Next Computer (its time, hopefully)

Message

#1 Post by **palmboy5** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 5:37 pm

With a Pentium M 1.6GHz, 2GB RAM, GeForce 6600 Go 128MB laptop and an Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2GHz, 0.5GB RAM, Integrated graphics desktop at my disposal here at college, I feel in need for complete replacements.

This is especially with the laptop, I mean... single core CPU? 6600? PSH. It is also a 15.4" which I consider far too large to bring on campus regularly, and I want to start doing that.

Neither PC is capable of handling 1080p video playback. It is annoying and pathetic because I have already decided to never download another "700MB" version of a movie.

Two options:
1.) Keep the shit desktop and get a nice laptop, it must be a 14.1" tablet and have 2.2+GHz C2D (minimal for 1080p), 4GB RAM, SSD, 4 hour battery life. Matte (not glossy) screen is a PLUS. Tablets never have any good graphics cards so I won't even try to find one. This would mean that my PC gaming days are over. (yay PS3?) I also haven't seen a single tablet that can match my requirements without being either $3498738743.99 or non-existant. At the 14.1" tablet mark you start to see models using the much slower ULV CPUs which I do not want, and if I do indeed not get a ULV CPU, then my battery life probably WON'T be anywhere near 4 hours. Regardless, if someone can help find me a model that can do my impossible requirements, please let me know. ^^ Until then, I'm leaning towards:

2.) Cheap 13-14.1" laptop with a dual core, 2GB RAM, 4-6 hour battery life. By all means it can be just suited for "word processing and internet" use. But for being on campus, it MUST have exceptional battery life.

Spend the difference [(option 1 price) - (option 2 laptop price)] on a Core 2 Quad, 4GB RAM, gaming-class desktop. Current proposed specs:

Updated 8/12/2008 (italicized are bought)

Case: Antec P182
$149.99 - 50MIR
PSU: OCZ GameXstream 700W
$114.99 - 35MIR
Motherboard: Foxconn P45A-S
$124.99
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
$179.99
HSF: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
$31.99
RAM: ??? 4GB DDR2-800 (2x2GB)
$??.??
Graphics: ??? HD4850 512MB
$???.??
Optical: Emprex (Sony NEC) 20X DVD Burner
$34.99 - 15MIR
Harddisk: Seagate 1TB SATA
$169.99
Monitor: Envision 19" 1440x900 LCD (to be dualed with second identical monitor)
$???.??
Total Spent $706.93AR

End updated.

I really need help with the graphics card, I'm about 90% out of the loop and am considering something of higher class to the 8800GT for not too much more in price. No idea what that would be though.

Questions? Suggestions? Comments? Hopefully I can get this done this summer.

I7Iz490N · #2 Post by **I7Iz490N** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:14 pm

2005 · #3 Post by **2005** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:56 am

You simply will not touch the 8800GT with it's price/performance... you wont. It performs on par with cards nearly twice it's cost.

As far as the video deal goes with all the storage you already have I'm sure there's no need for 2 TB worth of disk space.

With your 750GB HDD you can store over 100 movies. I seriously doubt at any one time you'd have over 30 movies on that thing. There aren't 30 movies that came out in the last 5 years worth keeping on the hard drive.

#4 Post by **palmboy5** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:57 am

Dragon, the file size comparison is not fair. Unlike the 720p version, the low end standard is set to 700MB rather than a resolution/quality. (so that they could be burned onto a CD). My Master and Commander 720p is 7.94GB for example, because it is a long-ass fucking movie XD. Accordingly, the 700MB version's resolution had to be really low (the reason I redownloaded for the 720p version in the first place).

Transformers 1080p - 12.2GB. *dies*

2005, LOL. Man, I wish my hard disk demand was lower. XD I've downloaded at the least 210GB worth of shit that I keep, since September alone. Its actually was surprisingly low to me. Consider also that I have to have a copy of everything at least once, on another hard drive. And then put into the loop, the imports from my 1080i camcorder O_O... Dude, those periods could be tears. Anyway, I only have about 761.3GB of free space left on my hard drives here at college, I'm starting to get worried! XD *checks Frys ad for hard drives*

The 8800GT may have unbeatable price/performance, but I recall having that impression for the 7800GT as well. Truth is that I was never impressed with the 7800GT, it wasn't good enough. Hell, I had to play HL2:EP2 at 800x600 and it still couldn't do 60fps. The card sucks. Seeing as the 8800GT looks like simply a generational jump, I get the feeling that I will end up in the exact same boat as before, this time with the current generation of games; it is a very distressing thought :X. However, now that I have a much better idea on card rankings, the 8800GT looks like the best choice anyway. Damn. I HOPE that before I end up building this thing, ATI releases their coming generation of cards, after which hopefully there is a more satisfying choice for me.

#5 Post by **palmboy5** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:54 pm

Most possible potential laptop for option 2:

Dell Vostro 1400
14.1" 1440x900
Intel Core 2 Duo T5870 2GHz
2GB RAM
Intel Integrated X3100 graphics
80GB 5400RPM HDD
8x DVD Burner
Dell Wireless-N and Bluetooth
10/100 Ethernet (ew)
9-cell battery (6+ hours-ish, 3+ playing DVD)

$758

#6 Post by **palmboy5** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:48 pm

So, the laptop I was looking at, the Vostro 1400 has been taken off the site. So, I ordered a refurbished one.. If the refurbished one works perfectly then my view of Dell will improve immensely. I just thought the deal was too good to be passed up:
1440x900 SEC brand (this will probably be bad... must exchange for an LG)
Core 2 Duo 1.4GHz
2GB RAM
Intel integrated X3100
160GB HDD
Intel 4965 A/B/G/N wireless
Bluetooth
9-cell battery
etc
$599
+ 20 for customer install bluetooth module.

So cheappp

Just need to get the T8100 for 203 at newegg.

#7 Post by **palmboy5** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:18 am

Directive · #8 Post by **Directive** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:29 pm

What is the 1394 ports used for? Shown in this pic http://www.mylilsite.net/images/vostro1 ... eftio1.jpg
Just curious.

2005 · #9 Post by **2005** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:23 pm

Its a type of firewire port

#10 Post by **palmboy5** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:08 am

It is Firewire, used pretty much exclusively for camcorders these days. In fact, I have my 1080i camcorder connected right now. I must try and see if this laptop's CPU can handle importing the video in real time (it must be in real time)

Seeing as in some cases the 1.4GHz C2D = 2.0GHz AMD64 X2, and my 1.8GHz Opteron 165 could already do that, I'm confident, but still must confirm.

Kay its fast enough.

#11 Post by **palmboy5** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:02 am

34873 Brownie Points if you can point out where the bluetooth module is, its in at least one picture. It was also a customer install so rule out anything buried by other things like cables.

#12 Post by **palmboy5** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:18 pm

2005 has won 34873 Brownie Points. XD

#13 Post by **palmboy5** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:36 pm

I will most likely change the video card choice from the 8800GT to the 4850, which has proven to be >= 8800GTX for $170.

#14 Post by **palmboy5** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:07 pm

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVidia-GeF ... 709.0.html
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeF ... 147.0.html

I find this funny. My laptop had an option to have the 8400M GS, and according to the benchmarks, the 8400M GS is slower than the Go 6600 in my 2+ year old laptop. XD

compL33Tazn · #15 Post by **compL33Tazn** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:02 am

uuupdate your liiist