Laptop CPU: T2390 vs T5550

karl_eller · 7th May 2008, 10:42 PM

Alrighty, I'm hopefully going to get a cheap Dell Inspiron 1525 for my 21st, and I've got everything figured out except the CPU.

The 1525 comes with an Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2390 (1.86 GHz, 1Mb cache, 533FSB), or for an extra AU$85 (about US$60-70) I can upgrade it to a Core2Duo T5550 (1.86 GHz, 2Mb cache, 667FSB). The problem is I'm a bit rusty when it comes to my Mobile CPUs, so I'm not really sure if it'd be worthwhile to spend the money on the T5550.

The laptop will be running Ubuntu 95% of the time, and it'll mostly be used for programming, web browsing, note taking, so on and so forth, so it's not really going to see really heavy use.

For anyone who's curious, the rest of the specs are the base Inspiron 1525 stats: 1Gb RAM, 15.4" widescreen (1280x800, although I might upgrade to the 1440x900 for more viewing area), 160Gb HDD, Integrated X3100 graphics, wireless, etc.

Eller

kuruptz · 7th May 2008, 11:55 PM

Using ubunutu its not worth it.

But in Windows and doing a few things at once it will definatly be worth it.

Core2duo also use less power.

tensop · 8th May 2008, 12:40 AM

spend the extra $85 on subway :P

personally i find a 15" laptop to be too big.

sunrise · 8th May 2008, 8:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tensop

spend the extra $85 on subway :P

personally i find a 15" laptop to be too big.

Personally I find it to be the right size.

karl_eller · 8th May 2008, 8:40 AM

Yeah, I like the bigger screen on a 15.4", makes life a lot easier.

So far (from here and a few other forums), I'm getting mixed responses. Probably about 50/50 saying which way I should go. I'm somewhat inclined to get the T5550 (I'd rather have an E4x00 over an E2xx0 in a desktop machine, and that's a similar difference to a T5550 vs T2390), and it's not exactly cheap to upgrade the CPU further down the line.

Eller

Tony · 8th May 2008, 9:11 AM

pentium DC uses less pwr than a core2duo

karl_eller · 8th May 2008, 9:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

pentium DC uses less pwr than a core2duo

They're the same TDP (35 watts), so they should have fairly similar power usage, especially since the Pentium DCs are C2D's with less cache (and I don't think cache makes a huge difference to power usage).

Eller

sanjay · 8th May 2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karl_eller

Yeah, I like the bigger screen on a 15.4", makes life a lot easier.

So far (from here and a few other forums), I'm getting mixed responses. Probably about 50/50 saying which way I should go. I'm somewhat inclined to get the T5550 (I'd rather have an E4x00 over an E2xx0 in a desktop machine, and that's a similar difference to a T5550 vs T2390), and it's not exactly cheap to upgrade the CPU further down the line.

Eller

bigger screen is completely pointless unless you upgrade the resolution to 1440x900. otherwise its just big pixels on a big display and you dont get any more screen realestate than a 12" widescreen with the same resolution, just more bulk to carry around.

dont bother upgrading the CPU on such a low-end model, because by the time youve done that, and added bits like bluetooth, you may as well go get something like a vostro 1310 for a hundred or so more

kuruptz · 8th May 2008, 10:37 AM

^^ This man speaks the truth

karl_eller · 8th May 2008, 10:50 AM

Actually, speaking of Vostros, I've had a bit of a look at the Vostro 1510, which is looking like a very nice contender.

Has fairly similar specs to the Inspiron 1524, but comes with a T5670 (1.8Ghz, 2Mb cache, 800FSB), 15.4" WXGA+ (1440x900 res w/out TrueLife, where as the Inspiron comes with TrueLife), and it's a shade cheaper. Plus I like the look and the build of the Vostro a bit better than the Inspiron.

And I'm not bothering with adding extra bits like bluetooth and the like, since I don't use it, since my phone has USB connection which is faster and less annoying than bluetooth.

Eller

kuruptz · 8th May 2008, 10:51 AM

The vostro is a better range mate.

And look a fair bit nicer,

karl_eller · 8th May 2008, 11:16 AM

Oh, by the way, anyone know what the Ubuntu driver support on the Vostro 1510 is like?

Eller

sanjay · 8th May 2008, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karl_eller

Oh, by the way, anyone know what the Ubuntu driver support on the Vostro 1510 is like?

Eller

seeing as the range was only released about a week ago, probably pretty shite.

and dude, add bluetooth. for the extra $27 it will make the lappy so much easier to sell when the time comes to upgrade, plus you WILL find uses for it (your mates' phones may not have the same USB connection, where bluetooth is handy, plus then theres the issue of bluetooth wireless peripherals). but as far as im aware the new vostros come with bluetooth standard anyway...

General_Cartman · 9th May 2008, 2:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karl_eller

They're the same TDP (35 watts), so they should have fairly similar power usage, especially since the Pentium DCs are C2D's with less cache (and I don't think cache makes a huge difference to power usage).

Eller

Core2Duos power down the cache when they aren't using it, so they should use about the same power.

Go Core2Duo. Faster FSB will make a difference.

dinos22 · 9th May 2008, 2:20 PM

they don't power down cache
they do however work on lower clocks and voltage when not doing something CPU intensive

doesn't matter much which way you go...........i would get a 965 chipset mobo.............and then in a couple of years get some 3GHz chip in there just to give it a bit of a boost hehe

7th May 2008, 10:42 PM	#1
karl_eller Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Newcastle, NSW Posts: 352	Laptop CPU: T2390 vs T5550 Alrighty, I'm hopefully going to get a cheap Dell Inspiron 1525 for my 21st, and I've got everything figured out except the CPU. The 1525 comes with an Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2390 (1.86 GHz, 1Mb cache, 533FSB), or for an extra AU$85 (about US$60-70) I can upgrade it to a Core2Duo T5550 (1.86 GHz, 2Mb cache, 667FSB). The problem is I'm a bit rusty when it comes to my Mobile CPUs, so I'm not really sure if it'd be worthwhile to spend the money on the T5550. The laptop will be running Ubuntu 95% of the time, and it'll mostly be used for programming, web browsing, note taking, so on and so forth, so it's not really going to see really heavy use. For anyone who's curious, the rest of the specs are the base Inspiron 1525 stats: 1Gb RAM, 15.4" widescreen (1280x800, although I might upgrade to the 1440x900 for more viewing area), 160Gb HDD, Integrated X3100 graphics, wireless, etc. Eller

8th May 2008, 9:11 AM	#6
Tony Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,915	pentium DC uses less pwr than a core2duo __________________ "Nowadays things are completely different, and auto makers are much more global in structure. Its difficult to see ANY new car these days as the product of any one company or country. There are honourable exceptions that prove this rule though. The R32, R33 and R34 series Skylines were the babies of an intensely focused faction inside Nissan, a group who still feel their heritage & family tree come from the Prince regime of ex-aircraft engineers who were really serious about racing and making great cars. Sadly, this group now seems to be feeling pressure to change." I drive a stock R33 non turbo automatic Skyline - 120kW at the wheels! OCAU Nissan Skyline Club Member

9th May 2008, 2:20 PM	#15
dinos22 Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 9,738	they don't power down cache they do however work on lower clocks and voltage when not doing something CPU intensive doesn't matter much which way you go...........i would get a 965 chipset mobo.............and then in a couple of years get some 3GHz chip in there just to give it a bit of a boost hehe __________________ dinos22 - Team.AU OCAU Fishing Club Member

7th May 2008, 11:55 PM	#2
kuruptz Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenfield, NSW Posts: 1,452	Using ubunutu its not worth it. But in Windows and doing a few things at once it will definatly be worth it. Core2duo also use less power.

8th May 2008, 12:40 AM	#3
tensop Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 916	spend the extra $85 on subway :P personally i find a 15" laptop to be too big.

8th May 2008, 8:40 AM	#5
karl_eller Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Newcastle, NSW Posts: 352	Yeah, I like the bigger screen on a 15.4", makes life a lot easier. So far (from here and a few other forums), I'm getting mixed responses. Probably about 50/50 saying which way I should go. I'm somewhat inclined to get the T5550 (I'd rather have an E4x00 over an E2xx0 in a desktop machine, and that's a similar difference to a T5550 vs T2390), and it's not exactly cheap to upgrade the CPU further down the line. Eller

8th May 2008, 10:37 AM	#9
kuruptz Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenfield, NSW Posts: 1,452	^^ This man speaks the truth

8th May 2008, 10:50 AM	#10
karl_eller Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Newcastle, NSW Posts: 352	Actually, speaking of Vostros, I've had a bit of a look at the Vostro 1510, which is looking like a very nice contender. Has fairly similar specs to the Inspiron 1524, but comes with a T5670 (1.8Ghz, 2Mb cache, 800FSB), 15.4" WXGA+ (1440x900 res w/out TrueLife, where as the Inspiron comes with TrueLife), and it's a shade cheaper. Plus I like the look and the build of the Vostro a bit better than the Inspiron. And I'm not bothering with adding extra bits like bluetooth and the like, since I don't use it, since my phone has USB connection which is faster and less annoying than bluetooth. Eller

8th May 2008, 10:51 AM	#11
kuruptz Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenfield, NSW Posts: 1,452	The vostro is a better range mate. And look a fair bit nicer,

8th May 2008, 11:16 AM	#12
karl_eller Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Newcastle, NSW Posts: 352	Oh, by the way, anyone know what the Ubuntu driver support on the Vostro 1510 is like? Eller