I'm thinking about buying a laptop

[Jesda]

I think the GMA 950 doesn't even do pixel shading. Several games won't even launch, much less run poorly.

[D1SR240]

I'm actually looking to buy a laptop as well. I'm looking for something with at least an Intel i5 processor, at least 4GB of RAM and 500GB of storage. I don't want anything larger than 14". Do you guys have any recommendations, and possibly places with good deals?

[Jesda]

Brand new, it'll be hard to beat a Studio XPS for performance/price value and decent quality.

[PoorManQ45]

I agree with Jesda.

Hell, go with an i7 then. You'll stay under $1k too!

I would recommend upgrading the drive yourself.

[D1SR240]

Brand new, it'll be hard to beat a Studio XPS for performance/price value and decent quality.

I noticed that they don't come in 14" but 15", which is not a big deal at all. I'll look into them more.

I agree with Jesda.

Hell, go with an i7 then. You'll stay under $1k too!

I would recommend upgrading the drive yourself.

Where can I get laptop with an i7 processor for under $1K?

[MinisterofDOOM]

Where can I get laptop with an i7 processor for under $1K?

One thing to keep in mind when shopping Intel powered machines is that Intel's CPU naming system makes ABSOLTELY NO LOGICAL SENSE. NONE. There are 3 different (and completely distinct) kinds of i7 processor. And some i5s are better than some i7s. Some i7s are quad core, some are dual core. Some i5s are quad core, some dual core. All i7s have hyperthreading, no i3 or i5s do. Prepare to have your head asploded.

Core i7 900 series are the monsters. They're expensive. 8 threads.Core i7 800 series are the next step down. Architecture-wise, they're simpler, more restricted, and less versatile. Still 8 threads (quad core with hyperthreading).Core i7 600 and 700 is the next step down. Dual core with hyperthreading, 4 threads. Architecturally very similar to the 800 series.

Then there's the Core i5 700, which is essentially an i7 800 without hyperthreading.Then there's the i5 600, 500, and 400 series, which are all dual core and basically i7 600s without hyperthreading.

THEN there's the i3 300 and 500, which are architecturally the same as the dual core i5 and i7s.

And it's not even THAT straightforward. Because an i7 920 and an i7 920XM are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CHIPS. The XM is the same as the 800 series chips. The 920 is a "real" 900 series chip.Things get even more convoluted than this, too, with divisions to laptop vs desktop and low-power variants thrown in. The naming doesn't even TRY to make sense.

So just saying "i7" leaves a lot of info out. It's like saying "get a Honda." WHICH Honda?

The first question to ask yourself when deciding which chip to go with is "Do I need hyperthreading?"Will you be using multiple CPU-intensive programs at once? Will you be running software that's well optimized for threading? Do you stand to benefit from 8 threads versus 4?

If you don't need hyperthreading, and 4 threads are plenty, then the i5 is the way to go. i5 is cheap, but clock speeds are good (higher than i7 in some cases). And i5 has the added benefit of aggressive TurboBoost, which is intel's stock automatic overclocking system (which significantly overclocks when only using one or two cores, to help balance performance between threaded and non-threaded applications).

In a mid-performance laptop, an i5 700 series is probably the way to go.

If you're looking for efficiency and battery life, go with the i7 600, as it's very efficient but still offers 4 threads.

[PoorManQ45]

Nice write up MoD.

The i7 that remains under $1k is usually the 720. So it's a dual core with two physical and two logical cores.

I agree on the i5 statement. I am still uncertain about the true benefits of hyperthreading.

[mmm240]

Hmmm... 4 gigs DDR3, 250 HD win 7 32bit.Sounds like a winner to me, it's like the upgraded version of the one I was just looking at.Tell me why I shouldn't get it?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...46706

[D1SR240]

Great info in here guys, thanks.

One thing to keep in mind when shopping Intel powered machines is that Intel's CPU naming system makes ABSOLTELY NO LOGICAL SENSE. NONE. There are 3 different (and completely distinct) kinds of i7 processor. And some i5s are better than some i7s. Some i7s are quad core, some are dual core. Some i5s are quad core, some dual core. All i7s have hyperthreading, no i3 or i5s do. Prepare to have your head asploded.

Core i7 900 series are the monsters. They're expensive. 8 threads.Core i7 800 series are the next step down. Architecture-wise, they're simpler, more restricted, and less versatile. Still 8 threads (quad core with hyperthreading).Core i7 600 and 700 is the next step down. Dual core with hyperthreading, 4 threads. Architecturally very similar to the 800 series.

Then there's the Core i5 700, which is essentially an i7 800 without hyperthreading.Then there's the i5 600, 500, and 400 series, which are all dual core and basically i7 600s without hyperthreading.

THEN there's the i3 300 and 500, which are architecturally the same as the dual core i5 and i7s.

And it's not even THAT straightforward. Because an i7 920 and an i7 920XM are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CHIPS. The XM is the same as the 800 series chips. The 920 is a "real" 900 series chip.Things get even more convoluted than this, too, with divisions to laptop vs desktop and low-power variants thrown in. The naming doesn't even TRY to make sense.

So just saying "i7" leaves a lot of info out. It's like saying "get a Honda." WHICH Honda?

The first question to ask yourself when deciding which chip to go with is "Do I need hyperthreading?"Will you be using multiple CPU-intensive programs at once? Will you be running software that's well optimized for threading? Do you stand to benefit from 8 threads versus 4?

If you don't need hyperthreading, and 4 threads are plenty, then the i5 is the way to go. i5 is cheap, but clock speeds are good (higher than i7 in some cases). And i5 has the added benefit of aggressive TurboBoost, which is intel's stock automatic overclocking system (which significantly overclocks when only using one or two cores, to help balance performance between threaded and non-threaded applications).

In a mid-performance laptop, an i5 700 series is probably the way to go.

If you're looking for efficiency and battery life, go with the i7 600, as it's very efficient but still offers 4 threads.

Very interesting, I did not know there was so much variety when it came to the i series. I believe for my purposes an i5 would be sufficient. I don't play games on my computer, it's mostly for school related stuff (Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc), browsing the internet, music management (iTunes), managing my pictures, and occasionally watching a movie. I don't think I need hyperthreading or a quad processor for those type of things.

Right now I'm debating between these two laptops:http://www.bestbuy.com/site/To...&cp=1

I like this one because it's small, light-weight, has a good battery life, a built in wireless HDMI antenna, backlit keyboard, slot loading CD, and the media control buttons.

Then there's this one: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/So...23951

This one has the 520M processor, as opposed to the 420M - is this a noticable difference? It also come with a blue ray player (not a deal breaker but it is nice), A built in Blue-tooth (once again not a deal breaker but nice), a NVIDIA GeForce graphics card (I don't play games so I don't know if this really matters to me).

It doesn't have some of the features that the Toshiba has (built in HDMI antenna, slot loaded dvd, back lit keyboard), but it has a few other things (Blue ray, better processor, built in Blue tooth).

What are your opinions on these two guys?

[MinisterofDOOM]

This one has the 520M processor, as opposed to the 420M - is this a noticable difference?

The only differences are clock speed and turbo boost. The 520 is 2.4 ghz while the 430 is 2.2. But the 520 has a lot more aggressive turbo boost...up to 2.9 GHZ rather than 2.5 with the 430. It's just a little faster. And if you'll just be using it for "average" stuff, you'll stand to benefit most from the higher turbo boost ceiling.

The Nvidia card on that Sony is actually pretty decent for a laptop.

[mmm240]

Hmmm... 4 gigs DDR3, 250 HD win 7 32bit.Sounds like a winner to me, it's like the upgraded version of the one I was just looking at.Tell me why I shouldn't get it?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...46706

I'm gonna snatch me up one before they sell out. I'll letcha know how I like it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

There's a reason that one's half the price of the others. The Pentium dual core is outdated AND ultra-super-completely-bottom-end. It's the lowest-end consumer chip Intel sells. It's basically a neutered Core 2 Duo. Even a bottom end i3 would be a huge upgrade.

But for half the price of the others, if it does what you need, it's a good buy.

[mmm240]

But for half the price of the others, if it does what you need, it's a good buy.

That's the sentence I was looking for! I'm just a personal user with a small appetite for gaming. I'm really just looking for a glorified netbook.

[PoorManQ45]

I would recommend watching Slickdeals.net for better deals.

[D1SR240]

Just out of curiosity, where do you guys shop for laptops online? Besides sites like Bestbuy.com, newegg.com, and a couple of others I don't really know where else to look.

The only differences are clock speed and turbo boost. The 520 is 2.4 ghz while the 430 is 2.2. But the 520 has a lot more aggressive turbo boost...up to 2.9 GHZ rather than 2.5 with the 430. It's just a little faster. And if you'll just be using it for "average" stuff, you'll stand to benefit most from the higher turbo boost ceiling.

The Nvidia card on that Sony is actually pretty decent for a laptop.

I went to Best Buy yesterday, and all though they did not have this exact VAIO model they had something similar - though slightly less powerful. In general, the VAIO felt a little easier to use in terms of the buttons, touch pad etc. I'm still deciding, but leaning more towards the VAIO, all though I'm still open to any other suggestions anyone might have.

[PoorManQ45]

zipzoomfly.combuy.comhp.comdell.comsony.comtoshiba.comcompusa.comtigerdirect.comewiz.com

the list goes on and on.

Do like I said.

Go to http://www.slickdeals.net and look around. The main paige has the best of the best deals. The forums under "hot deals" have some other good deals.

I would wait for another i5 laptop to come up on the front page. You need to be fast though. When it hits the front page it is in the site of over 100k people. So if you don't catch it you may not get it.

[D1SR240]

So I went ahead and ordered this one http://www.bestbuy.com/site/So...&lp=1

It's back ordered so I won't get it for about two weeks or so. When I do get it though, I'll let you guys know how it is.

[sentrastace]

HP's are my fav for some reason. i recently bought a touchsmart with a touch screen that also folds down so its like a tablet to play games and draw and etc so its pretty freakin sweet.

[mmm240]

Got it, works, but I dunno if I like it so much.

when typing my hands sometimes hit the touch pad and throw my cursor wherever it was pointed. A bit of a pain, actually it's really f***ing annoying. I gotta find a fix for that, happened twice already during this response.the speakers are in front, which puts them under your arms when typing, kinda kills the acoustics; can't expect much being a laptop, but still horrible place for them. the keyboard is pretty easy to use though. I used to have trouble with these slim keys, if you will, but I hopped on and am typing just as fast as with a desktop keyboard. i seem to be having trouble with capsing the first letter of most sentences though.

Can I really complain for 450 shipped to my door though? Sure I can, It's these little things that bother me. I may be able to find a way to stop touching the pad with my hands while typing, but I sure can't find a way to mount the speakers at the top of the keyboard like they should have been, f***ing stupid.

[Jesda]

If its a synaptics, you can change sensitivity settings to prevent accidental mousing.

[mmm240]

What does synaptics mean?

[Jesda]

Synaptics makes touchpads and writes the device drivers that go with them. Go into the control panel and open the mouse settings. Then if you dig around there should be an option under maybe the Hardware tab to change even more settings.
Modified by Jesda at 9:45 PM 2/13/2010

[themadscientist]

Wife is getting this as a gift this month.

My Vaio just s*** the hard drive after years of use.

[PoorManQ45]

Wife is getting this as a gift this month.

My Vaio just s*** the hard drive after years of use.

So you're gay?

Why the switch?

[Jesda]

So you're gay?

Why the switch?

ARE YOU CALLING THE WIFE A LESBIAN

[PoorManQ45]

ARE YOU CALLING THE WIFE A LESBIAN

That would be awesome!

But know, I was calling TMS out for buying a MAC...

[Jesda]

HES BUYING IT FOR HIS WIFE

WOMEN LIKE CUTE PRETTY THINGS

EXCEPT THIS WOMAN:

[themadscientist]

So you're gay?

Why the switch?

O my, you're one of those OS-zealots. I wish I could say your asinine tendencies surprise me anymore.

Enjoy vista, doh!

[Red coupe]

O my, you're one of those OS-zealots. I wish I could say your asinine tendencies surprise me anymore.

Enjoy vista, doh!

Why? Whats wrong with vista?

Its pretty stupid to try and make fun of him, while being an even bigger tool with the "OMG VISTA" routine.

[Jesda]

Vista is junk. Its "warm" reception is why Windows 7, with its reduced overhead and improved features, was released so quickly afterwards. Its also why Windows XP has lingered on for so long.

I like OS X a lot, but Apple's laptops have always been more than I can afford for a computer. I did own a Powerbook 3800 years ago (at one time the fastest laptop on the market) and loved it.