Intel Pentium-M 735A 1.7GHz, 400MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache laptop

[Craig321]

Hello,

I've recently been looking at laptops for £400 as I'd like to buy one.

The best I can find for 400 is this spec:

Acer TravelMate 2428WXMi
* Intel Pentium-M 735A 1.7GHz, 400MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache
* 512MB DDR2 Ram
* 60GB Hard Drive
* 14.1" Widescreen TFT (1280x800 - 16:10)
* DVD±RW Double Layer Optical Drive
* Integrated Graphics supporting 128MB
* 802.11b/g Wireless LAN
* Battery Life: 2.5 hours
* Weight: 2.35kg
* CD-Maker, Acer Software Package
* Fast Ethernet 10/100
* 56k Dial-Up Modem
* PCMCIA Type II Slot
* Built-In Stereo Speakers
* Built-In Microphone
* 1 Year Collect and Return
* Windows XP Home Edition

I just wondered if anyone knows the equivalent Intel P4 processor that's the same speed/power as the Intel Pentium-M 1.7GHZ? I've never had a Pentium-M so really can't compare it to anything else

Thanks,
Craig.

[Sumanji]

I guess it would be roughly on par with a P4 2.6GHz... check out a Pentium-M review to get an idea of which benchmarks are important to you (I can't be bothered to Google for you ).

Word of warning though, Acer support is supposed to be horrible!

[Clunk]

Keep an eye on the dell special offers, you should be able to pick up something with similar or better specs with a 15.4 screen for around that much

[Craig321]

Keep an eye on the dell special offers, you should be able to pick up something with similar or better specs with a 15.4 screen for around that much

Best I've found on Dell is something similar but with a 1.6ghz CPU, how often do they have special deals on?

[Steve B]

theres a dell refurb site kicking about somewhere. its usually got some great deals

[Clunk]

Theres this one with amd turion 64 processor for 411, but there is also an option to upgrade to dual core for only 25 quid extra. Drop the warranty down to the basic 1 year one.

[Craig321]

Found a review on the M CPUs and a PM 1.6GHZ is a couple of points higher than a P4 2.66 GHZ, so I guess I'll see around 2.8ghz performance out of a 1.7M?

http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/show...px?i=1800&p=14

Theres this one with amd turion 64 processor for 411, but there is also an option to upgrade to dual core for only 25 quid extra. Drop the warranty down to the basic 1 year one.

Will physical dual core (+£35 on that laptop) be like having HT technology? So I'll be able to multi task nicely?

[Steve B]

thats coming up as 505 for me clunk

[Craig321]

Hmm, yea, it is £100 past my budget Clunk

[directhex]

Will physical dual core (+£35 on that laptop) be like having HT technology? So I'll be able to multi task nicely?

dual core and HT have little in common: HT is ****, and dual core isn't

more specifically, dual core can *really* do two things at once, whilst HT pretends to

[Clunk]

Its showing 446 total here. Have you knocked off the extra warranty?

The link should take you to one at 505 that has a single core turion64, and then add the dual core for £25 and then subract the extended warranty (ish)

Components
PROCESSOR AMD® Turion 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL50 edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition, SP2 (incl Operating System Re-Installation CD) - English edit
SUPPORT SERVICES Collect & Return, 90 Day Service only edit

Dell Recommends
Increase your productivity and get peace of mind
Basic Package, 2 Year On-Site Service
Learn More
Upgrade to Basic Package, 2 Year On-Site Service [add £70.50 or £2/month1]
LCD 15.4" Wide Screen XGA TFT Display: 1280x800 edit
MEMORY 512MB 533MHz Single Channel DDR2 SDRAM (1x512) edit
HARD DRIVE 60GB (5,400rpm) Hard Drive edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 8x DVD/ 24 x CD-RW Combo Drive including Software edit
GRAPHICS CARD ATI Radeon® Xpress 1150 256MB HyperMemory™ edit
PRIMARY BATTERY 4Cell 29WHr Primary battery edit
Accessories
WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g 54Mbps Wireless Mini Card18 edit
CARRY CASES No Carry Case edit

Dell Recommends
Dell Nylon Deluxe Executive
Don't forget your Carry Case!

Learn More
Upgrade to Large Nylon Carry Case [add £41.12 or £1/month1]
Services & Software
SECURITY SOFTWARE Free - Upgrade to McAfee® Security Centre™ 36-month Protection edit
MICROSOFT SOFTWARE Microsoft® Works 8.5 - English edit
PHOTOGRAPHY SOFTWARE No Photo Organising & Sharing Software/No Photo Editing Software edit
Also included with your system
KEYBOARD Internal Keyboard - (QWERTY) - UK/Ireland
Gedis Bundle Reference List N01152- BSD 1501 (2)
Order Information Inspiron Order - UK
Shipping Documents System Documentation
Adobe Reader English - Adobe Reader 8.5.8
Power Supply 65W AC Adapter
Modem 56.6k V.92 Capable Internal Modem & Adapter
Standard Warranty Collect & Return, 90 Days Service only
Money Off Savings Save £30 Ex Vat
Dell Internet Order Dell Internet Order.
NETWORK ASSISTANT Network Assist 1.2 - 90 Day Trial
SYSTEM MEDIA Resource CD- Contains Diagnostics and Drivers

EDIT: the dual core upgrade is now £35...must have been a mistake!

[Craig321]

comes out to 493 for me

I'll only be getting this laptop in about 6 months, so maybe I'll manage to have a slightly bigger budget... & surely Dells prices will drop in 6 months.

[Clunk]

click the link, it shows as £505, add dual core for 35, drop the warranty down to the 90 day collect and return (not the 12 months sorry), that will take another 94 quid off.

According to someone that I spoke to at dell, you still get a 12 month warranty when you do this, just that after 90 days, if it buggers up, you have to post it to them yourself.

Edit: and as you wont be getting it for 6 months, theres not much point looking at prices/specs now because they will all be different by then

[Craig321]

Edit: and as you wont be getting it for 6 months, theres not much point looking at prices/specs now because they will all be different by then

True, but I wanted to get a rough idea of what I could get

Thanks for the help,
Craig.