just ordered new laptop(need to know)

[tekzor]

Here are the specs
HP Pavilion dv2000z customizable Notebook PC
FREE Upgrade to Genuine Windows XP Media Center!!
AMD Turion(TM) 64 X2 Dual-Core TL-50(1.6GHz/512KB)
FREE Upgrade to 14.1" WXGA BrightView Widescreen!!
NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 6150
HP Imprint Finish + Microphone + Webcam
1024MB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
80GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
FREE Upgrade: 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double Layer Support
802.11b/g WLAN
FREE Upgrade to HP ExpressCard Analog TV Tuner!!
12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Microsoft(R) Works/Money

I still have time to change anything on it till Feb 1.
I mostly surf do projects on word, play games like warcraft 3, and carry it with me most of the time. Did I make the right choice in these specs?
I'm also getting the free vista upgrade, its the premium edition but its 32 bit?
Let me know if I should change anything or something I don't need.

Thanks!
total came out to $1k after rebates

I also watch video and convert video. I could get a core 2 duo but its $100 more, I think its not worth it for laptops.

 

[phase_22]

The cpu looks good (turion x2), I would reconsider the wireless options more, a seperate memory upgrade instead of HP (relatively hefty upgrade $), and finally I don't know about that big 12 cell battery. I have a small battery on my laptop (14.1 inch Dell e1405: centrino duo "yonah") and it works fine for ~3.5 hours.

Again, I am not sure about the battery, but my 14.1 in laptop runs well.

 

[tekzor]

the only other wireless option was for a/b/g and I realy dont need more then b/g on my home network and wireless at college. I also paid $75 for 2x512mb from standard 256. This was also required by HP is I want to get the vista premium home upgrade :? . If I wanted to get 2gb of ram it would be 75+125 from 256mb for a total of $200.

 

[phase_22]

Yes, I am also a univ. student and I meant to take a strategy of configuring a one dimm 512 mb memory module and get another module seperate through newegg for instance. (save as much $ as possible)

As for 64 bit vista--I do not know but have been interested in 64 computing (i.e. Windows xp64) until I realized student editions of MATLAB are 32 bit only.

edit

I also paid $75 for 2x512mb from standard 256. This was also required by HP is I want to get the vista premium home upgrade :? . If I wanted to get 2gb of ram it would be 75+125 from 256mb for a total of $200.

I suppose this is a good deal however, but it appears typical for vendors to overcharge for configuration of memory.

 

[asusman]

Wow it has MS Works :roll:

64-bit is only needed for 4 GB RAM or more.

The TV tuner is likely a POS.

Make sure they put in a 1 gig stick of RAM and not 2 little sticks.

Maybe get a better gfx card ortherwise its fine.

 

[tekzor]

Wow it has MS Works :roll:

64-bit is only needed for 4 GB RAM or more.

The TV tuner is likely a POS.

Make sure they put in a 1 gig stick of RAM and not 2 little sticks.

Maybe get a better gfx card ortherwise its fine.

They had no option of getting 1GB in 1 DIMM
and the gfx card is only that one.
BC this is a 14.1" laptop it apperently goes under a few rules. The only comparable laptops I found ie. acer for the same price are heavier(5.3lbs vs 6.3lbs) and are 15.4".
I'm thinking about selling 1 stick of 512 ram on ebay and purchasing a 1gb stick from newegg.
I dont care much for MS works, I use openoffice anyways.
tuner was free, go figure

 

[HardWareBoss]

Looks good. You can change your vid card later if you need to. I get 2 hours on my Compaq lappy. I hace a 6 dell battery.

 

[tekzor]

I'm not sure, is the vid card on the mobo or dedicated?

 

[lostandwandering]

The 6150 is integrated i'm pretty sure. But you can always buy one of those new ASUS external GPU solutions.

 

[HardWareBoss]

Ask HP if you can change the vid card after you buy that Laptop. I can't change mine. It's intergrated.

 

[tekzor]

Yep, it is integrated. The external solution just blew me away and I hope it will work as told. Although the only computer game I'm playing is war3.

 

[HardWareBoss]

Will that intergrated card play that game?

 

[battousai831]

Will that intergrated card play that game?

oh yeah, that card is overkill for wc3, ive played wc3 on older intel integrated (like pre gma 900s) that chip will even play source at low settings.

 

[tekzor]

excellent!
I was worried it wont do a good job because my intergrated sis vpu on my old sempron laptop only pulled off 800x600 medium low setting for war3

 

[battousai831]

yeah, i wouldn't worry about a 6150 if your just going for a mild game like wc3. sis shouldn't even count as a gpu anymore its so bad.. your better off w/ an old school ati rage.

 

[battousai831]

plus, the way wc3 is made and the type of game it is (strat game) its much more cpu and mem bound.

 

[tekzor]

i always had fps of 10 when playing 1024 res no matter what settings. sis m760gx was the intergrated card. Played on sempron 1.8ghz and 512 pc 2700 ddr :lol:

 

[battousai831]

owie :? anything you get will certainly be an upgrade then!

 

[tekzor]

I just cancled the order for the laptop and placed a new one :lol:

here are the newer specs( no more windows vista upgrade cd ^^)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo T5200(1.60GHz/2MB L2Cache)
15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)
256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7400
HP Imprint Finish + Microphone + Webcam
1024MB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) (godamn I hate the 2 DIMM, ordered 1gb from newegg)
60GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
FREE Upgrade: 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double Layer Support
802.11b/g WLAN
No TV Tuner w/remote control
12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Microsoft(R) Works 8.0
System Recovery DVD w/Windows Vista Home Premium

only $60 more too then the previous :twisted:
however it is 15.4 inches instead of 14.1 and weighs 6 lbs instead of 5.3

 

[HardWareBoss]

Much better looking lappy. Any way you can upgrade that HD to 7200? Without it costing you and arm & a lef from HP. !2 cell Batt nice. Better then my 6 cell on this Compaq.