8 replies to this topic

[Reservoir]

Need a computer for school (an actual laptop) blahblahblah trying to find the right build [more explanation] CPU.

I'm trying to find a computer with a good build. I'm paying a lot of attention to processors and such, and I'm not sure what to go with. I've heard before that AMDs are bad. Why is that. What's so different about an AMD compared to Intel® Core™ i#?

I'd really like to understand this so that I make the best choice.

[Wynn]

Spoiler

Behold, the Falcon Guide! It is a basic recommendation guide that divides different comp parts into tiers (including processors)

As for choosing between AMD and Intel, it really comes down to preference now. If you are buying it prebuilt, go with the one that's well within your budget and does its purpose effectively.

[Reservoir]

Spoiler

Behold, the Falcon Guide! It is a basic recommendation guide that divides different comp parts into tiers (including processors)

As for choosing between AMD and Intel, it really comes down to preference now. If you are buying it prebuilt, go with the one that's well within your budget and does its purpose effectively.

That image guide will have to wait until Kai's around... That's a pain to look at on my tablet. >_>;

Anyway, they aren't "bad" anymore? What was wrong with them before? Does either processor have any benefit over the other?
Also, is there anything you can say about Solid-State Drives? SATA and mSATA? I've read a bit about them before, but I really don't seem to like them. That could be from a lack of understanding. As much as I'd love to be, I'm not computer or tech savvy. That's what I'll have school for. >_>; So, yeah...

*sigh*
I really didn't want to have to get a new laptop for a while.... So, I'm /really/ not thrilled about any of this. :/ Seeing as how I have no choice, however, I need to figure what I want to get. I do not want to spend /any/ amount of money on something if it'll end up just being bad to me. I want to do this and get it over with, and I want to get it right the first time. There's so much available nowadays, so much improved, and so many new technologies that I am really lost. For most people, they either know the stuff or it doesn't matter to them, anyway. It matters a lot to me... Just... I don't know pretty much anything when it comes to all of this. *sigh* I just know my frustrations at my former laptop's shortcomings, and when what I have just isn't strong enough or doesn't work well with some of the programs I want to use or things that I want to do. :/

I don't care to get into costs and such stuff too much. That usually affects the responses that I receive, even though it really shouldn't. I want facts. The way I see it, when you are dealing with facts, everything is what it is. I'm not trying to hear "Well, this is good if you are willing to pay X." What I have to pay or what I end up paying will just be whatever it is. Just don't think about money at all with this. >_>
As for the other bit that was mentioned: Kain was prebuilt, but she turned out being really good. Most of the times that I look at computer builds (provided I'm looking at anything familiar,) there's usually something or other that I don't like--something always falls short of what I want/the "best"/optimal. Basically, I tend to like custom builds. I look at brand's basic models and go through looking at options and choosing what I like and then the strongest/highest specs in area. Usually ends up have a pretty price tag, but idrc. Besides, I want laptop that will be "good" and keep up with technology for a long time. Kain lasted about five and a half years. She's an outdated build now, but she was really good for her time and kept up with everything that was coming about for a long time. It became more and more difficult, but there were also other troubles that played a hand in that. Anyway....

[Waker]

AMD is budget brand. Intel is performance brand. I would check an Intel processor first, pick among a bunch, and then see if there's an AMD that matches the performance of the one I picked but is cheaper; if not, then I'd buy the Intel.

As for SATA, mSATA, and SSDs, it's only a couple of hours reading in wikipedia...

[Reservoir]

I'm still not certain what I'll be getting yet. However, I've been to HP's website and have come up with two custom builds. I'm curious if one is "stronger" or "better" than the other, or if they sort of equal.

AMD
Operating system: Windows 8 64
Processor: AMD Quad-Core A10-4600M Accelerated Processor (3.2GHz/2.3GHz, 4MB L2 Cache)
Graphics card: 2GB AMD Radeon™ HD 7670M Discrete-Class Graphics
Memory: 12GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive: 750GB 7200RPM Hard Drive

Intel
Operating system: Windows 8 64
Processor: 3rd generation Intel Core i7-3630QM Processor (2.4GHz, 6MB L3 Cache)
Graphics card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 630M Graphics with 2GB of dedicated video memory
Memory: 12GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive: 750GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
Hard Drive Acceleration Cache: NO mSSD Hard Drive Acceleration Cache

I'm still looking around at the moment, hoping to settle on something. I do prefer custom builds, unless I can find something that's really good for really cheap/on sale. I'm looking around for Cyber Monday deals at the moment. Too bad HP's aren't better. :/


Please do bear in mind that I'm trying to buy something that will hopefully last. Technology is sometimes so easily outdated; I'm hoping to get a laptop that will keep up for a few years. (I wanted to remind of this before I'm told that anything is excessive. In a few years from now, it likely won't be. >_>)

[Lexaeus]

I'm still not certain what I'll be getting yet. However, I've been to HP's website and have come up with two custom builds. I'm curious if one is "stronger" or "better" than the other, or if they sort of equal.

AMD
Operating system: Windows 8 64
Processor: AMD Quad-Core A10-4600M Accelerated Processor (3.2GHz/2.3GHz, 4MB L2 Cache)
Graphics card: 2GB AMD Radeon™ HD 7670M Discrete-Class Graphics
Memory: 12GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive: 750GB 7200RPM Hard Drive

Intel
Operating system: Windows 8 64
Processor: 3rd generation Intel Core i7-3630QM Processor (2.4GHz, 6MB L3 Cache)
Graphics card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 630M Graphics with 2GB of dedicated video memory
Memory: 12GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive: 750GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
Hard Drive Acceleration Cache: NO mSSD Hard Drive Acceleration Cache

I'm still looking around at the moment, hoping to settle on something. I do prefer custom builds, unless I can find something that's really good for really cheap/on sale. I'm looking around for Cyber Monday deals at the moment. Too bad HP's aren't better. :/

I really like the second build, but it needs a better hard drive. 5400 rpms is just sad when used together with powerful processing power like that. Higher Rotations normally means you can get more data off quicker, which is nice for fast processing computers. The graphic cards are both middle class laptop graphics cards, both processors are quad core, i like the intel one because of the 6MB L3 cache though (cache is really fast but expensive memory which is why its right by the processor), and of course same memory and os.

[Waker]

Radeon 7670M is better than the NVIDIA GeForce 630M. They aren't even comparable. If you want a fair comparison you should look at the 650-660M.

AMD Radeon graphics cards are ranked in performance by the hundreds with the tens place being for designation of more specific features, and the thousands for the generations, generally. With NVIDIA, the hundreds marks the generation and the tens marks its rank of performance.

For example, a Radeon 7990 is the latest and highest performing gpu from AMD right now, and the 690 is the latest and highest performing gpu from NVIDIA.

Edit: with Lex's input above, it'd really be best if you found a comp with that 7670 card, the i7-3630QM, and a 7200 rpm HDD. Also, found a sentence: "The $555 i7-3630K, which fundamentally the same the $990 i7-3960X, just clocked 100MHz lower and with a little less L3 cache, is definitely the processor to choose if you're going to be building a high-end system based on the LGA2011 platform."

I'd rather go for the i7 and forgo the graphics but keep the 7200 HD, since the cpu can pick up the slack for graphics.

EDIT 2: NVIDIA has 8800s and so on as well. The GTX series tend to have 3-digit numbers. Same deal applies four the 4-digit numbers as that with Radeon cards, but without the tens place.

Edited by Waker, 26 November 2012 - 02:51 AM.

[Reservoir]

Alright, thank you for the input. :3

As far as the Intel's graphics card goes, there was one other option above what I chose, a 650M: NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 650M Graphics with 2GB GDDR 5 video memory. I didn't pick it since I wasn't sure if it was necessary.
The particular reason I didn't choose a 7200RPM for the Intel's hard drive was that it was only available if I opted for a Hybrid Hard Drive, which is something I'm unfamiliar with. I was reading up on it, though. It sounds like it could be good and useful; I'm just indecisive. |:

Lex, do you prefer the Intel build because of what it is/personal preference? Or is it just a better one? Also, it's interesting that you say the graphics cards in those builds are only middle class, given the upgrades I had already given them. The AMD build has the highest graphics card available for it. The Intel build would have the highest available for it if I gave it the 650M. ._.;

If the Intel could serve me better, I suppose I'd better just save up my money and aim for it. If the AMD is a fair match for it, though, then I don't see the point unless the performance brand build possesses some advantage.

[Waker]

The hybrid hard drive (SSHD) is a combination of solid-state drive and normal hard-drive. Performance-wise it's between the SSD and the HDD. You can see a comparison here

imo i'd want to see how fast the HD part of that SSHD is first though :l