[kellar15]

Currently looking to purchase a new laptop. The laptop i'm looking at has an Intel P7350 processor in it with a FSB speed of 1066MHz. However looking at the ram specifications it has 4gb of 800MHz RAM. There is no option to upgrade the ram to 1066MHz. Is it worth it to spend the extra money for the better processor if the RAM is never going to be able to take advantage. The cheaper processor is an Intel T6500. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Memory speed wise the difference between 800Mhz and 1066Mhz is negligible. Even if you replace the 800Mhz with 1066Mhz and run exactly the same benchmarks you will see improvement, granted, but a very small one that isn't worth the time, money or the effort.

With regards to the processor, it realistically makes no difference. The overriding factor in any laptop is the fact it has to stay cool so the CPU will be dynamically throttled speed-wise depending on system load, the hard drives run at a speed of 4200rpm, again for reasons of heat and heat dissipation (most desktop hard drives run at 7200rpm) and the laptops will never be as fast as a desktop. In most cases the processor, if you were to take the laptop to pieces and put it in a desktop setup, would actually form the backbone of a half-decent computer. Unfortunately the design of a laptop means most processors and hardware technologies never see their full potential.

[Neil Jones]

Memory speed wise the difference between 800Mhz and 1066Mhz is negligible. Even if you replace the 800Mhz with 1066Mhz and run exactly the same benchmarks you will see improvement, granted, but a very small one that isn't worth the time, money or the effort.

With regards to the processor, it realistically makes no difference. The overriding factor in any laptop is the fact it has to stay cool so the CPU will be dynamically throttled speed-wise depending on system load, the hard drives run at a speed of 4200rpm, again for reasons of heat and heat dissipation (most desktop hard drives run at 7200rpm) and the laptops will never be as fast as a desktop. In most cases the processor, if you were to take the laptop to pieces and put it in a desktop setup, would actually form the backbone of a half-decent computer. Unfortunately the design of a laptop means most processors and hardware technologies never see their full potential.

[kellar15]

So your opinion is that it is a toss up. I guess the determining factor is the better processor model also comes with a blu ray player. So a slightly better processor and blu ray support for an extra $100 is probably worth it?