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Different processors - Help me understand ?

  • 22-03-2007 2:31pm
    #1
    hallelujajordan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,080 ✭✭✭


    OK, so I'm planning to buy a new laptop with a budget of around €800 but I'm getting lost in the technology. I will use the laptop primarily for the following :
    1. Surfing the internet
    2. Managing my music library / ipod etc
    3. Managing my photo/video library and using photo apps such as Adobe Photoshop / Premiere elements
    4. Office applications
    5. Watching DVDs on long-haul flights
    Not really into the gaming side. . .

    I currently use a desktop PC with a Pentium processor and 512MB RAM and I'm looking for something faster (particularly for Photoshop)

    So, where should I focus my dollars to maximise my performance ? ?
    1. Processsor - Do I need Dual Core / Core 2 Duo (and what is the difference between the two ?). How do the AMD processors compare to the Intel ones ? Should I be looking for the best possible processor ?
    2. RAM - 1GB seems to be a minimum requirement for running Vista but do I need more . . ? There are Inspirons on the Dell Outlet site for €695 with 2GB RAM but with a single core processor
    3. Graphics Card - Will this make any difference to my performance if I am not playing games
    4. Is there anything else I need to think about ?


Comments

  • #2
    Tom Dunne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    hallelujajordan wrote:
    Processsor - Do I need Dual Core / Core 2 Duo (and what is the difference between the two ?). How do the AMD processors compare to the Intel ones ? Should I be looking for the best possible processor ?
    Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't Photoshop crunch a load of numbers? If so, for the sake of a a few more Euro, you would probably be better off with a Dual Core. See Wikipedia for info on Core 2 Duo. Briefly, Dual Core is a classification of processor, Core 2 Duo is an Intel brand that has dual cores.
    hallelujajordan wrote:
    RAM - 1GB seems to be a minimum requirement for running Vista but do I need more . . ?
    The rule of thumb is the more the merrier. Generally speaking, you can never have enough memory.
    hallelujajordan wrote:
    Graphics Card - Will this make any difference to my performance if I am not playing games
    It shouldn't. Then again, I don't know enough about Photoshop. I assume it doesn't use any advanced features of the graphics card.
    hallelujajordan wrote:
    Is there anything else I need to think about
    Screen size? If you are doing lots of image/graphic work, is a larger screen a requirement?


  • #3
    BostonB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB


    IMO the main constraint on your spec is this

    Watching DVDs on long-haul flights

    You'll need a smaller laptop to fit in the small space of an aircraft seat/table. Also you'll need a machine that has long battery life. Most laptops only barely last the length of a DVD, 2~3hrs. Some other ones last much longer 5~8hrs but this generally means they have smaller screens etc.


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