Which laptop CPU?

ajf · 6 Nov 2006 at 19:30

Been debating getting a cheap laptop for use when I am away from work. Budget is around £400 inc VAT.
Seems to give the option of:

Celeron M
Pentium M
Sempron
Turion

Which of these would be the best to go for if all things are equal otherwise?
I am assuming at this price graphics are all pretty much the same regardless -seen ATI Xpress 1100 and Intel onboard in the couple looked at so far.

Only going to be used for watching DVDs and web browsing/emailing.

Andrew

squiffy · 6 Nov 2006 at 19:34

Intel's chips are the best when it comes to power consumption for the performance. The Turions are faster but are higher in power consumption. Semprons are AMD's version of the Celeron, but better.

Go for Sempron or Intel "Centrino"

Mattw · 6 Nov 2006 at 19:54

got a centrino here myself, cant fault it for battery life!

achitophel · 6 Nov 2006 at 20:44

Centrino, later versions have improved speedstep, so even longer battery life. I get about 5 hrs out of a normal battery on my 1.7 Ghz.

ajf · 6 Nov 2006 at 21:07

Thanks for the replies.
Given me something to think about now as the Turion laptop I saw looked very nice.
Here are three I looked at (can I mention the makes?):

£410
Processor: AMD Turion 64 MK-36 - 2.0GHz, up to 1.6GHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache
RAM: 512MB DDR2-533MHz
Hard Drive: 60GB
Screen: 15.4" Widescreen TFT (1280x800 - 16:10)with CrystalBrite Technology
Optical Drive: DVD±RW Super Multi Double Layer
Graphics: ATI Radeon Xpress 200M supporting 128MB
Wireless LAN: 802.11b/g
Battery Life (Depending on Use): 2.5 Hours
Weight: 2.82kg
Warranty: 1 Year
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition
PCMCIA Type II Slot
Flash Memory Card Reader (MMC, MS, MS-pro, SM, XD)
Fast Ethernet 10/100

Versus

£400
Processor:- Intel Pentium-M 735A - 1.7GHz, 400MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache
RAM:- 512MB DDR2 - Low Cost Double Memory Offer - Call For Details!
Hard Drive:- 60GB
Screen:- 14.1" Widescreen TFT (1280x800 - 16:10)
Optical Drive:- DVD±RW Double Layer
Graphics:- Integrated Graphics supporting 128MB
Wireless LAN:- 802.11b/g - Call for advice on Wireless Networking
Battery Life (Depending on Use):- 2.5 hours
Weight:- 2.35kg
Software Bundle:- NTI CD-Maker, Acer Software Package
Warranty:- 1 Year Collect and Return - Upgradeable to 3 Years!
Operating System:- Windows XP Home Edition

VERSUS

£450
Intel Pentium-M 735 Processor 1.7 GHz
512 MB DDR SDRAM
40 GB Hard Drive
DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
15.1" XGA TFT Screen
Intel GMA 900 DVMT 128MB shared graphics
Integrated gigabit LAN
Integrated wireless 802.11 b/g LAN - Call for advice on Wireless networking
Integrated 3 -in-1 card reader –Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card,
Operating System: Windows XP Professional Edition - FREE Upgrade To Windows Vista
1 year warranty

squiffy · 6 Nov 2006 at 21:29

The Acer 3100 range are currently good value for money, although battery life isn't great. Try and look for discounts

AMD Sempron 64 3200+ 1.6GHz
1024 MB DDRII-533MHz SDRAM - Low cost double memory offer – call for details!
100 GB Hard Drive
DVD Dual Layer Drive - To read DVDs and CDs and write CDs, DVD+, DVD- and large Dual Layer DVD
15.4" WXGA CrystalBrite Widescreen TFT Screen
Built in 0.3 Megapixel Webcam
Integrated gigabit LAN
Integrated wireless 802.11 b/g LAN - Call for advice on Wireless networking
Integrated 5-in-1 card reader
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition - ½ Price Upgrade To Windows Vista
1 year warranty - upgradeable to 3 years

£500 inc vat.

although it seems old models don't get reduced right down, they just get replaced, for example this is £550, only £50 but has dual core.

Intel® Core™ Duo processor T2300 (1.66GHz)
15.4” WXGA CrystalBrite Widescreen TFT display
1024MB DDR II RAM
100GB Hard Drive
DVD-SuperMulti Double-layer drive
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator GMA 950
WLAN 802.11a/b/g
Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre & Microsoft Works

£500 for this (I would get 1GB of RAM really)

Mobile AMD MK-36 Turion 2.0GHz Processor
15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite™ TFT LCD Display
100GB Hard Disk Drive
1024MB DDR II RAM
DVD-Super Multi Drive
ATI Radeon® Xpress 1100 integrated 3D graphics
Fast Ethernet, 802.11b/g WLAN
0.3MP Orbicam built-in webcam
Battery: 6 cell
5-in-1 Card Reader

ajf · 6 Nov 2006 at 21:38

Last one of your list I did look at but can't decide on the extra cost! It is effectively the same as the first one in my post except for the RAM and HDD.
Also is MCE any real improvement over XP Home?

Would like to go Core Duo or even Core 2 Duo but cannot justify the cost as I also want a new desktop! This is just supposed to be a 'cheap' machine for basic use away from home.

Of course like all computer purchases you start looking around and the price gradually creeps up. :rolleyes:

Battery life is useful but not a huge factor. Performance is probably of more importance as it future proofs it more.

Out of interest how would the Turion handle photo editing etc of RAW files?

squiffy · 6 Nov 2006 at 21:45

It is effectively the same as the first one in my post except for the RAM and HDD. Also is MCE any real improvement over XP Home?

I would pay the extra for double the RAM and 40GB more storage. Don't know how the ATI 200 compares against the 1100.

For RAW photo editing definietly get 1GB RAM, I use RAW pictures and brothers desktop P4 2.6ghz 512MB does run out of system memory (swops)

Dual core will help out photo editting too, I've heard rumours the Acer Turion X2 are nothing brilliant/overheat. :confused:

chris_87 · 6 Nov 2006 at 21:56

Just got myself a "cheapish" OK laptop for Uni (basically word, net browsing, watching DVD's, some programming etc...) with the following spec for £580 (More than you want to spend but I'll post anyway):

Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
Intel® Core™2 Duo processor T5500 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.66, 667 MHz FSB)
15.4" WXGA CrystalBrite™ TFT LCD
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950, up to 224 MB of shared system memory
1024MB (2*512) of DDR2 533/667 MHz memory
120 GB hard disk drive
8X DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive
Fast Ethernet
802.11ABG WLAN
5-in-1 card reader

I didn't think that was too bad for the money, especially with the new Core2Duo whereas similar spec laptops (some more expensive) still had the "old" CoreDuo.

I'd definately try and go for a gig of RAM if you can though.

Runs nice and fast and does everything I want to do pretty fast.

ajf · 6 Nov 2006 at 22:21

Thanks.
That is quite a nice spec - which model is it?
I could spend more and effectively replace my PC with a laptop rather than have cheap(ish) laptop and high(ish) spec PC but think i prefer having a desktop as main machine that I can then expand if/when I want/need to.

Andrew