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Is this a reasonable laptop for the money?

herman2811
herman2811 Posts: 1,080 Forumite
edited 7 August 2009 at 10:36AM in Techie Stuff
Does this represent value for money?

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/654/861/-/9606742/Compaq-Presario-CQ60-313SA-Athlon-QL-64-2-10GHz-3GB-160GB-15-6-DVD-SM-Vista-Home-Basic-Laptop-Notebook/Product.html?searchtype=genre

I don't need a super-fast processor - just don't want a rubbish one! What Pentium would an AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core compare to? I just want to avoid buying a celeron equivalent.

Main Specifications
Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
Processor: AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core Processor for Notebook PCs QL-64 with 2.10 GHz, Level 2 cache 1 MB
Memory: 3072 MB (1 x 1024 MB + 1 x 2048 MB), supports up to 4 GB DDR2 memory
Storage: 160 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 5400 rpm with up to 9 GB partition for system recovery and Lightscribe Super Multi DVD Writer (+/-R +/-RW) with Double Layer support - create silkscreen-quality disc labels direct from your PC with LightScribe: Just burn, flip, burn
5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards
Communication: High speed 56K modem, Ethernet 10/100BT integrated network interface, 802.11b/g WLAN
Display: Webcam with integrated microphone, 15.6" Diagonal High Definition HP Brightview Display and Resolution: 1366 x 768
Video: NVIDIA GeForce 8200M with up to 1407 MB Total Available Graphics Memory
Sound: 3D Sound Blaster Pro compatible sound 16 bit integrated, Altec Lansing speakers
Keyboard: 101 key compatible keyboard, Touch Pad with On/Off button and dedicated vertical scroll Up/Down pad, volume control, mute button
Ports: 3 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI connector, 1 VGA port, 1 RJ45 ethernet connector, 1 RJ11 modem connector, 1 headphone-out, 1 mic-in
Power: 65 W AC Power Adapter, 6-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery
Software: Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 60-Day Trial Version, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Windows Mail, Adobe Reader, Windows Media Player, Windows Photo Gallery, DVD Play, Windows Movie Maker, Cyberlink DVD Suite
Service & Support: Recovery partition (including possibility to recover system, applications and drivers separately)/ Optional re-allocation of recovery partition/ Recovery CD/DVD creation tool/ Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 (60 days live update)/ Notebook Help & Support
Weight: 2.96 kg, 3.70 kg Packed
Dimensions: 37.8 cm (L) x 25.2 cm (W) x 3.51 cm (min H) / 4.367 cm (max H), 421 x 135 x 204 mm Packed
Warranty: 1 year, pick-up and return, parts and labour - You can expand the warranty coverage of your product and protect it against accidental damage up to 3 years

Thanks for any advice

Comments

  • jweb2k
    jweb2k Posts: 360 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 7 August 2009 at 11:18AM
    Sounds fine - but why do you need the super-fast processor as a priority? You're obviously in the Turion category and not Phenom category of processors with a QL-64, so expect a 2008 microprocessor (albeit Q4) not a 2009 one. You're not going to get a desktop-benchmark processor like the Intel i7 9xx series which will perform brilliantly on benchmarks for Crysis - expect any reviews of notebook processors to be far down on these!! That said, it's a notebook not a desktop and your price range is competitive for a Q4 2008. I'd compare it to maybe a T8100 but it's such a rough guidance mark!

    QL-64 is a good processor though, you'll have no trouble with it :)
  • herman2811
    herman2811 Posts: 1,080 Forumite
    jweb2k wrote: »
    Sounds fine - but why do you need the super-fast processor as a priority? You're obviously in the Turion category and not Phenom category of processors with a QL-64, so expect a 2008 microprocessor (albeit Q4) not a 2009 one. You're not going to get a desktop-benchmark processor like the Intel i7 9xx series which will perform brilliantly on benchmarks for Crysis - expect any reviews of notebook processors to be far down on these!! That said, it's a notebook not a desktop and your price range is competitive for a Q4 2008. I'd compare it to maybe a T8100 but it's such a rough guidance mark!

    QL-64 is a good processor though, you'll have no trouble with it :)

    I said I don't need a super-fast processor! :-)

    I assume it would be above a celeron, for example? Maybe equivalent to a core 2 duo? Excuse my ignorance, I don't know much about processors - just don't want to get one that is slow and that I'll be disappointed with. I don't intend to play games etc on it.
  • dogmaryxx
    dogmaryxx Posts: 2,446 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Save £20 http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=32682
  • herman2811
    herman2811 Posts: 1,080 Forumite
    dogmaryxx wrote: »
    Save £20 http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=32682

    Never heard of CCL before - any experiences?

    A quick google indicates they might be a company to avoid?!
  • santiagobravo
    santiagobravo Posts: 68 Forumite
    have you thought about dell:

    http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/home/laptops_great_deals/fs.aspx?refid=laptops_great_deals&s=dhs&cid=HDLaptop&cs=ukdhs1&dgc=IR&lid=SHP_BK3
  • jweb2k
    jweb2k Posts: 360 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    CCL have been great for me with educational purchases, so no problems with them as a company.

    I misread your processor part herman2811, sorry! The QL-64 is certainly of Core 2 Duo standard and as I said you'll have no trouble with it. Unless you're an absolute games buff, the laptop you've highlighted will be fine.
  • flossy_splodge
    flossy_splodge Posts: 2,544 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    jweb2k wrote: »
    CCL have been great for me with educational purchases, so no problems with them as a company.

    I misread your processor part herman2811, sorry! The QL-64 is certainly of Core 2 Duo standard and as I said you'll have no trouble with it. Unless you're an absolute games buff, the laptop you've highlighted will be fine.
    I thought the Turion was the Core 2 duo equivalent, not the Athlon?:confused:
  • balloo_2
    balloo_2 Posts: 876 Forumite
    Havent looked at the other offers but this came to mind hope it helps you.

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167514
    Extra Value Laptop, Intel Dual Core T3000 1.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 250GB SATA HDD, DVDRW, 15.4" WebCam, NO Operating System Installed £299.96 inc VAT
    The solving of a problem lies in finding the solvers.
  • patman99
    patman99 Posts: 8,532 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    Herman2811, obvious question, what are you planning on using your laptop for?.
    Never Knowingly Understood.

    Member #1 of £1,000 challenge - £13.74/ £1000 (that's 1.374%)

    3-6 month EF £0/£3600 (that's 0 days worth)

  • £$&*"($£&(
    £$&*"($£&( Posts: 4,538 Forumite
    flossy_splodge wrote: »
    I thought the Turion was the Core 2 duo equivalent, not the Athlon?:confused:

    AMD seem to like mixing up names. These QL processors are part of series of mobile processors along with a bunch of Turions (the RM series).
This discussion has been closed.
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