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Last Minute Decision

post #1 of 17
8/24/05 at 2:38am
Thread Starter 
Purchasing my replacement i9300. Long overdo update to my computer world (see sig), it will of course be a monumentous thing. Even the 256MB RAM will feel enormous! But enough of my final thoughts.

Pentium M 1.6Ghz
WXGA+ 17"
256RAM
256MB 6800go NVidia
80GB Hard Drive
9-Lion Primary Battery
1year ltm warranty/complete care

Here is the final detail. Either:
a) 1 more year of warranty
or
b) anyother upgrade (tell me)

I'm planning to purchase by Thursday (if a good coupon isnt here, then toobad!)

BTW, I'm on a budget!
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post #2 of 17
8/24/05 at 3:28am
Get an upgrade on the processor, forget about the warranty add on, you can always get that later, otherwise you are lookin good, Id go with 1.73 or 1.86ghz
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post #3 of 17
8/24/05 at 3:29am
warranty (cant hurt)

if u upgrade processor you wont be able to tell a huge diff, and its REALLL expensive

Screen if u upgrade, ull be squinting, alot

Ram, you should upgrade this, but not from dell, they rip you off. Upgrade from newegg or somewhere else.

Hard drive....you vcould try the 7200 hitcachi 60gb, it will speed up load times, but from 5400 its not that big of a diff

So i think another year of warranty would serve you best
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post #4 of 17
8/24/05 at 3:33am
you wont tell a bigg diff with a proc upgrade...especially if u oc it...unless ur doin graphic intensive programs
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post #5 of 17
8/24/05 at 3:34am
But you can upgrade warranty later on...so maybe a processor upgrade could be better
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post #6 of 17
8/24/05 at 3:42am
If you try to buy warranty after the first 45 days is up the price goes through the roof. I suggest 2 year warranties with accidental damage at the most. Chances are you wont won it for more than 2 years.
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post #7 of 17
8/24/05 at 5:13am
Ram
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post #8 of 17
8/24/05 at 6:25am
The ram is definitely too small for the machine, although it's going to be cheaper to upgrade it himself rather than upgrade through Dell.

John
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post #9 of 17
8/24/05 at 7:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnmcl7
The ram is definitely too small for the machine, although it's going to be cheaper to upgrade it himself rather than upgrade through Dell.

John
I agree, although I don't remember the upgrade from 256mb to 512mb being a whole heck of a lot, when ordering from dell. Guess I'd have to check.
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post #10 of 17
8/24/05 at 8:27am
I would suggest you use your extra money to purchase some ram from newegg.com. They usually have some deals like a name brand 1GB stick for around $100-$110. Until you have more than 256mb ram in the machine, not very many games will run good, rendering the 6800go useless.

I would also suggest that if you don't have an XP oem install cd already, to buy one from dell for $10. The default dell install is pretty horrible in terms of general speed and startup time, better just to start clean. Any XP oem cd will still work though, I borrowed my friends Compaq branded one, and it would install fine, and then let me change the key in windows to activate it once everything was installed.
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post #11 of 17
8/24/05 at 9:52am
I agree you can always get warrenty addon later. Shuld get the ram but buy that from Newegg great RMA policy.
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post #12 of 17
8/24/05 at 10:56am
The difference between the 1.6GHz and the 2.0GHz is actually minimal unless you are encoding or doing other CPU intensive tasks. An extra year of warranty is worth jack in my opinion, if it's going to break it'll be in the first year. However, I'm a computer tech and can easily fix my laptop. But the RAM is the best upgrade here. Going from 256MB to 1.25GB (1GB stick + 256MB stick) will be lightyears different in performance. Just pick up and 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2533 module from newegg and be done with it. Also, don't order the CD from Dell, just call them up once you get the laptop and ask them to send the software. They'll do it for free and then you can re-install
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post #13 of 17
8/24/05 at 11:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. K6
The difference between the 1.6GHz and the 2.0GHz is actually minimal unless you are encoding or doing other CPU intensive tasks. An extra year of warranty is worth jack in my opinion, if it's going to break it'll be in the first year. However, I'm a computer tech and can easily fix my laptop. But the RAM is the best upgrade here. Going from 256MB to 1.25GB (1GB stick + 256MB stick) will be lightyears different in performance. Just pick up and 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2533 module from newegg and be done with it. Also, don't order the CD from Dell, just call them up once you get the laptop and ask them to send the software. They'll do it for free and then you can re-install
I do not agree. I got myself a 3 year NBD warranty and I think it's worth it. You are right, if it's going to break it will most probably be within the first year for most parts but the HDD might break later.

The main reason for getting a 3 year warranty is that the laptop will be out of date within 1-2 years. You might want to sell it and people tend to give you more if there is still warranty on it. I just sold my 1.5 year old Inspiron 9100 with 6 months warranty left and ordered the 9300. People that buy your notebook feel much better if they still have warranty on it....I'd feel better too. I mean it sucks buying a notebook without warranty and then it goes poof after 2 weeks.
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post #14 of 17
8/24/05 at 6:29pm
Thread Starter 

Game to Christen my i9300?

hmm...Guild Wars seems like alot of fun but so does FFXI and Black Hawk Down. Which game will best introduce me to the 6800go's 'pretty graphics'?
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post #15 of 17
8/24/05 at 8:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by debian75
The main reason for getting a 3 year warranty is that the laptop will be out of date within 1-2 years. You might want to sell it and people tend to give you more if there is still warranty on it. I just sold my 1.5 year old Inspiron 9100 with 6 months warranty left and ordered the 9300. People that buy your notebook feel much better if they still have warranty on it....I'd feel better too. I mean it sucks buying a notebook without warranty and then it goes poof after 2 weeks.
Very valid point, but I just sell my hardware within my tech community and they don't care either; they know I take good care of my stuff.

For a game I'd highly recommend Doom3 and it's expansion Resurrection of Evil. I know most people will say "Doom 3 sucked!" but it's still one of my favorite games, you really have to play it all at once over 3 days or so and only at night, it's a great ride. And ROE offers alot better game play. But the reason I offer it is it's a nvidia supported game and the graphics not only look insane but run the best on nvidia cards (see the benchmarks). However, if you want something with good graphics and really fantastic game play get Half-Life 2. Not only does it also come with Counterstrike: Source, but it's a very well made game and it does have beautiful graphics. Finally, I'd also suggest FarCry. I never played it, but many people like it and the new HDR patch will really make your card squirm. Have fun with your new laptop and follow the guide in my sig once you get it
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post #16 of 17
8/25/05 at 3:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_mav

Screen if u upgrade, ull be squinting, alot
Why does everyone say this? I have the XUGA and love it. Perfect size for me.. I never have to squint to see anything. Sure if you have bad eyes it will be hard to read.... and then everyone saying, "And when you get old you won't be able to read it." Will anyone's vision that can read text fine at 1920x1200 go that bad in 2-3 years? You won't be using the laptop for 10-20 years.
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post #17 of 17
8/25/05 at 11:08am
Thread Starter 

It's not the every 10Min-Check syndrome

What is this? Order Status says it's on hold while payment method is verified. Pre-Production isnt highlighted yet
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