torn between 2 laptops

WithCheesePlease

I want to get a new laptop and am torn between 2. Which do you reckon I should go for??...

Basically the only real difference beween the 2 is the processor and the graphics card and the wireless extras. Is it worth the extra money?? About €300 more. Have a look and tell me what you think!

Option 1 - Inspiron 6400 - €721 after vat and delivery

Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core T2130 Processor (1.86GHz,533MHz,1MB L2 cache)
Genuine Windows® XP Professional - English
15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display with TrueLife™
2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]
160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Driv
Intel® Media Accelerator 950 Graphics Up to 256MB shared graphics memory
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software
9 cell Lithium-Ion Battery (85 Whr)
Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy® ADVANCED HD™ Audio- Trial Version
Dell™ Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Mini-PCI Card (for Dual-Core Processors)

Option 2 - Vostro 1500 - €1039 after vat and delivery

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 Processor (2.0GHz,800MHz,4MB L2 cache)
Genuine Windows® XP Professional - English
15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display with TrueLife™
2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM (2x1024)
160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
256MB nVidia® GeForce® 8600M GT
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Primary 9-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (85 WHr)
(No mention of a sound card for this - but I'm guessing it must have one??!!)
Intel® Pro Wireless 3945 802.11a/b/g Mini-Card - Europe

Nehpets

Just ordered the Vostro. If you wanna play mildly recent to older games you'd wanna get the Vostro.

WithCheesePlease

did you get a similar spec and price on the vostro?

Just wondering would the difference between the 2 justify the €300 price difference...

main differences being...

PROCESSOR
core 2 duo vs dual core
and 2.0GHz vs 1.86GHz
and 800MHz FSB vs 533MHz FSB
and 4MB cache vs 1MB cache

GRAPHICS CARD
and the 256MB nVidia® GeForce® 8600M GT vs Intel® Media Accelerator 950 Graphics Up to 256MB shared graphics memory

the_syco

gearoid_healy wrote:

Option 1 - Inspiron 6400 - €721 after vat and delivery

Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core T2130 Processor (1.86GHz,533MHz,1MB L2 cache)
Genuine Windows® XP Professional - English
15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display with TrueLife™
2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]
160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Driv
Intel® Media Accelerator 950 Graphics Up to 256MB shared graphics memory COMPLETE SH|TE
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software
9 cell Lithium-Ion Battery (85 Whr)
Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy® ADVANCED HD™ Audio- Trial Version
Dell™ Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Mini-PCI Card (for Dual-Core Processors)

Option 2 - Vostro 1500 - €1039 after vat and delivery

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 Processor (2.0GHz,800MHz,4MB L2 cache)
Genuine Windows® XP Professional - English
15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display with TrueLife™
2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM (2x1024)
160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
256MB nVidia® GeForce® 8600M GT VERY GOOD
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Primary 9-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (85 WHr)
(No mention of a sound card for this - but I'm guessing it must have one??!!)
Intel® Pro Wireless 3945 802.11a/b/g Mini-Card - Europe

Option B if you ever wish to play a game. Option A has a GMA 950, which is sh|te, and barely plays anything.

AlmightyCushion

gearoid_healy wrote:

did you get a similar spec and price on the vostro?

Just wondering would the difference between the 2 justify the €300 price difference...

main differences being...

PROCESSOR
core 2 duo vs dual core
and 2.0GHz vs 1.86GHz
and 800MHz FSB vs 533MHz FSB
and 4MB cache vs 1MB cache

GRAPHICS CARD
and the 256MB nVidia® GeForce® 8600M GT vs Intel® Media Accelerator 950 Graphics Up to 256MB shared graphics memory

The Core 2 duo processor is far better. Graphics wise the Intel one is a joke. What will you be using this for?

WithCheesePlease

thanks for the feedback!

mixture - from development (visual studio / sql server) right down to playing some games (like Medal of Honour and Call of Duty etc) and general browsing and pr!cking about.

Some occasional video encoding and dvd authoring too

So?!...

AlmightyCushion

gearoid_healy wrote:

thanks for the feedback!

mixture - from development (visual studio / sql server) right down to playing some games (like Medal of Honour and Call of Duty etc) and general browsing and pr!cking about.

Some occasional video encoding and dvd authoring too

So?!...

Then definitely go for the second one.

WithCheesePlease

ok, thanks, decision made!

Was just trying to make myself feel better about spending the extra money when the first one seemed fine!

AlmightyCushion

gearoid_healy wrote:

ok, thanks, decision made!

Was just trying to make myself feel better about spending the extra money when the first one seemed fine!

No bother man. I'm sure you would have found a way to justify the extra mullah being spent.