gateway laptops

[T2urtle]

3520Z http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...01174&type=product

or the
4520z
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...01174&type=product

i wanted to know if there was anything diffrent besides the screen. one being wide screen and the other being normal. Also wanted to know if anyone has any experience with this. i plan on getting this and hoping it would last me 5+ years.

I've also saw the 100gb with dvd burner as well. at bestbuy. which i love but isn't on the site. Which would you get? Is the whole widescreen really that great.

 

[ShellGuy]

From what you sent i would have to go with the 3520 it has double the L2 cach and a bit faster processor. That will help you last your target 5 years.



Will G.

 

[beyoku]

you do understand that the graphix are pretty weak..

 

[dwdty9]

You're not going to be able to game. But you probably wouldn't be gaming on a laptop anyway. The graphics will suffice for internet, video viewing, etc. IMO, you won't notice it. The 3520 is smaller and widescreen. You'll appreciate the widescreen even if you haven't a use for it yet, it's sweet. Battery life is probably better on the 3520 also.

 

[T2urtle]

i rather have a nicer graphix card. tho i wont be gaming but i will be running emulators and minor games. What would you recommend in the same spec and price range.

 

[imported_haris]

Best Buy also has the Gateway 7405. This is a much better laptop IMO, but you will add some weight and probably lose some battery life. It has an 80GB HD, a DVD burner, and a relatively good dedicated graphics card.

 

[T2urtle]

how are amd64 laptop VS centrino stuff. i always thought that centrino was the way to go for laptops period for the low voltage and better battery life.

 

[ShellGuy]

Haris is right in the fact that the A64 is a great processor and the Radion chipset is better graphics wise it runs 64mb of its own DDR compared with the Intel using your RAM as its memory. Centrino is nice for battery life but greaphics wise it sux. I would have to go with the A64 lappy on this one.



Will G.

 

[imported_haris]

i always thought that centrino was the way to go for laptops period for the low voltage and better battery life.

If battery life is absolutely the most important criteria then Centrino maybe you're best option. AMD64 laptops are actually pretty darn good considering how much performance you are getting out of a 64wh battery. I don't mind carrying my 6805 with adapter and mouse(roughly 10lbs) to and from work everyday. It easily out performs my desktop machine at work. I just about stopped using the desktop in favor of my laptop.

When running on battery power it can last at least 2 hours for me, but I rarely need to run on battery. Centrino laptops can usually last around 2 1/2-3hrs, not that much of difference IMO (except for their weight since they are usually in light or medium weight laptops that are 5-6 lbs or less).

 

[T2urtle]

will that A64 laptop me more like a desktop replacement type? Because i'm looking for one to replace my desktop. PLus like i said i would be running emulators and games like counters-trike maybe source. And other PC games. Nothing too hard-core. My range is 1200. most likely later on i'll throw in a external HD and other stuff.

 

[beyoku]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
will that A64 laptop me more like a desktop replacement type? Because i'm looking for one to replace my desktop. PLus like i said i would be running emulators and games like counters-trike maybe source. And other PC games. Nothing too hard-core. My range is 1200. most likely later on i'll throw in a external HD and other stuff.

YES IT WILL. I have one of those and i will run doom3 and half-life 2. You can tweak the settings to get a max around 3 hours on battery. If you mind or want to tweak the voltage you can get maye 3.5. This laptop is the fastest that you can get in that price range. You do loose on battery time though. Centrino's get form 2.5 to 5 hours at the very low voltage stage. If you can wait till the end of january. AMD will be coming out with a new chip that is supposed to match centrino and intel will be pushing out their new platform specs for mobile - better grafix, 533fsb etc etc.

 

[T2urtle]

maybe i should wait then...

 

[imported_haris]

There is a new gateway model that should be appearing at BestBuy shortly. There was a post from a BB employee that the 7422 model's will be available 1/9. It looks really promising, but people are questioning the mobile graphics card that is supposed to be included. I've never heard of a mobility 9550, but I'm hoping that maybe it's one of the newer cards like the 9800 clocked lower. If it's based on a slower 9600 and graphics performance is important to you, then I'd try to find a 7405 somewhere.

 

[fbrdphreak]

If its the same 9550 in desktop cards, BLECH. Those things suck

 

[imported_haris]

It looks like the "mobility 9550" is just a mobility 9600 clocked slightly lower. So if you overclock it, you should be able to get at least 9600 performance out of it.

I toyed around with ATITool and OC'ing my 9600 and I was impressed with how much I could push it, but I've been using stock speeds for everything including gaming. I've been quite happy with stock performance in HL2, so I'll worry about OC'ing more when the next crop of games demand a little more performance.

I'd really prefer to have the faster processor, more memory, and larger HD of the new model over a few Mhz in the video card.

 

[IlllI]

mobility 9550 will probably perform less than the mobility 9600. i think its just a lower clocked 9600 or something


edit: like haris just wrote above me

 

[funggorgor]

i should definitely choose wide screen
Tired of working with a narrow screen

 

[inhotep]

I have the same Notebook, but with an older 1m L2 and payed about $150 more.
I would advise you to shop around, as you may find better notebooks for $1100. Or if you pay an extra 100, you will find better ones. One with a real graphic card. I purchased this notebook between some classes, and did not have gaming in mind.
Look at dell.com or ecost.com
I dont have much good things to say about the 4520.. I have had it for a few months now.. it held up pretty well considering I just throw in in my back pack, and toss it around. THe scree will press against the keypads and will leave inprints on the screen, if pressure is applied. The shell sucks.. the keypads are not quiet. If u do get this notebook.. i recommend upgrading the 4200 rpm slow poke to a 7200rpm w/8m buffer for $120 40gig -to $140 60gig. You can also get a 9 cell battery for 120.

Good luck

 

[inhotep]

Originally posted by: dwdty9
You're not going to be able to game. But you probably wouldn't be gaming on a laptop anyway. The graphics will suffice for internet, video viewing, etc. IMO, you won't notice it. The 3520 is smaller and widescreen. You'll appreciate the widescreen even if you haven't a use for it yet, it's sweet. Battery life is probably better on the 3520 also.

you can play games. Raise of Nations, and RoN II runs pretty will on the 4520 @ 600mhz. Thats with everything graphic options turned on. HL2 is playable on it as well; even Star Wars Galaxies runs on the intel extreme crap II Just have to tweak the graphic options. Any game that does not require shader, you can play it. It can play games but it will be slower, and make you miss the desktop graphice machines. If you get a laptop with simular config, upgrade to a much faste HD will make it feel like a desktop replacement, but with out the weight and the battery issues.