Going mad looking at laptops

[jdg199]

This is driving me insane. The truth is, I don't particularly need a laptop for anything specific. My missus has a new macbook pro and I am using her old macbook (with sticky keys and trackpad buttons as a result of a lucozade mishap!). However, I am not convinced by parallels (or similar) on the mac to use the machine for Windows, therefore I'm looking to make the step back to a Windows machine.

Despite this lack of need, I can't help wanting a cool machine. I started with cnet.co.uk and which and settled on a couple of samsung machines. I was then put onto this company from a friend and it has got me all confused. However, I think I have decided to go for either the below spec, or the Samsung RF510 (http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Samsung_RF510-S05UK_Core_i5_Laptop_NP-RF510-S05UK/version.asp?PID=749 or S06UK model... yet to work out the difference other than £40!).

Obviously, I expect there to be a weight of opinion in favour of going down the PCS route but I'd like to see if you guys feel there is a strong enough reason to go for that.

The benefits of the Samsung model:
Cheaper (£100 saving over below spec) - not to be sniffed at!
Faster processor (?) 2.66 vs. 2.50
More RAM - 6meg vs. 4meg
More storage - 640mb vs. 500mb
Faster bluetooth - 3.0 vs. assumed 2.1
2x USB 3.0 vs. 1x USB 3.0
Well known brand
Slick looking chassis

Benefits of PCS spec below:
Better processor: i5-2520m vs. i5-480m (how much of a difference is that?!)
Faster (?) harddrive: 7200rpm vs. 5400rpm
Better graphics card: GeForce 520m vs. 330m

Unknowns:
Optical drive - unsure of the difference here
Wireless card - other than ensuring N-standard, is there much difference?

(There are 4 networking cards on offer from PCS - but looks like only ONE comes with bluetooth? Seems a bit silly!)

Are the PCS benefits worth the extra cost!? Is there any other consideration that I haven't thought of?

Loads of information here - essentially I think I need someone just to grab my collar and say, just buy that one...! However, a little more feedback/discussion would be really helpful!

PCS spec:
Chassis & Display
Enigma III 520: 15.6" HD LED Backlit Widescreen (1366x768) Super Clear Glossy
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i5 Dual Core Mobile Processor i5-2520M (2.50GHz) 3MB Cache
Memory (RAM)
4GB SAMSUNG 1333MHz SODIMM DDR3 MEMORY (1 x 4GB)
Graphics Card
nVIDIA® GeForce® GT 520M - 1GB DDR3 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
Memory - Hard Disk
500GB WD SCORPIO BLACK WD5000BEKT, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16MB CACHE (7200 rpm)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 3 in 1 Memory Card Reader (SD, MMC, MS)
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & INTEL® CENTRINO® ADVANCED-N 6230 inc BLUETOOTH
USB Options
1 x USB 3.0 PORT + 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS AS STANDARD
Battery
Enigma III Series 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (5,100/5,200 mAh)
Power Lead & Adaptor
1 x UK Power Lead & 90W AC Adaptor
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Office Software
Microsoft® Office Home & Student 2010 (1 License Product Key Card) (£75)
Anti-Virus
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1.3 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
Insurance
1 Month Free Laptop Insurance inc. Accidental Damage & Theft
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 5 to 7 working days
Quantity
1

Price: £768.00 including VAT and delivery.

Configure Here: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/enigmaIII-520/

 

[Maestro]

Hi jgd. It can be a bit of a minefield. I am obviously biased, but there is only one glaring difference that should make your decision very straightforward. The pcs machine is sandy bridge (2nd generation core i) while the other machine is the older calpella platform (1st generation core i) and a pretty entry level one at that. You can’t underestimate the significant performance increase that sandy bridge brings. The speed comparisons you make are irrelevant as it’s a different architecture. The other main difference which will impact performance is the gpu.

 

[jdg199]

Thanks Maestro - good point on the 1st gen/2nd gen chips. Can I ask how you know that? The samsung seller doesn't state 1st or 2nd gen, or sandy bridge/capella, so how do you know which the samsung is?

Just experience of that machine? Or is it simply that the 480m spec is an older version to the 2520m (I don't even know what this is a measurement of; "m")?!

Also, another question if you don't mind...

Am I correct that <i>only</i> one of the wireless options through PCS comes with bluetooth?

Cheers
john

 

[DeadEyeDuk]

therefore I'm looking to make the step back to a Windows machine.

Weewaawoowaa...I think you mean step forward into the light?

 

[pez]

Ok, everyone will laugh, but I'll ask anyway

How much room for manoeuvring in the budget?

Also, something to remember, with any laptop, certain components can be upgraded - others are fixed. Get the best GPU/CPU you can afford, as these are pretty much fixed components.

 

[Fear]

Ok, everyone will laugh, but I'll ask anyway

How much room for manoeuvring in the budget?

Also, something to remember, with any laptop, certain components can be upgraded - others are fixed. Get the best GPU/CPU you can afford, as these are pretty much fixed components.

There goes the budget again ROFL

 

[jdg199]

Was wondering when someone would start pushing the cost higher...

To be honest I could spend what I like but since I am not a hardcore "gamer" I figured I could do it for a reasonable sum around £500! Obviously, I've already cleared that comfortably.

My uses are internet browsing, word/excel for general use and probably the main reason to move back to a Windows machine is so that I can use a decent trading platforms for currency trading - none of which are supported on a mac.

None of those applications need much beef behind them so I figured that the spec below (inc. i5-2520m and 520m graphics) were good enough for the "fixed" components.

Aren't they!?!

 

[JonnyPx]

Was wondering when someone would start pushing the cost higher...

To be honest I could spend what I like but since I am not a hardcore "gamer" I figured I could do it for a reasonable sum around £500! Obviously, I've already cleared that comfortably.

My uses are internet browsing, word/excel for general use and probably the main reason to move back to a Windows machine is so that I can use a decent trading platforms for currency trading - none of which are supported on a mac.

None of those applications need much beef behind them so I figured that the spec below (inc. i5-2520m and 520m graphics) were good enough for the "fixed" components.

Aren't they!?!

If you are doing simple stuff like that, you could save some money and reduce the processor to the basic i3 2310m. You won't need anything that powerful, and that is still a decent CPU?

 

[pez]

^^ Speaks the truth.

Not sure how important a large screen for that would be. I've looked at some spread betting software, and they point towards large screens simply due to the volume of data held in the application and it's windows. There's another chap on here who went for a massive rig, and GPU's, as he needed to run 3 large screens from playing professional poker as a living. Really depends. If it's simple "Web browser" based trading, then that spec should be fine or you could drop it slightly.

(Yes, I've "under quoted" based on someones requirements...gasp-shock!)

 

[jdg199]

Ah crapsticks. I'm going around in circles again. Just been looking again and realised that the Enigma III chassis has a compact keyboard rather than the scrabble style keys - if I wanted my preferred keyboard style I've got to go UP to an Optimus II or DOWN to the Genesis III (but the Genesis would sacrifice USB3.0 and decent graphics card - neither of which I want to do). Therefore, let me try to be a bit more specific. I'll limit things to £800 (way over my original expected amount), to include Office Student (£75).

Optimus II £805.00
17.3" 1920x1080
i3 2310m 2.1Ghz
4Gb RAM
500Gb 7200rpm
nVIDIA GeForce GT 540m
USB 2x3.0 2x2.0

Genesis III £662.00
15.6" 1366x768
i3 2310m 2.1Ghz
4Gb RAM
500Gb 7200rpm
Intel HD 3000
USB 3x2.0

Enigma III £792.00
15.6" 1920x1080
i3 2310m 2.1Ghz
4Gb RAM
500Gb 7200rpm
nVIDIA GeForce GT 540m
USB 1x3.0 2x2.0

Enigma III £768.00
15.6" 1366x768
i5 2520m 2.5Ghz
4Gb RAM
500Gb 7200rpm
nVIDIA GeForce 520m
USB 1x3.0 2x2.0

These, I think, are my options. I can probably disregard the Genesis because it sacrifices too much. Does anyone have an opinion on the actual FEEL of the Enigma III chassis? If I went to the Optimus, I would definitely stick with the i3 to keep the cost from running out of control. Or do I not worry about the keyboard and go for the Enigma with the i5 and 520m graphics card... or the i3 with the 540m card!!? Crap crap crap.

Final question - it may be a quirk on the website, on the Optimus spec, I've just seen that it would be CHEAPER to go for the 555m 2gb graphics card compared to the 540m 1gb card. If I change it to the 555m card it brings the spec cost down to £787!!

I'm sorry for going around in circles - I guess I'm just thinking out loud - but your comments are certainly appreciated.

 

[pez]

If you're up to £800, you may as well hae a look at the 15" VortexII I've got the 17.3" one, and it's a dream, but you'd need to add another £400

 

[Nemesis]

In case your still wondering about how he knows whether its 2nd gen or not

the i5 xxx series is first gen
the i5 2xxx series is second gen