Help on laptop specs

[Tbag]

Im looking to get a new laptop but not sure I understand all the specs.

I dont do gaming or video editing but I do occationally do video converting with causes my current laptop to go crazy, other than that I just do the basics, play movies, browsing, photo editing etc.

When I look at the specs I dont understand the processor and all the numbers that come with it, im aware of RAM, hard drive (not too bothered about graphics)

The laptops within my price range have processors like:

Intel Core 2 Duo (T5450) 1.66 GHz Processor with 667 MHz FSB

Intel Core 2 Duo ( T8100) 2100MHz 3072KB (L2 Cache)

Intel Core2 Duo Processor
T5450, Supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology, 1.66GHz speed, 667MHz Front side bus

Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 Processor, 2.1GHz speed and 800MHz Front side bus

I know Core 2 Duo is going to run a lot faster than what I have now but I dont know wether 1.66 Ghz would do fine or will somthing more like 2-2.1 Ghz be better for me and future proof for a good few years?

[edDV]

Quick answer: Any Core2 will be fine for basic browsing and word processing. The speed difference affects how long a conversion will take.

For XP you need 1-2GB RAM. For Vista you need 2 GB RAM.

Get a good screen, "TV out port", and a good video chipset (e.g. NVidia "GO").

Good laptops are so cheap now and prices are still dropping. No need to buy higher end than you need for Vista.

[TBoneit]

In general the higher the number the faster it is so the T8100 is faster then the T5450.

I'd also be worried about brand of laptop.

The reason your old one go crazy encoding is that generates the most heat and evidently your old laptops cooling isn't up to colling a 100% processor usage.

Value depends on what size hard drive, screen, type of optical drive, what windows, How much memory and so on. There are even a few that can hold a second hard drive. If you want XP then you will have to check and see if XP drivers are available.

Overall you do get what you pay for. A Thinkpad or Sony will hold up better than a E-Machine/Gateway for example and Dell or HP/Compaq fall into the middle.

[grossjamesh]

What do you mean by "goes Crazy"?

[Tbag]

What do you mean by "goes Crazy"?

fan gets very loud and everything heat up and slows down

[Tbag]

Quick answer: Any Core2 will be fine for basic browsing and word processing. The speed difference affects how long a conversion will take.

For XP you need 1-2GB RAM. For Vista you need 2 GB RAM.

Get a good screen, "TV out port", and a good video chipset (e.g. NVidia "GO").

Good laptops are so cheap now and prices are still dropping. No need to buy higher end than you need for Vista.

thanks i'll keep that in mind

[Tbag]

In general the higher the number the faster it is so the T8100 is faster then the T5450.

I'd also be worried about brand of laptop.

The reason your old one go crazy encoding is that generates the most heat and evidently your old laptops cooling isn't up to colling a 100% processor usage.

Value depends on what size hard drive, screen, type of optical drive, what windows, How much memory and so on. There are even a few that can hold a second hard drive. If you want XP then you will have to check and see if XP drivers are available.

Overall you do get what you pay for. A Thinkpad or Sony will hold up better than a E-Machine/Gateway for example and Dell or HP/Compaq fall into the middle.

yeah im look at sony vaio's, my price range in £700-£800

[Super Warrior]

Im looking to get a new laptop but not sure I understand all the specs.

I dont do gaming or video editing but I do occationally do video converting with causes my current laptop to go crazy, other than that I just do the basics, play movies, browsing, photo editing etc.

When I look at the specs I dont understand the processor and all the numbers that come with it, im aware of RAM, hard drive (not too bothered about graphics)

The laptops within my price range have processors like:

Intel Core 2 Duo (T5450) 1.66 GHz Processor with 667 MHz FSB

Intel Core 2 Duo ( T8100) 2100MHz 3072KB (L2 Cache)

Intel Core2 Duo Processor
T5450, Supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology, 1.66GHz speed, 667MHz Front side bus

Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 Processor, 2.1GHz speed and 800MHz Front side bus

I know Core 2 Duo is going to run a lot faster than what I have now but I dont know wether 1.66 Ghz would do fine or will somthing more like 2-2.1 Ghz be better for me and future proof for a good few years?

I recommend Dell's Vostro 1000. Not just because its my only comp and has served me very well with no complaints, but because it is just an excellent budget laptop overall and stacks up well against other more expensive models. With the exception of Really high-end stuff like gaming, it can otherwise handle EVERYTHING else.

My particular Vostro has an AMD Sempron, the "lowest" power CPU offered for it, but its always been rock-solid. However there are options for an athlon or dual-core if you want one. As for Ram, if you're only going to do basic stuff with it and no gaming, then 1GB is PLENTY enough.

A new Vostro 1000 laptop is only about $400 new on Dell's site. I think it has still has free shipping and an option for Windows XP too, another plus.

A neat review on the Vostro 1000:
http://www.studentbuyingguide.com/2007/11/dell-vostro-1000-review/

[Malicious]

IMO Dell is really hit and miss. I have seen many Dell's last several years and I have seen many die with in months after their one year warranty. I have never been impressed with Sony's lower end laptops and Acer is just a joke. For retail I put Toshiba and HP at the top for well rounded computers for the price. Just remember, what you pay into technology is what you are going to get out of it.

[Super Warrior]

IMO Dell is really hit and miss. I have seen many Dell's last several years and I have seen many die with in months after their one year warranty. I have never been impressed with Sony's lower end laptops and Acer is just a joke. For retail I put Toshiba and HP at the top for well rounded computers for the price. Just remember, what you pay into technology is what you are going to get out of it.

Well for what its worth, my Dell Vostro 1000 has always functioned Perfectly as my only comp since i first bought it last year, and it is Dell's cheapest new laptop available.

Also depends on the person and how rough they are with it. In college i was often appalled at how some students would practically treat their laptops like crap, tossing it around carelessly, scratches all over the casing, etc.

My laptop is like my baby, i always handle it carefully. A friend of mine actually asked me why my comp looked so new, where as hers looked like old crap due to her mistreatment. Its because i treat mine with respect thats why!

So in the hands of a careless cretin like those, then yeah i'd imagine cheaper models would indeed be likely to break more.

[dadrab]

I can't say I agree with Dell being "hit and miss." You may well be right, but that's not been my experience.

My wife has a Dell laptop (damned if I can remember the model right now) but it's 18 months old or more. I bought it from a pawn shop, took it home, reformatted it, loaded all the drivers back on and gave it to her. Granted, it was in really nice shape at purchase - and possibly hot, but not to the touch... 8)

That's been a nice piece. She's used it almost constantly since last Christmas and hasn't had problems. She does take good care of it.

It's just a good solid laptop.

On the other hand, there's our old Dell Demension (model? who knows) Bought in mid 2000, I can't kill it. It's got an old 833 processor with a half-gig of memory - most of which I added.

The old girl's a bitch to upgrade. Not much modular by today's standards in the ways of HDD racks and such as that. I can't do a clean install of a new OS - it just adds the new OS along side the old one, so now I'm up to three - 98, 2000 Pro and XP Pro. It came with a 20 gig HDD and has 16 gigs worth of OSs on it.

Last night, as a matter of fact, I slapped a second HDD in it, mated it with various and sundry stuff I had around, and set it up in son #1's room. With the wireless card (also installed by yours truly), he can get on the web, do homework, write his papers, and such. And with the additional 320 gig drive (translates into 295 once formatted) he can iTunes till his heart's content.

I can't complain even a little bit about Dell.