Do you approve of my laptop choice? (supa-gaming)

ski · 12-04-2003, 12:32 PM

I want to see what y'all think of getting something like this for a laptop. This thing will need to last me 2-3+ years, so I'm wavering between getting the 64MB and 128MB video card to be set for a few years. I imagine something like Counterstrike will be made for Half-Life 2, so it'd be keen to have the right gear for it when I go visit my friends on campus.

Dell Inspiron 8600

*Pentium M 1.4 GHz
*512 MB RAM
*40 GB 4200 RPM hard drive (7200 is $150 more

)
*15.4" WSXGA+ screen
*64MB GeForce FX 5200Go -or- 128MB Radeon 9600 mobility
*24X CD-RW/8X DVD drive
*Built in 802.11b/g and Bluetooth
*2 year at-home warranty
*6.9 lbs
*1.5" thin/thick
*$1748 with Radeon 9600 ($1634 with 64MB GeForce FX5200Go)

I don't know much about Centrino gaming systems from anywhere else but Dell, but maybe you've heard something. Should I be looking at another manufacturer? I peeped HP/Compaq's laptops... I'm a bit weary of their customer service though.

Anyone with a Dell 8600 or Compaq X1000 or HP ZT3000 have any input on portability (lighter and thinner than the desktop replacement notebooks)? What else should I be looking at without going over $1800? Must... have... Bluetooth!!

CynJon · 12-04-2003, 01:58 PM

I love my X1000--aesthetically I prefer it to the Dell 8600, even though the specs are about the same. If there's one weakness it's that the best video card available for it is the 64MB Radeon 9200. The 9200 is a fine card for most gaming but the 9600 absolutely blows it away for performance. If you are even semi-serious about gaming, I would DEFINITELY go with the 9600 over the 5200, even for the difference in price. Also, while you can always upgrade the Hard Drive later, the faster hard drive will have the biggest impact on how fast the laptop "feels". WSXGA+ is the perfect screen, IMO. I've tried the UXGA and, for me, it makes text just TOO small.

I've been pretty satisfied with my laptop as far as portability--keep in mind that these are desktop replacements, not ultralights. Get a quality carrying bag or backpack and you'll be good to go. Battery life is awesome with the Centrinos--you won't regret your choice no matter which one you choose.

ski · 12-04-2003, 02:22 PM

I really wish I could get this with 5400 RPM hard drive... it's stinky how Dell only has 4200 RPM and 7200 RPM's for Inspiron series (Latitude has good prices on 5400 RPM, but no real gaming support)

K2 · 12-04-2003, 03:09 PM

alienware?

ski · 12-04-2003, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by K2
alienware?

A comparable Area-51m from Alienware is $2668 and doesn't have Bluetooth, but has P4 2.8 (non-Centrino)

bachviet · 12-04-2003, 09:49 PM

Get the R9600 mobility instead of FX5200Go. The FX5200 is pretty slow in term of game.

Jeffbx · 12-05-2003, 05:33 AM

It's too bad they don't offer a 5400RPM.... it DOES make a noticiable difference (but I agree, not worth an extra $150).

I'd recommend going with the 4200, wait a couple of months, and then grab yourself a 60GB, 7200RPM from Newegg.com - I'd recommend the Hitachi TravelStar 7K60. It's about $250 today, but the prices on these are dropping fast.

I just replaced my 5400RPM with this one, and it's great so far.

ski · 12-05-2003, 08:02 AM

It's easy to replace these hard drives? If it takes as much effort as putting in a new desktop one, let me know!

Jeffbx · 12-05-2003, 10:04 AM

About the same as replacing a desktop drive. The drive itself is removable, so take off one screw & it slides out.

However, you'll need to swap the nifty little tray that the drive sits in over to the new HD. Typically this involves removing 4 more screws from the bottom of the old drive, and then taking the gold connector strip off of the old drive pins & then putting everything back on the new drive.

Kind of hard to describe, but easy to follow when you have the parts in front of you.

12-04-2003, 12:32 PM	#1
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	Do you approve of my laptop choice? (supa-gaming) I want to see what y'all think of getting something like this for a laptop. This thing will need to last me 2-3+ years, so I'm wavering between getting the 64MB and 128MB video card to be set for a few years. I imagine something like Counterstrike will be made for Half-Life 2, so it'd be keen to have the right gear for it when I go visit my friends on campus. Dell Inspiron 8600 Pentium M 1.4 GHz 512 MB RAM 40 GB 4200 RPM hard drive (7200 is $150 more ) 15.4" WSXGA+ screen 64MB GeForce FX 5200Go -or- 128MB Radeon 9600 mobility 24X CD-RW/8X DVD drive Built in 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2 year at-home warranty 6.9 lbs 1.5" thin/thick *$1748 with Radeon 9600 ($1634 with 64MB GeForce FX5200Go) I don't know much about Centrino gaming systems from anywhere else but Dell, but maybe you've heard something. Should I be looking at another manufacturer? I peeped HP/Compaq's laptops... I'm a bit weary of their customer service though. Anyone with a Dell 8600 or Compaq X1000 or HP ZT3000 have any input on portability (lighter and thinner than the desktop replacement notebooks)? What else should I be looking at without going over $1800? Must... have... Bluetooth!! __________________ And closer... Last edited by skiAtomic : 12-04-2003 at 01:18 PM.

12-04-2003, 01:58 PM	#2
CynJon Commander Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The middle of the country Posts: 1,424	I love my X1000--aesthetically I prefer it to the Dell 8600, even though the specs are about the same. If there's one weakness it's that the best video card available for it is the 64MB Radeon 9200. The 9200 is a fine card for most gaming but the 9600 absolutely blows it away for performance. If you are even semi-serious about gaming, I would DEFINITELY go with the 9600 over the 5200, even for the difference in price. Also, while you can always upgrade the Hard Drive later, the faster hard drive will have the biggest impact on how fast the laptop "feels". WSXGA+ is the perfect screen, IMO. I've tried the UXGA and, for me, it makes text just TOO small. I've been pretty satisfied with my laptop as far as portability--keep in mind that these are desktop replacements, not ultralights. Get a quality carrying bag or backpack and you'll be good to go. Battery life is awesome with the Centrinos--you won't regret your choice no matter which one you choose. __________________

12-04-2003, 03:09 PM	#4
K2 Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: May 2000 Location: Cardboard box Posts: 2,388	alienware? __________________ There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots Heatware

12-04-2003, 09:49 PM	#6
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	Get the R9600 mobility instead of FX5200Go. The FX5200 is pretty slow in term of game. __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

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12-04-2003, 02:22 PM	#3
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	I really wish I could get this with 5400 RPM hard drive... it's stinky how Dell only has 4200 RPM and 7200 RPM's for Inspiron series (Latitude has good prices on 5400 RPM, but no real gaming support)

12-05-2003, 05:33 AM	#7
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	It's too bad they don't offer a 5400RPM.... it DOES make a noticiable difference (but I agree, not worth an extra $150). I'd recommend going with the 4200, wait a couple of months, and then grab yourself a 60GB, 7200RPM from Newegg.com - I'd recommend the Hitachi TravelStar 7K60. It's about $250 today, but the prices on these are dropping fast. I just replaced my 5400RPM with this one, and it's great so far.

12-05-2003, 08:02 AM	#8
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	It's easy to replace these hard drives? If it takes as much effort as putting in a new desktop one, let me know!

12-05-2003, 10:04 AM	#9
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	About the same as replacing a desktop drive. The drive itself is removable, so take off one screw & it slides out. However, you'll need to swap the nifty little tray that the drive sits in over to the new HD. Typically this involves removing 4 more screws from the bottom of the old drive, and then taking the gold connector strip off of the old drive pins & then putting everything back on the new drive. Kind of hard to describe, but easy to follow when you have the parts in front of you.

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