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Which processor to choose?
#318062 - 12/01/13 02:41 AM
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Hello all,
Please forgive me in advance for the stupid question. I am getting a laptop this December. I want to make sure I get the best laptop for my budget. MAME is my main focal point. There are 2 that I have my eye on. Both are 4th gen I7, and both have 8gb of ram. One has a native 2.4gb with turbo boost to 3.4gb. One is 3.2gb with turbo boost to 3.4gb. Now my question is this: would I notice any performance differences with MAME in regards to taxing games like Ridge Racer for example? Since they both have turbo boost to 3.4, theoretically there would be no difference since MAME would 'push' both computers to 3.4gb, right? Or am I wrong and should I go for the 3.2gb? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.
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| B2K24 |
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MAME @ 15 kHz Sony Trinitron CRT user
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Re: Which processor to choose?
[Re: Dave S Cramer]
#318066 - 12/01/13 06:13 AM
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If you can link complete specs for both these laptops that would really help in giving you some kind of recommendation.
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| DMala |
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Sleep is overrated
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Re: Which processor to choose?
[Re: Dave S Cramer]
#318071 - 12/01/13 07:09 AM
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> Hello all,
>
> Please forgive me in advance for the stupid question. I am getting a laptop this
> December. I want to make sure I get the best laptop for my budget. MAME is my main
> focal point. There are 2 that I have my eye on. Both are 4th gen I7, and both have
> 8gb of ram. One has a native 2.4gb with turbo boost to 3.4gb. One is 3.2gb with turbo
> boost to 3.4gb. Now my question is this: would I notice any performance differences
> with MAME in regards to taxing games like Ridge Racer for example? Since they both
> have turbo boost to 3.4, theoretically there would be no difference since MAME would
> 'push' both computers to 3.4gb, right? Or am I wrong and should I go for the 3.2gb?
> Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.
If MAME is really the main focal point, you'd be better off getting a desktop. For the same money as a laptop, you can get a desktop with more speed/space/power. You'll have better/more powerful graphics options, as well as more display options (e.g. genuine arcade monitor, TV, PC CRT, 1080p flat panel, etc.). You'll also have an easier time connecting peripherals like arcade controls, trackballs, spinners, etc.
Assuming you need the mobility, or a laptop makes sense for other reasons... In ideal conditions, I would think the performance of the two machines would be the same. Reading up on Turbo Boost, though, it looks like there are conditions where Turbo Boost can be "denied", such as power or thermal limitations. In that case, the machine with the faster native clock will be the better performer. If the price difference between the two is huge, it might not be worth it, but I'd go for the faster native machine if the price is reasonable. As B2K24 says, there may also be other factors worth considering, such has hard drive space or graphics chipset.
As an aside, processor speeds are listed in GHz (gigahertz) not gb (gigabits). 
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Re: Which processor to choose?
[Re: B2K24]
#318091 - 12/01/13 09:57 PM
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Yeah, I knew they're measured in Ghz, I was just in a hurry when I typed that and wasn't paying attention. My bad! Yes, portability is a consideration also. I have a decent PC upstairs with a 3.4Ghz (Turbo boost to 3.75) that my son plays on. I spend all my time downstairs and want to be able to move it around as well as play on the TV. Both that I have my eye on are nearly identical save for screen size, processor speed and os (8 vs 7). Here are links to the 2:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/15-6-laptop-...p;cp=3&lp=9
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/17-3-laptop-...p;cp=1&lp=9
I actually found the Asus at the local Best Buy and bought it. But depending on what any of you say or if I can do some more investigating I might take it back and order the other one online. And like I said, MAME is what I'll be using it for mostly. Other emulators, too, but mostly MAME. And if the MSI will offer near the same performance as the ASUS, I might just go with the ASUS. Thanks in advance. I really appreciate the help.
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| B2K24 |
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MAME @ 15 kHz Sony Trinitron CRT user
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Re: Which processor to choose?
[Re: Dave S Cramer]
#318093 - 12/02/13 12:15 AM
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That ASUS looks Awesome and if you already own it, there would be no benefit that I can see to trouble yourself in exchanging it for the MSI
It would be nice if the included HDD is SSD but it seems not
Also it doesn't specifically say the O/S bundled with those are 64 bit, but sometimes they leave out that detail.
I'd keep the ASUS if it were me, but you can rock MAME on both those units rather easily.
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Re: Which processor to choose?
[Re: B2K24]
#318094 - 12/02/13 12:17 AM
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Thank you so much for your help. I'll keep the ASUS. Yes, on the box it does say 8 64 bit so I'm happy about that because I do know that 64 bit versus 32 is better for MAME. Thanks again!
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