AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-58 1.9GHz vs Intel Core 2 Duo 1.5 GHz?

Question

Hi,
I am planning to buy a laptop for basic uses of Internet surfing, & few other things like music, DVDs, games, Microsoft office. I have a choice between the following two laptops. Could anyone suggest which is a better buy? They are almost of the same price so that is not a concern. I have never used an AMD & my concern is about its performance.

Choice 1 : HP dv6500t, Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo T5250, 1.5 GHz, 15.4" WXGA, 2GB RAM, 250GB, SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW w/Double Layer Support, 802.11b/g, HP Imprint (Radiance) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, Windows Vista Home Premium

Choice 2 : HP Pavilion dv6646us, 1.9 Ghz AMD Turion™ 64 X2, 15.4" WXGA, 2GB RAM, 160GB, LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support , 802.11b/g, HP Imprint (Radiance) + Webcam + Microphone, Windows Vista Home Premium.

Thanks

Thanks to all of you in helping me make this decision. Appreciate the prompt & helpful replies.

I went in for a AMD Turion cos the deal on Intel expired & I wasn't left with much choice :( Anyways, I guess I will enjoy AMD too :)

Answer 1

I'd go with the AMD but I hear Intel laptops have a longer battery life. Also the Intel would be a good choice if you plan on filling up the HDD. It is very difficult to upgrade a HDD in a laptop so if you plan on using 160GB then I suppose the Intel would be the best choice. So I guess all signs are pointing towards the Intel. I'm just an AMD fan which is why I'd pick it.

Answer 2

In all likelihood the Core 2 1.5 will be pretty close to the Turion 1.9 since the Core 2 can do more work per cycle than the Turion (and the Core 2 might even be a bit faster). The Core 2 Duo will give you better battery life though (assuming the other components don't use more power and both computers have the same size battery).

The one with the Intel processor has a bigger hard drive which is a good thing and a fingerprint reader while the AMD doesn't seem to have one (I've found a fingerprint reader to be nice to have though I wouldn't decide based solely on that factor).

The big issue I'd say would be what graphics each of them has, if the one with the Core 2 has Intel graphics it won't be any good for gaming (and if it doesn't have Intel graphics it will be) but with AMD systems you have to be much more careful since some of the nVidia and aTi chips that go into AMD laptops are even worse than Intel graphics (and it's usually the cheapies that have the bad ones).

From what I can tell Choice 1 might be either Intel Integrated crap (though the X3100 is the least worst Intel graphics chip ever) or a GeForce 8400 which is a good chip.

The second one seems to have an old GeForce 6200 (though you should check) which is a bit dated now and a google search indicated a lot of people unhappy with that particular model.

As for Vista, whilst it is crap and should be avoided if at all possible you probably won't get too much choice in the matter.

Answer 3

Hi, I would go with the Intel based system, reason being is I have an ASUS system with almost same specs as here, except is core 2 duo centrino 1.73 Ghz and a friend with a Turion based system, running the same program (Corel Draw 7) and the same file, mine tromps all over his, we tried another program (large Word .doc file) he pulled ahead a bit, but not much.

Hope this helps, of course both computers are very good and more than capable of doing what you want, i bought the ASUS on recommendation from a friend and value for money, was cheaper than HP or Dell, only trouble I've had has been power supply overheating, which was replaced under warranty.
Good luck

Answer 4

Go wiht AMD, I don't know what idiot thought to put an intel core in a laptop, but if you don't want it to melt and value your battery life, go with AMD and immediately install XP Vista can drain your battery in 45 minutes, not even kidding.

Don't believe me? Here's a site I'm a member of, check out the articles, just run a search for Vista

http://www.hellboundhackers.org/

AMD will blow the Intel cpu away. But Vista on a laptop? Come on! It sucks on a desktop, why on a lappy?

I recommend just buying a laptop off of newegg.com, they are cheap and good. I built this computer:

http://thorsdecree.excessiveforce.org/images/desktop.jpg

for under $500 by buying parts from newegg. They have good laptops too.

[quote] but I hear Intel laptops have a longer battery life [/quote]

NOT TRUE! Intels run at a higher voltage and eat up way more battery life. AMD are way more efficient: My desky is currently at 99ºF CPU after 2 days uptime with AMD Athlon X2 6000+ 3.0GHz dual core cpu, and I've got lots of stuff inside it; multiple IDE drives, an nVidia GPU, and a 500W PSU.

Go with AMD, unless it's a media center you're not going to fill up the 160G on a lappy that fast. You can always upgrade pretty cheap too; desktop SATA 250GB drives can be as cheap as dirt now: I got a 250G for $65 and it's not that much more for a laptop if you knwo where to shop (not Ebay! Don't buy HDDs there haha)_

Answer 5

Hi
if u dont want to do that serious gaming kind of stuff then go for the intel one and that would be more than if for the needs u told about moreover there is bigger harddisk in the intel one so i suggest u to go with intel one and do get windows xp instead of vista this will enhance its battery life

Answer 6

I'd go with intel. the core 2 duo technology is more advanced.

Answer 7

I have AMD and I think that they were faster for a while. I think that this generation of Intel chips is faster. Both sound like great computers.

Answer 8

well, with that info id choose the second one just because its .4 Ghz better, but for gaming, you gotta get a good graphics card, which companies rarely tell us for some reason