Quote:
Originally Posted by la_marquise
I have one of the first generation P4s from HP that is so warm that my cat thinks it's a fellow feline! So warmth I can handle. What I am trying to figure out is that whether the Pentium-M's work as well as a traditional desktop P4.
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No.
For desktop apps and some styles of graphic processes, it does a great job, especially considering its clock frequencies. It is a very efficiently laid-out processor!
But raw power is raw power. When that type of power is absolutely necessary the P-M doesn't have it, can't get to P4HT levels, contrary to what Johnny-come-lately reviewers wish you to believe about the P-M. Their reviews will say about battery life and great performance but it's all relative. I've used P-M's and they have all had lower performance than my P4HT - I was going to say this but now have numbers to prove it:
CNET's review of P-M desktop replacements:
http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_Inspiro...5.html?tag=top
CNET's review of ZD8000 / XPS P4 desktop replacements:
http://reviews.cnet.com/HP_Pavilion_...5.html?tag=top
Note that the intro for the new P-M review claims P4 performance but their figures show otherwise. On the highest results: Dell Inspiron 9200 P-M, 181, Dell XPSv1 217 - a 20% difference. That's running the 3.6 P4 at the equivalent of 2.88gHz - which is actually what the desktop P4's get throttled down to when on battery power.
The Dell XPS versus XPS-2 gets a lot closer
http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_XPS_Gen...2.html?tag=tab
but it's still a 13% difference in SysMark content, 18% in BAPco
The new P-M series due will probably change this but it seems it won't be out until 2007
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3121_7-5944171-1.html
So contrary to what CNET, et al, says P-M isn't quite there yet versus P4. It's getting closer, though.
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| I am also open to considering AMDs (hence the Ferrari investigation...) |
The Ferrari got terrible reviews and was considered way overpriced. I saw the review for the Ferrari - it spec'ed well but somehow didn't measure well. So...
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| I am looking for biggest bang for the buck. Trying to stay below $2k as this headphone hobby is eating a hole in my pocket. |
The Ferrari doesn't have it. Biggest bang are the HP's - the 8000 if you want P4 or the maybe the new 8230 - the Toshiba G25 (nice unit, good feedback), maybe a Dell or two and a few choice others. For instance some of the Dells can be really nice buys!...but only when you catch them on sale. Off sale they are tepid buys, a touch expensive (OK, for the XPS quite expensive)
The third-tier stuff seems pretty cool - "changable" GPU's and nice choices like AMD's - but as you noted they can get really overpriced for what they deliver! Some companies charge really good prices but other companies charge extra just for the 'name' (umm, can we say "Alienware"??
). "Changable" because a lot of users are reporting that when the tech changes, and the components change, the company changes the interface and shape format...meaning that the new modules don't fit into the old motherboards.
Oooh, did those forum conversations turn ugly!
Quote:
| I seem to be cursed when it comes to Toshiba. Every Toshiba product I've ever had has either crashed and burned, died mysteriously, or stolen. |
Yes, I know the feeling. What your curse is, is very common with the previous generations of Toshibas. This was due to the fact that the base system RAM was soldered into the motherboard and the Toshiba-sourced DRAM chips (they always used their own) always failed (probably heat). I've handled all too many customer systems with this particular problem (not to mention my own personal Toshiba...
)
I cannot say yay or nay on how Tosh is doing now, but all their systems currently use SODIMMS just like everyone else IFAIK, hopefully killing this classic issue dead, dead, dead.
