Actual Computer Speed

I've had a Dell Dimension 8200 for almost five years and I am getting a laptop this summer, but I was wondering how my current desktop compared to some of the laptops I'm looking at.

Current computer: 2.4Ghz Intel Pentium 4, 500 MB RAM

Laptop 1 (Sony VAIO VGN-TX): 1.2Ghz ULV Intel Core Solo, 1 GB RAM

Laptop 2 (Numerous): 2.0Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM

Clearly the second laptop will be faster than the first, but how do they both compare to my current computer?

 

Laptop 2 is about 2~3 Times faster than ur current desktop.......a 2.0GHz Core2 Duo Processor is about as fast as a 4.0GHz Pentium 4...or maybe faster.....but since there are not as many miltithreaded applications/OS's right now....the Core2's are not using their full potential.....

 

My Core2Duo is faster then my [email protected]

To convert one RAW file with PSCS2 from my camera on my old PC takes about 10 seconds and on my Notebook w/Core2 is about 3-5 seconds.

 

You should find that any current current notebook with dual core CPU will feel faster than your old 2.4GHz P4. As already noted, one core of a Core 2 Duo is around the same speed as a 4GHz P4, and you would have two cores to share the work so overall performance feels much smoother. Something further down the dual core price chain such as a 1.6GHz Core Duo is still a very respectable performer.

A 1.2GHz Core Solo is going to give about the same CPU performance as your old P4. However, I would not recommend going down that route unless you need minimum CPU power consumption and maximum battery life.

The CPU is only one factor in overall computer performance. If you are needing 3D graphics then a suitable GPU will be needed. However, the current integrated graphics are probably much better than than whatever is in your desktop (unless you have upgraded it).

Hard disk speed is another important factor. Notebook HDDs will always be slower performers than desktop HDDs, although the better half of current notebook HDDs could well be a reasonable match for whatever is in your old desktop.

Another factor is RAM speed. However, notebook RAM will always lag behind desktop RAM because of power and heat issues.

Think of your computer as an automobile: The CPU is the engine, the RAM is the gearbox, the HDD is the wheels. For best performance they need to be matched. What's the GPU? Perhaps extra headlights (since whether you need them depends on usage).

John

 

you could also consider going to the following site, entering in some random game and getting the cpu rating for each individual computer:

http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest