Buying Pc Notebook, No Money Limit

For some strange reason I have been awarded the opportunity to buy a notebook, a Pc sadly not an apple, while not having a budget limit. I now have a Dell Inspiron 7500 P3 500, and have been out of the market for quite some time, so I came here since you guys are knowledgeable.

What is the best out there?

I look at Dell's site, but things have gotten so weird. I see a P4M 1.7 ghz, for $2399, then next to it is a P4M 3.2 Ghz for $2099, I am thoroughly confused.

If there is any expert on notebooks out there I would love to have your opinion.

I am trying to find an OEM that'll deliver atleast an:

Intel 855PM Motherboard

P4 3.2+ Ghz

AGP 8x: GeForce FX Go5700 (is there a 5950?) or a MOBILITY™ RADEON™ 9600 with atleast 128mb.

Which of these graphics cards is better? I hate ATI (bad past experiences) but I need an expert opinion.

And atleast (if possible) 1920x1200 res 15.4+". I know it's high but I want to try.

This post is kind of precise and exact, so I guess only a true notebook fanatic will be able to help.

I read about Alienware too, any experiences?

Basically all I care about is gaming performance.

Oh and which laptops have those funky lights on the case? (like compaq), those are neat.

Again sadly my only constraint is that it is a PC, not apple (

Thanks for your help guys, this really was a lucky break for me by my company, as I have been trundling on on a P3 500 8mb Rage pro, laptop for the last 3 years.

#87542

Topic Moved.

PC Hardware questions should be posted in the "PC" section of the Hardware forum, or at Twisted CPU.

-------------

Stevie BM

With regards to the Dell notebook range, are you sure it's not a Pentium-M 1.7GHz and a Pentium 4-M 3.2GHz? There is a difference - the Pentium-M is a completely redesigned CPU, specifically for notebook use. The main difference is that the Pentium-M can carry out 24 (different) operations in its pipeline as opposed to 11 (I think) in the Pentium 4-M, which makes a 1.7GHz Pentium-M a near match for something around the Pentium 4-M 2.8GHz-3.0GHz mark, but with much better power consumption.

1920*1200 resolution at 15.4" or higher? That's really high for such a small panel... For example, Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo D Widescreen has 15.4" diagonal (admittedly, it's a widescreen, but then, so is the 1920*1200 resolution you specify), but a resolution of 1280*800. I think you're going to be very hard pressed to find a notebook with a greater esolution than 1600*1200 (in 4:3). Even Apple's 17" PowerBook only has a resolution of 1440*900 (which, again, is widescreen).

#87545

Originally posted by Three Drives@Dec 10 2003, 11:50 AM

For some strange reason I have been awarded the opportunity to buy a notebook, a Pc sadly not an apple, while not having a budget limit. I now have a Dell Inspiron 7500 P3 500, and have been out of the market for quite some time, so I came here since you guys are knowledgeable.

What is the best out there?

I look at Dell's site, but things have gotten so weird. I see a P4M 1.7 ghz, for $2399, then next to it is a P4M 3.2 Ghz for $2099, I am thoroughly confused.

If there is any expert on notebooks out there I would love to have your opinion.

I am trying to find an OEM that'll deliver atleast an:

Intel 855PM Motherboard

P4 3.2+ Ghz

AGP 8x: GeForce FX Go5700 (is there a 5950?) or a MOBILITY™ RADEON™ 9600 with atleast 128mb.

Which of these graphics cards is better? I hate ATI (bad past experiences) but I need an expert opinion.

And atleast (if possible) 1920x1200 res 15.4+". I know it's high but I want to try.

This post is kind of precise and exact, so I guess only a true notebook fanatic will be able to help.

I read about Alienware too, any experiences?

Basically all I care about is gaming performance.

Oh and which laptops have those funky lights on the case? (like compaq), those are neat.

Again sadly my only constraint is that it is a PC, not apple (

Thanks for your help guys, this really was a lucky break for me by my company, as I have been trundling on on a P3 500 8mb Rage pro, laptop for the last 3 years.

alienware if you want games

i hate dell, i would recoemmend a compaq

#87546

i just saw on techtv a bit about the light within the last few weeks... IBM ThinkPad X31 had it on the keyboard. and as far as alienware, i'v never had one, but i've never heard someone talk of it in any sort of negative light. that company always gets good reviews.

don't know too much about notebooks, though... that's all i can input. congrats, i wish my company would loosen the wallet a bit.

#87548

Originally posted by Stevie BM@Dec 10 2003, 05:55 PM

Topic Moved.

PC Hardware questions should be posted in the "PC" section of the Hardware forum, or at Twisted CPU.

-------------

Stevie BM

With regards to the Dell notebook range, are you sure it's not a Pentium-M 1.7GHz and a Pentium 4-M 3.2GHz?  There is a difference - the Pentium-M is a completely redesigned CPU, specifically for notebook use.  The main difference is that the Pentium-M can carry out 24 (different) operations in its pipeline as opposed to 11 (I think) in the Pentium 4-M, which makes a 1.7GHz Pentium-M a near match for something around the Pentium 4-M 2.8GHz-3.0GHz mark, but with much better power consumption.

1920*1200 resolution at 15.4" or higher?  That's really high for such a small panel...  For example, Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo D Widescreen has 15.4" diagonal (admittedly, it's a widescreen, but then, so is the 1920*1200 resolution you specify), but a resolution of 1280*800.  I think you're going to be very hard pressed to find a notebook with a greater esolution than 1600*1200 (in 4:3).  Even Apple's 17" PowerBook only has a resolution of 1440*900 (which, again, is widescreen).

Thanks Stevie, I didn't realise there was a new PC section.

Thanks for your suggestions, I agree the res is too high, though the Inspiron 8600 has it on 16.4", but again I think that your right, it's overkill.

I wonder if anyone has any benchmarks of this P-M as opposed to the P4-M?

#87550

Check out this new Gateway laptop.

My father uses Gateway laptops and loves them. That's all he will buy.

I saw this one in the Gateway store about a week or so ago and it's pretty slick.

Fast as hell too.

Here's a link M675XL

Gateway M675XL

List Price $2,499.99

Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 3.2GHz with Hyper-Threading Technology4

512MB DDR SDRAM (2-256MB Modules)

60GB ultra ATA hard drive5

Modular 6-in-1 memory card reader

Modular DVD-R/-RW/CD-RW Recorder

Value Service Plan-1Yr Parts/Labor/No Onsite/1 Yr Technical Support6

One Type II PC Card Slot

(4) USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), VGA, Parallel, TV Out, S-Video

17.1" WXGA TFT Active Matrix

ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 8x AGP w/ 128MB DDR video memory

Full-Sized Keyboard and EZ Pad® Pointing Device and Integrated 10-Key Pad

Integrated sound and stereo speakers, headphone/speaker jack, line-in and mic jacks

It's not exactly small... 9 lbs.

OK... last edit...

Network Adapter: Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet

Wireless Networking Adapter: Integrated 802.11g wireless networking card

#87554

Originally posted by Three Drives@Dec 10 2003, 07:08 PM

Thanks Stevie, I didn't realise there was a new PC section.

Thanks for your suggestions, I agree the res is too high, though the Inspiron 8600 has it on 16.4", but again I think that your right, it's overkill.

I wonder if anyone has any benchmarks of this P-M as opposed to the P4-M?

With regards to Pentium-M versus 4-M versus everything else, can I recommend Tom's review of the first Pentium-M notebook (from February) and Tom's comparison of Pentium 4-Ms.

I would suggest that you look at what you want to do with the notebook - I assume you want a "desktop replacement" class notebook, as opposed to a portable one? Don't forget to look at factors like size and weight if they matter at all to you - a few hundred grams may not seem like much, but when you're lugging it around all day every day (like I have to do with my notebook at uni), you'll soon wish you'd bought an ultra-portable (thankfully, though, mine was free, so I can live with a little weight).

#87555

Originally posted by Stevie BM@Dec 10 2003, 06:14 PM

With regards to Pentium-M versus 4-M versus everything else, can I recommend Tom's review of the first Pentium-M notebook (from February) and Tom's comparison of Pentium 4-Ms.

I would suggest that you look at what you want to do with the notebook - I assume you want a "desktop replacement" class notebook, as opposed to a portable one?  Don't forget to look at factors like size and weight if they matter at all to you - a few hundred grams may not seem like much, but when you're lugging it around all day every day (like I have to do with my notebook at uni), you'll soon wish you'd bought an ultra-portable (thankfully, though, mine was free, so I can live with a little weight).

Thanks, Ive been using a Dell I75k for the last 3 years (9.9lb), so weight is not important to me.

I am going to check out the gateway now, it seems good.

After 3 hours of research I found that:

-Forget Nvidia as of q4 2003, the Geforce 5650 is about only 60% as fast as a Mobile Radeon 9600 (I'd be the last person to admit it but there you go)

-Dell is good but the 8600 flagship only offers Pentium -M, not P4 3.2ghz like I seek, that is only offered on 5150, which ships with a crappy Geforce 5200.

-HP kind of stinks, only offering 3.06ghz on it's flagship, but only Radeon 9000 with "shared" 64mb memory.

-Compaq looks good, and is the only one with neato lighting on the case.

-Alienware seems appealing but I can't find any reviews anywhere, and has 2 lights on case (but kind of small).

Does anyone else know of lit cases like the blue glow on compaqs?

#87607

It may not glow but..

http://pctorque.com/builder.php?type=45

Sager 8890

P4 3.2 with hyperthreading, 800Mhz FSB

1Gb Dual channel DDR400

2x 60Gb 7200 rpm drives in Raid 0 config

128Mb ATI 9600 pro

TV tuner

16" UXGA screen

Wifi

Bluetooth

Inbuilt floppy

2x DVD writer

Network connector

Modem

6 Port card reader

DVI + VGA monitor connector

4 USB2

Firewire

SVideo in and out

6 way sound chip + SPDIF

XP Pro

Serial and parallel ports

etc. etc.

$3333.00 Customisable of course if you want cheaper.

It's the biggest baddest badass there is! :who's your daddy:

#87614

out of stock,... damn.

Man that 800FSB has got to fly on a laptop. That Intel 865PE chipset that enables 800Mhz FSB isn't even on Intel's website yet.

Only other manufacturer I've seen with that is Alienware and Gateway, (dell is so far behind, HP and compaq even more so).

Any one knows what model compaq this is?

#87645

Im no expert but I strongly advise you against buying Compaq.

I have an Athlon 4 2400+ and the Compaq notebooks apparently have a problem with the hd when you set the pc to sleep, I know people with the same prob.

I also have a Toshiba with a Celeron 1.1 and its dead slow when running on the battery but other than that has no problems.

Oh and my Compaq already has one dead pixel.

edit:

It's just Athlon 4 i think, not Athlon xp

#87646

I'm no tech-head, but the top of the line 17" Toshiba looks out of this world. Battery is crap, but out-of-the-box this thing roars. Check this CNet page for a review. It's balanced, ciritical but full of praise. I've had two super-fly Toshiba's in their day. Love them. What an opportunity.

#87717

DEFINITELY the new Toshiba Satellite P20-204.

It's ugly - really ugly - but it has everything inside for 3000 Euros. (aaaah I forgot that USD is so low these months that 3000 Euros means a lot of USD, sorry).

* modèle : Processeur Intel Pentium® 4

* clock frequency : 3.00 GHz

* Front Side Bus frequency : 800 MHz

* level 2 cache : 512 Ko

Memory

* standard : 1024 Mo

* max : 2048 Mo

* technology : DDR RAM

HDD

* Formated : 80 Go

* certification : S.M.A.R.T.

DVD-Multi

* read : 24x CD-ROM, 24x CD-R, 12x CD-RW, 8x DVD-ROM, 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD-RW, 2x DVD-RAM Write: 16x CD-R, 4x CD-RW, 1x DVD-R, 1x DVD-RW, 2x DVD-RAM

Screen

* Size : 17 "

* type : active Matrix 16:10 TFT

Graphic controller

* NVIDIA®

* GeForce™ FX Go5200

* video memory : 64 Mo

* memory type : DDR Video RAM

* bus type : 128 bit

* bus : 8 x AGP bus

Internal video mode

* 1,440 x 900

* max colors : 65,536

Battery

* technology : lithium-ion

* maximum : until 2.5 hours

Interfaces

* 1 x DC input

* 1 x line in audio input

* 1 x external display connector

* 1 x RJ-11

* 1 x RJ-45

* 1 x parallel

* 1 x TV out (s-video)

* 1 x i.LINK® (IEEE 1394)

* 1 x SD Card slot

* 1 x external mic in

* 1 x Fast InfraRed (FIR)

* 1 x stereo headphones connector

* 4 (back 2, right 2) x USB 2.0

Extension slots

* 2 x momory slots (0 available)

* extensions types : 2 x PC Card Type II or 1 x PC Card Type III

Wireless

* Compatibility : FIR

* Protocols : 4 Mbps

* Technology : Fast InfraRed

* Compatibility : Wi-Fi™

* Protocols : 802.11ag intégré

* Technology : Wireless LAN

Communication

* modem international V.90, prêt V.92

* 56 Kbps data (V.90) and 14.4 Kbps fax

* Ethernet LAN

* 10/100 Base-TX

Sound

* Stereo 16 bits

* Harman Kardon integrated speakers

Keyboard

* keys : 86

* Windows keys : 2

* shortcut keys : 3

Dimensions

* L x l x H : 419 x 293 x 47 mm

* 4.5 kg

Système de pointage

* modèle : Touch Pad

* interface : PS/2

* description : Fonction défilement

Système d'exploitation

* Windows® XP Edition Media Center 2004

Garantie

* Garantie 1 an

Accessoires fournis

* Alimentation externe

* Lecteur de disquettes pour baie modulaire interne

* câble alimentation secteur

* câble TV

* Capteur infrarouge externe

#87721

We have a winner, this thing leaves even Alienware and Sager in the dust:

D500P

Intel Prescott Pentium 4 Processor with Hyper Threading:

3.4 Ghz, 0.09u, 800MHz FSB (as opposed to 0.13u)

Intel 865PE Chipset

2048x1536

17" QXGA

Ati Mobility Radeon 9600 Pro, integrated AGP 8X

80gb 7200 rpm Drive

Four USB 2.0 ports

5.1 Surround Sound Out

You'll laugh at the price:

$2,712.80 incl tax. With a free printer.

#87723

Sony Vaio TR series...

#87724

Try the following for a no money limited budget:

http://go-l.com/laptops/hollywood/features/index.htm

http://www.voodoopc.com/systems/notebook.aspx

#87726

Originally posted by uhohzitzcooky@Dec 11 2003, 01:59 AM

Sony Vaio TR series...

What?

A 10" 1280 x 860, 266Mhz memory bus, 400FSB, 1ghz Sony TR notebook for $3000 inc Tax,

or

a 17" 2048 x 1536, 400Mhz memory bus, 800FSB, 3.4ghz notebook for

$2700 inc Tax?

Did you even read my post?

#87727

Why not the IBM T40? Heard alot about it..

#87737

Whatever dude, buy a mac!!!!! :canadian: :canadian: (nrzero hides his lack of knowledge about PCs)

#87741

http://www.pro-star.com/index.cfm?mainpage...tail&model=5614

I just got one of those custom done and i cant say ive used a better computer although im sure they are out there. I would say the only downside is the weight but it cost me $0 so i cant complain about that.

Mine is the same specs as the 5614-4B but with a 2.6 P4 and xp pro.

If i had the choice i think the toshiba would be first on the list without a doubt but im not really clued up on the techy side of notebooks.

Does suck though that u dont have a $ limit but it has to be a pc but when its not comming from ur own pocket im sure its not hard to deal with it (Y)

#87759

I'd go with Dell. I've bought over 30, including servers, desktops, and notebooks for my father's law firm, and I've had fantastic luck.

I also recommend the Pentium-M. Even a 1.6 GHz Pentium M outperforms a 2.8GHz Pentium 4-M, with much much less heat produced and power used. However, the P-M obviously does not touch the desktop chips used in some laptops.

If price is really not a factor, I would buy the Dell Mobile Workstation:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/con...=wsm60sbe&s=bsd

Hot sh*t.

/karp

#87805

Until reading.....

Try the following for a no money limited budget:

http://go-l.com/laptops/hollywood/features/index.htm

http://www.voodoopc.com/systems/notebook.aspx

.....I would have suggested an Alienware. I still think Alienware makes awesome laptops but after reviewing the specs. at the above mentioned site, it seems Hollywood is making some awesome laptops. Since money is not an issue, I say go for the 17" Hollywood laptop.

#87811

I would much rather get a Centrino than a Pentium 4 notebook...Centrino has at least 2X the battery life and the performance of a 1.7ghz is equivalent to approximately to upper 2.x ghz of Pentium 4. I dont see the point of having an uber fast notebook for stuff like intense gaming....if you want a 3.2ghz, just get a desktop...

#87991

Centrinos also have a chipset that limits the graphics, a big no no for gaming.

The best systems IMHO are sager laptops(i believe alienware and voodoopc use them). Check out this website. The laptops are amazing so are the prices also.

#88083

i dig that sager 2880 that can also flip into a tablet!!! plus it is pretty cheap at that site.

#88091