Need a new laptop (13in)

1130 Views 21 Replies 9 Participants Last post by mortimersnerd, Mar 25, 2009

mortimersnerd

Discussion Starter · Mar 15, 2009

I'm looking for a new laptop:
High end CPU, preferably T9xxx series
Good dedicated GPU.

I will replace the h/d with a 7200RPM so h/d size doesn't matter.

This is what I"m looking at right now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220495

I have a budget of around $1300. Anything better I can get for the price?

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

BlankThis

· #2 · Mar 15, 2009

I say go for the Asus

How about a SSD? 32GB ones are pretty cheap.

~B~

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mortimersnerd

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 15, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlankThis

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I say go for the Asus

How about a SSD? 32GB ones are pretty cheap.

~B~

I will probably get a 320 or 500GB 7200rpm drive.

Whats better, ATI 4570 or nVidia 9500M?

I tried configuring with Dell and it those two cards were the difference.

Asus has a good warranty though

Quote:

Accidental Damage Warranty 1 year ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty - Drops, Fire, Spill, Surge for purchase after 9/10/07
Parts 2 years limited
Labor 2 years limited

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Zzyzx

· #4 · Mar 15, 2009

ThinkPad SL 300 Series - 1Year Depot
Description Part number Unit price* Quantity Price*
ThinkPad SL 300 Series - 1Year Depot
Edit 2738CTO $1,304.00 1 $1,304.00
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2) 1
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Business 1
Operating System Language: Genuine Windows Vista Business US English 1
Display type: 13.3" WXGA LED Backlight 1
System graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9300M 128MB 1
Total memory: 4 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM) 1
Keyboards: Keyboard US English 1
Pointing Device: UltraNav without Fingerprint reader 1
Hard Drive: 160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm 1
Optical device: DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer 1
Wireless Card: Intel WiFi Link 5100 (AGN) 1
Battery: 6 cell Li-Ion Battery ( 2.4 Ah ) 1
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 90W AC adapter 1
Language Pack: Language Pack US English 1

Not better spec-wise, but ThinkPads are built like tanks.

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Reactions: 1

Asus Mobile

· #5 · Mar 15, 2009

Same model lower cost better technical knowledge than NewEgg, link.

9500m has 128bit bus 4570 has 64 bit bus. 9500m is more powerful.

Reactions: 1

BlankThis

· #6 · Mar 15, 2009

3

Quote:

Originally Posted by mortimersnerd

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I will probably get a 320 or 500GB 7200rpm drive.

Whats better, ATI 4570 or nVidia 9500M?

I tried configuring with Dell and it those two cards were the difference.

Asus has a good warranty though

It's hard to say. The 4570 on paper seams to be WAY faster with it's clocks and I think uses less power but it's memory (DDR2 and DDR3 versions) is 64-bit while the 9500M is 128-bit. That would be the 4570's main bottleneck.

~B~

EDIT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asus Mobile

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Same model lower cost better technical knowledge than NewEgg, link.

9500m has 128bit bus 4570 has 64 bit bus. 9500m is more powerful.

Dang it

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Reactions: 1

mortimersnerd

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 15, 2009

3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zzyzx

View Post

ThinkPad SL 300 Series - 1Year Depot
Description Part number Unit price* Quantity Price*
ThinkPad SL 300 Series - 1Year Depot
Edit 2738CTO $1,304.00 1 $1,304.00
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2) 1
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Business 1
Operating System Language: Genuine Windows Vista Business US English 1
Display type: 13.3" WXGA LED Backlight 1
System graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9300M 128MB 1
Total memory: 4 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM) 1
Keyboards: Keyboard US English 1
Pointing Device: UltraNav without Fingerprint reader 1
Hard Drive: 160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm 1
Optical device: DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer 1
Wireless Card: Intel WiFi Link 5100 (AGN) 1
Battery: 6 cell Li-Ion Battery ( 2.4 Ah ) 1
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 90W AC adapter 1
Language Pack: Language Pack US English 1

Not better spec-wise, but ThinkPads are built like tanks.

I would consider that if it had better graphics

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asus Mobile

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Same model lower cost better technical knowledge than NewEgg, link.

Thanks! It even has free shipping

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mortimersnerd

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 15, 2009

The other option is this: http://www.dell.com/content/products...=04&l=en&s=bsd

The middle one, with 9500M. I'm generally not a fan of Dell. You can upgrade the CPU to P9600 for $0.

Asus Mobile

· #9 · Mar 15, 2009

mort, did you see the XPS 13 upgrade to the P9600 costs $0? The DeLL comes with 7200 HDD. The DeLL's battery life should crush the Asus.

I hate to say it but the DeLL wins this one. If you upgrade to LED even more so!

mortimersnerd

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asus Mobile

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mort, did you see the XPS 13 upgrade to the P9600 costs $0? The DeLL comes with 7200 HDD. The DeLL's battery life should crush the Asus.

I hate to say it but the DeLL wins this one. If you upgrade to LED even more so!

Yeah, with the LED display, its $1400.

Quote:

SYSTEM COLORObsidian Black with Leather Accentedit
PROCESSORIntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ 2 Duo P9600 (6MB cache/2.66GHz/1066Mhz FSB)edit
OPERATING SYSTEMGenuine Windows VistaÂ® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-bitedit
WARRANTY AND SERVICE1 Yr Ltd Warranty, On-site Service, and 1 Yr Tech Supportedit
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWAREMicrosoft Works 9.0 - English: Spreadsheet, Word Processor and Calendaredit
HD DISPLAYEdge-to-Edge 13.3" HD WXGA Slim WLED LCD with 1.3 Megapixel Cameraedit
MEMORY4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1067MHz (2 Dimms)edit
HARD DRIVE320GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Driveedit
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVESlot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write)edit
VIDEO CARDNVIDIAÂ® GeForceÂ® 9500M - 256MBedit
WIRELESS CARDSDell Wireless 1515 802.11n Half Mini-Cardedit
BATTERY OPTIONS56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Batteryedit
SOUND OPTIONSHigh Definition Audio 2.0edit
BLUETOOTHDell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module (2.1+EDR)edit

Its the same cost, after I upgrade to a 7200rpm drive in the Asus.

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version2

· #11 · Mar 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by mortimersnerd

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Whats better, ATI 4570 or nVidia 9500M?

I use this website to compare laptop video cards. (Orders from best to worst):
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Compari...rds.130.0.html

Short answer: The 4750 is a bit better than the 9500

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Asus Mobile

· #12 · Mar 15, 2009

I just configured the one on the left/cheaper starting price. Configured the same $1359.

DeLL pricing is whacky but hey cheaper is cheaper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by version2

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I use this website to compare laptop video cards. (Orders from best to worst):
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Compari...rds.130.0.html

Short answer: The 4750 is a bit better than the 9500

And this is a great example of what is sometimes wrong with that site.

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Asus Mobile

· #13 · Mar 15, 2009

Alright I take everything about the 9500m GE back. It is a 9200m and 9400m combined in SLI and a 64bit bus. So yea the 4570 could beat it. Also if the game does not use SLI 4570 should crush.

I still like the DeLL. Even though I think the Asus will game a little better.

mortimersnerd

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 15, 2009

Wow, the pricing is odd. I just reconfigured it with the LED display and it came out as $1340 now.

Basically will the 9500M play the following games well:
TF2, L4D, CS:S.

Asus Mobile

· #15 · Mar 15, 2009

In reading last night/morning. Seemed some concern about micro stuttering because of frame alignment between the two GPU's. That is why I am leaning toward 4570 as better performing.

I don't know how to say this technically so will just spit it out. It is one thing to have very powerful GPU's and then add another to offer greater power. It is entirely different to SLI to get to the minimum.

The descriptions I read say should play DX9 games on medium settings.

Reactions: 1

mortimersnerd

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 15, 2009

Hmm, okay. I will probably go with the Asus. I like their warranty better, but it would be nice to have the better screen, but not too big of a factor.

Super Fly

· #17 · Mar 16, 2009

That's sorta expensive...
Here the F6VE is going for $1348 AUD ~ $884 USD.
Same specs and yadda yadda.

mortimersnerd

Discussion Starter · #18 · Mar 24, 2009

Anyone know of a 13in laptop with better graphics than 4570. I would even consider a 14in. It seems that there just isn't laptops with good graphics in that size.

pauldovi

· #19 · Mar 25, 2009

Lenovo is normally quite a bit cheaper than Dell, especially if you use the Visa discount and their always available promo code. I had a W500 that I really like but it is a 15.4" screen which is larger than what you are looking for.

JDM555

· #20 · Mar 25, 2009

What about Dell's XPS M1330? My brother has it and it is one clean looking/powerful notebook. Very light and portable/thin. It comes with an 8400M which has 128MB Memory and the lowest option for a cpu is the 2.0 Core Duo. I think it starts at $999. Definitely get the LED Option! After that, I think the price is around $1100. Check it out!
John

Starts at $899, after I built it according to your wants, (320GB 7200RPM HDD, 8400M GPU, LED Screen, 4GB Ram, 2.2Ghz Duo Core, and whatnot) and it came out to around $1279. Good Luck

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