How to configure a notebook

Brian Nadel CNET

Published: 16 Jan 2006

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Go to section: Introduction The need for speed More than meets the eye Suggested configurations How we tested Performance results

With many hundreds of notebooks on the market, choosing the right one is no easy task. And after you've worked out which model to buy, things get even more complicated. Almost all systems, especially those sold online, are highly configurable, offering a number of processor, hard drive and memory options, among a range of other choices. Make no mistake, your choice of components is key, because how your notebook performs and how long its battery lasts can vary wildly depending on what's inside.

For most users, the goal is to choose balanced components within their budget that deliver adequate performance and a decent amount of battery life. But how exactly do you do that? Should a large portion of your funds go toward a blazingly fast processor while you skimp on memory? Or should you stock the system with loads of RAM and settle for a slow hard drive? The good news is that by concentrating on three main components -- hard drive, memory and processor -- you can get the best mix of performance and battery life.

Of course, everyone has a different set of computing needs. Some want maximum performance -- battery life be damned! Others need very little computing power but need to extend battery life for as long as possible. In future articles we'll be looking at a wider variety of processor brands and speeds, pitting AMD against Intel to see who offers the price/performance deal. Here, however, we take a close look at eight different ways to set up a notebook, focussing on two different Pentium M processors. The results might surprise you.

• Introduction


• The need for speed


• More than meets the eye


• Suggested configurations


• How we tested


• Performance results

Go to section: Introduction The need for speed More than meets the eye Suggested configurations How we tested Performance results

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