My Indecisiveness kills me!!!!

[AfroLH]

Okay, So I have been looking for a Laptop for a while now.

First I looked at Netbooks like the HP Mini Mi and the Everun Note.
I didn't like the small screens so the I looked at the HP Pavilion Laptop.
I loved it but then...

I saw the Toshiba Satellite Laptop with a 17" screen!!!
I fell in love!

3 gigs of RAM
AMD Turion™ X2 RM-72 Dual-Core Mobile Processor
ATI RADEON 3100 Graphics
250 Gig Hard Drive

But now I am Stuck...

I saw the same computer for a little more.
I looked and it had an Intel Centrio (sp?) Processor.

I researched a little and saw that it was really subjective.

So my Question is:
Which is Better for Gaming? The AMD or the Intel?

[XCVG]

Check the graphics processor. I'll bet you 10 fake dollars that the Intel notebook has craptastic GMA graphics.

[AfroLH]

Check the graphics processor. I'll bet you 10 fake dollars that the Intel notebook has craptastic GMA graphics.

The Intel one has this:
Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD

IDK if it is crappy or not.

[bicostp]

Check the graphics processor. I'll bet you 10 fake dollars that the Intel notebook has craptastic GMA graphics.

The Intel one has this:
Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD

IDK if it is crappy or not.

Yes, it is.

But that 17" laptop with a Turion is as hot and portable as a space heater. AMD doesn't make very cool and quiet mobile CPUs.

Also, 3GB ram is a joke. 2GB tends to be better.

Unless it's 3 1 gig sticks of DDR3 running in triple-channel. (I have no idea if they put this in laptops yet but...)

[AfroLH]

Figures

[Bibin]

How did you fall in love with a 17" tank that acts as a space heater (look at that processor). Also, 3GB ram is a joke. 2GB tends to be better. Why, you ask?

The laptop will have 2 ram slots. To attain 3GB, it must have a 1GB and a 2GB module. This makes them unmatched, and thus net RAM performance is reduced. 2GB will be synchronous, as it's 1GB + 1GB, so this tends to yield better performance overall. That, and Vista? Seriously? You fell in love with it?

What is the LCD resolution?

[AfroLH]

How did you fall in love with a 17" tank that acts as a space heater (look at that processor). Also, 3GB ram is a joke. 2GB tends to be better. Why, you ask?

The laptop will have 2 ram slots. To attain 3GB, it must have a 1GB and a 2GB module. This makes them unmatched, and thus net RAM performance is reduced. 2GB will be synchronous, as it's 1GB + 1GB, so this tends to yield better performance overall. That, and Vista? Seriously? You fell in love with it?

What is the LCD resolution?

Well first off I am getting rid of Vista and Downgrading to XP.

2nd off, my stepmom has one and it never gets more than a little warm.

3rd off(?) it is not a tank...

4th It can go up to 4 Gigs of RAM.

And YES, I did fall in love with it.
I dont have more than $600 to spend on a laptop!

Oh and the Screen Res is: 1440 x 900

[vskid]

2nd off, my stepmom has one and it never gets more than a little warm.

3rd off(?) it is not a tank...

Does she ever make use of the power? Most laptops should stay chilly if just used for web browsing, but the flames start shooting when you play a game.
17"=tank Don't plan on taking it anywhere or using it on anything but a desk. You might as well get a desktop as it will get you far more for your money.

If you want something with a nice size (14") screen (but not so big that it will crush small children), look at the Dell Inspiron 1420. A little over your budget at $700 (you could for sure find a used one that you can afford), but it has a Core2Duo and a GeForce 8400M GS. Not a gaming fiend, but you won't find any good gaming laptop for under $1000.

[AfroLH]

2nd off, my stepmom has one and it never gets more than a little warm.

3rd off(?) it is not a tank...

Does she ever make use of the power? Most laptops should stay chilly if just used for web browsing, but the flames start shooting when you play a game.
17"=tank

If you want something with a nice size (14") screen (but not so big that it will crush small children), look at the Dell Inspiron 1420. A little over your budget at $700 (you could for sure find a used one that you can afford), but it has a Core2Duo and a GeForce 8400M GS. Not a gaming fiend, but you won't find any good gaming laptop for under $1000.

Ehh...

I really don't care for Dells.

I'm still considering the HP Pavilion though.

Oh and the most my stepmom ran on it was a PS1 emulator(She Loves Final Fantasy ) .

[bicostp]

Well of course it never got hot, if that's the most she did with it!

Turions get hotter than the sun when you put a load on them. (My laptop has one, and I can't put it on my lap when I'm running TF2, it's so hot. Worse than when I have the cat on my lap with a fleece blanket.) I think I need to build a fan pad for it.

Also, 17 inches?! WTF?! You think you're going to want to lug that aircraft carrier around? Mine's 15" and it wasn't fun to bring to classes. Go for a 13-incher, your back will thank you.

If you're really on a tight budget, consider certified refurbs.

[XCVG]

Go to the store and try out some laptops. Take a look at them, DO YOU REALLY WANT THAT SIZE? That's for you to decide.

[AfroLH]

Yeah, I guess so.

I still have like the whole summer to decide.

I just wants something I can play games like TF2 on.

[vskid]

I just wants something I can play games like TF2 on.

If you just want games and portability doesn't matter, build a desktop. Even a $600 desktop can play games great. Laptops, eh, not so much.

[AfroLH]

Well I need the Portability because My parents are divorced and I will be using it at both houses.

Thats the only reason I am getting a laptop instead of a Desktop.

[palmertech]

Want my advice?

Wait till July when Ion netbooks start coming out. Then, check to see how they are at TF2 (I would guess they do rather well).

No point making the decision now, the market changes so fast, that by the end of the summer, your pick will be completely obsolete!