the start is the size:

3xxx = 13"
4xxx = 14"
5xxx = 15"

The AS4820TG-524G50Mn or 4820TG-524G50Mn are very potent machines for thier size.

If you look hard enough you can even find the 3820TG with an HD5650 1GB.
 
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Cheers guys, will look into those :)

I did find the Lenovo Ideapad U450p as well which looks a possibility.
 
manic111 said:
Asus UL80vt, can be picked up for £400...
Click to expand...
Would that be the 1.2 GHz dual core celeron version? (SU2300)

Just been checking out some benchmarks on that CPU and surprisingly it only scores a little lower than the SU4100 (1.3 GHz dual core pentium) and SU7300 (1.3 GHz core 2 duo) according to passmark.

The nVidia G 210M looks very capable too, and 12 hrs battery life. Looks like a winner :cool: Thanks.
 
Actually just noticed the dimensions of the UL80Vt, it's only slightly smaller than my Vostro 1500, about 1 cm width and depth which isn't much. It is about a third lighter though and the weight is the main annoyance with my 1500.

At least the UL80Vt could definitely run 3DSMax, and I'm having serious doubts whether a 1201N could given the 3dmark06 scores I'm seeing, plus having looked at some 12" screens in PCWorld they looked tiny.

It seems like when you drop down to 13" you lose the dedicated graphics or have to pay a small fortune, so it's UL80Vt or nothing.
 
UL80VT

better graphics chip than a ion I m guessing plus the battery life is way better than a 1201N need alone performace

plus you get a opical drive I think

the 1201N leads the way in terms of performace for netbook through...the UL80VT isnt really a netbook its a ultramoble
 
I have actually found something in 13" screen with G105M and SU7300 - Inspiron 13z 1370, but bizarrely it doesn't come with G105M if you buy it from Dell UK. I dunno if the ones I'm looking at are imports or something, they look to be either used or refurbs. I think maybe Dell doesn't make them with the G105M anymore.

I'm really looking for something that can do the job of both my Vostro 1500 and my EEE 1000H, so I can get rid of them both and just have one laptop.
 
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Meaker said:
Well the ones I posted get up to 8 hours battery life.
Click to expand...
Yeah those Acers like the 3820TG do fit the bill perfectly, but it's quite a big price jump. TBH I'd rather spend £400-500 if there something out there that will do the job.

Anyway, thanks for the all the suggestions guys, I definitely have some nice options now-

Asu 1201N
Asus UL80VT ---------probably number 1 choice right now
Inspiron 13z 1370 (refurb)
XPS M1330 (used or refurb)
Sammy Q320 (used)
 
its disappered :( oh well I m finding others


it should do, is it under the cuda enabled applications? if it is than it should be just fine :)
 
i found a nice acer...but thats more of a power laptop plus its like £150 more

its got a 9600 in it so it will be very nice for gaming seen that in the A word and its a brick and click ;)
 
Took the opportunity to drop into a brick and click today to look at the Acer 4810Tzg - pretty nice in the flesh, not as plain as the pictures make it look, and the size and weight (it had no battery when I picked it up btw, which is how I'll be using it mostly - on AC with battery removed) were excellent. Very thin too. Nice touchpad, nice touchpad buttons, and the screen was good on the one I saw. Screen also tilted back a lot further than I've read - that limitation must only exist when the battery is fitted. Only real downside was the keyboard was a little slippy and the cursor keys are half size.
 
Hmmm.... can't decide what to go for. It's between-

Acer AS4810TZG (new)

Pros
-Supposed to run cool and quiet

Cons
-Half size cursor keys (very odd decision)
-Reports of crashing for some people (no good for long 3DSMax renders)
-Acer

Dell Inspiron 13z 1370 (refurb)

Pros
-£70 cheaper
-better battery life (when new)
-nvidia GPU
-7200 rpm HDD
-slightly better CPU


Cons
-Highly reflective screen
-Refurbished (90 day warranty)
-Bit heavier and thicker with 8 cell battery
-Gets quite warm
-bad layout of ports
 
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