Which laptop for a friend - which processor?

sunni

Hello

As I aint too technie minded I was wondering if you could help my friend. She's looking a new laptop and has saw a few and not sure which one is best. Think she said they were all Toshiba and Windows 7.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T5870 / 2GHz
Multi-Core Technology Dual-Core
64-bit computing
Installed RAM: 4GB / 8GB (max)
Technology DDR2 SDRAM - 800MH


Processor: Intel Celeron (900) 2.2GHz 1MB (L2 Cache)
Memory (Max): 1024MB (4096MB) 800 MHz DDR2
Hard Drive: 160GB (1 x 160GB) 5400RPM


Processor: AMD Athlon Dual Core QL-65 - 2.1GHz
2048 MB RAM 800MHZ/+1024 MB
250 GB HDD(5400RPM) SATA HARD DRIVE
Memory: RAM 3GB

Which of these processors would be the best or is there another type she should buy?

She did see a Intel Pentium one but couldn't remember the spec of it, as for me I ain't a clue lol. I just surf and check emails - oh she would download quite abit of music as well.

Is there any that are quieter than others?

[Deleted User]

The Core 2 Duo is best, but there is no noticeable difference between any of the latest CPUs if you only use the computer for surfing/e-mails/music/movies/word processing (except for the Atom CPU or others that may be used in netbooks - these are slower). Having said that, there might be a difference in battery life (although this obviously depends on the size of the battery that comes with the computer too, so be sure to check the battery life specification if it is important to you).

The difference between 1GB (1024MB) RAM and 2GB (2048MB) RAM or more would also be noticeable (so don't get the computer with the Celeron). However, the difference above 2GB is not really noticeable for general use.

debitcardmayhem

Out of these I would suggest the Core 2 Duo, but did you not show her your new one ?

sunni

tentonine wrote: »

The Core 2 Duo is best, but there is no noticeable difference between any of the latest CPUs if you only use the computer for surfing/e-mails/music/movies/word processing (except for the Atom CPU or others that may be used in netbooks - these are slower). Having said that, there might be a difference in battery life (although this obviously depends on the size of the battery that comes with the computer too, so be sure to check the battery life specification if it is important to you).

The difference between 1GB (1024MB) RAM and 2GB (2048MB) RAM or more would also be noticeable (so don't get the computer with the Celeron). However, the difference above 2GB is not really noticeable for general use.

Thanks for this, will let her know.

sunni

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

Out of these I would suggest the Core 2 Duo, but did you not show her your new one ?

Thanks debitcardmayhem :-) She doesn't like mine lol - She wants Windows 7.

She's saw one online here, its an Intel Pentium Dual Core - what's the difference in it and the Core 2 Duo?

[Deleted User]

Assuming it's a reasonably modern computer, this just has less cache (very fast memory directly on the CPU) than a Core 2 Duo. This doesn't make any difference for everyday use. It is only really demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, scientific/engineering tools, etc that require high performance CPUs.

sunni

tentonine wrote: »

Assuming it's a reasonably modern computer, this just has less cache (very fast memory directly on the CPU) than a Core 2 Duo. This doesn't make any difference for everyday use. It is only really demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, scientific/engineering tools, etc that require high performance CPUs.

Ok so either or will be fine maybe there's a price difference so must ask her lol

debitcardmayhem

sunni wrote: »

Thanks debitcardmayhem :-) She doesn't like mine lol - She wants Windows 7.

She's saw one online here, its an Intel Pentium Dual Core - what's the difference in it and the Core 2 Duo?

She could of course get you to post links to the ones she likes, as tentonine said about the diffs

sunni

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

She could of course get you to post links to the ones she likes, as tentonine said about the diffs

Ok she's just looked at these ones

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Toshiba_Satellite_Pro_L450D-11J_Laptop_PSLY6E-001001EN/version.asp

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Toshiba_Satellite_Pro_L500-1D1_-_Core_2_Duo_T5870_2_GHz_-_15.6_TFT_PSLS1E-00S009EN/version.asp

Can't find the Intel Pentium one now but will post when we find it.

gaming_guy

sunni wrote: »

Processor: Intel Celeron (900) 2.2GHz 1MB (L2 Cache)
Memory (Max): 1024MB (4096MB) 800 MHz DDR2
Hard Drive: 160GB (1 x 160GB) 5400RPM

If that one is like the fujitsu from staples, avoid it as it is only a single core processor (most have dual core processors nowadays) and will only make you want to go out and buy a new laptop this time next year.

I've just been handed an advert advertising that laptop and as soon as i saw celeron, i said avoid it to the person who showed me the ad.

You'd be much better off with the C2D laptop (1st one) or the AMD one.

[Deleted User]

If you do order from laptop's direct, you can get 2% cashback by ordering through:
http://www.topcashback.co.uk/Search/Merchants/laptops%20direct

You can get a better specification at a cheaper price with other makes, but then Toshiba does have a good name for reliability.

I only just noticed the question about being quiet. The Intel CPUs generally use less power than AMD CPUs, so the Athlon could be slightly noisier than the others (but there is no way to tell for sure without seeing the computer in person or reading a review, as fan designs differ so much).

As for the Celeron, indeed it is only single core. Sorry...I hadn't noticed that before! I know that Intel have been phasing out single core Celerons in favour of the newer dual core versions, but I hadn't realised that there still a couple of single core versions in production.