Core 2 Duo

foreright · 28 Aug 2009 at 12:11

I am looking to buy a laptop for my wife. She has requested one with a 17" screen, however I have only a budget of £500.
Within that budget I have found a Toshiba L350-325. It has a Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200 - 2Ghz processor.
I have read may posts here advocating a Core 2 Duo CPU.
Is there much of a difference in these two processors and I would have to scale down to a 15" to keep within my budget. The question is screen or processor, what takes priority. Cheers in advance for any advice.

TheVoice · 28 Aug 2009 at 12:19

What sort of use will the machine be getting?

foreright · 28 Aug 2009 at 12:29

Home office and internet. No games at all. Mainly internet.

beermonster · 28 Aug 2009 at 12:38

I would avoid the Toshiba L350 its pretty poor build quality and quite dated.
If you don't mind refurbished theres a nice Acer 6930G for £429 can't link but google is your friend.

16" screen
T5800
3GB Ram
250HD
Blueray drive
Nvidia 9300GS

AtlanticP · 28 Aug 2009 at 19:49

Acer Aspire 7735Z - £499.00

T4200 @ 2 ghz (800 fsb)
4 Gb Ram
320gb HHD
17.3" LED HD+ Screen

foreright · 29 Aug 2009 at 08:14

Narrowed it down to:

Acer Aspire 7735Z
424G32Mn, Intel® Pentium® Dual Core T4200 Processor, 17.3" HD Screen, Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, DVD Rewriter, Integrated Graphics, LX.PC60X.064
£490
or

Acer Aspire 6930G
583G25Mn, Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 Processor, 16" HD Screen, Windows Vista Home Premium, 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD, DVD Rewriter, Dedicated Graphics, LX.AUU0X.151 (5536,5738,6530,6920)
£450

Cheaper one with 16" screen but with dedicated graphics and a core 2 Duo CPU. Or, the dearer one with 17" HD screen with on board graphics and Dual Core CPU.
Any advice welcome please.

Bane · 29 Aug 2009 at 10:01

The 6930G seems a good price, especially if it includes a 9600GT graphics and the higher resolution option - I doubt it. But as gaming is not a requirement then a larger screen may be a better option. Especially if doing home accounts and boring things like that.

For the processors the Pentium Dual cores of the 773Z is reduced cache versions of Core 2 Duo. But for desktop use I doubt you would notice any difference. Also it is based on a more recent core so should run cooler.
Wikipedia Core2Due list
Wikipedia Pentium Dual Core

The 773Z also includes Draft-N networking so maybe come in handy later on.