New to laptops, a few questions

cfordummies

New Member
Hi, I'm planning to buy a laptop soon (mostly for space issues and because I could really use a new computer). But I have a few concerns as to whether a laptop can handle exactly what I intend to throw at it.

Right now, besides comparing its specs to my current dinosaur of a computer, I have no real way to gauge whether the graphics card or CPU are any good for standing up against modern applications.

I plan to use the laptop for what I consider to be relatively taxing programs such as audio recording, editing, and processing software. Video editing, animation, modern video games, 3D modeling software, programming and other things like that.

So I was wondering if one of these laptops would work well enough for me:

The first one has an Intel Core Duo at 1.6GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 533 MHz FSB, 2GB SDRAM at 533 MHz, and Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (shared).

The second has an AMD Turion 64 (I have no clue what the clock speed is or how to compare it to an Intel processor), 1GB SDRAM at 533MHz, an ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 256MB HyperMemory (integrated), and a slightly larger screen than the other.

The first is slightly more expensive but I'm not sure which would be best overall, or should I just go for a desktop for what I need it for? Thanks very much for any help!
 
Unless you ever think you need to carry the laptop, go with a desktop... Laptops have so many heat issues and just a generally shorter life span.

However, between those, I'd definetly say go with the Core Duo model.
 
Thanks for your reply. If heat is an issue, do you have any desktop recommendations? And most importantly, what kind of minimum system specs should I be looking for? (Especially CPU and graphics card?) Thanks again.
 
the Core Duo would be the choice to go with, plus it has more RAM and a better GPU... its just better...

if your worried about heat, get a cooling pad and clean out the dust on the vents with canned air once a week...
 
he wont be able to do what he wants very well with the onboard intel 950 though... Not to mention games suck with onboards.. i would look to get something with a dedicated GPU...
 
your going to need a high end dedicated graphics card, dont cheap out on the graphics with an on board crappy intel.

For most modern games such as battlefield 2 your going to need at least 256mb dedicated graphics, I have 512mb geforce go 7900 pci-e in my laptop and I still can't run it (100% smooth) on all high settings, plus you will need decent graphics for video editting etc.

For most modern games it will require minimum of 128 sometimes 256, and recommended 512+
 
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