Dell laptop advice?

kjt

Hey Guys and Gals,
I'm sure your fed up with these types of advise threads.

Been looking around on Dell for the past hour (the outlet store seems to be down in the past 40/50mins). If you wouldn't mind taking 15/20seconds to have a look at the spec below and make any suggestions if you think anything could be improved/taken away.

Using this mostly for Photoshop, 3D Max, Illustrator, movies/music and the odd game.



Posted new laptop specs below in another post.



Thanks for taking the time to look!!!

jameshayes

you should concider changing to an XPS machine and go for this offer...
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055307109

madfella65

consider not taking vista - if you mst then go with vista business - believe me its miles ahead of any version of vista home - have you given any consideration to a mac?

kjt

Thanks for that James, I actually have two other xps machines saved but they were more expensive + I'm pretty sure I want to go with a 17".

madfella, I'm not too fond of vista, would prefer Xp if possible. I haven't really looked into a Mac tbh. It sees like quite a bit more learning to me + a lot of different versions of software to acquire.



Thanks for the replies guys!!


This is priced at €1,400

kjt

ok I've come down to these two laptops, Any one of these stand out to you??

Inspiron XPS M1710
Intel2 Duo Processor T7400 (2.16 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 4 MB L2-cache)
Windows® XP Professional
1 Year Base Warranty
17.0" UltraSharp™ Wide Screen WUXGA (1920x1200) TFT Display with TrueLife
4096MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x2048]
320GB (5.400rpm) SATA Hard Drive
256MB DDR3 nVidia® GeForce™ Go 7900 graphics card
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including software - XP
9 cell Lithium-Ion Battery (80 Whr)
No Carry Case
Dell™ Wireless 355 Bluetooth 2.0 Module (up to 3Mbps) with Enhanced Data Rate for XP
Intel® Pro Wireless 3945 802.11a/b/g Mini-PCI Card (for Core 2 Duo Processors)

Inspiron 1720
Intel Core2 Duo Processor T9500 (2.60 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 6 MB L2 cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
1 Year Base Warranty
Alpine White with Gloss Finish & Int. 2.0 mp web camera edit
17.0" UltraSharp™ Wide Screen WUXGA (1920x1200) TFT Display with TrueLife
4096MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x2048]
500GB (5400RPM) SATA Dual Hard Drives (2X250GB)
nVidia® GeForce™ Go 8600M GT with 256MB DDR2 dedicated graphic memory
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software
Primary 9-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (85 WHr)
No Carry Case
Dell™ Wireless 355 Bluetooth + Bluetooth Mouse
Intel® Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-Card

Theirs €80 in the difference, Looks like the Inspiron 1720 is an outright winner or am I wrong?
Thanks for looking!!

AlmightyCushion

Depends what you're doing.
Xps has better graphics card.

Inspiron has better processor, more hard disk space, wireless n and a wireless mouse.
If it's mainly games and 3d stuff then the graphics card of the xps will really help there. Whereas if it's mainly photoshop/video encoding then the inspiron is the one. You've gotta decide which means more to you. Would you rather get more fps in gaming or would you prefer to have that video encode quicker?

kjt

Thanks for that Cushion. I've just been looking over a few of the gcard reviews and the xps's gcard seems far ahead. It's a little annoying how I can't upgrade the gcard on the other laptop.

Although in saying that it seems the xps is only winning on the graphics front.

AlmightyCushion

From what I can tell the graphics card in the xps is the only advantage it has over the inspiron.

kjt

Thanks for taking the time to look and post buddy!

AlmightyCushion

kjt wrote: »

Thanks for taking the time to look and post buddy!

It's no bother man, enjoy the new laptop. Worst thing about these threads though, is they make me want to reach for the credit card.

kjt

Thanks for the help lads

Just bought this baby:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.50 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 6 MB L2 cache)
4096MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x2048]
Internal Keyboard - UK/Irish
nVidia® GeForce™ Go 8600M GT with 256MB DDR2 dedicated graphic memory
500GB (5400RPM) SATA Dual Hard Drives (2X250GB)
Genuine Windows Vista&#174 Home Premium
56.6k V.92 Capable Internal Modem & Adapter
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software
Intel® Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-Card - Europe - Core 2 Duo Processors
1Yr Limited Warranty - Collect & Return
1 Year Base Warranty
90W AC Adapter
Wireless 355 Bluetooth + Bluetooth Mouse
Primary 9-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (85 WHr)
Travel Remote Control
17.0" UltraSharp™ Wide Screen WUXGA (1920x1200) TFT Display

For the sexy price of €1,178

TerrorFirmer

Good choice, the Go7900Gs isn't actually that much faster then the Go8600...couple of frames really nothing significant.

3dMark scores are very similar...

kjt

Thanks for that Terror, the graphics card was the only thing I was unsure about. Good to hear theirs not much in the difference.

TerrorFirmer

The Go7900GS scores about 3.5-3.9k at stock on 3dmark'06. When I had my 8600Gt (same ddr2 model) I got 3.4k at stock, and with mild and stable overclocking easily hit the 3.9k.