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video card upgrades and opinions needed

post #1 of 16
8/31/05 at 1:45pm
Thread Starter 
Sorry as I am sure this has been asked.

How easy is it to upgrade a video card in an i9300. I am buying a dell tonight and I am pretty much set on the 9300 but was a little bummed no 6880 ultra option. With my coupons I can get a maxed out 9300 shipped for 1600. If I were to get an XPS2 with the same specs just adding the ultra it is 300 more. I know the ultra is not a 300 dollar upgrade when I look at other sites that charge about 60-70 more for the ultra model. So my plan would be buy the i9300 now and then in a full year add in a new card. Does this sound like a solid plan. Just looking for some opinions / reassurance before i plunk down the money tonight.

Thanks
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post #2 of 16
8/31/05 at 1:53pm
That's a dumb plan, sorry. The card itself is about 400, plus you are going to need a 9cell battery, XPS powersupply, Modded 9300 bios to accept the 6800U (stock bios won't see it), and northbridge cooler from an XPS.

XPS sound better to you NOW?

I guess if you REALLY love the 9300 then do it, other then that, biggest waste of money.
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post #3 of 16
8/31/05 at 1:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoman24v
Thats a dumb plan, the card itself is about 400, plus you are going to need a 9cell battery, XPS powersupply, and northbridge cooler.

XPS sound better to you NOW?
My main concerns were the card may be worth 400 but going from a regular to an ultra is not a 300 dollar jump. I was wondering / hoping really if anyone knew if the next cards would work in the i9300 I just assumed since these new models can be upgraded the new cards would work

I guess I didnt really think it out. Thats why i asked. I guess i will just go for the XPS. Thanks for editing your post so it wasnt so harsh too

Thanks for the reply
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post #4 of 16
8/31/05 at 2:02pm
All the next card dell plans to release for the XPS 2 will work for the 9300 but dell will lock you out and more then likely there will be no upgrade for that machine anyways (9300)

Just get the XPS. The performace of the 6800 vs. 6800 ultra is like night and day.

Blah blah blah but you can OC the the 6800 to get performace close to the XPS!

Yeah a STOCK XPS, OC the 6800 ultra and you'll kick the living shit out of a 6800. If you plan on OCing a 6800 why not OC the Ultra?

300 dollars for double the performace.......................... you decide.
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post #5 of 16
8/31/05 at 2:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoman24v
All the next card dell plans to release for the XPS 2 will work for the 9300 but dell will lock you out.

Just get the XPS. The performace of the 6800 vs. 6800 ultra is like night and day.

Blah blah blah but you can OC the the 6800 to get performace close to the XPS!

Yeah a STOCK XPS, OC the 6800 ultra and you'll kick the living shit out of a 6800. If you plan on OCing a 6800 why not OC the Ultra?

300 dollars for double the performace.......................... you decide.
I just decided i configed an XPS2.

Thanks
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post #6 of 16
8/31/05 at 2:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by coneco
I just decided i configed an XPS2.

Thanks


I dunno if you are using a coupon, but try and find one. I don't know if any are out at the moment, see the deals thread.
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post #7 of 16
8/31/05 at 2:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoman24v


I dunno if you are using a coupon, but try and find one. I don't know if any are out at the moment, see the deals thread.

Yes I have a 40% off and stackable $35 off. Thanks
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post #8 of 16
8/31/05 at 7:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by coneco
Sorry as I am sure this has been asked.

How easy is it to upgrade a video card in an i9300. I am buying a dell tonight and I am pretty much set on the 9300 but was a little bummed no 6880 ultra option. With my coupons I can get a maxed out 9300 shipped for 1600. If I were to get an XPS2 with the same specs just adding the ultra it is 300 more. I know the ultra is not a 300 dollar upgrade when I look at other sites that charge about 60-70 more for the ultra model. So my plan would be buy the i9300 now and then in a full year add in a new card. Does this sound like a solid plan. Just looking for some opinions / reassurance before i plunk down the money tonight.

Thanks

I tend to agree, the Ultra is not worth an extra three or four hundred dollars, its not likely that either the 9300 or XPS gen2 will ever see a video card upgrade but if they do it wont be for a while, these systems are brand new, not even out for a year yet. IF your that serious a gamer that you need an ULTRA CARD you shouldnt be buyin a laptop, look for a desktop system or build your own.
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post #9 of 16
8/31/05 at 8:15pm
Yeah the ultra is worth the extra money. What's wrong with serious gaming on a laptop? It's my only PC.

If it wasn't for the ultra card I wouldn't be playing most my games at 1920x1200.
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post #10 of 16
8/31/05 at 9:45pm
The ultra is worth the money IF that's what you want the laptop for. You cannot get the 9300 with it. I have the 9300 w/6800 card and for what I do, that's more than fine.

However - Looking at the cost increase of cards across different comapnies is really an irrelevant idea. On the HP 17" (forget the model - almost got one though The dif in price from the 64M ati and the 256M 6800 is $50. At Dell it's $200. However, equvalently speced machines in the end cost about the same, so go figure....
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post #11 of 16
8/31/05 at 9:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoman24v
300 dollars for double the performace.......................... you decide.
Double the performance?

Average OC'd 9300 gets 4400 in 3dmark, average OC'd XPS2 gets 6000 in 3dmark. Pick extremes, there are 9300s hitting 5k and XPS2s hitting 6800. Now 3dmark2005 is by no means a real world 3d environment, so lets pick a game, CS:S for instance.

If I'm not mistaken you said you were getting something like 85 FPS in the CS:S Stress Test (i don't remember the exact number) and I was less than 20 FPS behind you with my 9300.

The 6800 Ultra kicks ass, but it isn't "double the performance". If you want THE BEST get an XPS2, if you want to save a few hundred dollars ($600 in my case) while still having awesome gameplay go for a 9300.
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post #12 of 16
8/31/05 at 10:27pm
In a lot of games it could be double the performance. I don't think reaver runs 5k with stock cooling all day.... But you can run an XPS that will score 6k all day with no problems When you start throwing in AA, AF, and 1920x1200 in games thats where the 1200MHz GDDR3 memory of the Ultra really shines.

In my sig I posted some HL2 benchies when my card was stock, no 9300 owner ever posted their results @ stock and even period. So some 9300 owner, post benches.
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post #13 of 16
8/31/05 at 11:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoman24v
In a lot of games it could be double the performance. I don't think reaver runs 5k with stock cooling all day.... But you can run an XPS that will score 6k all day with no problems When you start throwing in AA, AF, and 1920x1200 in games thats where the 1200MHz GDDR3 memory of the Ultra really shines.

In my sig I posted some HL2 benchies when my card was stock, no 9300 owner ever posted their results @ stock and even period. So some 9300 owner, post benches.
I just did, check your thread.
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post #14 of 16
8/31/05 at 11:19pm
How about everyone just be happy with the laptop they have. My desktop will throw down about 7600 in 3dmark05, but my laptop(at 5400) plays every game just as good as it on the same settings. I would have bought the 9300 but through some strange act of congress I was able to get an XPS2 cheaper than a middle of the road 9300. Am I happy with the XPS2, yes. Would I have been happy with a 9300, yes.

Is there really a need for everyone here to get in a big my XPS2 is better than 9300 fight? I think everyone should just be happy that they don't own an alienware.

Sorry for the "can't we all just get along" post, but I just hate seeing pointless arguements.
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post #15 of 16
8/31/05 at 11:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NateL
How about everyone just be happy with the laptop they have. My desktop will throw down about 7600 in 3dmark05, but my laptop(at 5400) plays every game just as good as it on the same settings. I would have bought the 9300 but through some strange act of congress I was able to get an XPS2 cheaper than a middle of the road 9300. Am I happy with the XPS2, yes. Would I have been happy with a 9300, yes.

Is there really a need for everyone here to get in a big my XPS2 is better than 9300 fight? I think everyone should just be happy that they don't own an alienware.

Sorry for the "can't we all just get along" post, but I just hate seeing pointless arguements.
Not a fight, I just didn't think it was fair to say the Ultra is "double the performance".
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post #16 of 16
9/1/05 at 12:33am
I'm an XPS2 owner and I'll agree, its not even close to double the performance. The ultra in the XPS2s performs about on par with a desktop 6800gt.
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