Current Specs versus New Specs?

[Speirs]

I am planning on getting a Dell Inspiron E1705 (9400) and I was wondering if its worth spending €1600/$2100/£1100 on this laptop as I'm not sure if its that much of a step up.

I am buying it mostly for gaming, just so you know...

My Current Specs:
AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3200+
1024mb Ram
RADEON 9800 PRO
120Gb Hard Drive
Windows XP Professional

Dell E1705 Specs:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7200 (2.0 GHz, 4 MB L2 cache, 667 MHz FSB) edit
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium - English edit
Basic Package, 3 Year At-Home Service edit
17" Wide Screen WXGA (1440x900) TFT Display edit
2048MB 533MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM (2x1024) edit
160GB (5,400 rpm) Sata Hard Drive edit
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including software edit
256MB DDR3 nVidia® GeForce™ Go 7900 graphics card edit
6 Cell, 56Whr Lithium Ion Primary Battery


So what are your thoughts?

[sesshomaru]

It is a step up, although the timing could be better... Wait for a DX10 card, since your current specs are acceptable enough to warrant waiting for a month or two.

[jetstar]

It is definitely a step up, but as sesshomaru mentions, it could be worthwhile to wait for Centrino Pro (Santa Rosa) and DX10.

[Speirs]

It is definitely a step up, but as sesshomaru mentions, it could be worthwhile to wait for Centrino Pro (Santa Rosa) and DX10.

Well if I wait around for DX10 cards won't I have to pay more? I presume I'll be getting another laptop in 2-3 years. I'm sure I won't be missing out on that much, will I?

[lunateck]

Yes u will... ur getting some stuff that are ending their cycles soon. As u mention, ur getting a gaming machine, it is best to wait for DX10, as a midrange GPU of then would par the 7900GS you get nowadays. And believe me, you wont pay more.

[jetstar]

True. The new DX10 cards will not cost much more than the existing cards. Price differences will be minimal, if any.

[chgotwn]

When is Intel releasing Santa Rosa?