Getting a New Computer - Need Help With Specs

I plan on buying a new laptop. I will probably not need to play any games on it. It'll be something I use to store and play my music, access the Internet, talk to people, and type up documents for school. So I don't need a great computer, but I want it to be decently fast. So this is what I have in mind:http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cdetland.to?seg=HHO&poid=415435&fgpn=PSLD0U-04F014

I'm on kind of a tight budget, though, so I want to know what specs you would recommend. Specifically:

1. For the processor, should I get the Core 2 Duo or would the Dual-Core processor be sufficient?

2. I'm gonna need 2GB of RAM, right? In that case, what is the difference in performance between the1024MBx2 and the2048MBx1?

Any other suggestions would be useful as well. Thanks in advance.

I plan on buying a new laptop. I will probably not need to play any games on it. It'll be something I use to store and play my music, access the Internet, talk to people, and type up documents for school. So I don't need a great computer, but I want it to be decently fast. So this is what I have in mind:http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cdetland.to?seg=HHO&poid=415435&fgpn=PSLD0U-04F014

I'm on kind of a tight budget, though, so I want to know what specs you would recommend. Specifically:

1. For the processor, should I get the Core 2 Duo or would the Dual-Core processor be sufficient?

2. I'm gonna need 2GB of RAM, right? In that case, what is the difference in performance between the1024MBx2 and the2048MBx1?

Any other suggestions would be useful as well. Thanks in advance.

askzander

That laptop is a pretty good general (non-gaming) notebook. To answer your questions:

1. For non-gaming, the Dual-Core will be sufficient. Dual-Core is just two Pentium technology chips put together in essence, so I don't think there's any need to pay extra if you don't need it.

2. Get 1024MB x2 as opposed to 2048MB x1.

[QUOTE="askzander"]

I plan on buying a new laptop. I will probably not need to play any games on it. It'll be something I use to store and play my music, access the Internet, talk to people, and type up documents for school. So I don't need a great computer, but I want it to be decently fast. So this is what I have in mind:http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cdetland.to?seg=HHO&poid=415435&fgpn=PSLD0U-04F014

I'm on kind of a tight budget, though, so I want to know what specs you would recommend. Specifically:

1. For the processor, should I get the Core 2 Duo or would the Dual-Core processor be sufficient?

2. I'm gonna need 2GB of RAM, right? In that case, what is the difference in performance between the1024MBx2 and the2048MBx1?

Any other suggestions would be useful as well. Thanks in advance.

ish27

That laptop is a pretty good general (non-gaming) notebook. To answer your questions:

1. For non-gaming, the Dual-Core will be sufficient. Dual-Core is just two Pentium technology chips put together in essence, so I don't think there's any need to pay extra if you don't need it.

2. Get 1024MB x2 as opposed to 2048MB x1.

I think you are confusing Pentium D's with Pentium Dual-Core. Pentium D's were 2 Pentium 4's stuck together, but Pentium Dual-core, is basically a Core 2 with less cache.

The Dual-Core should be enough, I don't see the next step up being worth what they are charging.

And yes you would be better with 2x1GB, unless you want to upgrade the RAM soon. Running 2x1GB as oppsosed to 2GB x 1 will allow for running the RAM in dual channel mode.

[QUOTE="ish27"][QUOTE="askzander"]

I plan on buying a new laptop. I will probably not need to play any games on it. It'll be something I use to store and play my music, access the Internet, talk to people, and type up documents for school. So I don't need a great computer, but I want it to be decently fast. So this is what I have in mind:http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cdetland.to?seg=HHO&poid=415435&fgpn=PSLD0U-04F014

I'm on kind of a tight budget, though, so I want to know what specs you would recommend. Specifically:

1. For the processor, should I get the Core 2 Duo or would the Dual-Core processor be sufficient?

2. I'm gonna need 2GB of RAM, right? In that case, what is the difference in performance between the1024MBx2 and the2048MBx1?

Any other suggestions would be useful as well. Thanks in advance.

opamando

That laptop is a pretty good general (non-gaming) notebook. To answer your questions:

1. For non-gaming, the Dual-Core will be sufficient. Dual-Core is just two Pentium technology chips put together in essence, so I don't think there's any need to pay extra if you don't need it.

2. Get 1024MB x2 as opposed to 2048MB x1.

I think you are confusing Pentium D's with Pentium Dual-Core. Pentium D's were 2 Pentium 4's stuck together, but Pentium Dual-core, is basically a Core 2 with less cache.

The Dual-Core should be enough, I don't see the next step up being worth what they are charging.

And yes you would be better with 2x1GB, unless you want to upgrade the RAM soon. Running 2x1GB as oppsosed to 2GB x 1 will allow for running the RAM in dual channel mode.

Yeah, that's what I meant. It's not the first time I've done that either :P