PC Tower v's Laptop - Advice please (Mods, can you leave here please?)
#1
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PC Tower v's Laptop - Advice please (Mods, can you leave here please?)
Time for new pc (wife's business run from home).
3 years ago when we renewed the pc, laptops were pricier, performance per £ was lower but now there doesn't seem to be much difference. We do have a laptop (DELL) and it performs a damned sight better than the tower (which was decent spec a few years ago).
Anyway, new 'something' needed and not sure if another tower is actually the way to go forward. I know towers are easier to add memory/drives to etc but this is something we are unlikely to do as long as it does what it says on the tin.
Not needed for gaming etc
Opinions please (circa £400) (no monitor/keyboard needed)
Thanks in advance
3 years ago when we renewed the pc, laptops were pricier, performance per £ was lower but now there doesn't seem to be much difference. We do have a laptop (DELL) and it performs a damned sight better than the tower (which was decent spec a few years ago).
Anyway, new 'something' needed and not sure if another tower is actually the way to go forward. I know towers are easier to add memory/drives to etc but this is something we are unlikely to do as long as it does what it says on the tin.
Not needed for gaming etc
Opinions please (circa £400) (no monitor/keyboard needed)
Thanks in advance
Last edited by SiPie; 07 March 2009 at 06:16 PM.
#2
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I prefer desktop machines because if a part breaks down you can replace that part (assuming it hasn't taken anything else with it) If the laptop dies its much harder to save anything if it lets go.
Internet surfing on the sofa or in bed - laptop is king but for anything else I prefer a desktop.
Internet surfing on the sofa or in bed - laptop is king but for anything else I prefer a desktop.
#3
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Desktop for proper work, laptop for play! Main advantage is you can get a bigger screen on a desktop and they are more customisable.
Take a look at the Novatech range of machines
Computer Supplies and PC Components from Novatech
Looks good for £424
Take a look at the Novatech range of machines
Computer Supplies and PC Components from Novatech
Looks good for £424
#4
I prefer tower units too as Edd said.
Maplin are doing some deals on multi-core processor/motherboard combos, they also come with RAM, heatsink/fan, you could upgrade your existing PC for about £150, I've just done this and it's fast as ****
Here's a link to the one I got http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=226873
Maplin are doing some deals on multi-core processor/motherboard combos, they also come with RAM, heatsink/fan, you could upgrade your existing PC for about £150, I've just done this and it's fast as ****
Here's a link to the one I got http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=226873
Last edited by Tam the bam; 07 March 2009 at 06:29 PM.
#5
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What spec is the existing desktop PC and monitor? Sometimes a cleanup, defrag and more RAM can bring something old alive, especially if only for office use.
Desktops are still much faster £ for £ - for the same price as my dual core laptop I built a desktop that is about four times faster in terms of CPU and perhaps crucially hard drive performance (2.5" laptop HDD vs 7200RPM SATA RAID array). A 22 or 24" monitor needn't take up much room and provides 1920*1200 instead of a typical 1280*800 laptop. Much more space for working without needing dual monitors.
Desktops are still much faster £ for £ - for the same price as my dual core laptop I built a desktop that is about four times faster in terms of CPU and perhaps crucially hard drive performance (2.5" laptop HDD vs 7200RPM SATA RAID array). A 22 or 24" monitor needn't take up much room and provides 1920*1200 instead of a typical 1280*800 laptop. Much more space for working without needing dual monitors.
#6
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We are away from home at the moment but Mrs SiPie has the rough spec written down on a post it note
Means little to me, but it says:
AMD 64 Processor
3200+
1.99 GHZ, 448 MB RAM (assume it's this bit that makes it so slooooooww?)
As I mentioned earlier, we don't want it to be ultra, it's just that the current one struggles (and it's just had a de-frag/clean up) with i-tunes/word and the internet open.
Thanks for advice so far, greatly appreciated ....... and in language we can understand too Worried that if it was put in computer related the opposite may have been the case
Means little to me, but it says:
AMD 64 Processor
3200+
1.99 GHZ, 448 MB RAM (assume it's this bit that makes it so slooooooww?)
As I mentioned earlier, we don't want it to be ultra, it's just that the current one struggles (and it's just had a de-frag/clean up) with i-tunes/word and the internet open.
Thanks for advice so far, greatly appreciated ....... and in language we can understand too Worried that if it was put in computer related the opposite may have been the case
Last edited by SiPie; 07 March 2009 at 06:54 PM.
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#8
Give that CPU the ram it deserves !
OK, its three years old but still very powerful, things have oved into Dual and Quad core but for normal desktop use that is still a beast of a CPU, I am writing this on my old trusty Athlon 1700 plus (garage MP3 player)with 756 mb ram (motley assortment of dimms), about six years old, has been left on for three of those years, left in a shed, things plugged in and out, generally abused and it has never failed to start, still feels snappy to use, even compared to my new 4 gig Quad Core work Laptop.
Ok, if you are playing games then it may need a better cpu, memory is the main factor and also for games an appropriate graphics card.
I spec servers at work, it pains me to see 3 grands worth of dual quad, with sixteen gigs of ram wasted on a small database just because the business owners want their own server, it might not be the latest and fastest spec but remember what we sent (alledegly) people to the moon with, a computer less powerful than your mobile.
Do your bit for recycling, use your old pc, there is pleny of life in it.
Makes me laugh when people ask me if a dual core will be fast enough for them, is 2 gigs of ram enough, I say that your internet **** experience will not be compromised by only going for 2gb and the dual core....
OK, its three years old but still very powerful, things have oved into Dual and Quad core but for normal desktop use that is still a beast of a CPU, I am writing this on my old trusty Athlon 1700 plus (garage MP3 player)with 756 mb ram (motley assortment of dimms), about six years old, has been left on for three of those years, left in a shed, things plugged in and out, generally abused and it has never failed to start, still feels snappy to use, even compared to my new 4 gig Quad Core work Laptop.
Ok, if you are playing games then it may need a better cpu, memory is the main factor and also for games an appropriate graphics card.
I spec servers at work, it pains me to see 3 grands worth of dual quad, with sixteen gigs of ram wasted on a small database just because the business owners want their own server, it might not be the latest and fastest spec but remember what we sent (alledegly) people to the moon with, a computer less powerful than your mobile.
Do your bit for recycling, use your old pc, there is pleny of life in it.
Makes me laugh when people ask me if a dual core will be fast enough for them, is 2 gigs of ram enough, I say that your internet **** experience will not be compromised by only going for 2gb and the dual core....
#11
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The main problem with a normal laptop is the ergonomic factor. Your other half WILL get fed up with having to look down at a screen all the time. *IF* she'll be sitting at a desk with it all the time then a) get a desktop or b) get a laptop with a docking station. That way you can plug the separate monitor and keyboard in and get a decent working environment. Plus you can still take the laptop out and about with you.
Just done this for the missus - she had my *old* 17" monitor plus docking station to go with the laptop and I got a spanking new 24" monitor ..... Just make sure the laptop can drive the monitors resolution.
Dave
Just done this for the missus - she had my *old* 17" monitor plus docking station to go with the laptop and I got a spanking new 24" monitor ..... Just make sure the laptop can drive the monitors resolution.
Dave
#12
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I use a laptop and a desktop. Got to say for fun, Laptop is the best, but for work it has to be the desktop. Desktop has that marvellous little feature of a calculater key pad on the right. I suppose you can buy one for the lappy but it is never in the right place. Might just be me, but working with figures all day, it's important
#13
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The main problem with a normal laptop is the ergonomic factor. Your other half WILL get fed up with having to look down at a screen all the time. *IF* she'll be sitting at a desk with it all the time then a) get a desktop or b) get a laptop with a docking station. That way you can plug the separate monitor and keyboard in and get a decent working environment. Plus you can still take the laptop out and about with you.
Just done this for the missus - she had my *old* 17" monitor plus docking station to go with the laptop and I got a spanking new 24" monitor ..... Just make sure the laptop can drive the monitors resolution.
Dave
Just done this for the missus - she had my *old* 17" monitor plus docking station to go with the laptop and I got a spanking new 24" monitor ..... Just make sure the laptop can drive the monitors resolution.
Dave
Also it makes sense if for insurance purposes you need to lock the unit away securely.
Apart from that, even a mid range tower will always 'feel' faster than a laptop even if in real terms the spec is similar
#14
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Even 1GB total should bring it alive. Another thing to look at is that many Athlon boards can have a nice processor upgrade. Worth finding out the motherboard make/model, see how many RAM slots occupied etc.
XP running just a few applications will have very little free RAM if you have 512MB (no doubt 64MB of yours is taken for graphics). If you have 1GB it cuts down all the swap file bashing and runs many times better.
The bottle neck is your RAM, well before anything else I reckon.
XP running just a few applications will have very little free RAM if you have 512MB (no doubt 64MB of yours is taken for graphics). If you have 1GB it cuts down all the swap file bashing and runs many times better.
The bottle neck is your RAM, well before anything else I reckon.
#16
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I don't understand how this isn't computer related?
Thanks for all the replies, ultra helpful and has persuaded us to modify and turn up the boost as opposed to a trade in trip to the dealers
Thanks again
Si (& Mrs Si says a big thanks too)
#17
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I use a laptop and a desktop. Got to say for fun, Laptop is the best, but for work it has to be the desktop. Desktop has that marvellous little feature of a calculater key pad on the right. I suppose you can buy one for the lappy but it is never in the right place. Might just be me, but working with figures all day, it's important
17" screen too 1920 screen res, I wouldnt be without it, and havent used a desktop PC in about 5 years
#18
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The only advantages of a laptop are size and portability - in all other respects a desktop is better. A laptop will cost twice a same-spec desktop. It will be harder to use and harder (read mostly impossible) to upgrade - it's all or nothing.
If you need the machine in just one place, get a desktop. Need it in three or more, get a laptop. Need it in two places I'd say get two desktops.
M
If you need the machine in just one place, get a desktop. Need it in three or more, get a laptop. Need it in two places I'd say get two desktops.
M
#19
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Once again guys, thansk for all the replies.
As I mentioned we have a laptop that satisfies the 'portability' issue and it was simply because it has performed so well that we didn't want to overlook a higher specced laptop when replacing the tower.
We'll just upgrade the tower
Thanks all
As I mentioned we have a laptop that satisfies the 'portability' issue and it was simply because it has performed so well that we didn't want to overlook a higher specced laptop when replacing the tower.
We'll just upgrade the tower
Thanks all
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