Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Czarjorge]

Alright, so before the whole Dell sucks bit starts, I know. So does HP and anything else in my price range. I just need a laptop that will last for two years and isn't going to cost more than $1750.

However, doing research online for the last 10 days doesn't mean I really know about computers, just what I need and want. I think I've narrowed it down to Dell and the following two options...

Inspiron 1720 has 256MB GeForce 8600M GT and Intel Core 2 Duo.

Inspiron 1721 has integrated Radeon Xpress1270 and AMD Turion 64 X2.

They are otherwise identical.

Here's my quandary. For processing power the AMD is better. For video the Geforce is better, and Dell being stupid doesn't allow for the AMD/dedicated graphics card option.

The gaming I do is almost exclusively turn/real time strategy. (Civilization, The Total War games, Heroes of Might, etc.) Also, I'm buying a video camera and will want to edit videos of my misadventures in the SK. Which laptop do I get?

The editing software would run better on the AMD, but look crappier. The games I want to run SHOULD (correct me if I'm wrong) run with the Radeon card given the system will have 2GB ram shared.

Any techies more knowledgable than I, and that doesn't take much, have any suggestions.

Oh yeah, the Intel/dedicated card combo is $291 more. That's $291 more I could spend on a video camera.

[JustJohn]

If you're sure you won't want to run some graphically intensive games then it's easy:

go with the cheaper one.

[cbclark4]

The 1720 looks best from those two.
Bump to 2GB (or more) Memory.
Add the Web cam .
Bump to the best display.
Bump to the best Video card.
Bump the to the best CPU.

Add a 500GB External HD at a later date, for all your downloads.

[Czarjorge]

Wow, 2 opposite opinions. Surprise, surprise.

Clark the 1720 is already $291 more expensive. I'm sticking with only 2Ghz processors on each. The prices just dramatically to 2.2 and 2.4. I'm just hoping not spending the extra $250 won't be a problem with some games in the next two years. Right now Civ has the highest requirements and it's only 1.4, so I should be okay.

They both have the most Ram (2GB), the webcam, and the best display. The choice between the two is really all about Turion vs. Core 2 Duo and Xpress1270 integrated vs. Geforce 8600m gt dedicated.

Anyone play strategy games like Civ 4/Total War on an integrated graphics card?

[cangel]

I have a new 1520 with 2GB SDRAM and a partitioned 160GB HD. I also got the integrated webcam. I had some issues with the cam... It would work, then it wouldn't work. I'd reload the driver and sometimes that would fix it but not always. Ran the diagnostic, had an error code, Dell said my HD needed to be replaced. Bought an external HD to transfer everything, they replaced the HD, but the webcam issue goes unresolved. Now they want to keep my computer for 3 days and replace the motherboard... Not sure I'd go with a Dell again. Other than those problems, it seems to work fine.

[cbclark4]

[Czarjorge]

yeah, the 1720 with a $500 off coupon comes in at 1704. it's a 2200 spec. the coupon works out alright, hp doesn't have anything like that.

[spliff]

Buy a thinkpad, much better com, IMHO!

[Czarjorge]

Yeah, I considered a thinkpad. There were a couple problems. They don't have sound card options, just like HP, as ridiculous as that seems. They also don't have 17" models. Since my main uses will be watching dvds/tv, light/strategy gaming, and some video/sound editing (hopefully) I really want that 17" screen. Plus the keyboards are wider on 17"ers.

The price is right in between the two Dells though, and that's with a 2.2 core 2 duo and the GeF Go 7300. So, better Intel processor but worse gpu than the inspiron1721.

Damn it. I just can't decide.

[bassexpander]

What makes you think the AMDx2 is better? A higher clock-rate?

Unless something has changed, the Intel Core2Duo was out-performing the AMDx2 by well over .2Ghz.

Go with the Intel and the better GPU.

[SeoulFinn]

Yes, Intel wipes the floor with AMD these days. And this is coming from a guy who has mostly been using AMD processors for all of his life.

My CPU history:
Intel Pentium 133 MMX
Intel Celeron 300A (@450)
AMD Duron 700 (@1000)
Mobile Intel Pentim III 933
AMD Athlon XP 2400 (@2400)
AMD Athlon Mobile 2800+ (@2000)
Intel C2D 7700

My suggestions is... get the best possible laptop you can afford.

[bassexpander]

AMD is behind, and they know it. Instead, they did an interesting thing with their desktop processors. They decided to promote efficiency over speed with processors that are plenty fast enough, but run on 1/3 the power.

[Czarjorge]

Really? The AMD is crappier than the intel processor? Really?

I'll take your word for it, but most of the benchmarks, which I honestly only understand in the most esoteric sense, were better for the AMD. Basically the research I did suggested that the Athlon was better for running most programs in terms of speed and effeciency. The Intel was better for programs that utilize all the things the Core 2 Duo can do, but otherwise was slower than the AMD.

Maybe I'm wrong. Most of the benchmark programs were stuff like Adobe and Final Cut, stuff I would be using.

[The King of Kwangju]

Isn't Final Cut for mac only? Or is there a PC version now?

[Czarjorge]

Yeah, sorry, Final Cut was a bad example. See not that computer savvy.