Laptop & GHz...HELP!

[carrowsboy]

What is the difference between a 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 GHz?

Will it really make any difference when I am burning CDs and DVDs or surfing the web?

[Lostmessage]

1. 1 digit on the end

:evilgrin:

[cprise]

2. Hard drive speed will make a bigger difference, usually.

A 5400 RPM drive is fast for a laptop.

[trotsky]

3. No, it will not make much of a difference.

You're talking about 20% difference in processor speed from the bottom to the top. Really not that big of a deal, especially for the applications you plan to run.

Save your money and buy as much memory as you can. Minimum 256MB, but 512 is better.

[carrowsboy]

6. 512 is part of the package

there is about a $238 difference between the 1.4 ($2493) and 1.7 ($2731)

Am I spending too much?

[Deja Q]

4. Pentium 4, I presume?

Go 1.7.

Must be a used laptop?

Centrino, Celeron, or Mobile P4?

Or, wishful thinking, AMD?

Earlier P4s were SLOWER than P3s at the same MHz/GHz rating. If this is a used P4 laptop, you might save a few $$ by finding the fastest P3 (1.3GHz, or was it 1.13GHz?).

For web surfing, the extra CPU power is pointless.

For burning CDs, make sure there's enough RAM and few processes/programs running so that a constant data stream can be sent to the CD burner.

[carrowsboy]

7. Pentium M

I feel so stupid

[Deja Q]

10. Don't!

For laptops, there are a small handful of Intel-based CPUs. Intel's the stupid one for creating crap processors, renaming them half the time, building them on the cheap just so they could get it out in a hurry... (the original P4 was supposed to be spectacular, but what consumers got was a pile of steaming ooze.)

[NewHampster]

5. My rule is Always get the most you can afford

because its already out of date.

My 1 1/2 year old toshiba is a 1.7 P4 Mobile and it screams, but the newer machines are not as powerful in the numbers below 2.X. Why doesn't really matter.

If I was getting a new one it would be a 2.4 or higher. If you are restricted to less then go for the 1.7.

Also remember that for most of what you mention the #1 most important issue is Memory. Minimum 512K. Get 1gb if the price is ok.

[Don_G]

8. Half-A-Minute At Best?

Save your money for now, upgrade when you can do it cheaply and tailor your "Dream System" to the advances in technology and "stuff" when you can afford to pay cash for it.

I, for one, am waiting until Apple comes out with a G5 Notebook where I can dump a Dell 5K piece-of-shit.

[BlueJazz]

9. Processing speed in todays modern computers...

...has gotten so fast that for 99% of programs there is really no
perceptible difference between a 1.4 and a 1.7

Memory (and TYPE) of memory is more important.
The difference in writing DVDs or surfing the web would be inconsequential.

Imagine a Corvette with 520 HP and a Corvette with 560 HP....
Now imagine them driving in everyday rush hour traffic and you'll see
that the extra HP is never needed. :)

[Ready4Change]

11. Very little difference between those speeds.

Don't buy if it's a Celeron. You'd have to pay me to take a celeron anymore. (Ok, admittedly, I'd take one for free. :) )

And just about any new machine now can burn CD's ok, and web surfing is more limited by your web connection than CPU mhz.

Getting more memory IS a good idea though. If it were a choice between 1,4 mhz and 512mb, and 1.7 and 256mb, I'd have a hard time choosing. (No I wouldn't. I spend extra and get 1.7 and 512. :) )

[carrowsboy]

12. here's what I got for $2493

Inspiron 8600
Pentium®M Processor,1.4 GHz,15.4 in WSXGA+, Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Qty: 1
Price: $2,493.00

Inspiron 8600: Pentium®M Processor,1.4 GHz,15.4 in WSXGA+ LP14NHK <221-3472> 1

Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition WHXP <313-2174> <313-2208> <412-0408> <420-3235> 11

Mail-In Rebate Offer: SAVE $150 with mail-in rebate! System price shown before rebate. 150ATG4 <462-6122> 56

Memory: FREE UPGRADE! 512MB,333MHz 2 DIMM (from 256MB, 333MHz 1DIMM) 512MB2P <462-5971> 3

Floppy Drive and Additional Storage Devices: Floppy Drive for Modular Bay FD <340-9639> 10

Video Card: 64MB NVIDIA® GeForceTM FX Go5200 Go NV64MB <320-2901> 6

CD ROM/DVD ROM: FREE 4x CD/DVD burner (DVD+RW/+R) Upgrade! (from Combo Drive) 4DVDRWP <430-0685> <462-6079> 16

Enhanced Software for CD or DVD Burner: RecordNow!Deluxe:Burn,Copy CD Music/Data,Backup,Labeling(CD-RW/DVD+RW only) RNDLX <313-2268> 72

Hard Drive: 40GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive 40GB <340-9636> 8

Primary Battery: 72 WHr Primary Battery ADDBATT <312-0066> 27

Productivity Software: Microsoft® Office Basic Edition 2003 with Money IBASICC <412-0452> <412-0552> 22

Security Software: Norton Antivirus® 2003,12-month subscription upgrade NORTON <365-1234> <410-0144> 25

Multi-Media Players: RealOne™ Player PLUS, w/Universal Media Playback REALPLS <412-0381> 40

Digital Music: Dell Jukebox powered by MUSICMATCH MMBASE <412-0516> 26

Digital Imaging Software: Dell Picture Studio, Paint Shop Pro Trial, Photo Album Starter Edition DPS <412-0521> 38

Dell Media Experience: Dell Media Experience™ DMX <412-0581> 115

High Speed Internet Access: Find a high speed Dell Business Internet service provider in your area. HISPEED <462-0985> 54

Internet Access Options: 6 Months of America Online Membership Included AOLPUB <412-0592> <412-0625> <420-3224> 37

Network Card: Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem INTNIC <430-0493> 13

Wireless Networking Cards: Dell TrueMobile™ 1300 WLAN (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) miniPCI Card TM1300I <430-0571> 19

Power Adapter: AC adapter -90w, 19.5v 90W <312-0177> 9

External Speakers: Stereo Speakers ADA215 <320-2527> 18

Color Choice: Burlwood QuickSnap™ Cover WOOD <310-3767> 60

Limited Warranty, Services and Support: SAVE $100 (price before rebate) 4yr Ltd Warr + 4yr At-Home w/ PC Trng Pkg ATG4RT <412-0360> <950-7447> <950-7830> <950-7833> <970-5717> <970-6467> 29

CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service: Save $60! Add CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service to 4Yr Lim Warranty

[trotsky]

13. Dell, huh?

If at all possible, try to avoid Dell. Michael Dell is a big ol' Republican. (Of course I say this as I sit at my Dell - found out too late to stop my purchase.)

But I can also say from my experience that Dell laptops (at least up until a few years ago) had some pretty significant quality problems. My company bought a dozen Latitudes a couple of years ago. (NOT my decision!) The cooling fan bearings went out in 11 of them, the hard drive failed in 3, screen failed in 2, and keyboard in 1. Fortunately these were all under warranty (they're out of warranty now) but with that high of a failure rate I wil steer clear of Dell laptops.

On edit: I should note that I have a Dell desktop. I have a much higher opinion of their desktop systems than notebooks. Still, avoid due to the political association if at all possible.