i7 with 230m or i3 with 330m?

[Wakinglimb]

I am looking for a new laptop that should be a good all rounder but also play the odd game.

I'm caught between these 2:

HP Pavilion DV6-2106EA Laptop
Intel Core i7-720QM 1.6GHz
4GB RAM
500GB HDD
DVD Writer
Webcam + Bluetooth
NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M
Windows 7 Home Premium
1366 x 768
15.6"

and

Sony VAIO CW2 Z1E/B
Core i3 330M 2.13GHz
4GB
500GB
Blu-ray BD-ROM Combo
14"
1366 x 768
Windows 7 Home Premium

I think I am siding towards the HP right now. Also considering a Sony with i5 + 5470, but I am guessing the 5470 is carp??

 

[ninja2000]

I have a vaio CW but the C2D version. It is an awesome laptop (although the m11x will replace mine when its fixed so mines going on MM).

Pros:
Coolest, quietest laptop I have owned.
Screen is bright with great colours
keyboard is fantastic
Good batt life, about 4hrs
The nvidia card clocks very well, mine runs at 600/1320/900 and doesnt hit 65c on load
14" is still very portable yet is big enough if you want to play a game.

Negatives:
Speakers arent great, but laptop speakers rarely are.
Viewing angles arent the best

The only reason I am considering selling mine is I have a 17" DTR for my gaming and the m11x is for travelling.

 

[Wakinglimb]

I bought an Asus N61J from Tottenham Court Road.

Somewhat bigger than I had planned, but comes in at this spec:
16" 1366 x 768 screen
I7-720QM
4gb DDR3
640GB HDD
Blu Ray player
USB 3.0
Multi touch trackpad

Paid £1110 inc a tech air bag - RRP was £1189 for the lot.

 

[ninja2000]

nice! what do you think of it? The ati 5730 supposedly clocks quite will if you are that way inclined

 

[Wakinglimb]

nice! what do you think of it? The ati 5730 supposedly clocks quite will if you are that way inclined

So far I am just doing the usual steam install, downloading of things, getting it configured etc

So far it seams lovely. The keyboard isn't backlit and that's my only complaint so far tbh. I think with the relatively low res screen i7 + 5730 should come out rather nice. I fully expect the battery to be very short though

 

[dimo]

I bought an Asus N61J from Tottenham Court Road.

Somewhat bigger than I had planned, but comes in at this spec:
16" 1366 x 768 screen
I7-720QM
4gb DDR3
640GB HDD
Blu Ray player
USB 3.0
Multi touch trackpad

Paid £1110 inc a tech air bag - RRP was £1189 for the lot.

just hope nothng goes wrong caause on tcr they're pushy when it comes to sales and dont wanna hear about it when something goes wrong

 

[Wakinglimb]

just hope nothng goes wrong caause on tcr they're pushy when it comes to sales and dont wanna hear about it when something goes wrong

Well it's got a 2 year warranty with Asus and I've bought from the place before (one of the shinier places on TCR).