NP2096 vs. NP2098

[Y060N]

NP2096:
- 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1680x1050)
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- ~Intel® P8700 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.53GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt
- nVidia GeForce 9600M GT 512MB PCI-Express DDR2 DX10
- No Video Adapter
- ~ 4,096MB DDR2 800 (2 SODIMMS) Dual Channel Memory (Requires Vista 64-Bit to utilize Full 4GB)
- None Standard--
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 320GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)
- ~Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's
- Sager 3 Year Parts & Labor Warranty, Lifetime Sager Toll Free Support
- $1,198.00

__________

NP2098:
- 15.6" HD 16:9 WXGA Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy LED Screen (1366x768)
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- ~Intel® P8700 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.53GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt
- ATI HD4650 512MB PCI-Express DDR3
- No Video Adapter
- ~ 4,096MB DDR3 1066MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS) (Requires Vista 64-Bit to utilize Full 4GB) -
- None Standard--
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 320GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)
- ~Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's
- Sager 3 Year Parts & Labor Warranty, Lifetime Sager Toll Free Support
- $1,123


What do you think is the better deal here, and why? Both are in my price range, but I am not sure which I want to buy. The res on the 2096 is a little bit better, but the gpu on the 2098 is also better.

Thanks in advance.

[powerpack]

You have the difference. I do not understand why the NP2098 does not offer better resolution.

That said if gaming is a priority I would say the 2098 wins. If not the 2096 wins. Remember the 9600m GT is no slouch.

I have a 14" with WXGA+ I like a little higher resolution than WXGA and those are 15.4"?

Also I hate 16:9 but I know that is all opinion.

[Y060N]

Yeah, gaming is somewhat of a priority, but it's nothing that the 2096 can't handle. I just like having a better gpu for the "Just in case" situations. The resolution just seems to awkward, hmmm. I think I will probably go with the 2096, just for the res.

I haven't really seen recent benchmarks, but the 9600 didn't fall that far behind the HD4650 did it?

[powerpack]

9600m GT is like 5000 and 4570 is 6600 3DMark06 according to NBC. I have a 3650 I OC and get 4900 and I can play some games so 9600m GT is not bad. Also I think you can OC it. The resolution thing is all 2096 if you ask me. Also Nvidia does better in games than ATI's do if that helps.

[Y060N]

I think I will go ahead and side on the 2096, I doubt I will overclock the card. I usually only play CS 1.6 and decently old games, and it can handle some newer games too without an OC.

I just don't want the awkward resolution of the 2098.

[powerpack]

I get COD at over 100 fps (150) and COD4 highest settings avg 40fps. So you can game.

Good choice.