Getting a Laptop for my Girlfriend , really confused by processors, sorry lots of Qs

Sillysod

If you can answer any of these questions I'd be thrilled!

I'm looking to buy my girlfriend a laptop on a budget, she needs it for very basic use

ie. Internet, Word processing, DVDs

She won't be gaming

I need to decide whether a 2Ghz Celeron Processor 533 FSB with 1GB of RAM running XP will be adequate

Intel® Celeron® Processor 550 (2.00 GHz, 533 MHz FSB, 1 MB L2-cache)

or should I go for a low end Dual Core eg.

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5270 (1.40 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2-cache

What is FSB?

If I buy a dual core for these simple purposes will one core be basically expensively sitting idle?

I've read that to utilise both cores the software has to be written for multithreading?

Is this common in most software or is this kind of restricted to graphics heavy games and development software?

jd83

Firstly you dont need 2.00 ghz and i gb ram to run xp

If she is only using it for email , dvd and normalstuff you should get one of those dell vostros which are pretty cheap

Fsb is the speed of the bus in the proccessor

Sillysod

Not sure about ram either I have a laptop on XP with 1GB and its more than enough, I wasn't sure whether to get enough Ram so if I decide to upgrade to vista the memory would be adequate, say 2GB, I know extra memory can be installed but I'm worried that if I open the laptop I would invalidate the warranty and mangle the thing.

Should I stick with 1GB and XP?

jd83

if u go with vista ge 2 gb of ram min its a ramhog. Also adding extra ram shouldnt void a wrranty and its pretty easy to do just makes sure you get the write type for your system.
I have a 1.86 ghz with2gb ram and it works fine with vista for all the things you said you require.

RoyalMarine

sillysod,

vista would need 2gb to run fairly decent.
2gb if you plan to do multiple things at once.
but it will still run fairly decent on 1gb

xp can be run decent on 256mb of ram so 1gb is more than enough.

dont upgrade your ram with dell what ever you do.

if you want to upgrade it, then do it yourself. the warranty wont be void if you do it.
its perfectly safe and very very easy. its almost as simple as replacing a dead battery in a remote.

as for the processor type just get the cheapest really.
speed wont be an issue as its just for internet / dvd's.

you dont need a graphics card either. they all come with onboard graphics so thats ok.
just get the basic package with dell.
if you upgrade ANYTHING with dell then it becomes expensive and a waste of money.

The Muppet

My advice would be to get the best spec processor your budget will allow. I would go for the Pentium over the Celeron every time. is another . AMD is another option with the processor and you could make some savings by taking that route.


1 gb of ram is loads for xp and adequet for Vista and its cheap and easy to upgrade. You won't void your warranty by upgrading.

Sillysod

rory1983 wrote: »

if u go with vista ge 2 gb of ram min its a ramhog. Also adding extra ram shouldnt void a wrranty and its pretty easy to do just makes sure you get the write type for your system.
I have a 1.86 ghz with2gb ram and it works fine with vista for all the things you said you require.

What kind of processor is it, single or dual core?
and do you know the FSB rating?

Sully

I have to say - if you have the money: Upgrade. With Dell when your buying a laptop or PC its normally only a small bit more expensive by getting more RAM or a better processor etc. Plus, it works out better in the long run. Why go for the bog basic when you have the cash to go that bit further?

If at any stage in the future you want to upgrade the likes of RAM - its not to bad to do, and if you don't have the confidence your local IT Store should be able to help you. Come here for advise on what RAM you need, buy it of Komplett, and give it to the shop to fit -- you save money that way. Heck, they may even show you what to do

If it was me I would go for Dual Core over Single, if I had the cash.

Good luck!

jd83

Sillysod wrote: »

What kind of processor is it, single or dual core?
and do you know the FSB rating?

Mine an intel core2duo 1.8ghz note sure what the fbs is.

angelsfire

I wouldn't even consider upgrading to Vista yet as they still have a lot of bugs to figure out. I would wait until the have vista with service pack 2 on it first. We had it and it sucked. We finally changed out machine to xp pro.

Good luck!!:)

jd83

ive never had any major problems with Vista , i also installed service pack 1 RC and didnt notice any difference but no problems.

AlmightyCushion

angelsfire wrote: »

I wouldn't even consider upgrading to Vista yet as they still have a lot of bugs to figure out. I would wait until the have vista with service pack 2 on it first. We had it and it sucked. We finally changed out machine to xp pro.

Good luck!!:)

Service pack 2? Seriously? Service pack 2 is a few years away I'd say. What bugs do they have to work out? The biggest problem people have with vista is that they buy a computer with 512MB ram and a celeron processor. Then they wonder why it runs like crap.

joefromireland

I am in a similar psoition which Intel processer is approx equal to a AMD TL60.
I am trying to compare laptops but am a little confused as I am buying for some body else I like to get the right info

jd83

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

The biggest problem people have with vista is that they buy a computer with 512MB ram and a celeron processor. Then they wonder why it runs like crap.

Thats it exactly, lots of people where i work use vista no problem, then people buy a cheap laptop from dunnes with the celeron processor and it has vista and they complain about vista and not the cheap hardware their using, dmn vista bashers!;)

duridian

angelsfire wrote: »

I wouldn't even consider upgrading to Vista yet as they still have a lot of bugs to figure out. I would wait until the have vista with service pack 2 on it first. We had it and it sucked. We finally changed out machine to xp pro.

Good luck!!:)

They're still figuring out bugs in XP Pro as well. Better play it safe and go back to Windows Millenium

duridian

rory1983 wrote: »

AlmightyCushion wrote:

The biggest problem people have with vista is that they buy a computer with 512MB ram and a celeron processor. Then they wonder why it runs like crap.

Thats it exactly, lots of people where i work use vista no problem, then people buy a cheap laptop from dunnes with the celeron processor and it has vista and they complain about vista and not the cheap hardware their using, dmn vista bashers!;)

QFT²

Sillysod, go for something dual core and with 2GB of RAM. You will not regret it, even if you are only running XP, it will make the computer so much more responsive and nicer to use. Also it will give you the option, if you do decide in the future that you want to run Vista. DDR2 memory is very cheap at the moment so it is a good time to buy some extra memory.

Sillysod

I was looking at an acer3273 Travel mate

http://www.acerdirect.co.uk/Acer_TravelMate_3273WXMi_LX.TH60X.002/version.asp

on acerdirect, I've noticed lots of negative comments about a few different websites selling laptops,anyone know if this lot are reliable?

14.1" Works out about 603 Euro

ProcessorIntel Core 2 Duo T5500 / 1.66 GHzMulti-Core TechnologyDual-Core64-bit ComputingYesData Bus Speed667 MHzChipset TypeMobile Intel 945GM ExpressCache MemoryTypeL2 CacheInstalled Size2 MB
80GB harddrive

Are any of these warranty upgrades eg. accidental cover etc. worth a crap?
I've read a few of the accidental damage ones and the fine print indicates that they don't really cover much at all.

Has anyone any experience of acerdirect?
I think they might be a wing of laptopsdirect and not Acer.

duridian

That Acer would be ok except it hasn't got enough RAM for Vista, but for that money you'd probably pick up a much better bargain from Dell outlet store TBH.
If you do decide to go with the Acer you should add another gig of RAM yourself, only €25.41 for 1GB stick from MemoryC http://www.memoryc.com/ACER/TravelMAte/TravelMate-3270-series.html
Haven't heard of AcerDirect until now, but yes you are correct about people complaining of LaptopsDirect, particularly about long delays in delivery from what I have heard.
Don't know about the warranty upgrades TBH, anything goes wrong on me, I usually fix it myself so I haven't much experience of warranties.

Sillysod

Went with a Dell Vostro 1400, with 1GB of Ram, Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5470 (1.60 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2-cache), Genuine Windows® XP Professional

All in all including accidental damage cover for one year it worked out 687 euro, I would have rather upgraded the RAM but she was looking over my shoulder complaining about the price so I'll have to upgrade later.

Thanks for all of yer advice folks, it was very much appreciated

emoKILLER

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Service pack 2? Seriously? Service pack 2 is a few years away I'd say. What bugs do they have to work out? The biggest problem people have with vista is that they buy a computer with 512MB ram and a celeron processor. Then they wonder why it runs like crap.

well bill himself kinda admitted vista was pretty crap a few weeks ago