Recent content by Calculatron

The i5 is a bit faster, and is more energy efficient. The AMD solution may have four actual cores, but they are actually two modules, so two pairs of cores sharing the same decoder. It *might* be better at certain threaded tasks, but the I5 is going to be overall better.

Pretty much any budget or base-consumer-orientated laptop is going to be a type of generic made-in-china assembly. You would have to be an expert hair-splitter to notice the difference. More specialized assemblies, like something from Alienware, or the Microsoft Surface, are where there will...

So no horrible brands? Sub-par performers?

Alas! I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Microcenters are quite a ways away, and the local pool of used laptops are ... insufficient.

I have been trying to acquire a laptop for my classes, which are approaching soon. I don't really know too much about laptop platforms, honestly. I'd like a run down of some of the basic knowledge and buying tips for laptops. (Are there brands to watch out for, or avoid?) So! My primary...

The multiplier is locked, alas! However, you still may be able to overclock via the base/reference clock of the motherboard.