NOTEBOOK

The purpose of this guide is to provide you with unbiased information for your laptop/notebook computer buying decisions. We've tried to make this guide easy to read and informative, however it also includes detailed technical information for the more advanced reader.

This guide is divided into several different chapters which include: what to consider before purchasing a laptop or notebook computer, recommended laptop features, an explanation of laptop video memory and how it effects screen resolution, a notebook CPU speed index guide, details on the mobile CPUs that are in the speed index, hints on buying a laptop, and a list of other laptop/notebook computer resources.

What to Consider Before Purchasing a Laptop Computer

1. Portability - The main reason to have a laptop or notebook computer is portability - the need to take your entire computer from one place to another. If you don't need portability, then you should probably buy a desktop.

2. Expense - Laptop computers cost almost twice as much as comparably equipped desktops. Shocking isn't it?
You can actually buy two comparably equipped desktops for the price of one laptop. So if you have to have a computer in two separate places, you would be better off with two desktops (if they were reasonably close together you could hook them together in a wired or wireless local area network (LAN).

3. Speed - Laptops are 20-30% slower than a desktop with the same features (CPU, hard drive capacity, etc.). Slower CPUs, motherboards, hard drives, and video systems all contribute to the speed loss.

4. Upgradeability - Laptop computers are mostly non-upgradeable. Whatever CPU, video card (built into the motherboard), sound card (also built-in), and screen, that come with the laptop are the same parts the laptop will end with.
While it is possible to upgrade main memory, and removable drives, the upgrades can cost twice as much as a desktop's. Upgrades using PC cards or docking stations are also very expensive.

You can also upgrade newer laptops through their USB, USB 2.0, and Firewire ports. Only USB 2.0 and Firewire ports can run high speed devices e.g. hard drives and DVD drives. Again, all external drives cost almost twice as much as an internal drive.

5. Serious Gaming. You will need to spend at least $2500 for a laptop that can play current games at a respectable speed. I don't recommend laptops for serious gaming no matter how much you are willing to spend. Why?

Because if you love to play games, about 1-1.5 years after you purchase your laptop you will find it isn't fast enough to keep up with the latest new game. At that time, you will regret buying a gaming laptop. However, if you have the money, and want to throw down $2500 every year or so, more power to you.

On the other hand, if your computer budget is limited, it's better to have a functional laptop and spend your gaming dollars on an upgradeable desktop.

Recommended Notebook Features

Memory, Memory, and more Memory - Most lower-priced notebooks are sold with 128 MB of system memory (RAM). That's not enough for running applications efficiently under Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. If you use your notebook for occasional typing and web browsing you could get by with 128 MB of RAM but you would probably be much happier with 256 MBs. Power users should try to get a notebook with at least 512 MB or more. It is very important that the memory is purchased when you buy the computer as many notebooks have only one or two memory expansion slots and you will wind up throwing away the old memory when you upgrade.

Batteries - Lithium batteries are superior to other kinds.

Hard Drives - 20 GB minimum. Of course, larger is better.

Hardware DVD/MPEG-2 - All DVD drives rely on MPEG graphics compression to display video. The current standard is known as MPEG-2. MPEG-2 compression can be provided by software (slow) or by hardware (fast).

It is generally agreed that a 500 MHz or faster Pentium III or Athlon is required to play software DVD effectively. Needless to say, hardware MPEG-2 is more desirable, and will provide smoother playback. Hardware MPEG-2 is a video chip function in notebooks.

Video Screens - There are basically two kinds: active matrix (TFT) and dual scan (STN)/passive matrix screens. Another type of passive matrix screen is called HPA (High Performance Addressing). HPA screens are generally brighter than plain dual scan screens.
Active matrix screens are faster, brighter, and cost about $200-$300 more than a dual scan/HPA screen. It's best to view the screen before purchase to see if you like it.

Video Memory and Screen Resolution - The screen resolution of any notebook or desktop computer is a function of the graphics adapter, amount of Video RAM available, the size (pixel density) of the screen shown (e.g. 640x480), and the number of colors used. These screen features are loosely defined by the type of output the screen can produce e.g. VGA, SVGA, XGA, and SXGA as shown in the table on the next page.

Video Memory and Screen Resolution Table

Recommended Minimum Video Memory* - Try to get 2MB or more. Less than 2MB and you may have difficulty running programs in Super VGA resolutions. To get true color (XGA - 16 million colors) on an external monitor, the graphics adapter needs 4MB of video memory (note: the notebook's graphics adapter must also be capable of producing the desired amount of colors, make sure before you buy).

Laptops with no dedicated video memory. If your notebook lists the term "shared memory" in its specifications, it is likely that it contains no dedicated video memory. The video controller shares system RAM with the CPU, eliminating the requirement for dedicated Video RAM. For notebooks that use shared RAM, the video controller's capability is the limiting factor for screen resolution.

There are two drawbacks to shared RAM: The video controller accesses shared RAM slower than dedicated Video RAM, and the memory used by the video card reduces total system RAM available to software programs. For example, if your notebook with 64 MB of shared RAM is running in XGA mode, you would have only 60 MB of RAM available for programs. So if your software program requires 64 MB of system RAM, you are out of luck.

So what is good about shared RAM? Shared RAM allows manufacturers to cut cost, size, and heat generation by eliminating Video RAM. As a result, you will usually see shared RAM in lower cost laptops, notebooks, and desktops.

Current CPUs
1. Intel Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor supporting Hyper-Threading Technology at 2.66 GHz, 2.80 GHz, 3.06 GHz, 3.20 GHz.
2. AMD Athlon 64 at 2800+, 3000+, and 3200+
3. Intel Centrino Pentium M at 1.30 GHz, 1.40 GHz, 1.50 GHz, 1.60, and 1.70 GHz.
4. Athlon XP-M processors (with 512k L2 cache) at 2000+, 2200+, 2400+, 2500+, 2600+, and 2800+.
5. Intel Pentium 4 Processor-M at 1.4, 1.5, 1.6,1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, and 2.5 GHz
6. AMD Athlon XP-M "mainstream version" (256k L2 cache) at 2200+ and 2400+.
7. AMD Mobile Athlon XP1600+, 1700+, 1800+, 1900+, 2000+, and 2200+
8. Apple G4 PowerPC 800, 867, 933, 1000, 1250, and 1330 MHz (Motorola 7451 with L3 cache)
9. Apple G4 PowerPC 800, 867, (Motorola 7440)
10. Mobile Intel Celeron at 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, and 2 GHz (400 MHz bus)
11. VIA C3 at 1 GHz (Nehemiah Core)
12. Transmeta Crusoe TM5800 at 700, 733, 766, 800, 867, 933, and 1000 MHz

On the Way Out
1. Apple G3 PowerPC 800, and 900 MHz
2. AMD Mobile Athlon 4 1500+ and 1600+
3. Mobile Intel Pentium III Processor-M at 866, 933, 1000, 1060, 1130, and 1200 MHz (0.13-micron)
4. Intel Low Voltage Mobile Intel Pentium III processor-M at 700, 733, 750, 800A, 800, 850, 866, 1000, 1220, and 1330 MHz (0.13-micron)
5. VIA C3 at 733, 800, 866, and 933 MHz
6. Ultra Low Voltage Mobile IntelŪ PentiumŪ III 850, 866, 900, and 933 MHz
7. Low Voltage Mobile Intel Celeron processor at 866 MHz
8. Ultra Low Voltage Mobile Intel Celeron processor at 650 , 700, 733 MHz, and 800 MHz (0.13-micron)1. Apple G4 PowerPC 550 and 667 MHz (Motorola 7440)
9. AMD Mobile Athlon 4 at 950, 1000, 1100, and 1200 MHz
10. Mobile Intel Celeron at 1.06, 1.13, 1.20, and 1.33 GHz (0.13-micron, 133 MHz bus)
11. Mobile AMD Duron at 950, 1000, 1100, and 1200 MHz
12. Apple G4 Power PC 400 and 500 MHz (Motorola 7410)
13. Intel Pentium III SpeedStep 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, and 1000 MHz

Obsolete
1. AMD Athlon 4 at 850 and 900 MHz
2. Mobile Intel Celeron at 733, 800A, 866, 900, and 933 MHz (0.18 micron)
3. Transmeta Crusoe TM5500 at 600, 667 and 733MHz
4. Mobile AMD Duron 600, 700, 800, and 850 MHz
5. Intel Mobile Celeron 750 and 800 MHz (100 MHz bus )
6. Intel low power SpeedStep 600 MHz (for mini-notebooks)
7. Low Voltage Mobile Intel Pentium III 750
8. Ultra Low Voltage Mobile IntelŪ PentiumŪ III 600
9. Low Voltage Mobile Intel Celeron at 600 and 650 MHz
10. Intel Mobile Pentium III 400, 450, 500 MHz (with full speed L2 cache)
11. Intel Low-Power Pentium III 500 MHz (for mini-notebooks)
12. Intel Ultra Low Voltage Pentium III 500 MHz SpeedStep (for mini-notebooks)
13. Apple G3 PowerPC 400 or 500 MHz
14. Intel Mobile Pentium II 333, 366, and 400 MHz (with full speed L2 cache)
15. Intel Mobile Celeron 366, 400, 433, 466, 500, 550, 600, 650, and 700 MHz (with Quickstart)
16. Intel low power Celeron 500 MHz.
17. Intel Ultra Low Voltage Celeron 500 MHz (for mini-notebooks)
18. Transmeta Crusoe 333, 366, 400, 500-700 MHz (emulates x86 instruction set in software)
19. VIA Cyrix III 553 - 667 MHz
20. AMD K6-2 450, 475, 500, 533, and 550 MHz (with PowerNow!)1. AMD K6-2P 433, 450, and 475 MHz
21. Intel Mobile Pentium II 266 and 300 MHz.
22. Intel Mobile Celeron 266, 300, and 333 MHz.
23. AMD K6-2 P 350, 366, 380, and 400 MHz.
24. AMD K6-2 266, 300, and 333 MHz.
25. Intel Mobile Pentium 166-300 MHz.
26. AMD K6 233-300 MHz.
27. Cyrix Media GX 300 MHz.
28. AMD K6-3 450, 475, and 500 MHz with PowerNow ! (never shipped)
29. AMD Mobile K6-3P at 400, 433, and 450 MHz (never shipped)
30. AMD Mobile K6-3 P 350, 366, and 380 MHz (never shipped)