Inspiron 8600 Questions

[sinkme]

Lookin to buy either:

Inspiron 8600
1 Gig memory
1.7 Gig processor
128MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600 PRO Turbo vid card


Or
Inspiron
1 Gig memory
3.2 Mobile Pent 4 processor
64MB 5200 Go Nvidia vid card

Curious to know the performance difference in the two processors.. Anyone done any benchmarks for the mobile P4 3.2 compared to the M 1.7 Gig processor?

How are multimedia applications/framerate on video games?

Thanks in advance-

[jswriter]

Lookin to buy either:

Inspiron 8600
1 Gig memory
1.7 Gig processor
128MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600 PRO Turbo vid card


Or
Inspiron
1 Gig memory
3.2 Mobile Pent 4 processor
64MB 5200 Go Nvidia vid card

Curious to know the performance difference in the two processors.. Anyone done any benchmarks for the mobile P4 3.2 compared to the M 1.7 Gig processor?

How are multimedia applications/framerate on video games?

Thanks in advance-
I don't think that the 3.2 Pentium 4 on your second Inspiron is a mobile chip. I believe it's a desktop Pentium. Are you referring to the Inspiron 5100/5150?

The 8600 you listed has a far superior video card, so I'm inclined to think it will run games a lot smoother and faster than the second Inspiron. When it comes to gaming and multimedia, the video card is much more influential on the level of performance you can expect than the processor. If you're gonna be crunching numbers or formulas and working with thousand-page spreadsheets, the processor will be the main workhorse.

[sinkme]

Its actually the Inspiron 5150 3.20 GHz Mobile Pentium® 4, HT Technology Processor.

[warlord]

:dude: Would Go for the 8600, better graphics , better battery life(over 4 hours), all around better system,Have had my 8600 since mid november and have not had one problem so far,plays any game I throw at it perfectly,I have the Nvidia 128 5650 fxgo card so just remember you will see a 20% increase in performance with the 9600 compared to the 5650 ,performance wise I believe the 1.7 is comparable to a 2.6 or 2.8 desktop ....All I can say is I love my Laptop.
SPECS 8600 1.7
128 Nvidia 5650 FXGO
768MB 333DDR
60 GIG HD
15.4 WSXGA+( Samsung)
4X DVDR+RW
Games played: Star Trek Ellite Force 2, Halo, Call of Duty, BlackHawk Down,
LOTR Return of the King, Allied Assault,Max Payne 2, Medieval Total War,

[jswriter]

Its actually the Inspiron 5150 3.20 GHz Mobile Pentium® 4, HT Technology Processor.
Okay...my bad!

Warlord is right. I've got an 8600 with the 128 MB ATI 9600. It's an amazing machine.

[sinkme]

Thanks for the info guys, think I will go with the 8600

Much appreciated :)

[bigshloss]

Yes and the 1.7 Pentium-M processor is smokin'. It dominates my 2.4 Ghz desktop at home.

[Yoob@NBF]

Not to mention 25% less power draw means more fraggin on the road :dude:

[warlord]

:headbang: HUUUUURRRRRAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gabbadj]

I had to make the same choice as you when I was getting my laptop..

I went P4 because ot both the hyperthreading and the larger FSB.. Sure the PM has a larger cache but it lacks in the FSB area.

As for graphics quality, its marginal. One 64meg card isnt that much better than other 64 meg cards. Not that you can tell by looks alone any way. Perfoemance wise Im sure that hardcore gamers can tell a diference by playing.

As for the battery life... HA. Thats what they sell spares for.. $100 gets me double the life while out fishing and away from any plugs.

I say go with the 5150.. This forum seems to be dominated with Centrino but Im a firm believer in the P4. Untill the Centrino upgrades to at least 2.2Ghz and 533FSB I wouldnt advise anyone to get it.

[Yoob@NBF]

You have to realize until the memory can fully utilize the fsb its pointless to boost it. at since DDR400Mhz ram is still pricey i cant see the move to 533mhz. on that note even the 800Mhz bus the pentium4 uses seems to be going to waste with out 800mhz memory. dual channel has a terrible performance vs powerconsumption the whole dual channel memeory thing seems to work out well with hyperthreading.

[kevhuynh]

I'd also chime in about the 8600 over the 5150. For what it's worth, the 9600 video card will be the bottleneck over any cpu that u're deciding on the market right now. Just look at the 3dMark scores and benchmarks that regardless of platform, the mobile Radeon 9600 will perform within 2-3% of each other (at stock speeds). That said, if you're looking to game the 9600 stomps the crap out of the GF5200. It's a horrible beating as the 9600 even does a number on the GF5200's bigger brother, the mobile 5600 video card. Do yourself a favor and go for the 8600 (or any laptop with the 9600..or at LEAST the 5600).

[Dex^Luthor]

Anyone got any info about this cover? I've been trying to search different colours of Dell Inspiron 8600, I just can't find one.

This is what colour choice you get when buy online.

Bamboo QuickSnap Cover
Venice Blue QuickSnap Cover
Burlwood QuickSnap Cover
Red Lava QuickSnap Cover
Graphite Swirl QuickSnap Cover

which part of the laptop is changing colour? sorry for my questions... I wanted to buy Dell Inspiron 8600 in a couple of days .

[ravenq]

I got one of those covers *lol* It's a clip on thing (they're very secure, don't worry) and changes the colour of the back of the LCD.

[MitchellO]

I wouldn't pick the 5150. I have a 5100 at only 2.8Ghz (not 3.2Ghz like the one you said) and I have had endless problems with it overheating. It is a known problem with the 5100/5150. If you search the Dell forums you will find it. I am in the process of getting my motherboard, CPU, heatsink and CDRW/DVD replaced (it comes to $2750 australian). The unit only cost me $2899. Fortunately Amex (American Express) are paying for the repair. As soon as the repair is done I am selling this thing, and getting an 8600 with M10 128MB graphics and WSXGA screen. Can't wait!