Laptop: Larger Hard drive or more Video Ram?

[afropick]

Actually I have two questions for you guys:

1) I've been wanting a laptop for a while now. Last night at Best Buy I'd picked out a Compaq Presario for $999 after rebate, but they were sold out. It had the following specs (off the top of my head):

2.3GHz Pentium processor
Built in 802.11g wireless
DVD/CD-RW combo drive
40GB Hard Drive
64MB ATI Mobility

They matched the price with a Toshiba Satellite A35-S159, which I ended up purchasing. They have exactly the same specs except the Toshiba has a...

60GB Hard Drive
32MB VRAM

Before I open the box, I wanted to get a few thoughts from you guys about wheter I should wait until the Compaq comes back in, or go ahead and open the Toshiba.

I'm not a huge gamer, but I do use Photoshop and a couple of other graphics programs quite a bit. What do you guys think.

2) I've never actually bought a computer before. I've always built my own. It doesn't void the warranty or anything to wipe the hard drive clean and put what you want on, does it? The Toshiba came with XP Home, but my school upgraded it's software bundle so I now have brand new copies of XP Pro, Office XP, and a buch of other stuff just sitting here. If I want I can put Linux or XP Pro on without hassle, right?

 

[Abhi]

Just making sure...

Does the Compaq Presario have 64 MB RAM exclusively for the V Card or is it shared/integrated with the RAM?

If it is integrated, go for the TOSHIBA IMO.

 

[afropick]

Gosh Abhi, I'm not exactly sure, but I think both laptops use shared video.

 

[boran]

I'd think the ATI used non shared mem, and the 32 meg card is a noname one, hence the first PC would be vastly superior to the second if it comes down to grapgics.

 

[afropick]

So I should probably take the Toshiba back and wait for the Compaq model to come back in?

 

[boran]

well, if you cannot find out what integrated video it is in the toshiba, an ati mobility is a great mobile video card. and I really think it has it's own memory instead of shared, and 40 GB for a laptop should be quite enough, so yes I think you should take it back.

 

[FishTankX]

I'm not sure. The rage mobility is based off the Radeon 7000 core and thus performs like a POS.

Even intel extreme graphics can beat a Radeon 7000 most of the time.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: FishTankX


Even intel extreme graphics can beat a Radeon 7000 most of the time.

:Q

 

[afropick]

Well, they aren't sure when the Compaq is gonna come back in, so I'm gonna keep the Toshiba.

The Toshiba does have Intel Extreme Graphics, so I guess I'm cool.

I do appreciate the help guys, thank you so much!

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: FishTankX
I'm not sure. The rage mobility is based off the Radeon 7000 core and thus performs like a POS.

Even intel extreme graphics can beat a Radeon 7000 most of the time.

WRONG.

you want the radeon.

 

[Solema]

I would definitely say go with the Radeon. The Intel Extreme is about the crappiest onboard video solution I've ever seen.

 

[beatle]

I suppose this depends on how you use your laptop. Personally I wouldn't be playing anything graphically intensive on one, so the larger harddrive would be a real asset for me.

 

[corey76]

That deal stinks of rectal ruin. I just picked up a Presario 1050 for $949 after rebates at Best buy. It's got a 15.4 widescreen, 40gig drive, built in Wireless, DVD-CDRW, and a Radeon 9200 that's cranking out near 8000 on 3dmark 2k1, did I mention it's got a Centrino which is so much better than a mobile p4? Can you say 5 hours on this battery baby! 3 hours of battery on Max Payne 2! SWEEETT!!! Did I mention DVD's look awesome as *****! Widescreen baby!!

I guess you can tell I'm a little excited, oh ya and got another $65 using my BB reward card. Even the speaekers sound really good.

 

[corey76]

That deal stinks of rectal ruin. I just picked up a Presario 1050 for $949 after rebates at Best buy. It's got a 15.4 widescreen, 40gig drive, built in Wireless, DVD-CDRW, and a Radeon 9200 that's cranking out near 8000 on 3dmark 2k1, did I mention it's got a Centrino which is so much better than a mobile p4? Can you say 5 hours on this battery baby! 3 hours of battery on Max Payne 2! SWEEETT!!! Did I mention DVD's look awesome as *****! Widescreen baby!!

I guess you can tell I'm a little excited, oh ya and got another $65 using my BB reward card. Even the speaekers sound really good.