Laptop Help pls

Alexrose1uk

Alexrose1uk

Alexrose1uk

Soldato
Joined
26 Apr 2004
Posts
9,991
Location
Milton Keynes
Hi guys, was wondering if you could help me chose a laptop.

I have up to about £700-750MAX to spend. I do intend to play games on it as well as do work, so all round system performance and gfx performance are important to me.

Obviously if you can spec some choices that might be appropriate but less expensive then that would be good too!
 
I've been in the market for a laptop in the last 2 weeks and believe me, I hate spending big(ish) sums of money without really looking into every single detail.

With that in mind, I finally ordered a laptop about 2 and a half hours ago at 3am, after um'ing and ah'ing for 9 hours. God, I hate spending. ARGHHHH!

Anyway... I finally settled for this:

Acer Aspire 5612WLMi

# Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor T2300 1.66GHz
# 1GB DDRII SDRAM
# 100GB Hard Drive
# DVD Super Multi Dual Layer Drive - To read DVDs and CDs and write CDs, DVD+, DVD-, large Dual Layer DVD and DVD-Ram
# 15.4" XGA Widescreen TFT Screen with CrystalBrite (1280x800)
# NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 with 256 MB of TurboCache technology (64 MB of dedicated GDDR2 VRAM)
# 4 USB 2.0 Sockets
# Integrated LAN and 56k v.90 data fax modem
# Integrated wireless 802.11 a/b/g LAN - Call for advice on Wireless networking
# Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Pre Loaded
# FREE Microsoft Works
# 2.5-hour Battery Life
# Weight 2.89kg
Click to expand...

That cost £650 and, with your slightly higher budget you could go for the Acer Aspire 5602WLMi which has these extras/differences:

# Intel Centrino Core DuoT2300E Processor 1.66 GHz
# 120 GB Hard Drive
# ATI Radeon X1300 up to 512MB HyperMemory graphics (128MB Dedicated)
# Integrated wireless 802.11a/b/g LAN
# Integrated 5 -in-1 card reader – reads Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, XD Picture Card
# Integrated Camera
Click to expand...

... that can be had for £699.

Unfortunately, OcUK don't stock these but they're easy to find if you use Google and find the brand names shop. There is lots more choice which go up to £750 and have ever so slight differences.

For £750 there might be other alternatives outside of Acer but I didn't have that budget. Check out the Dells on their website, too.
 
Zepto Znote 2425W £750

15.4" WXGA LCD
Geforce 7600 256Mb
1.6Ghz Core2 Duo
2048MB DDR2 667MHZ
80GB SATA Hitachi
2.7KG

They offer a lot of customization in their laptops.
 
What Energize said.

They do a whole range of laptops that are pretty configurable. For that budget you can get an excellent spec laptop.

I'd personally go for the 14.1" display laptops as the native resolution is 1280x800. On a 15.4" its 1680x1050, which the Nvidia Go 7600 will struggle with further down the line.
 
Energize said:
Zepto Znote 2425W £750

15.4" WXGA LCD
Geforce 7600 256Mb
1.6Ghz Core2 Duo
2048MB DDR2 667MHZ
80GB SATA Hitachi
2.7KG

They offer a lot of customization in their laptops.
Click to expand...


Tried to compare prices against others, doesn't show basket or changed spec laptop prices :confused:
 
Had a look at the zepto site, and the laptops seem to be yonah (core duo) and not merom (core 2 duo) am I looking at the right ones, or was that a typo?

Any other suggestions is good too. the 7600Go looked good though, does anyone know how that compares speedwise?

PS on the Zepto configurator it was saying about a wireless card, I was under the impression that centrino platforms have wireless network built in?

Also I saw a lot of 15.4 screens with 1280x800, so perhaps its the more expensive ones with the 1600x1080 resolutions.

One other issue I have is, is it worth waiting for core2duo, or will I get approximately the same performance with these core duo, or a much cheaper price-performance point.

Thanks again
 
Last edited:
Last week they had core and core2 so I don't know whats happened since then, merom isn't worth waiting for over Yonah, from what I've heard the decent meroms that perform like conroe aren't out till march so if you wait till then maybe, otherwise the difference is 10-15%.
 
With VAT added on top, the Zeptos go to about 800+ and I cant afford that. Are there any more affordable performance laptop manufacturers? :(
 
Are you sure?

14" WXGA 1280x768 (6214W)
1.60 GHz Intel® Core™ Duo T2050
nVidia Geforce Go 7600 512MB graphics
512 DDR2 PC5300 - 667MHZ
60GB 5400RPM SATA Hitachi
DVD-RW Dual Layer burner (Sony)
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG

I make it £733.22.
 
GuruJockStrap said:
Are you sure?

14" WXGA 1280x768 (6214W)
1.60 GHz Intel® Core™ Duo T2050
nVidia Geforce Go 7600 512MB graphics
512 DDR2 PC5300 - 667MHZ
60GB 5400RPM SATA Hitachi
DVD-RW Dual Layer burner (Sony)
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG

I make it £733.22.
Click to expand...

Not great value for money - far better spec here (unsure of GFX speed though)

£730 Aspire 5672WLMi Intel Core Duo - LX.AA705.066
Intel Centrino Core Duo Mobile Processor T2300 1.66GHz
1GB DDRII SDRAM
100GB Hard Drive
DVD Super Multi Dual Layer Drive - To read DVDs and CDs and write CDs, DVD+, DVD-, large Dual Layer DVD and DVD-Ram
15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite Widescreen TFT Screen
ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 with 512 MB of HyperMemory (128 Dedicated, up to 384 Shared)
 
GuruJockStrap said:
Are you sure?

14" WXGA 1280x768 (6214W)
1.60 GHz Intel® Core™ Duo T2050
nVidia Geforce Go 7600 512MB graphics
512 DDR2 PC5300 - 667MHZ
60GB 5400RPM SATA Hitachi
DVD-RW Dual Layer burner (Sony)
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG

I make it £733.22.
Click to expand...


Note that the above post stated 750, including 2GB ram, and 80GB SATA, not 512MB ram, and 60GB SATA
Hence Im unsure if I perhaps missed a promotion or something :/
 
Last edited:
Zepto Znote 2425W £750 inc vat

15.4" WXGA LCD
Geforce 7600 256Mb
1.6Ghz Core Duo
2048MB DDR2 667MHZ
80GB SATA Hitachi
2.7KG

That and the 7600 256mb owns the x1400 128mb.
 
Ahhhh, thanks, model included as well. Thanks a bunch.

-edit

Seems the 7600Go on that Zepto is an underclocked 375/350 model, compared to the more expensive gaming 6000 models, and that memory is limiting overclocking on them, but that it still performs fine given the screen resolution :)

(If I get one, might try a coolbits auto overclock and see what it thinks I can get :D)

Apparently Merom is now off the site, as it isnt officially released til the 28th August, however as thats only 10 days, it seems wise waiting this long for a same price, faster core.

Am probably going to go with a 1.83GHz Merom if I can, 1/2GB DDR2, and a 60GB SATA 7200RPM HD (as the the 7200RPM should really improve data accesses).
 
Last edited:
Due to my mate paying me back, I now actually have £800 to play with, any modified suggestions?

Am heavily looking into this Zepto stuff now, have to admit it looks good, but cheaper/better are of course something I still want to hear about!
 
Mmm, will keep hold of my cash til they come out, and see if it affects other prices, but if what you say is likely, I'll probably stick to Yonah.
 
And the specs aren't anywhere near as good for the same price.

£750 macbook gets you 512mb ram and integrated graphics, that wouldn't play games.
 
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