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brento1138
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
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 Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:24 pm Post subject: Dell Laptops |
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I am getting a Dell Inspiron and just wanted to ask anyone out there how they feel about this particular model / company. Anyone own one and have things (good or bad) to say?
One question. Someone said I should get the 100 gig 7200rpm hd instead of the 120 gig 5400rpm one. To me, this just doesn't sound like a good idea, cause I want those extra 20 gigs... is there really a noticeable speed difference between 5400 rpm and 7200?
Here are my specs. I'm pretty excited for a new computer with an upgraded soundcard built in and the latest graphics card... can't wait to play some more games. 
Specs:
Inspiron 9400 Dual Core
Intel� Core� Duo Processor T2500 (2GHz/667MHz FSB), Windows� XP Home Edition, English
Inspiron 9400 Intel� Core� Duo Processor T2500 (2GHz/667MHz FSB)
Screen 17 inch Wide Screen XGA+ Display
Memory 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
Video Card 256MB NVIDIA� GeForce� Go 7900 GS
Hard Drive 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Operating System (Office software not included) XP Home Edition, English
Network Card Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Adobe Software Adobe� Acrobat� Reader 6.0
CD/DVD BURNER 8x CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW)
Sound Options Integrated Sound Blaster� Audigy� HD Software Edition
Wireless Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Primary Battery 80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Future Operating Systems Windows Vista� Capable |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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| I've had Toshibas, IBMs and have a DELL now. It holds its own against the other two, no complaints except for the fact that they didn't include an analog volume control. |
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pdxsteve
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Bundang
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| Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:59 pm Post subject: Re: Dell Laptops |
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| brento1138 wrote: |
I am getting a Dell Inspiron and just wanted to ask anyone out there how they feel about this particular model / company. Anyone own one and have things (good or bad) to say?
One question. Someone said I should get the 100 gig 7200rpm hd instead of the 120 gig 5400rpm one. To me, this just doesn't sound like a good idea, cause I want those extra 20 gigs... is there really a noticeable speed difference between 5400 rpm and 7200?
Here are my specs. I'm pretty excited for a new computer with an upgraded soundcard built in and the latest graphics card... can't wait to play some more games.
Specs:
Inspiron 9400 Dual Core
Intel� Core� Duo Processor T2500 (2GHz/667MHz FSB), Windows� XP Home Edition, English
Inspiron 9400 Intel� Core� Duo Processor T2500 (2GHz/667MHz FSB)
Screen 17 inch Wide Screen XGA+ Display
Memory 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
Video Card 256MB NVIDIA� GeForce� Go 7900 GS
Hard Drive 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Operating System (Office software not included) XP Home Edition, English
Network Card Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Adobe Software Adobe� Acrobat� Reader 6.0
CD/DVD BURNER 8x CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW)
Sound Options
Wireless Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Primary Battery 80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Future Operating Systems Windows Vista� Capable |
The "Integrated Sound Blaster� Audigy� HD Software Edition" is NOT an upgraded sound card. It's the same Sigmatel sound card found in all other Dell laptops. You're paying the extra $25.00 for a software upgrade that will emulate EAX sound effects.
Other than that, the 9400/E1705 is a great machine. You'll love it. |
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Juregen
Joined: 30 May 2006
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| Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:34 pm Post subject: Re: Dell Laptops |
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| brento1138 wrote: |
is there really a noticeable speed difference between 5400 rpm and 7200?
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5200/7200=0.72
so you loose about 28 percent of data transfer.
it really depends what you wanna do with it. |
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brento1138
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:00 am Post subject: Re: Dell Laptops |
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| pdxsteve wrote: |
| You're paying the extra $25.00 for a software upgrade that will emulate EAX sound effects. |
Bummer. 
So... they are not giving me a soundcard then? Just software? |
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pdxsteve
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Bundang
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:13 am Post subject: Re: Dell Laptops |
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| brento1138 wrote: |
| pdxsteve wrote: |
| You're paying the extra $25.00 for a software upgrade that will emulate EAX sound effects. |
Bummer.
So... they are not giving me a soundcard then? Just software? |
You're still getting a "sound card" which is the Sigmatel AC '97 sound chip built into the motherboard. The same chip that's in all other Dell laptops. You're NOT getting a SoundBlaster sound card. The extra fee gets you some software that will EMULATE some of the SoundBlaster's functions (namely, the EAX audio effects and 7.1 speaker support). |
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pdxsteve
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Bundang
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:20 am Post subject: Re: Dell Laptops |
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| Juregen wrote: |
| brento1138 wrote: |
is there really a noticeable speed difference between 5400 rpm and 7200?
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5200/7200=0.72
so you loose about 28 percent of data transfer.
it really depends what you wanna do with it. |
That's a rather simplistic view. The rotational speed of the hard drive isn't the only determinant of transfer speed. Other things to consider are the amount of cache on the drive itself (larger drives tend to have more cache), the speed of the ATA bus, head seek times, and others.
For a notebook, my personal preference is for a slightly slower, larger drive. The faster the disk spins, the more heat it generates (heat is a major enemy to laptops ... ask Cubanlord) and the shorter your battery life will be, if that's important to you. |
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brento1138
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 9:53 am Post subject: Re: Dell Laptops |
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| pdxsteve wrote: |
| Juregen wrote: |
| brento1138 wrote: |
is there really a noticeable speed difference between 5400 rpm and 7200?
|
5200/7200=0.72
so you loose about 28 percent of data transfer.
it really depends what you wanna do with it. |
That's a rather simplistic view. The rotational speed of the hard drive isn't the only determinant of transfer speed. Other things to consider are the amount of cache on the drive itself (larger drives tend to have more cache), the speed of the ATA bus, head seek times, and others.
For a notebook, my personal preference is for a slightly slower, larger drive. The faster the disk spins, the more heat it generates (heat is a major enemy to laptops ... ask Cubanlord) and the shorter your battery life will be, if that's important to you. |
Well, it was a $150 dollar "upgrade" for the drive with less space and faster RPM. I think I've made the good decision in simply getting the 5400 rpm for no extra cost, rather than 20 gigs less (but slightly faster) for more money... |
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brento1138
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:17 pm Post subject: Re: Dell Laptops |
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Got my computer today and everything was perfect. I did not choose the Screen upgrade option to the more "glossy" screen look. My friend has the exact same computer as me (except she got the glossy screen upgrade) and we compared monitors looking at the exact same pictures. I noticed mine looked a bit washed out, not so great in contrast. But after playing around with the settings just a bit, I lessened the gamma and increased contrast and now it looks just as good, without the gloss!!!
However, on hers, viewing angle is still better. But hey, I saved over $130 on that little "upgrade." Only unfortunate thing is I can't use that screen as a shaving mirror when it's turned off.  |
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