which one is better

[subaqua]

Desktop
Pentium Dual core CPU E 5200 @ 2.50 GHz
2.49GHz 3.21Gb RAM

Or
Laptop
Intel core 2 Duo CPU T9600 @2.8GHz
1.59GHz, 3.48Gb RAM


Both running XP professional SP3 office 2007 and general office stuff
Do not have a choice on operating systems that’s what the IT policy in work is
The laptop has electrical design and certification software on it, and I am theoretically required to be mobile so the software cannot be put on the desktop.

If the laptop is the better option I will get IT to sort me the docking station keyboard etc if not then I will keep Laptop in desk drawer until I need to use the design software.

Or I could pester for a newer laptop ( unlikely)

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well the T9600 on the passmark bench marking site as Pass Mark of 2048 and the E5200 of 1649, so going of that the laptop will be better, but like everything in life its not so straight forward, from what you wrote you use design software which can perform better with higher end graphics cards (with laptops it is impossible to change the graphics adaptor on most), the speed of the r.a.m. will also effect the performance, as will the disk access times (though this is of less importance, faster drives read and write quicker)

Passmark if you want to check any processor.

 

[subaqua]

theres no fancy graphics in this design software. its straight line drawings and calcs not much more difficult than a basic excel spreadsheet. have spoke to OHS and they agree that my DSR assesment means I need the docking station and a widescreen monitor

 

[Herr-B]

Desktop - you can change the processor to a quad core 3GHz+, and upgrade the graphics card, the RAM maybe upgradable but it depends on your motherboard and which operating system you've got. You need a 64-bit system to use more than 3.5 gb of RAM.

But you've said you need to be mobile. . .

 

[marzjennings]

Get the desktop. Laptops imply an expectation to work from home.

Also you IT department needs to plan for end of life for XP which will by not by supported by MS April 14th 2013.

 

[subaqua]

Get the desktop. Laptops imply an expectation to work from home.

Also you IT department needs to plan for end of life for XP which will by not by supported by MS April 14th 2013.

thats dealt with by the citrix fobs we have . so whatever i choose there is that expectation. plus having the fob means if i fancy a day at home I can have a day at home.

I maybe should have been clearer. I have both currently. I want to keep the faster more useful puter.

IT dept have been told about XP support and apparently they don't need MS support. they can do it themselves

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Desktop - you can change the processor to a quad core 3GHz+, and upgrade the graphics card, the RAM maybe upgradable but it depends on your motherboard and which operating system you've got. You need a 64-bit system to use more than 3.5 gb of RAM.

But you've said you need to be mobile. . .

As you say needs 64bit o.s. Bios may not fully support a quad-core, I have a M.B. runner a Q9400, the bios doesn't always give the right info on temps, and if I am running Abit Guru it will crash, runs fine withit guru, and rock solid,
Abit Quad-GT Q9400 2.6GHz running at 3.2GHz, 8GB of Geil orange 800MHz, 2x 1TB drives and 2x250Gb drives. Asus Geforce GTX 550 Ti 1Gb ram.
Passmark for the processor is 3784 still regarded (though its position is 229) as being in the top end processors even though its moving down.
Graphics rated at 1885 in the top 60 cards.

It serves a purpose for which it was built. Mainly working with photoshop with images up to about 300Mb (in tif format).

 

[marzjennings]

thats dealt with by the citrix fobs we have . so whatever i choose there is that expectation. plus having the fob means if i fancy a day at home I can have a day at home.

I maybe should have been clearer. I have both currently. I want to keep the faster more useful puter.

IT dept have been told about XP support and apparently they don't need MS support. they can do it themselves

Then the laptop, I just find them more flexible for meetings, travel, hot desking, etc.

And you have either a very brave or very foolish IT dept.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I can even get Windows 3.1 running, I haven't found any working versions of windows 1 yet,

 

[subaqua]

Then the laptop, I just find them more flexible for meetings, travel, hot desking, etc.

And you have either a very brave or very foolish IT dept.

I know which one they think they are , and i know which one everybody else who works for the company thinks they are.

the latest project they have worked on has failed spectacularly, as the network was built ignoring all of MS advice. we only got office 2007 in 2011, before that was office XP !!

 

[marzjennings]

I know which one they think they are , and i know which one everybody else who works for the company thinks they are.

the latest project they have worked on has failed spectacularly, as the network was built ignoring all of MS advice. we only got office 2007 in 2011, before that was office XP !!

I smile because I work as part of large in house IT team and while my customers are generally happy with what I do and I always get asked what the fek are the other IT teams up to.

 

[subaqua]

I smile because I work as part of large in house IT team and while my customers are generally happy with what I do and I always get asked what the fek are the other IT teams up to.

TBF the individuals are great and always help out where they can. the design software gets weekly updates that require admin rights- normallly the puters are locked down tighter than a tight thing and anmy admin rights work needs to be begged for. I have been granted limited admin rights, i think the term is "Power user" not many in the company have that