Time-gap between "release date" and actual unit sales online/stores

[MariaStalW]

Hi guys

I'll keep it brief

- I know absolutely NOTHING about computer's

- I'm in the market to buy a new laptop to play Diablo 3 (coming out may 14th)

- My budget is limited and I wanted to spend around $500-600

- After reading around forums (and getting a headache), I kept noticing recomendations to "wait until the AMD Trinity" releases. Apparently it will be very powerful and at very affordable prices

- After more googling, it turns out that the AMD Trinity APU for notebooks is releasing on May 15th

- After yet more googling I came across this article
http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2012/4/10/amd-trinity-to-debut-on-may-15th-quad-core-apu-in-just-17w.aspx
The important line "We learned that AMD is currently briefing journalists in a dedicated event, but according to X-Bit Labs, AMD will only release premium mobile parts on May 15th - read quad-core processors."

-Even I know that quad cores are the most expensive

This leads me to my two questions

#1) How do these chip releases work? The trinity amd releases on May 15th. What does that actually mean? How long before I can buy a laptop with the trinity AMD technology and pricing?

#2) The trinity AMD is supposedly supposed to undercut intel's chips by upto $200 or more. They are targeting the $500 notebook price range. So how much more than that do you anticipate the Quad core version of the trinity AMD will cost?

Sorry for my shocking lack of knowledge Would really appreciate any feedback

 

[WR2]

Hello MariaStalW;

You could see some models available very soon after the announcement. Early June?

I think you will be able to find a under $600 A8-4500M (2.1GHz/2.8GHz) & HD7640G graphics notebook. I just don't know how soon after launch you'll find those prices. Certainly before the end of the summer.

 

[MariaStalW]

Good lord =(

I cant put off D3 for a whole summer. This is my only free time, and then it is back to the slave-pits of my university

 

[WR2]

Can you hang in till next Wed the 15?

 

[MariaStalW]

Haha =)

I dont mind waiting through most of May and upto early June

But if the $500 or so models won't release till late in summer I might as well bite the bullet and buy a crappier $500 laptop that is currently on the market

 

[WR2]

I don't agree with that philosophy - unless you really do have a NEED to get one sooner than mid-June. If nothing else - you'll have a lot more info to make an informed decision.

How do you feel about refurb/reconditioned models?

 

[MariaStalW]

I dont mind refurbs/reconditioned if they carry a warranty.
Did you have something in mind?

Here are the Diablo 3 specs btw

Bare minimum Specs
Windows® XP/Vista/7 (latest service packs) with DX 9.0c
Intel Pentium® D 2.8 GHz or AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4400+
NVIDIA® GeForce® 7800 GT or ATI Radeon™ X1950 Pro or better
1 GB RAM (XP), 1.5 GB (Vista/7)
12 GB available HD space
DVD-ROM (required for retail disc versions only)
Broadband* Internet connection
1024x748 minimum resolution

Recommended specs
Windows® Vista/7 (latest service packs)
Intel® Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 5600+ 2.8 GHz
2 GB RAM
NVIDIA® GeForce® 260 or ATI Radeon™ HD 4870 or better

 

[WR2]

A8-4500M is one of the quad core mobile APUs I think will be first out of the gate.
Along with the flagship mobile A10-4600M.

 

[MariaStalW]

A8-4500M is one of the quad core mobile APUs I think will be first out of the gate.
Along with the flagship mobile A10-4600M.

http://wccftech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/AMD-Trinity-APU-Models-635x173.jpg

That is all gibberish to me sensei

 

[WR2]

HP Pavilion dv6 Refurbished 15" Notebook $580 (90 day warranty and restrictive return policy)
AMD A-Series A8-3510MX(1.8GHz) APU & Radeon HD HD 6750M graphics card.

 

[WR2]

That is all gibberish to me sensei

Hopefully, on May 15th they'll be some reviews available to explain how well they run games.

 

[MariaStalW]

At least I have a rough idea of some dates.

I was worried the chip released, and then it took another 6 months or something before they started appearing in laptops.

I can wait a few weeks after the chip release, see whats out there and make a decision from there

Thanks for your prompt responses

 

[WR2]

If nothing else the release date independent reviews should give you a pretty good idea if you want to wait - or just go ahead and look for a good sale on a Llano A6.

 

[WR2]

When you're ready to shop around - stop by the Laptop and Notebook section of the THG forums.

 

[MariaStalW]

Will do, thanks