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M5500 Just ordered! Check out specs! Comments welcomed

post #1 of 30
12/10/05 at 3:59am
Thread Starter 
So I finally took the plunge. After a couple week of obsessing I decided to go ahead and make my purchase. Let me know what You guys think. I will post an extensive review as soon as i recieve it and make an assesment

[1] Area-51® m5500

Processor: Intel® Pentium® M 780 2.26GHz 2MB L2 Cache 533MHz FSB
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Service Pack 2
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Depot Service
LCD Display: Alienware® m5500 15.4" WideSXGA+ 1680 x 1050 LCD - Xeno Grey
Motherboard: Alienware® Intel® 915GM + ICH6 Chipset
Wireless Network: Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 b/g Wireless Card
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 533MHz - 2 x 512MB
Hard Drive: 80GB 7200 RPM ATA100
Video Card: 256MB NVidia® GeForce™ Go MXM 6600
Sound Card: Intel® High-Definition Audio
Optical Drive: 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Ethernet NIC: Integrated High Performance Gigabit Ethernet
Modem: 56K Modem with V.90 Technology
Alienware Exclusive Offers: Gamespot Complete - Free 90-day Trial (a $20.85 value)
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager
AlienRespawn: Alienware® Respawn Recovery Kit
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post #2 of 30
12/10/05 at 4:27am
Congrats (I, too, am obsessing about the M5500 - but will probably wait til after the new year).

Wow - top-of-the-line processor. Very nice. You could save $$ by ordering the minimum Ram and then adding 1-2GB from Newegg or similar - but it is easier to just order it in the system.

Looking forward to the review.
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post #3 of 30
12/10/05 at 4:40am
Ya one suggestion...

get me one too! Congrats!
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post #4 of 30
12/10/05 at 4:41am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shazza
Congrats (I, too, am obsessing about the M5500 - but will probably wait til after the new year).

Wow - top-of-the-line processor. Very nice. You could save $$ by ordering the minimum Ram and then adding 1-2GB from Newegg or similar - but it is easier to just order it in the system.

Looking forward to the review.
I thought about it but its really not much less to buy it from new egg. I actually made some sacrifices on the purchase, I scraped the 3 year warranty and the 2 gigs of ram that i had intended. Just so my Girlfriend wouldnt say I was over indulgent! LOL
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post #5 of 30
12/10/05 at 4:41am
im gonna see if i can get my greedy hands on one of these or the new amd to review, it would be damned cool... still some great specs there man and i am sure you will love it when it arrives.
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post #6 of 30
12/10/05 at 4:57am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fidget
im gonna see if i can get my greedy hands on one of these or the new amd to review, it would be damned cool...
The only thing I wish they offered was a faster BUS with the Centrino/pentium M units.
The 800FSB is a Min as far as i am concerned, The 1066 would even be Better. I just dont understand why they dont offer an extreme version of the M processor. Put the faster FSB on it and watch it smoke. Maybe the architecture wont support a faster bus speed but I dont see why not.
Just think how it would fly with the 2mb if L2 cashe and the faster bus.
Not to mention low per consumption.
Is it just me or is it obvious that Intels sells themselves short?
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post #7 of 30
12/10/05 at 5:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mmauro
The only thing I wish they offered was a faster BUS with the Centrino/pentium M units.
The 800FSB is a Min as far as i am concerned, The 1066 would even be Better. I just dont understand why they dont offer an extreme version of the M processor. Put the faster FSB on it and watch it smoke. Maybe the architecture wont support a faster bus speed but I dont see why not.
Just think how it would fly with the 2mb if L2 cashe and the faster bus.
Not to mention low per consumption.
Is it just me or is it obvious that Intels sells themselves short?
i think it is regards to the architecture not supporting the higher FSB with the current dothans, the future (currently late january release) yonah version of the M will have a higher FSB but i dont remember off hand how much higher.
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post #8 of 30
12/10/05 at 5:46am
yo in my opinion the 2.26 chip is not worth the $625 upgrade considering you can get one off ebay for like 2 or 3 hunge. That is insane to pay that amount. Just my .02
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post #9 of 30
12/10/05 at 7:38am
I ordered mine on 11-22-05. I went with the 2GB RAM instead of the 7200rpm Hard Drive. I couldn't justify the extra $120 for the higher speed HD. Hoping it shows soon. Old lap is getting tired.
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post #10 of 30
12/10/05 at 4:26pm
1 G of RAM is fine for me, Im used to a quarter of that...
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post #11 of 30
12/10/05 at 4:30pm
one of the desktop machines i replaced with the xps im using now had only 256mb of ram... the jump to 2gb is huge at that point.
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post #12 of 30
12/10/05 at 5:23pm
yea, and you can always upgrade. i might make mine 1.5 GB in the future
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post #13 of 30
12/10/05 at 5:27pm
Thread Starter 
When I upgraded my Desktop from 512MB to 1 gig it was a significant upgrade, From 1 gig to 2 gigs i could hardly notice any more performance. I think right now 1 gig is good enough unless your doing some insane Graphic design or using Autocad or Arcview programs that are real Ram greedy.

As far as the Processor (2.26) I just cant find any benchmarks that compare these to AMD or other P4 Intels. I figured If I am going to spend 2k I might as well float the few extra Hundred for the fastest thing thats out there. I dont want to be buying a machine thats slower then my Desktop. I plan to keep this for a few years and I dont want it to be lagging after a year or two because of middle of the road hardware.
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post #14 of 30
12/10/05 at 5:31pm
mmauro,
Congrats on the order. I am debating whether or not to get the 5500m for myself, as I originally wanted the Sentia for it's portability. For my present job, I am required to do a bit of travel per year and I need something to take with so I can finish my classes online. The weight of the 5500m is not too bad, considering the old decrepid 9lb monster I had to borrow from work last year. Anyway, congrats on your order and I'm looking forward to your review.
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post #15 of 30
12/10/05 at 9:49pm
Thread Starter 
Too many Phases.
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post #16 of 30
12/10/05 at 10:12pm
I cannot find it again, But I saw one place that tested different processors. It had the 2.26 P-M hovering around the speed of a 3.6 P4.
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post #17 of 30
12/10/05 at 11:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockmedic109
I cannot find it again, But I saw one place that tested different processors. It had the 2.26 P-M hovering around the speed of a 3.6 P4.
Thats good to hear. I expected it to be around there.
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post #18 of 30
12/11/05 at 12:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mmauro
I scraped the 3 year warranty. Just so my Girlfriend wouldnt say I was over indulgent! LOL
you will regret that, worst ever move you could of did.

its a laptop, and its from AW, look at these forums, and tell me what similarity you find between AW laptops, and i dont mean they all look the same.

incase you are too lazy to search, i will name them, overheat and power brick dies ALOT.

get the 3 year warranty, you will not regret it, but you will regret it if you didnt get it....
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post #19 of 30
12/11/05 at 1:48am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by EVIL-SCOTSMAN
you will regret that, worst ever move you could of did.

its a laptop, and its from AW, look at these forums, and tell me what similarity you find between AW laptops, and i dont mean they all look the same.

incase you are too lazy to search, i will name them, overheat and power brick dies ALOT.

get the 3 year warranty, you will not regret it, but you will regret it if you didnt get it....
I got the 1 year warranty, whats that service cost out of warranty?
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post #20 of 30
12/11/05 at 2:40am
Congrats on the sweet laptop man. I look forward to your review and pics. =D
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