CPU vs GPU - Help me decide.

[Valenciente]

Greetings TPU.

I'm looking to buy myself a new laptop, for various things such as LAN parties, etc.
Getting my HAF 932 around can prove tiresome at some points, thus I'd like something more "haul-able".

Finding the different laptops aren't the issue I have though. It's moreso to decide which parts to get.

I'm in the position in which, with my current budget, I can afford two different setups:

1. An i5 430M 2,26GHz CPU, with Mobility Radeon HD 5470 1GB GPU.
2. An i3 330M 2,13GHz CPU, with Mobility Radeon HD 5650 1GB GPU.

Now the question remains, what would be more efficient to get, more CPU power, or more GPU power?

I will be using the laptop for everything, that including demanding games and applications, web browsing, multi-tasking, etc.

Would I be limited by the GPU if choosing the i5, and vice versa, would I be limited by the CPU if choosing the HD 5650?

I can't really decide on what to get, so if anyone could shed some light on it, I'd be more than happy.

Thanks!

 

[Kreij]

Go with the better GPU.
Both procs will be suffiecient for you needs.

 

[newtekie1]

I think for gaming particularly, the HD 5650 is a must.

The i3 is still a Hyperthreaded Dual-Core like the i5, the only real difference is the slightly lower clock speed and no Turbo Boost. However, it is more than capable for what you need, and the games will benefit a lot more from the more powerful GPU then they will from the slightly more powerful CPU.

Everything else you listed should be handled just fine by the i3.

 

[Valenciente]

Thanks to both of you for your help and time.

Now, the laptop with the HD 5650 I have been looking at is a Sony Vaio, specifically this model.

The linked site is just a translated version of the danish sony site, as I could not find the specific model anywhere else.

Do anyone have any experience with this E Series?
The price I can get it for is rougly £692.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I looked at the 5470 for my server (and that's a desktop part, mobility parts are effectively halved) and reviews said it struggles just with dragging windows about. I, therefore, wouldn't buy a 5470 even with a gun pointing at my head so, the i3/5650 is the only option in my eyes.


Edit: $1000 USD for that hardware ain't no bargin.

I am not a fan of Sonys because they come with no Windows disk (if something happens to the hard drive like a virus corrupts the restore image, you'd have to buy a new copy of Windows which is around $100 USD).

 

[n-ster]

Sony Vaios are usually rip-offs... too damn expensive...

Have you thought about selling your HAF and mobo and going m-ATX?

or

Building a mini-ITX rig?

Don't spend that much money for a laptop with such specs

 

[Valenciente]

It's a bargain here though, everything here is expensive. That exact model is some of the cheapest I have been able to find, and I've been browsing for some three days now.
Remember, I do live in Denmark. Everything here is much more expensive than in the US, or even another EU country.

Selling my current hardware is not something I intend to do. Besides, I've only had my HAF 932 for about a month =P
The reason I want a laptop instead of just building a smaller rig, is because I also need a laptop for school and stuff like such.

 

[n-ster]

Alright then, where can you buy your laptop from? any online retailers?

 

[Valenciente]

Any online retailer, in the EU, as long as they ship to Denmark.
Buying outside of Denmark would mean a different keyboard layout, which might be a bad thing for me, as for example, the Danish and UK layouts are very different.

UK:

Danish:

But honestly, I'm not sure I would mind. I've always liked the UK layout, and the special characters (Æ Ø Å) in the Danish layout are not ones I use very frequently.
So if you could find anything from an EU retailer, shipping to Denmark, please do share.

 

[mstenholm]

True, good laptop are not cheap in Denmark. Most people that post in this forum build their own PC's and laptops are in general considered overpriced hardware. Try and ask in a more laptop-friendly forum. Best of luck my fellow contryman.

 

[Valenciente]

I've been building my own PC as well, using ebay mostly, the problem here is just the keyboard layout. If that weren't a problem, I'd be shopping in the UK instead.

The reason I do post here however, is because I know the genereal TPU community know their stuff about stuff.

Thanks for the wishes of luck =)

 

[n-ster]

ok then, when I find time I will look for a good laptop from EU retailers... I must first find which EU retailers are good lol