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General discussion

custom ordered notebook....?

Jan 19, 2005 10:26AM PST

i need to buy a notebook for university, but i also want a computer that will pack a fair punch and run a few good games...

so i got a quote on the following notebook (my specs):

LS50CSVA - LG High-Tech Centrino Notebook
- Intel Pentium M Processor 1.6GHz Clock Speed
- Microsoft Windorws XP Professional
- 512Mb DDR (Upgradable up to 2Gb)
- LCD: 15" SXGA+ (1024x76Cool
- Graphics: Intel 855PM + ATI Mobility Radeon 9600
- 60Gb
- DVD +/- RW
- Wireless: Intel Pre/Wireless Mini LAN Card 802.11 b/g
- 2.7Kg (Including 6 cell standard battery)
- standard carry bad with notebook
- 1 year return to base warranty

and i got a quote of $2500

i know its a good price and a good laptop, im just looking for others opinions and ideas on what games it will run relatively smothly on low res & graphics....

thanks all Happy

Discussion is locked

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Price too high if US$ -- get Sonoma Pentium M's just out
Jan 19, 2005 11:06AM PST

Ouch is that $2500 US dollars ?

That is not a good price if in US dollars and also the new Pentium M Centrino Sonoma upgrade (faster RAM, new faster bus speed, new chipset, faster integrated RAM or new PCI Express bus for dedicated video, new wi-fi A, B and G and less interference (no A prior), etc.

Don't buy older technology now and I don't like that pricing at all -- you should be able to get all that for around the $1500 range or at least under $2000

Note that the new Sonoma Centrino notebooks have a 533mhz system bus (400mhz before) and the Pentium M cpu will end with a 0 not a 5 -- thus the new Pentium M 1.6 Sonoma is the 730 wheras before it was the 725 1.6 ---

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australian currence
Jan 19, 2005 12:14PM PST

please note that the price given was in australian currency

does this change your opinion

and i kind of need the lap top fairly soon...so....

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Give me $ in US dollars/ go Sonoma if possible as it is here
Jan 19, 2005 12:20PM PST

You need to tell me what that amount is in US dollars or I can't comment on the value of the notebook.

However, as I said, since the Sonoma Pentium M notebooks were released today (with a variety of improvements including bus speed, RAM Speed, new chipset, upgraded wi-fi card now with a, b and g, improved video, etc) I would wait for one of these unless you get an extremely good price on the now older technology.....

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price in american $
Jan 19, 2005 12:51PM PST

its $1875 or there abouts.....

do you know where i can get details on this new technology? sounds nice but i sincerly doubt i could get my hands on it for a price my parents will agree with... they think this notebook is expensive.....

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See article below -- also LG not sold in US at all
Jan 19, 2005 1:11PM PST

The price you are quoting for everything you are getting is decent but you could get lower in the US. I think you could get a Dell 8600 with all the stuff you are specifying for less perhaps. Go to Dell.com (us site) and custom configure it for yourself.. did you try the Australian Dell website ???

2nd, you can see the Dell Inspirion 6000 model at Dell.com which is the notebook out with the new Centrino Sonoma upgrades that I am talking about -- it does not have the dedicated RAM option yet but that is to come in a few weeks and the integrated RAM is supposed to be better .. read the link I have posted here to the article describing all the Sonoma improvements -- the Sonoma has a 533mhz system bus instread of the older 400mhz bus, faster RAM, upgraded wi-fi, new chipset, etc --

Also, you do have a dedicated ATI 9600 video card specified but how much dedicated video --it should be at least 64mb to be worthwhile and 128mb is desired for gaming.

Finally, I think you are saying this is an LG computer which is a Korean company (Lucky Goldstar changed to LG to be more trendy)

These are not even sold in the US at all so you have to find out about service and quality issues yourself in Australia.

I would recommend you look at Dell though or HP/Compaq, etc if they have Australian websites....

Here is the Sonoma details link (Cnet article posted today) -- click link below ...

http://www.cnet.com/4520-6022_1-5621629-1.html?tag=cnetfd.sd

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notebook computer
Jan 19, 2005 1:41PM PST

thanks for your help on the new technology, it really does seem great, but i don't think i will be allowed to spend more than what i am already

my initial question, will this notebook run most application? all the standard applications and a few good games, doom3 (maybe).... warcraft3, half life, counter strike, aliens vs predator 2.....

and for this price is it worth it? concidering i have to buy a notebook soon and can't buy the new ones out......?

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Make sure you have at least 64mb dedicated video memory
Jan 20, 2005 4:44AM PST

You don't have to get the new Sonoma standard for Centrino to play games.

What is absolutely essential is that you get a dedicated video card with at least 64mb to play any robust games (see on Doom 3 that 64mb dedicated video is the MINIMUM REQUIREMENT) and that will still require lowering some textures/shading, etc.

The ultimate at a decent price is the ATI 9600/9700 on the Dell 8600 with 128mb dedicated video RAM and the Hitachi 7200rpm hard drive but those options may go over your cost.

You posted your notebook from LG had an ATI 9600 but how much dedicated video memory does it have ?? -- if it has 64mb that is adequate ....

Don't buy any notebook with shared video memory (integrated) for games like this or you will be stuck (can't upgrade it later on a notebook)