Current Desktop vs New Laptop Comparison

L

Lumenii

New Member
So, I have just purchased a new laptop. I'm a programmer and graphic designer and just looking for more opinions on how much of a performance difference there will be. I know there will be a difference, I'm just not sure of the magnitude. Fairly confident it will be... large.

Current Desktop:

Model: Dell Vostro 200
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 @ 2.66GHz
RAM: 2GB DDR2 @ 333MHz
Graphics: Dual 256MH ATI Radeon X1300PRO
OS: Vista Ultimate, 32bit
Notes: Using a 17" non-widescreen flat-panel that is a couple years old. Not the best by far.

New Laptop:

Model: Dell Studio 17
Processor: Intel Core i7 820QM @ 1.73GHz (3.06GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
RAM: 8GB DDR3 @ 1333MHz
Graphics: 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit (sacrified the $120 from Ultimate to go from 6GB to 8GB RAM)
Notes: Kensington dock, 21.5" new Dell HD flat-panel monitor. Laptop itself is a 17" full HD monitor.

I consistently run: Adobe Photoshop CS4, some other CS4 apps, Firefox, Songbird, Pidgin, Visual Studio 2008, Notepad++... you get the idea. Usually a good three-to-five of those at once, and some of the designing I do is heavy.

So what do you think? All comments welcome. :)
 
that laptop would beat the crap out of your desktop. the i7 is curently the most powerful laptop processor. and 8gb ram is enough for anything. that laptop is TOP OF THE LINE, except the graphics, but they are still good enough for what you are doing.

EDIT: the difference will be HUGE
 
Thanks. That's what I was expecting to hear.

As for the graphics, considering I do a lot of graphics work, what would you recommend? Upgrading it after a while if I can? I do plenty of 2D and 3D work, including non-static 2D development such as Flash.

That was the highest graphics card option I had.
 
usually on laptops the graphics card is not replaceable, but that one should be good enough for this kind of stuff.
 
ganzey said:
usually on laptops the graphics card is not replaceable, but that one should be good enough for this kind of stuff.
Click to expand...

Actually on many computers these days they are. At least gaming nvidias. I guess still usually, but in the high end graphics card department i dont think it is.
 
Flaring Afro said:
Actually on many computers these days they are. At least gaming nvidias. I guess still usually, but in the high end graphics card department i dont think it is.
Click to expand...

yes, many COMPUTERS, but about 99% of laptops video cards are integrated into the mobo
 
Thanks guys.

And the cost of the laptop, 21.5" monitor, Kensington dock, and new printer came to $2,850 including tax.

I just got a job offer and desperately needed a new mobile-ready work environment to support it.
 
ganzey said:
yes, many COMPUTERS, but about 99% of laptops video cards are integrated into the mobo
Click to expand...

Not necessarily true. Sure if it's an integrated card, but most mid to high end laptops do have a dedicated card which is easily removable. Though I have no clue where you would buy new cards or how to tell if a certain card would work in a certain laptop.
 
thermophilis said:
Not necessarily true. Sure if it's an integrated card, but most mid to high end laptops do have a dedicated card which is easily removable. Though I have no clue where you would buy new cards or how to tell if a certain card would work in a certain laptop.
Click to expand...

Yeah, im pretty sure anything with a card like this is removable. For one thing, they wont have to replace the whole thing if it goes bad if not integrated. Also, I assume you'd have to upgrade via manufacturer, but I have never needed to look into it.
 
Dell does have an upgrades service in the support section of their website. You enter your system's service tag and it will tell you all compatible upgrades -- that is, of course, those sold by Dell I believe. Therefore most upgrades should be listed, but probably not all of them.
 
Many editing programs like Photoshop rely on the CPU more than the Graphics card...so you should be good in that department.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top