Hi, Guest
07-11-2007, 12:12 AM
Oh man... where to begin. I'll keep this in "layman"'s terms as best as I'm able. Ask for clarification if needed.
Turion64 X2 - a dual-core processor, 1 generation older than the Core 2 Duo stuff. A great processor, not very hot running. Less horsepower per dollar than the Core 2 Duos though. If you're an AMD fan (which I am), you'd still buy it. However, Chica, you don't strike me as one so I'll continue.
Core 2 Duo - a dual-core processor. This means they can perform 2 separate intensive tasks almost as efficiently as one single intensive task. By intensive I mean 100% CPU usage in the Windows Task Manager. On a dual-core laptop, you'll have two CPU usage graphs instead of one. They're the "latest and greatest" from Intel - they're very powerful, they're quite energy-efficient and they do tend to run cool for the most part. Extended use will send the CPU core(s) temperature to well over 60C (with 100% loading per core) - I've experienced this firsthand with my Dell Latitude D820 laptop many times.
You will be able to run your mathematical computation programs easily and quickly on a Core 2 Duo laptop, and about 20-30% slower on a Turion 64 X2 laptop. For all other things, you likely wouldn't notice a performance hit between the two unless you were really benchmarking things. For word processing, Internet and email use and casual photo work... they'll be near-identical.
There are two basic things I advise people to look for when purchasing a laptop - the Intel Centrino Duo mobile offering and a dedicated video card.
The reason for the Intel Centrino Duo mobile chipset suggestion is that this guarantees that you'll receive an Intel WiFi adapter with your laptop. I've had the occasion to test and use a lot of WiFi adapters over the past 5 years. For the last 3 alone, Intel has had a far superior WiFi card for performance and ease of use - two things that likely matter to you.
The reason for the discrete video card suggestion is simply performance. When you run an integrated video card (referred to as an IGP in most manufacturers' documentation and advertising), you "vampire" or appropriate some system memory to perform video card functions. In addition to the fact that this is a considerably slower way of doing things compared to a standard video card, it also detracts from your Windows operating systen performance.
Turion64 X2 - a dual-core processor, 1 generation older than the Core 2 Duo stuff. A great processor, not very hot running. Less horsepower per dollar than the Core 2 Duos though. If you're an AMD fan (which I am), you'd still buy it. However, Chica, you don't strike me as one so I'll continue.
Core 2 Duo - a dual-core processor. This means they can perform 2 separate intensive tasks almost as efficiently as one single intensive task. By intensive I mean 100% CPU usage in the Windows Task Manager. On a dual-core laptop, you'll have two CPU usage graphs instead of one. They're the "latest and greatest" from Intel - they're very powerful, they're quite energy-efficient and they do tend to run cool for the most part. Extended use will send the CPU core(s) temperature to well over 60C (with 100% loading per core) - I've experienced this firsthand with my Dell Latitude D820 laptop many times.
You will be able to run your mathematical computation programs easily and quickly on a Core 2 Duo laptop, and about 20-30% slower on a Turion 64 X2 laptop. For all other things, you likely wouldn't notice a performance hit between the two unless you were really benchmarking things. For word processing, Internet and email use and casual photo work... they'll be near-identical.
There are two basic things I advise people to look for when purchasing a laptop - the Intel Centrino Duo mobile offering and a dedicated video card.
The reason for the Intel Centrino Duo mobile chipset suggestion is that this guarantees that you'll receive an Intel WiFi adapter with your laptop. I've had the occasion to test and use a lot of WiFi adapters over the past 5 years. For the last 3 alone, Intel has had a far superior WiFi card for performance and ease of use - two things that likely matter to you.
The reason for the discrete video card suggestion is simply performance. When you run an integrated video card (referred to as an IGP in most manufacturers' documentation and advertising), you "vampire" or appropriate some system memory to perform video card functions. In addition to the fact that this is a considerably slower way of doing things compared to a standard video card, it also detracts from your Windows operating systen performance.
Daily driver 1: 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport "S"
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.