Pentium or AMD

[Tromp]

I'm in the market for a new laptop. I'm actually leaning towards an AMD 64 +3400 processor vs. the standard P4 HT.

Here's a pole for all you "technology aware" people.

Which would you choose and why?

[GSTamral]

It depends entirely on what you plan on using it for. AMD processors are faster for single application users, and thus are for the purpose of gaming. However, if you are planning on buying a laptop for gaming, that would be silly. Desktops are much more affordable, and can be built up to have much more than even the highest end laptop. Pentium chips are better for multi-processing, and they tend to establish better internal connectivity with just about everything except the sound card and video card. I personally went with the Pentium M chip myself.

Pentium M 2.0 GHz, 512 meg DDR RAM (1 Dimm), 8x DVD burner, 60 GB Hard Drive, 15.4 UXGA Screen, Windows XP Pro, Wireless Mouse, Dual 9 Cell Lithium Battery. Run you around 2 grand, and get a good coupon (www.edealinfo.com) always runs a bunch, and you can get that for around 1500. But I use my laptop mostly for business.

Comparably, my desktop:
Pentium 3.4Gh with HT, 800 Mhz Front Side Bus, 20 GB 12000 RPM Raptor HD Primary, 120 GB Slave, 21 Inch Monitor, 1GB DDR 400 RAM (2 Dimms), 8x DVD Burner Primary, 24x CDRW/DVD Combo Secondary), 256 Meg ATI Radeon Graphics Card, Sound Blaster Audigy (6.1), NetGear Wireless Internet Card, Windows XP Home, MS Office XP Home, all for well under $2000 to begin with. More than twice the machine for the same price.

Unless you don't plan on having a desktop, I wouldn't take the gamer approach with a laptop.

[AnticorRifling]

Your desktop is a paper weight n3wb!

[GSTamral]

well, its also more than a year old now.

[StrayRogue]

AMD's are cheaper and can be overclocked more easily without the shitty cut-off that Pentium's have. Therefore you can get more bang for your buck. For example, my AMD is at stock settings 2.5 gb. Overclocked I've got it at 3.1. I don't even wanna look at the prices of a 3.1 in comparison to a 2.5.

[Tromp]

I just found a AMD 64 - 3500 for about $1200 which is more computer than I expected. It is still only 2.5ghz though. I'm not really doing much graphic gaming on it so Tamral's points are well taken. More or less just basic computing without all the size of a desktop.

Now add another $300 + for MS Office <sigh> Damn you Microsoft!!!!

[Jahira]

Go anywhere and get Microsoft Office for students and teachers. It is the exact same software but only costs 150 bucks. You can buy it off the shelf anytime. You just have to register it under a student or teacher.

[Tromp]

Originally posted by Jahira
Go anywhere and get Microsoft Office for students and teachers. It is the exact same software but only costs 150 bucks. You can buy it off the shelf anytime. You just have to register it under a student or teacher.

Do I have to know a student/teacher to do this? It is just kind of an odd thing to ask, "Hey can I register my MS Office under your name please?".

[AnticorRifling]

Just study something thus making you a student so you can register it as yourself as a student. :cool:

[peam]

Hay Anticor, build me a desktop. I have money now and I still give fantastic oral.