...and need some help from fellow IW'ers.

I've narrowed it down to the two options below. They're almost identical but with the following differences:

Option 1: Acer Aspire 3022WLMi
CPU: AMD Mobile Sempron 2800+, ATI Radeon XPress 200.
Cache: L2 256kB
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon X600 64MB

Option 2: Acer Aspire 1522WLMi
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+, VIA K8N800
Cache: L2 1MB
Graphics: NVidia GeForce FX Go5700 64MB, AGP 8X

How big is the difference in performance between option 1 and 2? Option 2 cost about 70 USD more and is currently out of stock local computer stores, but I might find it online. It also seems to have better sound hardware. Is the price difference, and possibly cost of buying it online, worth it?

Thanks!

The difference? The second option is like the first option on steroids. It's 64-bit, which is enough to have double processor power in some applications, and while I heard the XPress 200 is good, it was designed for mobile 64s, and it is said it is weaker in 32-bit. So I've heard. And I'e no idea how the two graphics cards compare, since I don't follow mobile technology as I do with desktop. But in normal circumstances, an X600 is much more powerful than any 5700.

The second is far better. You would notice a massive difference, the only thing is the second graphics card is pretty crap by today's standards (obviously depends what kind of games you're into). Anyway you could upgrade your package to include better graphics?

Whatever you decide, if you can't afford a better GPU make sure you take the second option.

No, unfortunately I can't get a different graphics card with the laptop.

Another question from a complete noob on laptops; is it possible to upgrade the laptop with a new CPU, graphics card and RAM as with a stationary computer? I realize the space is limited.

Memory is typically doable, up to the limit of the laptop. CPU and graphics, card, however, are pretty much what you've got. Any upgrade potential will be minor, unless it can be plugged into a PCMCIA slot.

That was what I suspected, so I looked around some more, and if I add about $200 to option 2 above I can get:

Option 3: Acer Aspire 5021WLMi
CPU: AMD Turion 64 ML-28 1.6 GHz, ATI Radeon XPress 200
Cache: L2 512 kB
Graphics: ATI Radeon X700 128 MB
Harddrive: 80 GB instead of 60 GB as the two other options.

Yes, I think it's worth it. I mean, I'd get that one. But the question is, what do you plan to do with it mainly?

As a desktop replacement. I don't really require top notch performance so a laptop will work nicely.

From an online store I've found a similar laptop to the one above, but it has a AMD Athlon 64 3400+ CPU instead. And the difference in price is great either.

I know my laptp questions starts to become boring, so I'll keep this (hopefully) last one simple:

Is this computer a good buy for $1600?

Option 4: Acer Aspire 5024WLMi
CPU: AMD Turion 64 ML-34 1.8 GHz, ATI Radeon XPress 200
Cache: L2 1MB
RAM: 1024 MB (2x512) as opposed to 512 (2x256) for the options above.
Graphics: Same (ATI Radeon X700 128 MB)
Harddrive: 100 GB

Everything else equal. Option 4 cost around $130 more than option 3.

Thanks for your help!

[ 07-24-2005, 11:43 AM: Message edited by: Stratos ]

Yes. Hell yes. Bigger cache, double ram, more disk space... It is also a good price.