OT- Tech question (comparing two laptops)

SportSavant · Sep 21, 2009

I have two laptops.

A) HP AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor Tk-53 1.70GHZ (with 2.0 GB RAM) (running windows Vista)
HP PAVILLION dv9000
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/hp-pavilion-dv9000t-core/4505-3121_7-32064897.html

B) DELL Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5670@ 1.80GHZ (with 4.0 GB RAM) (running windows vista Home Basic)
Vostro 1310
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4362

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The dell is the newer laptop, I thought it was the faster one, and it has double the amount of RAM. I also thought the processor was faster.

BUT

The HP seems to run much quicker and smoother than the Dell, I have recently restored both to factory settings so I know that its not spyware or other stuff like that.

I was wondering if anyone may know the reason why? Is it the processor?

Is it Windows Vista vs Windows Vista home basic?

RobFunk · Sep 21, 2009

Did you get all the Vista upgrades from Microsoft ?

I can't think of anything else. That Processor cache on the Dell is also 4 times larger. Strange.

SportSavant · Sep 21, 2009

yes, both vistas are fully upgraded. Could it be because one is Vista Home Basic, and the other is Just windows Vista?

TheKinz · Sep 21, 2009

I have a Dell Vostro 1500 laptop. HP makes a Vostro too??? Had to ask seemed weird

TheKinz · Sep 21, 2009

SS - I clicked on the links and see what you meant. I was confused with how you wrote it mentioning HP. I have been told by multiple people, if you go the Dell route pay the extra and have them load with XP. Also-big thing- make sure to go with a Intel processor over Athlon. INTEL runs much cooler and will have less "fan crashes" since it is not cooling all the time. I love my Vostro 1500. I use it 12-15 hours a day and knock on wood no problems in almost 3 years. I am just not a big fan of Vista and hearing your issue is not surprising..

SportSavant · Sep 21, 2009

shit, i did mess that up, it was late. let me fix that

Betallsports · Sep 21, 2009

Get rid of the Porn on the Dell.. :laugh:

jk

celticGreen+ · Sep 21, 2009

No logical reason that I can see as to why the HP would run faster... More bloatware on the Dell maybe? It wouldn't surprise me. If you're up to it I would clean install the OS on the Dell. Do either of them have a significant advantage in the graphics card dept?

SportSavant · Sep 21, 2009

The Kinz said:
SS - I clicked on the links and see what you meant. I was confused with how you wrote it mentioning HP. I have been told by multiple people, if you go the Dell route pay the extra and have them load with XP. Also-big thing- make sure to go with a Intel processor over Athlon. INTEL runs much cooler and will have less "fan crashes" since it is not cooling all the time. I love my Vostro 1500. I use it 12-15 hours a day and knock on wood no problems in almost 3 years. I am just not a big fan of Vista and hearing your issue is not surprising..

your information is good, but in my situation the AMD seems to be much better than the INTEL, despite the fact that the INTEL is faster etc....

again, i dont know if there are other factors, but without a doubt the HP runs much better, and this is after both have been renewed to factory
settings, with all updates downloaded.

All in All I am not very happy with the Vostro 1310.

celticGreen+ · Sep 21, 2009

Oh - and no, the version of vista shouldn't make a noticeable difference... Even if one is 64bit (which hopefully the dell is - otherwise its not using all 4gb of ram).

SportSavant · Sep 21, 2009

celticGreen said:
No logical reason that I can see as to why the HP would run faster... More bloatware on the Dell maybe? It wouldn't surprise me. If you're up to it I would clean install the OS on the Dell. Do either of them have a significant advantage in the graphics card dept?

actually there is more bloatware on the HP, when i bought the dell i bought it factory direct, and I made them assure me there would be no sample software install.

no norton, nothing.

In contrast, the HP was bought at a box store and had some softwares installed on it when I got it which i had to un-install.

(PS: I have reformatted both to factory settins recently as you recommended, i thought this would change things, but it didnt).

How do I check what the video cards are?

SportSavant · Sep 21, 2009

How can I check wether its 64 bit Vista or not?

TheKinz · Sep 21, 2009

are you sure you have not picked up a little virus? God- my Vostro has 1g RAM and flies..very weird

SportSavant · Sep 21, 2009

The Kinz said:
are you sure you have not picked up a little virus? God- my Vostro has 1g RAM and flies..very weird

like i said, i have restored both to factory settings, and the problem continued from day 1.

actually its not really a problem... more of an anomaly.

There are a few other little quirks that happen on this vostro that do not happen on the HP

SportSavant · Sep 21, 2009

SportSavant said:
How can I check wether its 64 bit Vista or not?

wait a second I just found out on the Dell that it says:
System type: 32 Bit Operating System

And on the HP it says:
System type: 32 Bit Operating System

Does this mean I am running Vista 32 bit on both these machines?

celticGreen+ · Sep 21, 2009

Ya - if you right click on "My Computer" and choose "Properties" from the menu it should show this. I believe if you're running 32-bit the most RAM that Vista can allocate is 3GB. Also, depending on the type, your graphics processor may be using some of the memory as well (probably will have a setting in the Bios to adjust how much).

did some research - I'm wrong, apparently /w SP1 all 4gb are utilized - sorry for the bad info.

SportSavant · Sep 21, 2009

yes, it shows 4GB are working.,,

I did a bit of research and apparently some programs cannot work on 64 bit.

i do remember downloading something from time to time and being asked a question of how many bits I am running.

i clicked 64 becoz that is what I thot i had but i realize now i shud have clicked 32.

the program seemed to install correctly however.

I wonder if this could have anything to do with it?

SportSavant · Sep 21, 2009

I was able to find out (in vista) by clicking:

Start
control Panel
System and Maintenance

RobFunk · Sep 21, 2009

I don't know. This isn't a tech type post just a personal experience one.

Sometimes everything works well together. Other times, stuff doesn't mesh right, is crappy and is short of your expectations. I have blown money on a PC I expected so much out of and have it be nearly complete trash. And other times I get something that doesn't have mind blowing specs, but works extremely well.

SS, Two things about that Dell:

1. It's about a year and a half old already

2. The benchmark tests are nothing to write home about (in other words it's a slug)

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Vostro-1310-Notebook.9252.0.html

SportSavant · Sep 21, 2009

yes, i have a feeling that this discount dell product is a piss poor product.

the speakers are basically useless.

the disk drive sucks, I had to send it in to get it replaced once while under warranty, actually had to send it in to get the keyboard replaced once as well, altho this was probably my fault.