Laptop Processor Questions

stockwellphotography

Hi Guys and Guy-esses,
I'm getting a new laptop, and am going to get one with the following specs:

15" screen
1.6Ghz + processor
512 RAM
DVDRW
60GB+ HDD
Inbuilt WIFI

Now, the things I'll mainly be using it for are:
- Basic word processing / excel / coursework etc..
- Firefox
- Paintshop Pro
- NO real gaming
- MSN etc..

I appreciate that the only real processor intensive feature there is PSP, but I'll be running an older version (7 or 8), so have one question:
Will I notice much difference between Centrino (Pentium-M) and Celeron-M, on equal speeds (1.6-1.7Ghz)
Also, I appreciate that they're different, but what is a 1.6Ghz Mobile Processor's equivilant in Desktop P4 terms?

Sorry for the longwinded post, and I thank you in anticipation,


SB

nickmack

sberlyn wrote:

I appreciate that the only real processor intensive feature there is PSP, but I'll be running an older version (7 or 8), so have one question:

Running an older version won't necesarily lighten the load on the CPU, in fact older, less efficient code could use more CPU time in an older version.

The main factor though will be the size and resolution of images. If you have a several thousand square pixel image and try manipulating it with filters, that's when your Pentium processing power really kicks in.

Will I notice much difference between Centrino (Pentium-M) and Celeron-M, on equal speeds (1.6-1.7Ghz)
Also, I appreciate that they're different, but what is a 1.6Ghz Mobile Processor's equivilant in Desktop P4 terms?

The difference will mostly be noticed in a situation lke I describe above.

A 1.6GHz Pentium M is about the same as a 2.4GHz Northwood Pentium 4 without Hyperthreading.

stockwellphotography

Thanks for that.
I'm not doing heavy duty work with filters etc... just fairly simple stuff.
However, I do shoot with a DSLR - 6MP, often on RAW mode - resulting in 4MB+ images.
I wonder if it will lack oomph...?
Sam

nickmack

It will make a difference to speed. A Celeron is fine for desktop tasks, but processor intensive applications are telling.

How much exactly is hard to say, but a decent amount of RAM will help stop using the swapfile for large image manipulation. This causes a nightmare if it occurs.

Also remember that although your image is 4Mb on the disk, when you open it for manipulation it can use about 6x that. For example I currently have a 2848 x 2136 pixel JPEG image open that is 2.75Mb on disk, in Photoshop the size is 17.4Mb.

stockwellphotography

Hmmmm....
Maybe I'll stick to Irfanview
Are Centrino (old style - not dual core) 1.6Ghz any good, or do they need to be quick to be effective?
Sam

Lord_Chris

my laptop has a 1.7 ghz centrino processor and i run photoshop and Maya 7 (very processing intensive 3d software) and only very occasionaly do i have any problem with either.

you should be fine with whichever one you choose.

stockwellphotography

Lord_Chris, you reckon Celeron 1.6Ghz would be OK for running PSP, or d'ya reckon it would struggle?
I'm on a fairly tight budget, and would like a decent HDD and to be able to go up to 1GB RAM, but should I go for slightly better processor over an extra 512mb ram?
Also, what does anyone think of the £400 Acer at Vomit atm?
Cheers,
Sam

nickmack

sberlyn wrote:

you reckon Celeron 1.6Ghz would be OK for running PSP, or d'ya reckon it would struggle?

It will run it, but depending on exactly what you're doing it may be slow. If you only do occassional, simple stuff, it will be fine.

I'm on a fairly tight budget, and would like a decent HDD and to be able to go up to 1GB RAM, but should I go for slightly better processor over an extra 512mb ram?
Also, what does anyone think of the £400 Acer at Vomit atm?

Depends on the additional costs when you spec it up, you are nearly always better off buying extra RAM seperately. If budget allows, I would get the extra memory over another CPU if what you have described is correct.

Personally I don't particularly rate Acers. Have a look at Dell if your budget is £400-500.

stockwellphotography

Dell's not good imo - I can stretch to an absolute max of £450, and going by my Specs and Dell's pricing, it looks more like £550!
I would definitely buy the RAM separately - I'm not at all fussed about upgrading it myself, but RAM's about the limit - I'm not upgrading the CPU or the screen *hehe*
For equal money, I can get an Acer with:

Intel Celeron-M 1.6Ghz
80GB HDD
15.4" Widescreen
DVDRW
512mb ram (plus an extra 512mb @ £30)

Or an NEC with:

Intel Centrino 1.7Ghz
60GB HDD
512mb RAM
DVDRW Dual Layer
15" screen

Your take on the decision?

Sam

nickmack

Either machine should do the job, but assuming they're similarly priced...

Despite having a slightly smaller drive and slightly smaller screen, out of those two I would go for the NEC because of the Centrino for power saving and speed over the Celeron.

Only, if you have a strong preference for a 15.4" screen then you may want to get the Acer.

stockwellphotography

Okey dokey, that'll be my plan then
I'll (at some point) upgrade to 1gig ram, and that'll bring it up to the specs of the Acer (well, near enough, barring the 60gb HDD)
Unless anyone else can come up with a Centrino laptop with the above specs for under £430, that'll be my deal
Sam