Question processor speed

[Guest]

Dear Windowers,

I am on the edge of buying a new laptop and have a question about the
processor speed.

I currently have 2 Acer laptop models on my mind, both with a Intel Mobile
Pentium / Centrino processor. The Acer Travelmate c300 tabletpc has 1.4 Ghz
with 1024KB L2 Cache and the Acer Travelmate 4000 has 1.5 Ghz with 2MB L2
Cache. The rest of the specs are equal (like internal memory 512MB, Intel®
855GME chipset with 400MHz FSB, etc.)

I would like to know if the overall performance between the two computers
would differ much, and how the two components have a roll in the performance.

As a amateur I used to simple look at the processor speed (rated in how much
Ghz it has), but lately I heared the Chache memory is also very significant.

Can anyone explain this a bit to me?

Best regards,
Wing

 

[R. McCarty]

The Gamer's stay on top of speed issues, so you might read the
following for a simple description of L2 cache:

http://www.overclockers.com/articles684/

 

[Guest]

Dear R. McCarty,

many thanks for your prompt reply.

The link was very helpful, though I am not sure what the practical
difference for ME will be. I am not a heavy gamer, but I do like to have some
fancy 3D screensaver running (expecially a 3D Matrix movie screensaver) and
do have MANY screens open at the same time. For example often I have many
internet explorer screens, MS word, MS excel, Windows media player, etc, open
and running at the same time.

Do you think having double chache would help me much? In the conclusion of
the test on the link it was mentioned that "In the case of the PIII
architecture, doubling the L2 cache improves computational performance on the
order of 4-5%". Is 4-5% much? It doesn't seems for an amateur like me.

Please let me know.

Best regards,
Wing

 

[R. McCarty]

I look at it this way - Buy all the performance you can on a notebook
until the cost gets too much. You can't open a notebook and update.
A 4-5% performance gain is barely perceptible. Usually, upping the
memory on a notebook to 512 Megabytes gives the best value for the
money. It's just very subjective, there's always a downside to every
option. A larger cache means greater power consumption & less battery
life (Even with CPU throttling).

You can work yourself crazy trying to analyze and pick sub-options
on a notebook purchase. Once you pick a model, check the vendor's
web site tech support for any issues that existing users have. I also
check around in Epinions to see how new products are reviewed.

Good Luck.

 

[Guest]

Dear McCarty,

thank you for your reply and your help. I really appreciate it. I have
narrowed my choice between 1 type, but with 2 models that are identical
besides the processor speed. One is 1.4 and the other is 1.6 Centrino.

Still not sure what best to do as the 200 Mhz is around 800 dollar/euro more
expensive. Do you think if it is worth to pay $800 more for 200 Mhz if looked
at performance or is it almost not perceptible?

Best regards,
Wing

 

[R. McCarty]

Top-Tier processors also come with a price penalty. 200 Mhz isn't
worth the money. Spend that difference instead on an imaging program
and other goodies (Surge protector for Notebooks, better carrying case
and a 4-port USB mini hub).

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Dear Windowers,

Is a "windower" a man whose winfe has died?

I am on the edge of buying a new laptop and have a question
about the
processor speed.

I currently have 2 Acer laptop models on my mind, both with a
Intel
Mobile Pentium / Centrino processor. The Acer Travelmate c300
tabletpc has 1.4 Ghz with 1024KB L2 Cache and the Acer
Travelmate
4000 has 1.5 Ghz with 2MB L2 Cache. The rest of the specs are
equal
(like internal memory 512MB, Intel® 855GME chipset with 400MHz
FSB,
etc.)

I would like to know if the overall performance between the two
computers would differ much, and how the two components have a
roll
in the performance.

As a amateur I used to simple look at the processor speed
(rated in
how much Ghz it has), but lately I heared the Chache memory is
also
very significant.

I don't know the two computers in question, but the difference in
processor speed is small enough to be insignificant. The
difference in cache is much more important.

 

[Plato]

I currently have 2 Acer laptop models on my mind, both with a Intel Mobile
Pentium / Centrino processor. The Acer Travelmate c300 tabletpc has 1.4 Ghz
with 1024KB L2 Cache and the Acer Travelmate 4000 has 1.5 Ghz with 2MB L2
Cache. The rest of the specs are equal (like internal memory 512MB, Intel®

The 2mb L2 is faster.

 

[Guest]

Dear Windowers,

thank you for your replies. I bought the 1.4 Ghz and 2MB L2 cache.

Again, many thanks for all you help.

Best regards,
Wing