Looking to spend about $1000-1200 CDN on a notebook after I sell my tower for about $1200-1400. I've found a couple systems I'm interested in, but I'd like to get others opinions first. here's what I've found

Acer Aspire AS5102WLMi-MCE
* AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-50 (1.6 GHz, 512 KB L2 cache total, 256 KB on each core)
* 1 GB 533 MHz DDR2 RAM (2 x 512 MB)
* 120 GB Hitachi 4200 RPM HD
* 15.4-inch WXGA Acer CrystalBrite screen
* ATI Radeon xPress 1100 integrated graphics card
* Dual layer DVD +/- RW combo with lightscribe
* Windows Media Center Edition 2005
* Atheros Wireless 802.11 a/b/g with Signalup high efficiency antennae
* 8-cell battery with a max of 4.5 hrs battery life with settings on low

Acer Aspire AS5612WLMi-MCE
* Intel Centrino Duo T2300 (1.66GHz, 2 MB L2 cache total, 1 MB on each core)
* 1 GB 667 MHz DDR2 RAM (2 x 512 MB)
* 100 GB 5400RPM HD
* 15.4-inch WXGA Acer CrystalBrite screen
* 224MB (Shared) Intel GMA 950
* Dual layer DVD +/- RW combo with lightscribe
* Windows Media Center Edition 2005
* Atheros Wireless 802.11 a/b/g with Signalup high efficiency antennae
* 8-cell battery with a max of 2.5 hrs battery life

both are the same price, but which one would be the better deal? I'm leaning towards the AMD (of course ) but how would the Intel compare? From what I've found on my own, the T2300 is slightly faster than the TL-50, but with more cache and faster memory, let alone a faster (but smaller) hdd, thats understandable. So basically, should I bite the bullet and get the Intel, or stick to my AMD roots? Also if anyone has any other notebooks to recommend, by all means feel free to let me know!!

thanks guys

the intel one looks better bar the graphics i reckon, never been a big fan of intel gfx, nor acer in general tbh (!).

edit: why you selling btw?

My bro recently bought the acer model one up from the Acer Aspire AS5612WLMi-MCE you choose. (2gb ram, 120gb hdd, ati 1400 mobile) instead)

I must say that it's the best laptop that I've seen in a long time for the money. I'll probably be buying the intel one you posted for the fall. cant go wrong with acer

Don't get a dell they keep exploding. Have you ever had a look at any fujitsu laptops, they are pretty good.

Well strange I should be so useful, I have that exact same laptop the Intel one that is and I think it is great for what I need it for.

As for you I think you might be better with the AMD turion better processor and less latency than the Intel and also ATi graphics.

Oh and Acer laptops are great stuff!!

heh, i wouldnt want a crappy dell or hp or half the brands out there anyway acer's good in my books. my mom had a sempron laptop by them and it wasn't too bad, plus i've used a couple elsewhere. main reason i'm moving to a notebook is mobility, but i'm not picky on the size or weight. i know in my budget i wont get anything too fancy or any high end graphics but if it'll fit in a backpack and has wifi, thats good enough for me. almost all current laptops would apply there. i loved the dual-core cpu i used to have in my tower, so i definately want to go back to a dually in my notebook. i'm thinking of maybe waiting for Core 2 notebooks to come out, but i'm not sure yet. basically what it comes down to is the raw processing power. where would i get the most bang for my buck. for example, in my findings i learned the TL-50 take 40 seconds longer to run SuperPi than the T2300. Windows loads faster too on the T2300 too. part of that might be contributed by the faster memory in the Intel setup, and definately shouldn't go unlooked. although I'm an AMD fan by heart, i'm kind of leaning towards the Intel when it comes down to these 2 systems directly compared. if possible, I'd like to find an AMD system which can outperform the T2300 at my price point. if not, then i guess i found which one i'll get. i'm still taking recommendations though!

Dude, why you selling your tower for a slightly underpowered laptop (compared to your desktop)?

The turion also has 64 bit support so it can take full advantage of vista x64. Like I say go for the AMD, but I have to say that looking at a dell ad today it cost £200 more for something which had a lesser spec than mine! It was an XPS as well.

Outcasts view is also a valid one, but if you want to do that bloodflame then by all means do so!

You also mention about processor speed with the intel, it forces all main memory data via the northbridge causing a bottleneck and latency. Whereas with the AMD that is not the case as the memory controller is on die. The fact that the memory controller is away from the CPU will add latency anyway. The intel problem is also exacerbated by the fact that it uses DDR2 memory which is more latent anyway. So latency is up, but this is largely hidden due to the fact that it has large on die cache.

So intel is more latent but apparently your less likely to notice it.

i realize its a downgrade, and i really wish i could keep my tower. i love it, but for the next few months at least, a notebook is more what i need. for the price of convenience, it's something i'm willing to accept. i'll get myself a nicer tower in a year or two once i'm "settled-in" again and not in need of a notebook as much anymore. its a long story really, so i've already made my discision to make the switch.

@paulbeattie87:

i understand where your coming from with your views on the memory controller. that may be true, but these 2 cpu's side-by-side end up in Intel's favour. the TL-50 is the lowest dual-core Turion model with a crippled L2 cache, whereas the T2300 is a beefed up version of Intel's T2050, the TL-50's direct competitor. i've found benchmarks to confirm the performance points of these chips. seeing as their priced the same, i have good cause leaning towards the Centrino. btw, Turion X2's use DDR2 as well, on the new S1 socket (read). the bus speed of the memory in the Intel laptop is higher, plus is has more L2 cache.

Yep, Intel's choice will be better provided that you can live with the integrated graphics.

Well the RAM will most likely be 533mhz anyway. Also the 2050 is newer than the 2300 anyway, the T2300 has been out since 1st January and the 2050 was only released in May. So I think you will find it is the other way about.

Their is also very high power consumption from the Intel chipset hence the much longer lasting battery on the AMD. But that is what I am saying they are much and such for normal web browsing this is helped by the big cache on the Intel. Hence why it is their to keep up with AMD.

I would still stick by the AMD, I use the Intel and yes it is good but I don't know if I could live with it. But it is your choice.

This is acer spec for the intel:
5612WLMi
Genuine Windows XP is authentic Windows software that is properly licensed and legally installed. Learn more about the special benefits reserved for genuine Windows customers by visiting www.microsoft.com/genuine
genuine Windows® XP Home Edition, Intel® Core™ Duo processor T2300 (2 MB L2 cache, 1.66GHz, 667 MHz FSB), 15.4" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite™ TFT LCD, Intel 945GM integrated 3D graphics, featuring Intel GMA 950 and up to 224MB of shared memory), 80GB 5,400 rpm hard disk drive, 1GB (2*512MB) of DDR2 533MHz memory, DVD-SuperMulti Double-layer, Fast Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g WLAN, MS-Works

Also mine is a 5601AWLMi, but they are very similar only things I can see is that I have a 2050 processor and a Acer orbicam and a memory card reader.

I really like the Fujitsu LifeBook's, 3.5lbs with 4.5hrs batt. life, I don't have the link right now, but newegg sells them.

i'll look those up and see if i could find a comparable deal

I found this one, but I don't believe it lives up to your specs. Didn't really compare. This one has a turion, and only around 3.5hrs of battery life.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16834110204

Fujitsu S2XXX series is damn expensive but they sure look stylish and professional.

I'm really big on battery life, that's why I love my macbook. I get an average of 3.5hrs, and 4.5hrs if I'm just surfing and listening to music.

But you have to make sure you set up your battery properly, drain it the first time, then when its about to shut off, plug it in, and run the software updates (on a mac, it tells your computer what a low battery looks like).

i've found better for better prices i'm thinking of waiting until Core 2 notebooks come out. shouldn't be too far off, plus i think i might have my pc sold

i've done all the searching and comparing i could come up with, and i've narrowed it down to these models: Acer Aspire 5102, Acer Aspire 5602, Acer Aspire 5612, and Acer Aspire 9412. basically, the 5102 is the AMD model in question. the 5602 and 5612 are Intel models that feature the T2300E and T2300 respectively, and have slightly different hard drives. the 9412 has the largest screen at 17" but the least overall features, and also with the T2300.

i'm leaning towards the Aspire 5612 overall, but i'll wait to see what merom notebooks have to offer before i make my purchase.

Aspire 5612

why not just get a dell

They blow up!

Doubles as fireworks on halloween

LMFAO