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Need Advice - CyberPower S4-3200 vs. Acer Ferrari 3200

post #1 of 43
5/31/04 at 7:06pm
Thread Starter 
Originally I had my heart set on the Ferrari 3200

(Specs for those who aren't already familiar):

Windows® XP Professional
Processor Low-power mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 processor 2800+
Memory 512MB (256/256)
Storage 80GB 4200 rpm
Super Multi Write Plus drive (DVD/CD R/RW)
4-in-1 card reader
TFT Display 15.0" SXGA+ (1400 x 1050)
Graphics ATI® MOBILITY™ RADEON™ 9700, 128MB DDR
Connectivity 802.11b/g WLAN, Bluetooth™, Gigabit LAN, V.92 modem
Probably about 3 hours battery life
1yr Upgradeable warranty
PRICE: 2000

But what with the slow(er) HD and the poorly configured RAM and the straw that breaks the camels back - Acer's seemingly neverending pushing back of the ship date (now June 11th at the earliest), I have been considering other notebooks.

This is one I stumbled upon on this board:
Cyberpower S4-3200

Win XP Home
Intel® Pentium® M Processor @ 1.7Ghz 1MB CACHE
Intel® 855GM CHIPSET MB W/ Centrino™ TECHNOLOGY
1024 MB PC2700 333MHz DDR MEMORY
60GB 7200RPM ULTRA ATA 100 HARD DRIVE
MOBILE ATI RADEON 9700 PRO 128MB VIDEO
8X DVD & 24/16/24 CDRW COMBO DRIVE
15.0" SXGA TFT LCD DISPLAY 1400X1050
BUILT-IN AC 97 SOUND
1 yr warranty
Probably 4 hours battery life
PRICE: 1700 + shipping

So here's my questions:

1) Whats the difference in performance between the 1.7 Intel chip and the AMD64 2800+. Besides the 64bit on the AMD is there that much of a difference?

2) They have the same GPU - but I can get double the RAM and a much fast HD on the S4-3200 for less money. Will this significantly up my gaming capabilities?

3) How is Cyberpower as a retailer? How reliable, well built, etc?

4) Is there any way to get a better warranty on the S4? Is it even needed?

5) Aside from what I pointed out, what are some pros/cons to each system? Which one would you personally go with? What would you change on the S4? Any other info...

6) What is the #1 reason for me to go with the S4-3200 over the Ferrari 3200? And vice versa?

Anything you guys can throw in here will really help me a ton. Thanks ahead of time.

Also suggestions for other notebooks are welcome.

P.S. I am usually partial to AMD (have been running Athlon's in desktops for years).
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post #2 of 43
5/31/04 at 9:12pm
Thread Starter 
Please don't overlook me!
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post #3 of 43
5/31/04 at 9:27pm
ferrari rules alot!!!! so much cooler, better made, nice processor. better service i would presume
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post #4 of 43
5/31/04 at 9:32pm
1) Not much, I had a website with benchmarks which I'll post once I find it. But I think you'll play games fine either way with either processor.

2) Yeah, better ram and hard drive do help in gaming.

3) Their current resellerrating is 8.17 but a lot of recent ratings are dissatisfied, interpret that how you want.

4) No way to get better warranty unless they provide it, you could try emailing them about it.

5) I haven't read reviews for either one so I'll base my opinions on the specs. In terms of specs the S4-3200 is the better notebook as it is likely to have better battery life with a good processor/graphics card combo. The extra ram and faster hard drive certainly help things along. However, other factors such as build quality and lcd quality can only be determined by playing around with one or finding a review on either one.

6) Until more reviews come out for the Ferrari 3200 I think its only clear advantage is that it'll be ready for 64 bit software and pctorque offers it with a no dead pixel guarantee. Otherwise the S4-3200 outclasses it in terms of the specs. But look for reviews on the S4-3200 first, even if the specs look great, the quality could be really crappy.
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post #5 of 43
5/31/04 at 10:02pm
Wow! I guess cyberpower just upgraded the video card on the S4-3200 fairly recently because I remember it previously being an ati 9600 64mb video card. I was planning on getting the Battalion e turbo from ibuypower.com which is essentialy the same system yet is around $130 more expensive than the S4-3200. Does anyone know what chassis this S4-3200 uses?
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post #6 of 43
5/31/04 at 10:13pm
this is listed on cyberpower's descript of the s4-3200 "15.0" SXGA+ TFT LCD 1280x1024 Pixels"
that's very fishy...
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post #7 of 43
5/31/04 at 10:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tourney2112
this is listed on cyberpower's descript of the s4-3200 "15.0" SXGA+ TFT LCD 1280x1024 Pixels"
that's very fishy...
At the upper portion it says 1400x1050 sxga+. The bottom is probably a typo.
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post #8 of 43
5/31/04 at 10:50pm
yea, and if they **** you over just return it.
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post #9 of 43
5/31/04 at 10:52pm
I just emailed them asking what chassis they use and concerning the screen. If they don't respond, then I'll just order the battalion e turbo from ibuypower
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post #10 of 43
5/31/04 at 10:54pm
the big issue with the battalion e turbo is the heat vent which is located on the right side of the chassis which apparently has burned a former owner of the lappy. However, this S4-3200 has the vent on the left side which makes it all the more attractive. Once I find out the chassis maybe I can find a review!
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post #11 of 43
5/31/04 at 11:02pm
I emailed them earlier today with some questions. I'll post back here if I hear anything before you Tourney.
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post #12 of 43
5/31/04 at 11:05pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Youhou. Anyone else got any input?
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post #13 of 43
5/31/04 at 11:16pm
fine kethal, if you insist.
1) performance difference between 1.7 and Athlon64 will be minimal but athlon64 is the obvious victor of the two (however, it will hardly be noticeable in gaming since video card is the real bottleneck.
2) faster HDD will give you a faster boot time and will load games so, so much faster. basically, the HDD uploads information for the game onto the system memory. system memory has a 2.1gb/s transfer rate thus the info is accessed very fast during gameplay. More memory you have, more info that can be loaded at any given time by the HDD which means your lappy wont be accessing the HDD as much making for smoother gameplay.
3) resellerratings.com
4) i know that ibuypower.com, if you use a platinum credit card, you get an extra year warranty. cyberpower and ibuypower are a lot alike so they may have the same option.
5) without a doubt, the s4-3200 will offer much better performance. we'll have to wait to find out the chassis before being able to rate the screen quality and keyboard.
6) only reason to go with ferrari is if you really plan on using notebook for 3+ years because you'll at least want the option of 64bit.
7) take a look at the battalion e turbo (available at ibuypower). same specs as the s4-3200 just a little more expensive but at least it has reviews (aopen 1557)
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post #14 of 43
5/31/04 at 11:17pm
hmm i just configed a 2.0 dothan w/ 512mb ram and 60gig 7200rpm in that s4-3200 and it came out 1900... thats ... cheap
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post #15 of 43
5/31/04 at 11:19pm
Here's a website another user from another forum provided containing the benchmarks of the Athlon 64 2800+

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=33
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post #16 of 43
5/31/04 at 11:20pm
it looks like uniwill

anyone kno what chassis this is
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post #17 of 43
5/31/04 at 11:24pm
this s4-3200 is a beast. The price is incredible which makes me very suspicous. How on earth are they offering it so cheap? What's the catch? Lets get together and think...
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post #18 of 43
5/31/04 at 11:28pm
I think I found the S4-3200 chassis.
http://www.uniwill.com/Product/N243S9/N243S9.htm
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post #19 of 43
5/31/04 at 11:28pm
how do u know the exhaust vent is on the left side? i dont see a grill of sort

and there are no pics of it on the right side?
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post #20 of 43
5/31/04 at 11:29pm
haha!

i knew it

good find

hmm so this notebook is the same as the area51m

look how the speakers are on the LCD just like the area51m

the only difference is it supports pentium-m
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