Help pleez! = o
I'm looking at buying
this computer with ddr3 memory. I love the specs--nvidia 9800m gts, 17" with 1920x1200 res, 7200 200GB HDD, 1066MHz frontside bus, 3MB L2 cache and 2.26 core 2 duo--but i'm afraid about backward compatibility with my old games, and many 3rd-party progams--not least of which goldsource editing tools. Also i wanted to downgrade to windows xp professional which i'm told is impossible on this machine because of the ddr3 memory.
As an alternative, i'm considering
this machine for 50 dollars less, which i'm fairly sure i can downgrade to xp (it only has 3GB of ddr2). It comes with a slightly less-powerful 9700m gts, 2.0ghz P7350 core 2 duo, 1066MHz system bus, and 3MB L2 cache. I have many dislikes about this machine though:
-makes my top-five list for ugliest notebook chassis of all time.
-15.4 screen and no number pad
-5400 speed HDD
-max resolution is only 1440 x 900 (which is gay)
The worst part is this is a substantially weaker machine for almost the same money, which kills me. If i'm spending this kind of money i want it to be perfect... and it isn't.
So any comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm 90% positive i'm buying one or the other because i need a new computer now, i just would really appreciate some help deciding which one.
(inb4 everyone says don't buy a laptop and comments about Best Buy)