$100 left in my budget, best spent on CPU or another GB of RAM?

I've configured an HP dv6700t as follows- T8100 (2.1GHz/3MB L2 cache), Vista Home Premium, 2GB of RAM, 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS discrete graphics. The price is currently at $898. My budget is $1000.

With the remaining $100 in my budget, which of these will improve performance the most-

Upgrading to the T9300 processor (2.5GHz/6MB L2) for $100?
Upgrading from 2GB to 3GB of DDR2 RAM for $100?

Or upgrading to the T8300 processor (2.4GHz/3MB L2) for $50 and save the other $50?

Or just stick with the configuration I already have and save $100?

Thanks.

 

RAM is MUCH MUCH cheaper in the RAM Deals thread. Get the minimum RAM and upgrade yourself. $100 can buy you 3GB outright...and not just an 'upgrade.'

What do you do with your PCs? That will tell us if you'd benefit.

 

If I was him, I'd just save the 100 dollars if he doesn't do anything intensive.

 

I would got with the T8300 2.4ghz... or a better graphics card(if gaming, it is strongly recommended) I don't thing there is any reason to get the 2.5ghz that is like what 4% faster?

 

Go with the T9300 processor.

You can always upgrade RAM anytime down the road..

Processor on the other hand is very hard to upgrade and definately not worth the money.

 

I agree. 2GB is quite good for now and you can easily add ram later. The CPU on the other hand is much more difficult and expensive to do later on.

 

Maybe after tax and shipping it'll be around +/-$5 of $1000 anyway?

 

The only reason I was considering the RAM upgrade for $100 is because it was from 2GB to 3GB. To upgrade it after the fact, I'd have to toss at least one of the 1GB modules and replace it with a 2GB. And I'd want the brands/specs to be identical so I'd probably end up buying the whole 3GB. I just checked at NewEgg and see that I could buy 4GB for as little as $60.

The upgrade thru HP to upgrade from 2GB up to 4GB is 300!!! I guess that's where they make a lot of their profit....reminds me of those stupid extended warranties that they push when you buy a new car (or when you buy ANYTHING at Best Buy or Circuit City). I bought a laser mouse recently at CC and they tried to sell me an extended warranty!

As for the CPU, I am at least going with the T8300. The T9300 is only .1GHz faster, but it does double the L2 cache. I just finished reading a comparison test of the T8300 and T9300 on another website. Overall, the T9300 was about 3% faster than the T8300 but it varied widely by particular types of tasks. I've been using a Dell Latitude D830 with the 2.0GHz T7300 and integrated graphics for while now (work issued). It does have the advantage of XP Pro and a 7200rpm hard drive, but it can handle anything I can throw at it and then some without hesitation.

To answer an earlier question, I'm not a gamer. I do some video and photo editing (amateur stuff), heavy internet surfing, often have Excel, Access and Outlook opened simultaneous with Adobe and Firefox. 'Power user' might be applicable. If the GeForce 8600M GT was available, I'd definitely go for it just for the purpose of 'future-proofing' my system. But the 8400 GS should serve me fine for a few years.

 

A good mouse, good external speakers or earphones, a pack of DVDs or CDs, a usb drive, a laptop carrying case, an external hard drive for backups, orphanage!!!!