Solved! ACER: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 vs. Intel Core i7 720QM Laptops/Notebooks

[BalancingAct]

ACER: Intel Core 2 Duo vs. Intel Core i7 720QM laptops

These are my requirments:

- Multitude of mulitasking (can handle photoshop, dreamweaver, flash, virtual host, MS office products, internet browsing w/ multiple browsers and tabs, video viewing, IM chat all at the same time)

- Good gaming unit (not to the extreme max but some games at or close to max settings)

- Movies/ TV viewing with a high quality HD setup (I plan on getting a TV tunner card to go along with the laptop and will watch while do other things)

- good for video processing/conversion to different formats

- Budget: I was starting off with a laptop under $1000 depending on the setup but I may dare to break that
if the ACER Corer i7 wins out.

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I really need some input from you guys on making a final decision on these two laptops.

I cannot decide between these two top of line Acer laptops below

Acer Aspire AS8730-6951 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo P8600(2.40GHz)

http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115548

PROS

-$500 less!!! I got a great deal on this one and could not find it cheaper anywhere!

- It has the finger print technology and the other doesn't for some reason.

-25w

CONS
- Not true 1080p (max is 1680 x 945)
- Core 2 duo (not really a con but it's not Core i7 like the other)
-DDR2 vs. DDR3

Acer Aspire AS8940G-6865 Intel Core i7 720QM(1.60GHz)

http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115679

PROS
- Core i7 (4 native cores instead of 2 and with HT tech and larger L2 cache, just all around better processor able to turbo to 2.89 GHz)

-NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M dedicated graphics (This was rated as a tier one high-performance gpu by a couple sites while the other laptop is only performance. Also 40nm vs the others 65nm)

- Up to 3 hrs vs the other 2.5 but I don't really care

- True 1080p HD (1920 x 1080)

-DDR3 vs the others DDR2

- Blue Ray

- looks snazzier but blue lights may be annoying after a while if i can't adjust them.

CONS
- $500 more and I will be paying a premium.
- No finger print tech
-Processor still just 45nm
-Weighs more
-45w

The biggest difference between the two is about $500

I know I will be paying a premium for Core i7 but it is the latest and greatest. On the other hand I really don't want to pay $500 extra. I could get another laptop/PC or very large display or put that towards a projector or just save my money in the bank.

The Core 2 Duo is a fabulous deal but I will be behind the times immediately and I know I want to keep this laptop for at least 2-3 years (probably 3). I like to keep up to date on my computer technicals. I'm really aiming for the 32nm Sandy Bridge processors with quad cores or higher, I'm skipping Arrandale.

So do you guys think the Acer Aspire AS8730-6951 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo P8600(2.40GHz) is good enough? It's gotten rave reviews and is a stellar deal. It can handle a lot even high performance games at max settings from what I've read.

 

[Maziar]

Can you fill the FAQ please? we can help you more
http/www.tomshardware.com/forum/50797-35-read-buying-laptop

 

[BalancingAct]

1_What is your budget?
$1000

2_What is the size of the notebook that you are considering?


3_What screen resolution do you want?
big as possible

4_Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?
Desktop replacement

5_How much battery life do you need?
About 3.5 - 3 hrs is fine


6_Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)?
I've been out of the game loop for a while not the top of my list but would like to play Fallout 3, WOW, strategy games mostly


7_What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo / Video editing,watching movies, Etc.)
(can handle photoshop, dreamweaver, flash, virtual hosting, MS office products, internet
browsing w/ multiple browsers and tabs, video/TV viewing, IM chat all at the same time)

8_How much storage (H.D.D Capacity) do you need?
Not that much, I'm pretty efficient, can add more later 250+ should do it.

9_If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post the links to them.
http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115548
http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115548

10_How long do you want to keep your laptop?
2-3 years


11_What kind of Optical drive do you need? DVD ROM/Writer,Bluray ROM/Writer,Etc ?
DVD burner

12_Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons.
ACER gives you most bang for buck. Why pick a laptop based anything else besides warranty when Brands are pretty much just vendors throwing in
the same components into cases made by the same OEMS?


13_What country do you live in?
US of A


14_Please tell us any additional information if needed.
Would like to be able to be comfortable and take my PC wherever I go, even to bed Will be for business use. Some travel and maybe work and school.

 

[Maziar]

HP DV6 with i7 is a solid choice:
http/www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=Category&v1=High+performance&series_name=dv6tqe_series&jumpid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/notebooks/High_performance/dv6tqe_series

I would have recommended you the ASUS G60VX (http/www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B2+Duo+Processor+-+Blue/Black/9556072.p?id=1218124204092&skuId=9556072 ) which has GTX 260M and performs a lot better than GT 230M but since u mostly play RTS games you will benefit from QuadCore