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New laptop: 1.7gHz + 6GB RAM OR 2.5 gHz + 4GB RAM?

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JPJPJP

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Posted August 24, 2012 at 10:45PM

Trying to decide between two laptops. Which one is likely to be faster?

Laptop A: 1.7gHz + 6GB RAM - also has a 32GB SSD.

Laptop B: 2.5 gHz + 4GB RAM - can go to 3.1gHZ with Turboboost.

What do you recommend?? Which one will run best?

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Forum Editor

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Posted August 25, 2012 at 9:34AM

Speed isn't everything when it comes to laptops - there are other, equally important considerations. Perhaps if you gave us a bit more information about both machines we'll be able to advise you better.

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iscanut2

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Posted August 25, 2012 at 9:54AM

As FE says, other factors will help decide. What make ? What OS ? What is intended use ? Size of screen ? etc etc....

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JPJPJP

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Posted August 25, 2012 at 12:21PM

I deliberately didn't given other details because I don't want other factors to confound this. For all intents and purposes, they are roughly the same, i.e. both 14" screens, similar size, weight, both run Windows 7.

I just want to know which one is likely to run faster. Basically, is RAM or processor speed more important? Will having a SSD make a difference to how fast the PC runs?

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Nontek

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Posted August 25, 2012 at 12:35PM

SSD info

You might find this interesting.

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rdave13

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Posted August 25, 2012 at 12:47PM

In my humble opinion I'd go for the faster CPU but would check to see if the motherboard can support up to 8 GB of ram if I needed to upgrade at a later stage.

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feb

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Posted August 25, 2012 at 4:31PM

Faster CPU and upgrade the RAM at your leisure!

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frybluff

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Posted August 25, 2012 at 7:12PM

Which is heavier:

Two apples or an orange and a plum??

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rdave13

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Posted August 25, 2012 at 7:24PM

In this instance the one with the too small capacity SSD. The OS and security programs and other drive management programs would fill the drive. You'd need to disable hibernation to save space and that isn't good for a portable PC. Most of the bigger programs would need to be installed on the data drive anyway.

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sunnystaines

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Posted August 26, 2012 at 7:38AM

are you sure the ssd is only 32gb sounds too small to be pratical.

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D@ve

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Posted August 26, 2012 at 10:51AM

There is a lot more to processor speed than just their raw frequencies.

2.5Ghz Processor Type A isn't necessarily faster than 1.7Ghz Processor Type B. You're giving us very little to go on.

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