The "What Laptop Should I Buy?" Guide!

[Shadowmage]

Processor Choice

1. Pentium M

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipset...doc.aspx?i=2129

Overview:
This processor runs at low wattage - 21W to be exact - to provide amazing battery life. Notebooks with this processor usually have weak batteries, yet have amazing battery life, running from 3 to 5 or even 8 hours. These notebooks also tend to be lighter, since the Pentium M can be easily cooled. Processor speeds range from 1.5ghz to 2.16ghz. The Pentium M can only use DDR333.

Performance: High
The Dothan core is roughly equivelent to the AMD64 in performance. Therefore, a 2.0ghz Pentium M is roughly equal to a 2.0ghz AMD64 Mobile.

Note: Performance ratings are for the top processor of the class (755).

Business Applications: High
Multimedia Encoding: Mid-Low
Gaming: High
Workstation: Medium

Supports: MMX, SSE, SSE2


Tweak Support:
unknown - PM me or post here for multi adjustment/fsb adjustment software.



Pros:
1. Low power
2. Low heat output - lighter notebooks!
3. Powerful (if choose the 755)

Cons:
1. Expensive
2. 1.5ghz-1.8ghz chips offer lower performance
3. No 64bit support
4. Low memory bandwidth

Overall Mobile Performance rating: 9.5


2. AMD 64 Mobile

This is just a lower voltage version of the AMD64 socket 754 with a 1MB cache. There is the DTR (71W) version the Mobile (62W) version, and the True Mobile (35W) version. The Mobile is just a DTR set at 1.4v, which is a setting all DTR models can run. Therefore, choose a DTR whenever possible, as you can tweak it to run at 1.4v (or less!) with programs.

Performance:

Note: Performance of a 3000+ 2.0ghz desktop compared to the 2.0ghz Dothan and 3.2ghz Pentium 4

Business Applications: Mid-High
Multimedia Encoding: High
Gaming Performance: High
Workstation Performance: Mid-High

Supports: MMX, SSE, SSE2. Next gen will support SSE3.

Tweak Support:

See my guide. There are so many tweaks for this, I wrote a guide specially for it!

Pros:
1. Cheap - a $200 AMD64 is roughly as powerful as the $500 755.
2. Immensely tweakable, thanks to PowerNow! and 3rd party tweak programs.
3. 64 bit support
4. Hardware antivirus support (I doubt its usefulness)

Cons:
1. Higher heat output
2. Higher power intake

Overall Mobile Performance Rating: 9

3. Celeron M/AMD XP M/Sempron

Both chips use low volts 25W to 45W, depending on model. AMP XP is more powerful, but uses a bit more power. These are the lowest model processors you should get. The Sempron is basically the same thing as an AMD XP.

3. Others

Try not to fall for the EVIL PENTIUM 4 TRAP! Especially now, since the Prescott is a battery-draining, lap-scorching 110W monster.

I will however, reap criticism on the lesser laptop processors.

Pentium 4 M
High Heat - If you value your lap, don't buy this!
High Power intake - Bye bye batteries!

Pentium 4
See above Pentium 4 M, then multiply the suckiness by 2!

Pentium 4 Extreme Edition
If you get this for your laptop, you deserve to be butt-raped by Goatse man.


Celeron
1. It's a crappy Pentium 4! WOW!

AMD Sempron
Roughly same TDP and power intake as the AMD64 DTR, but much less powerful. nuff said.


OK, now on to the Mobile VGA cards!

nVidia 6800 go/ATI M28
The mother of all mobile VGA cards! They all sport 12 pipes and 256bit memory. The M28 kicked some 6800 butt in Anandtech's latest review, but that's probably because it was a lower-clocked version (300/300). These are slightly less powerful 6800 nU/X800 Pro video cards. Remember that X800 Pro easily beats the 6800 nU.

There is no information regarding heat/power, but I will assume that it's higher than others.

Pros:
1. Extremely powerful!
2. Pci-Express format
3. Upgradable modular design
4. Possible multi-GPU support

Cons:
1. Expensive
2. Higher thermal output
3. Higher power intake


Radeon 9800
This is about equal to the performance of a Radeon 9800 desktop version. It is built from the X800 core, except it's limited to 8 pipes. It still have 256bit memory, fortunately. Unfortunately, it's only sold in Dell computers at the moment. This will soon change, due to the entrance of the 6800/M28. It uses the AGP format.

Pros:
1. Very good performance

Cons:
1. AGP interface
2. Non-upgradable (since it's the best AGP card)
3. Rare

Radeon 9700/9600
This is basically a Radeon 9600 Pro. The 9700 is simply a speed bump of the 9600. The only other improvement is the use of low-k tech, which means cooler GPUs. This has been on the market the longest out of all the 'high end' GPUs.

Pros:
1. Decent performance
2. Common to find

Cons:
1. AGP interface
2. Most likely non-upgradable
3. Uncomparable to Desktop GPU performance (9600XT is now low end)

Radeon X600
This is the first PCI-Express GPU. It's basically a X800 core limited to 4 pipes and 128mb memory. The good thing is that it's most likely upgradable. The power of this processor is comparable to the Radeon 9700 Mobility.

Pros:
1. PCI-Express
2. Upgradable
3. "High end" performance

Cons:
1. Performance is high for a laptop, low for a desktop.

nVidia 5700/5650 go
This is the second-highest nVidia offering. It is no match for the Radeon 9700/9600, because it uses the old FX architecture, which even nVidia fanboys now admit is crap. High clock speeds, high power consumption and lower performance describes this GPU. There is a reason why the Radeon 9700 Pro is used in most gaming laptops... hinthinthint... However, nVidia remains the OpenGL leader, so if Doom3 is your #1 priority, then go for it!

Anything that is not a GPU listed above is not good for playing the latest games on your laptop, unless you wish to run them at 800x600.




Recommended Notebooks:

1. Ultra-Highend DTR - Price: Unlimited
This is for the user that doesn't want to move the computer from his desk, aside from lugging this thing to LANs.

I recommend the Hypersonic Aviator EX7

http://secure.hypersonic-pc.com/scr...sid=Aviator_zx5

All DTRs with the 6800 go (M28 has not even been released yet!) use the Pentium 4. However, since this is the DTR category, we will overlook the fact that the laptop weighs 12lbs.

Pros:
1. nVidia 6800 go: nuff said
2. 17" screen
3. Hypersonic has a GREAT dead pixel policy
4. Gigabit ethernet
5. RAID 0 Hard drive

Cons:
1. 12lbs - I'll overlook this since it's a DTR
2. Pentium 4 - Again, only P4 laptops carry the 6800 go... sigh...


2. Midrange Gaming Notebook - Price: ~$1500-$2000
This class is for the user who doesn't mind lugging 7-8lbs or so and wants top-notch gaming performance at a decent price.

I recommend the Ibuypower Battalion 101 S Turbo

http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/store/...or.aspx?mid=123

This is my notebook. Great price, for a great AMD64 notebook based off of the awesome Uniwill chassis. I like the Widescreen aspect too.

Pros:
1. AMD64 processor
2. Radeon 9700 128mb
3. 15.4" widescreen

Cons:
1. Some people don't like Ibuypower
2. Weight: 7.8lbs
3. 1280x800 resolution is distained by the SUUUUUUXGA freaks
4. Radeon 9700 128mb - No Radeon 9800 or 6800/M28 computer in this class avail

3. Lightweight Gaming Machine With Long Battery Life That's Cheap
Some people want it all. Of course, that means you have to balance out the specs. If you focus on everything, you end up with a laptop that's mediocre with everything.

I recommend the Acer TravelMate 3201XCi

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...-115-143&depa=3

Fortunately, ACER specially designed a laptop for you guys who want it all. It's not the greatest performer (about equal to an AMD64 2600+), has decent - but not great game performance (Only 64mb VGA RAM), and has a pretty darn good weight of ~5lbs. Good thing it's upgradable.

Pros:
1. Above average battery life
2. Newegg is a trustworthy store
3. Acer is a trustworthy brand
4. Above average VGA card
5. Great weight

Cons:
1. Mediocre performance (1.5ghz Banias = 1.5ghz AMD64)
2. 64mb VGA

4. The Cheap-@$$ Miser's Notebook
Ahh, the person who wants the cheapest notebook. No doubt it's crap, but hey, whatever floats your boat....

I recommend the Acer Notebook TM2301LC

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...-115-153&depa=3

Pros:
1. It's cheap ($699)
2. 15" LCD panel
3. 6.2lb is pretty light

Cons:
1. Crappy Celeron M
2. Crappy 30gb hd
3. only 256mb RAM
4. Integrated Intel Extreme(ly cr@ppy) VGA


(c)2004 by Shadowmage
All rights reserved

[Shadowmage]

waaah... no one likes my guide...

[nark]

I disagree with the rating you put on the celeron M. Its actually a banias core with half the cache and now power saving mechanisms. The battery performance is not that great and its a bit hotter than the banias, but per ghz rating it is only about 100 mhz slower than the banias clock for clock.

so a 1.5 ghz celeron M will be comparable to a 1.4 ghz pentium M banias.

[Shadowmage]

I put Celeron M with AMD XP M, thx

[thedrake88]

I smell sticky! thread i mean

[liquidsoul]

Nice info!

[LinuxViolin]

Nice info!

Just one suggestion: ultraportables? like... the sub 3 lbs laptops?

[Shadowmage]

hmm.. i should call it thin & lights. Ultraportables are usually the super thin laptops without even CD drives.

BTW, I'm adding some more info and links.

EDIT:

I've decided to put the extra info as completely different posts, mostly due to size.

[SoldierX]

Nice info on elaborating the Pentium M. I'm going to get one of those, but none of the laptops come with any good graphics card. I want it to be a powerful laptop

[gibbonsl]

if you are talking about thin and lights the Sony S360 - S270 are a very good one

see sig it weighs in at 4.2lb

[PerfectShot]

Thanks for clearing up the difference between the Pentium M processors and the older power hungry desktop models... I was just about to ask what the difference was.

What's this Centrino chip now? When I see a C I think of Celeron and stay away from it...

It doesn't appear that way... How does that stack up with the M processors???

The Geforce 6800 Go is now available on Pentium M processors btw. I'm looking at buying one soon....

[rockinrandy]

ok,checking the web.@ IBuyPower how is the mobilty 256 ATI Radion X700 pci express 3d video.I may have to go to Miami for up to 2 months.I don't want to carry my tower and 100 pound monitor.So i've been looking at laptops.Wanted amd and 6800.,.,but can;t find one thats not almost 3000$..so i want to be able to play whatever game i want.So video is top of the list of,gotta have in a laptop.This video is listed as new on the web site.i am looking at the Battalion 101 G600.Any thoughts about this video?
http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/store/c...mid=144#header
thanks for any amd all help.

[Shadowmage]

That's a very interesting laptop. I'm actually thinking of upgrading to this

[PerfectShot]

Not to forget that you can easily get 25% off on a 3k Dell...

I'm looking into that in three months...

Hopefully they'll be at XPS Gen 3!!!

[Shadowmage]

Yeah this guide hasn't been updated in a looong time. Maybe I should get to work again