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Acer Apsire 5930G vs Dell XPS m1530, Can't decide! Please help!

post #1 of 7
11/7/08 at 5:57am
Thread Starter 
Acer Apsire 5930G vs Dell XPS m1530



Hello, I am currently shopping for a 15.4" laptop and I am struggling to choose between the 5930G and the m1530. Please help make up my mind. You can post any subjective opinion to convince me one is better than the other

The laptop will be a Christmas gift for my girlfriend.

I am determined to install Windows XP on this laptop.

Acer Aspire 5930G Specifications
CPU: Core 2 Duo P7350 2.0Ghz
Display: 15.4" TFT (1280x800)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT 512MB (DDR3)
Memory: 3GB (1x1GB+1x2GB) DDR2 533/667 soDIMM
HDD: 320 GB S-SATA (5400 RPM)
Network: Intel Wireless WiFi Link 5100/5300 (dual band quad-mode 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N)
DVD: DVD Burner – Dual Double Layer (the cheaper, T5800 model has Blue Ray)
Sound: Dolby-certified Surround

Bluetooth: Yes
WebCam: Yes - Integrated - 0.3MP Orbicam
Modem: Yes - Integrated 56.6 (V90) Modem
HDMI: Yes
Firewire: No
Finger Print Reader: No

External Ports: 1xVGA RGB, 4xUSB 2.0, 1xS-Video
Weight: 3.0Kg

Work with Windows XP? Yes

Price: 7490 NOK (excludes delivery: 173 NOK) (~1118 US Dollars)
Dell XPS m1530 Specifications
CPU: Core 2 Duo T8300 2.4Ghz
Display: 15.4" TFT with Truelife (1440x900)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 256MB (DDR2)
Memory: 4GB (2x2GB) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
HDD: 250 GB S-SATA (7200 RPM)
Network: Wireless Dell 1395 (802.b/g)
DVD: 8xDVD+/-RW Slim Slot-Load Drive
Sound: Yes (unknown hardware)

Bluetooth: Yes
WebCam: Yes - Integrated – 2.0Mp CCFL
Modem: No
HDMI: Yes
Firewire: Yes
Finger Print Reader: Yes

External Ports: 1xVGA RGB, 3xUSB 2.0, 1xS-Video
Weight: 2.6Kg

Work with Windows XP? Yes – Source

Price: 9680 NOK (includes delivery) (~1413 US Dollars)
PRO's and CON's list assuming I'd pick 5930G:
The list has been ordered in relation to their importance (subjective).

- PRO The total cost of the 5930G is 2017 NOK (~294 US Dollars) less than the m1530
- CON A slower, although larger, 5400 RPM HDD is a major disadvantage *.
- CON The display only allows up to 1280x900 while the m1530 allows for a 1440x900 resolution.
- CON The design, although it looks good it is not as pleasing to the eye as the design for the m1530.
- PRO A faster GPU allows for slightly better 3D performance.
- PRO A newer processor that requires lower wattage and as such saves you battery time.
- CON Although newer technology the CPU is slightly slower, mainly because of the difference in clock speed.
- PRO Much better battery time allowing longer sessions when travelling (~4 instead of 2 hours).
- PRO Remarkably silent, although it is unclear whether or not the m1530 suffers from noise the 5930G is one of the quietest 15.4" laptops available.
- CON No FireWire support.
- CON No Finger Print Reader.
- CON Should hardware malfunction occur the workshop for Acer is located in Germany while Dell delivers onsite support during the one year warranty period.
- CON The Webcam on the m1530 (2Mp) is much better than the 0.3 Mp one the 5930G.
- PRO Doesn't have all the Media Direct nonsense that will make the transition to WinXP more complicated.
- PRO 4xUSB 2.0 ports instead of 3.
- PRO Has an integrated 56.6 Modem.
- CON Weighs slightly more.
- PRO Pause/Break is on the same key; m1530 have them on separate keys.

*If I go for the 5930G I would probably purchase an additional separate HDD at 7200 RPM. If I went for a 160GB 7200 RPM disk that would run me an additional 672 NOK (~98 US Dollars). However, this would offer one big advantage; the original Vista installation would be intact on the other drive. That would still mean that the final price comes in at 1345 NOK (~196 US Dollars) less than the m1530.

I guess I should also describe what it will mainly be used for. For the most part it will be used for school work and general surfing, but it will also be used as a media centre (connect to 37" TV via HDMI to play 780p HD movies/series). Additionally, I intend on getting her hooked on Diablo 3 (*evil grin*) so we can play together once that comes out and therefore I want to get a laptop that can actually run the game on decent settings.


Anyway, I can't seem to make up my mind! Please assist

Feel free to suggest additional PRO's and CON's that I might have missed.

Regards,
SilentGem
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post #2 of 7
11/7/08 at 7:58am
. I'd take the Acer
. Are you sure about 0.3 cam? more like 1.3 cam, normal for current notebooks
. 5400rpm on a sata drive is quite fast and quiet, changing it to a 7200rpm will not make much a difference, unless you are one that would like to squeeze out any extra performance you can get.
. Thing to watch for is the availability of support and replacement

cheers ...
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post #3 of 7
11/7/08 at 8:33am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
. I'd take the Acer
. Are you sure about 0.3 cam? more like 1.3 cam, normal for current notebooks
. 5400rpm on a sata drive is quite fast and quiet, changing it to a 7200rpm will not make much a difference, unless you are one that would like to squeeze out any extra performance you can get.
. Thing to watch for is the availability of support and replacement

cheers ...
- I'm not certain, but the vendor's description says 0.3:
http://www.mpx.no/aspx/produkt/prdin...spx?plid=94264
- Really? I was under the impression that a 7200rpm disk really made a big difference in load times and general usage, do you know any tests that have been conducted in regards to this?
- Yes, that's one negative thing about the Acer laptop. Might take weeks to send it in and get it back if there's a hardware problem.

Thanks for the reply mate!
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post #4 of 7
11/11/08 at 8:16am
Thread Starter 
Impossible choice!
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post #5 of 7
11/11/08 at 8:50am
Again the right choice is the Acer. Is cheaper and good GPU. Large 320GB HDD actually is as fast as the 250GB 7200RPM. Except the 320GB will last longer since the motor is slower and less heat generated. (I won't go throught the whole story why the 320GB w/ slow RPM can be fast as the 200GB 7200RPM.)

The GPU is definately Acer! And 3GB RAM is the maximun to run 32bit Windows, you don't want 64bit windows now because everything use alot more RAM on 64bits, you'll end up wasting 4GB RAM on the same thing running on 32bits but 2GB RAM only.

The only advantage i see is the CPU is better on Dell, but who cares because that Acer 2.0GHz is pretty ass kicking already. When buying a laptop, put your eyes on the GPU buddy! Stop looking for the finger print reader because is useless, people know how to duplicate finger print on the finger print reader already. You won't regrat it. So again the final choice, best out of the best is the Acer. Go get it boy!

Oh and one thing the resolution i don't see high res is actually better. I find it smaller res makes the game run faster because GPU take less power to render high res, the graphic quality is obviously the same. The thing you should look on is the QUALITY of the LCD screen. Look for TrueView, BrightView those special features and make sure it has Anti-Glare on. So again the screen res is not a matter to concern which i find it crazy that alot people want high res for actually nothing but uses more GPU processing power.
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post #6 of 7
11/12/08 at 12:10pm
I tend to like the 1530 better, but the video card choice would make it harder.
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post #7 of 7
11/14/08 at 7:22am
Thread Starter 
Thanks to everyone for the feeback.

I can now report that I ultimately choose the m1530.

Here are the final sepcs:

Dell XPS m1530 Specifications
CPU: Core 2 Duo T8300 2.4Ghz
Display: 15.4" TFT with Truelife (1440x900)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 256MB (DDR2)
Memory: 4GB (2x2GB) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
HDD:120 GB S-SATA (5400 RPM)
Network: Intel® Pro Wireless 3945 802.11a/b/g
DVD: 8xDVD+/-RW Slim Slot-Load Drive
Sound: Yes (unknown hardware)

Bluetooth: Yes
WebCam: Yes - Integrated – 2.0Mp CCFL
Modem: No
HDMI: Yes
Firewire: Yes
Finger Print Reader: Yes

OS: English Genuine Windows Vista SP1 Home Premium including Media

External Ports: 1xVGA RGB, 3xUSB 2.0, 1xS-Video
Weight: 2.6Kg

Work with Windows XP? Yes – Source

Price: 8227 NOK (includes delivery) (~ 1168 US Dollars)
 I got a 10% off coupong for Dell's system and after some modifications the price is only slightly higher than the total cost for the 5930G.

I am extremely happy with Dell customer service and the hardware configuration I'm getting for this price.

Regards,
SilentGem
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