New Dev Laptop (Feedback requested)

[mattheweston]

I just found out what crappy laptop HP is going to replace my laptop with...on the surface I'm not really happy. I lost a dual core and I'm getting a single core. I would like some feedback on the specs in case I'm missing something.

This machine will be primarily for development and possibly some gaming.

Microprocessor 2.30GHz AMD V-Series Processor for Notebook PCs V140
Memory 2GB DDR3 System Memory (2 DIMM)
Video Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 Graphics
Video Memory Up to 893MB
Hard Drive 250GB (5400RPM)
Multimedia Drive SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
Display 15.6" diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366 x 768)
Network Card Integrated 10/100 Ethernet LAN
Wireless Connectivity
802.11b/g/n WLAN
Keyboard 101-key compatible with full-size keyboard with One touch launch keys and Action keys
Pointing Device Touch Pad with integrated On/Off button and 2-way scroll pad support
Other Devices
integrated microphone

[jaybee]

It's a little hard to give feedback if we don't know how bad they shafted you. What happened? Yours broke and they're offering you a slower one in return? What were the specs on your old one?

[mattheweston]

I'm just wondering if the one I listed is decent for game dev.
My laptop was part of the NVIDIA settlement found at http://www.nvidiasettlement.com.

I have an HP dv6436nr

AMD Turion 64 X2 mobile technology TL-56 / 1.8 GHz
2 GB Ram
160.0 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400.0 rpm
NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 Shared video memory (UMA) (Max allocated ram 559mb)

It looks like a better overall system than I had, but I'm leary of the Single core processor vs my old dual core.

[k1net1k]

i wouldnt get too caught up in the single core vs double core thing. thats not the only indicator of performance.
and unless you are making crysis at 2000px res or something, any computer can run IDE,compiler,code.
it would normally be ram and video card (dedicated often better than shared memory) making more difference. Unless you are doing some ridiculous number crunching where CPU is key.
What sort of games are you planning on making ? you can make pong on a blackberry if you wanted to

[mattheweston]

Working with XNA mostly. I've already done the typical PONG clone. I'm probably going to shoot for a mario clone next. Then work my way up to a 2D RPG before tackling 3D.

[christo]

Single core is probably still BETTER for games.

Most games don't execute in multiple threads, and if you're doing your own game development you probably won't either.

Dual core is only better if the software makes use of multiple cores.