R3000Z vs R3000T

[dagreek]

I recently in the last month purchased a Compaq R3000Z Here are the spec's
AMD 64 3400+
GeForce 4 40 go 64MB dedicated
512 RAM
40GB HD 4,200RPM
screen (1600X1050)

I'm very strongly considering returning it and getting the R3000T here are the spec's
P4 3.0GHz
Radeon 9600 mobile 128MB dedicated
512 RAM
60GB HD 5,400 RPM
screen (1280X800)

I know the AMD proccser os better but I believe that the diference in GPU's is very large, I ran the aquamark3 on my system on the highest detail setting the processor got a 9000 and the GPU got a 1000 so my total was somewhere around 10000. Not that great I think. I was hoping you guys could give me some insight if this is a good idea to switch, they cost within 25$ of eachother, I just want to be able to play games and burn movies for the most part.

 

[entium]

Go for the return!

The Gf 4 40 go blows. Cpu wise yeah the amd is better but hell not that much difference from a 3.0 intel to ta 3400+ AMD

http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/sho...al performance 9600 mobility vs gf fx go 5600

 

[coylter]

I may be wrong but there is a BIG difference in performance between a 3ghz p4 and a a64 3400.......

Athlon 2700xp+ (oc: 3200xp+ with 200fsb)
Radeon 9800pro (oc: 410/360)
1024mb pc3200 (5-3-3-2)
Asus A7N8X-X

 

[entium]

there is a good difference, I should have asked the poster what is he looking for in his laptop hehe.

Are ya looking for gaming or just application work?

Gaming go for the 9600, it smashes the nV even with a lower processor.

Apps, well nV is good enough.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

What exactly will you be doing with this computer?

You say gaming and watching movies, but a little more info?

What kinds of games, what kinds of Apps? Are you ripping movies and burning them or just watching DVDs? Just watching DVDs will work on just about any solution.

In most cases you are correct the CPUs will be close, with the AMD64 having an advantage many times, but the P4 also doing well in some media, and multithreaded or multitasking situations.

The graphics cards are a huge difference with the R9600 being a very capable (although adimitedly not stellar) DX9 card, while the GF440 go is a DX7 card, which in many cases isn't supported by some of the newer games as it would be a GF4mx class chip (Althought they likely do play on it). If you plan on playing any next generation games (like HL2 or D]|[) then I would say you would be better off with the R9600. While I usually say wait for the games, an Laptop is harder to upgrade and usually you keep it longer, and you don't buy parts one at a time.

I would say the R3000T would be the better choice for gaming. Of course the R3000Z has a nicer LCD, but that actualy makes things worse for gaming as the 440go would be disadvantage at an equal resolution, but running at that high a res would cripple it.

You will find however that both will have trouble finding games that support their native resolutions and you may have to deal with some adaptation issues, but likely the 1280x800 and R9600 mobile will cope better.

A <A HREF="http://www.rojakpot.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=98&pgno=0" target="_new">little list of mobile GPUs</A> can be found at Adrian's RojakPot.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[dagreek]

Thanks for the reply's sorry I wasen't giving enough information. I want to play first person shooters Like Unreal, maybe Farcry, Doom, HL2 I love first person shooters. As far as apps I will be ripping and burning DVD's and I do programming but for that anything will work. I love the AMD and I know its better but I want to play games and not be out of date the already being its a month old. I have until monday to file my return, I have a custom model now and will be getting another costum model the one listed above in my first post. I could go up to a 3.2 or 3.4 Pentum being that they all have Hyper Threading and not Extreme Edition there isn't much diference right? Not for another 200$ at least.

 

[entium]

hmm those games, would go for the 9600. The problem with the extreme edition chips they are expensive :/. And giong from a 3.0 to a 3.2 intel is not really worth it either if I recall. I don't think the bottle neck for your games will be the cpu though most likely it will be the graphics card

And again definitly the 9600

 

[dagreek]

I'm not sure about this but is there a bus speed diference between the 3.0GHz and the 3.2GHz?

 

[entium]

They are both 800 I was looking at something else.

2.53 was the last 400 mhz I'm pretty sure

 

[Crashman]

I may be wrong but there is a BIG difference in performance between a 3ghz p4 and a a64 3400

Yes, maybe 20%, but the graphics performance of the second system is on the order of 200% better.

Hmm, 20%...200%...what to choose!

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[TheGreatGrapeApe]

For ripping DVDs it depends on the APP and whether you run it in conjunction with something else. DVDshrink will benifit from the Intel processor, as will MPEG encoding, and things like Lame, and Pinacle Studios. And while some apps like Premiere and Photoshop may give you some performance boosts later, I don't think you're main concern is +/- ~10% performance difference, or else you wouldn't be going laptop.

Of course for games like FarCry, HL2, D3 the R9600 would be of great benifit. FPS' really would be the ones that would edge the limits of the chips. HL2 and D3 are supposedly playable on a mobile R9000 according to the devlopers, so the R9600 should be fine for the current generation of game including D3 and HL2, just don't expect to turn verything up high.

I'm not sure about this but is there a bus speed diference between the 3.0GHz and the 3.2GHz?

Depends on if it's a 3.06 or a 3.0.

The 3.06 is 533mhz, the 3.0 is 800mhz just like the 3.2, 3.4, 3.xEE.

And the difference between the 3.0/3.2/3.4 is minimal (far less than the difference between GF440GO and R9600), and of course the price diff can be substantial, and for that $100-200, you'd probably get more benifit out of an extra battery, especially with such a power hungry rig.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[phial]

2.53 was the last 400 mhz I'm pretty sure

and you call yourself a programmer!

-------
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[entium]

lol hey I don't remember everything, 2.6 was the last 400mhz sorry. I assumed.....

 

[dagreek]

That is some great information I really really appreciate it! I thought the same thing about the difference between the processors being small compared to the difference between the GPU's and I'm happy to have some conformation because it is such an expensive choice. I'm calling to order the new computer and return this one tomorrow. I have to wait so I can boost the limit on my credit card in the morning to make room for the second computer temporarily before I receive my refund.

Just as a side question for games is 1GB of ram compared to 512RAM a big deal right now? I plan to start with 1X512MB and upgrade later long as its not a major problem in the present.

 

[entium]

np dagreek.

err thats hard to say I would think 512 would be decent for a loptop for gaming. And also half life 2's levels aren't huge like Far Cry's so I wouldn't worry too much about the ram.

Half lifes levels take up about 512 mb of ram total per level.

 

[splenda20]

Games are starting to take advantage of a gig of RAM. I can't remember where I heard it, but I'm pretty sure Far Cry can utilize up to 850mb of RAM.

dagreek, If you can't afford it right away, I wouldn't sweat it if you only have 512 and like you said, you can always upgrade later.

 

[dagreek]

One of the good things about me upgrading is the new computer will have a 5,400RPM hard drive instead of the 4,200RPM so that will help with virtual memory during gaming

 

[entium]

true slpenda, it all depends on level load times an how big the levels are. 2km x 2km levels in Far Cry's engine take up 1 gig of ram, they still need to do optimizing to thier engine memory usuage... hehe

Yep the harddrive speeds will help out alot more with the virtual memory.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

I was going to mention it, but thought nah, why worry.

But, that nice speedy HD also means more power consumption, as does more memory. So maybe you need a flash drive.

The thing about the memory is how much does it cost to get the 1GB versus the 512mb? How does that compare to the current price of laptop ram at pricewatch/newegg?

Also what is the format the 512mb will come in, 1Dimm of 512mb or 2 dimms of 256mb each. If it's a 2 dimm solution, then you either have to dump both to upgrade to 1GB (depending on the layout [most have only 2 slots]), or else you will be at the 768mb level. If you do go with 512 and have the option, I'd suggest selecting the 1 DIMM option, like you seem to indicate with the 512x1, as long as it's not at a ridiculous premium.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[dagreek]

I'm getting a 1 DIMM 512 then later I will get another 512MB maybe if they get a lot cheaper I will go for a Gig stick instead