tkoi
Utahraptor!
+148|6410|Texas
I'm planning on buying a Dell studio 17 laptop pretty soon, but first I have a few questions about some of the options.
link: http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/ … _studio_17

For the cpu, it's between a C2D T6400 and a C2D P8600. The 8600 is clocked higher (2.4 vs 2.0) and has more cache (3mb vs 2). Question is, will the difference be noticeable enough to be worth $125?

The monitor. It's a 17" screen, but I don't know whether I want 1440x900 or 1920x1200. Right now I use a 19" 1440x900 screen, and I kind of wish I had a larger one, but I've seen one of these laptops with the higher resolution, and I don't know if I'll be able to get used to how small everything looks. And I'll probably have a nice 22" or so monitor in my dorm to use, so I'm leaning toward 1440x900. I could use some advice if you've got some experience with such a high res on such a tiny screen. Is it hard to read stuff? Is the difficulty reading worth the extra real estate?

edit: this laptop is for college and I don't plan to do any serious gaming on it.

Last edited by GGF0RCE (2009-05-16 15:05:30)

Yellowman03
Once Again, We Meet at Last
+108|6498|Texas
If you plan on using an external monitor more often than not, I suggest saving that 125 for a video card upgrade.

Also, the studio is nasty. Take a look into these: http://www.powernotebooks.com/category.php?catId=25
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6716|The Twilight Zone

Yellowman03 wrote:

If you plan on using an external monitor more often than not, I suggest saving that 125 for a video card upgrade.

Also, the studio is nasty. Take a look into these: http://www.powernotebooks.com/category.php?catId=25
Studio no good? I'm thinking of getting it myself
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png
Yellowman03
Once Again, We Meet at Last
+108|6498|Texas

.Sup wrote:

Yellowman03 wrote:

If you plan on using an external monitor more often than not, I suggest saving that 125 for a video card upgrade.

Also, the studio is nasty. Take a look into these: http://www.powernotebooks.com/category.php?catId=25
Studio no good? I'm thinking of getting it myself
Well, I personally don't like the components: 3650 as the highest graphics and 54,000 rpm hdd. You can find so much better for the price with an Asus or a Clevo Sager series laptop.
Yellowman03
Once Again, We Meet at Last
+108|6498|Texas

jamiet757 wrote:

Yellowman03 wrote:

.Sup wrote:


Studio no good? I'm thinking of getting it myself
Well, I personally don't like the components: 3650 as the highest graphics and 54,000 rpm hdd. You can find so much better for the price with an Asus or a Clevo Sager series laptop.
I dunno, a 54,000 RPM hard drive must cost like $1 billion, and it must be super fast!
woops haha.
tkoi
Utahraptor!
+148|6410|Texas
Okay, I did some heavy googling and have arrived at a few decisions. I'll go for the 8600, since it's got the faster clock, more cache, and lower TDP than the 6400. I am now leaning away from the high res screen, and toward the 1440x900 LED screen, because apparently LED is brigher, uses the same or less power as CCFL lighting, and makes for a thinner notebook.

However, I now have some more questions. Assuming I am definitely going to use a secondary monitor with full HD res, I guess I really will need a better gpu than the GMA 4500MHD? The step up is a Mobility 3650 for $100.

The 9-cell battery is only $45 more, but I know it will be heavier (which is not actually a big deal), and I have read that the 9-cell batteries stick out from the back of the laptop, but I don't know if this is true.

Thanks for your help guys, hopefully I can get this all sorted out and order it pretty soon.
tkoi
Utahraptor!
+148|6410|Texas
Bump, could still use some advice. Is the GMA 4500 good enough for HD res or do I need the ATI?
Wallpaper
+303|6257|The pool
GMA anything is horrible, horrible shit. If you arent doing any 3d work at all, I guess you could go with it, but I personally would stay away. For the battery, even if it does stick out I would go with the 9 cell. Moar battery = win

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