640m Dual Core or 2 w/these prices?

Have to choose between:

1. PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5600 (2MB Cache/1.83GHz/667MHz FSB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Home edit
LCD DISPLAY 14.1 inch Wide Screen XGA Display edit
MEMORY 1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm edit
HARD DRIVE 80GB Sata Hard Drive edit
OPTICAL DRIVE FREE 8X DVD /-RW DRIVE,I640M/E1405 edit
WIRELESS NETWORK CARD Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 Internal Wireless edit
BATTERY OPTIONS 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery edit
SOUND OPTION Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™ HD Software Edition edit
GRAPHICS CARD Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
HARDWARE SUPPORT 3 Yr Return to Depot Service with 3 Yr Tech Support

Price: $1,189 + taxes

2. PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ processor Duo T2400 (2MB Cache/1.83GHz/667MHz FSB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 edit
LCD DISPLAY 14.1 inch Wide Screen XGA Display edit
MEMORY 1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm edit
HARD DRIVE 80GB Hard Drive edit
OPTICAL DRIVE FREE Upgrade to 8x CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) - $40 Value edit
WIRELESS NETWORK CARD Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps) edit
BATTERY OPTIONS 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery edit
SOUND OPTION Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy® ADVANCED HD Audio edit
GRAPHICS CARD Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
HARDWARE SUPPORT 3 Yr Return to Depot Service with 3 Yr Tech Support

Price: $1,029 + taxes

Are these good deals and is the dual core 2 worth the extra $160?

 

you would be hard pressed to actually notice a difference between the two cpus, if you plan on embracing a 64 bit os in the near future, go for core2duo , if you know you wont be, save a few bucks and go with core duo

 

There is an old saying saying that the quality remains long after the price is forgotten. Yeah, I know it's a dell so the quality isn't top-notch but getting the C2D will future-proof the notebook. If there was a greater price difference I don't know if I would endorse getting the C2D especially if you don't plan on utilizing the 64-bit applications. 170 dollars is really not much if you're dropping over a thousand. Just my .02c

 

Go with the Core 2 Duo. You may never use it, and you may not notice the performance difference. But what if you do need 64-bit in the future? $170 seems like nothing when compared to having to buy a new laptop. Like vespoli said, if it was more expensive, I would just say save your money; the Core Duo is still a fantastic CPU. But as long as you're spending that kind of money, why not just get the Core 2 Duo and be at the cutting edge?

 

Thank you for the replies. By teh way, after doing some reading, I found out that the "sound blaster" option is actually just a software upgrade, not hardware.

On a different note, has anyone had any experiwnce with teh "complete care" warranty. I must say that I don't really believe in it as most people would all of a sudden start "accidentally" drooping their notebooks. Is the 3 year depot waaranty worth it at $130?

 

This may be a stupid question, but why not use the 20% off coupon? I'm going to be getting one with the 2 ghz C2d Processor, 120 gigs, and two batteries for under $1300, so you would probably be better off using that...or are you going through EPP?

 

if you're ready to get 3yr warranty I would suggest getting at-home/NBD warranty because this will give you worldwide coverage (you can get your system fixed in any country where dell operates).

The other thing to consider about Core2Duo vs Core Duo is the resale value of your notebook. Do you think 3 years down the road Core 2 Duo will add some value to your notebook?

 

Here is another vote for the Core 2 Duo.

 

I'm pretty sure you won't notice diference on the processors but you shoul really get the core 2 duo. Just maybe in the future you'll get one of those 64 bit vista version and you wont be able to o al the funtions. That's the kind of situation where a hundred bucks doesnt look to much.

 

NotebookFW: What if he doesnt even need 64bit proccessor? And of course Vista will be in 32bit version too!
you can ALWAYS Upgrade your proccessor anytime , anywhere.

 

Thank you for all the replies. I am sold on the dual core 2.

Minger, the reason I don't use that coupon is because I'm in Canada.

The EPP discount here is 4% if you spend up to $1,600 and 6% above that. They give you 12% if you go with the complete care package for 3 years but as it was already posted here, it is much cheaper to get that insurance yourself through your insurance company. Also, if you use your AMEX to procure your item, they extend the warranty FREE for one additional year.

Back to the prices, I got the price above becaue of a $100 e-coupon I received for joining their Free Time Frenzy Contest. I am not aware of any other discounts that can be applied at this time and the coupon and EPP cannot be combined in Canada. If anyone is aware of any other discounts, please let me know. Does Dell have a price protection policy?

 

I just spent an hour typing with a DELL sales rep and they now have offered the following:

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5600 (2MB Cache/1.83GHz/667MHz
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 edit
LCD DISPLAY 14.1 inch WXGA (not Trulife)
MEMORY 1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm edit
HARD DRIVE 120GB Hard Drive edit
OPTICAL DRIVE FREE Upgrade to 8x CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) - $40 Value edit
WIRELESS NETWORK CARD Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps) edit
BATTERY OPTIONS 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery edit
SOUND OPTION Integrated Audio edit
GRAPHICS CARD Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950

INCLUDED ITEMS! Dell 924 Photo All-in-1 Printer with USB Cable edit
CABLES FOR DELL PRINTERS Dell USB Printer Cable - 10 ft black edit
Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd. Warranty- Advance Exchange edit
Dell All In One Inkjet 924 Dell Photo All-In-One Printer 924 CA

HARDWARE SUPPORT 3 Yr Return to Depot Service with 3 Yr Tech Support

I really don't need the printer but not possible to get credit. Did offer to trade got carrying case and I declined.

New Price: $1,186 + taxes. How does this price compare to others that have bought similar system?

 

how did you get this, it is not offered on the website? Your in canada? Grats on getting that deal.

 

Here is the link: http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/freetimefrenzy?c=ca&cs=CADHS1&l=en&s=dhs


It works out about $15 less than online and you get a free printer.

 

nice deal, I didn't see the option to upgrade the cpu. only one i saw there is the T2400 but looks cool

 

Not many people NEED 64-bit processing right now. In fact, XP x64 and Vista RC1 x64 are in no way fun Operating Systems and are severly crippled compared to the 32-bit versions. But that's here and now. Nobody can say what's going to happen next year or the year after. I'm just saying... future proof. Plus the battery life is better.

And yeah, you can upgrade the processor. At the expense of possibly losing your warranty and/or damaging some components on your computer (even if this just means breaking something opening it up). And how would that be a better solution anyway? Pay $170 less now but end up having to pay $250-$450 later on when he does need it? $170 seems like chump-change compared to that.