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XPS2 or 9300? The definitive $400 Question

post #1 of 13
3/10/05 at 10:46am
Thread Starter 
I've read these forums until my eyes were just about to fall out deciding between an XPS2 or a 9300. So I decided to start this topic to help others like me out. I've come to this conclusion through an INSANE amout of reading and research that the MAIN difference between these two notebooks is the Nvidia Geforce 6800 video cards.

The XPS2 sports the top of the line 256MB Nvidia Geforce 6800 "Ultra"
The 9300 jugs along with the 256MB Nvidia Geforce 6800 "Non-Ultra"

Configuring the laptops with the same options we get both a 9300 and an XPS2 with a Pentium M 2.0 Ghz. The only difference would be the 9300's 256MB Nvidia Geforce 6800 "Non-Ultra" and the XPS2's 256MB Nvidia Geforce 6800 "Ultra" separating the laptops by just $400.

So it comes down to the question: Is it the 256MB Geforce 6800 "Ultra" worth $400 over the 256MB Geforce 6800 "Non-Ultra"?

Let's find out.

Benchmarks for 9300 from Notebookforums.com users:

YellowIt4 3dmark05 2934
Shinji_U 3dmark05 4209

I believe YellowIt4 3dmark05 2934 to be accurate. A 3dmark05 score of 2934 is comparative to Sager and CyberPower notebooks toting the same 256MB Nvidia Geforce 6800 "Non-Ultra" video card.

Shinji_U 3dmark05 score of 4209 seems to have been derived from a driver invoked overclock mentioned in the "Get your i9300 yet? Then post some specs!" topic.


Benchmarks for XPS2 from Notebookforums.com users:
None since no one has one yet. Don't we wish.

But if you read reviews, the PRE-views, and any other articles relating to the XPS2 benchmarks, the XPS2 has easily scored a benchmark of 3dmkar05 5200.

If you go by the 3dmark05 benchmark, the "Ultra" version is about 75% faster than the "Non-Ultra" version. What this translates into REAL WORLD FPS will still depend on the game your playing.


Compilations of other XPS2 Info on the web:

http://www.hothardware.com/viewartic...eid=648&cid=10
http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-15427-1541-1-1-x
http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/2...ll_xps-01.html
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1769520,00.asp
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...1769944,00.asp
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2356
http://notebookforums.com/showthread...7&page=1&pp=15
http://forums.anandtech.com/messagev...&enterthread=y


I hope this helps any of you still deciding on whether to buy a XPS2 or 9300.

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post #2 of 13
3/10/05 at 10:50am
That's not the only difference. The XPS2 has an option for the 2.13 GHz processor, the 9300 does not. The styling on both models is different (XPS2 more gamer focused, with the LEDs and snap-on covers, 9300 more business focused). The XPS2 has Gigabit Ethernet, 9300 does not.
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post #3 of 13
3/10/05 at 10:52am
nice nice, so i think that the xps2 is worth this 400$, it also looks better...

but for future customer, i would wait until the first people get their dell xps2 and we are able to really and accurate compare those two...

also i got a question: hows the quality of dells, are they more plastic or metal, compareable to ibm or something like that? thanks
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post #4 of 13
3/10/05 at 11:54am
Plus XPS2 has this gigabyte network while 9300 has standard 10/100 network.
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post #5 of 13
3/10/05 at 11:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kbdrand
That's not the only difference. The XPS2 has an option for the 2.13 GHz processor, the 9300 does not. The styling on both models is different (XPS2 more gamer focused, with the LEDs and snap-on covers, 9300 more business focused). The XPS2 has Gigabit Ethernet, 9300 does not.
True.

I was just noting the basic under-the-hood performance specs for people who wanted the hard numbers with evenly configured machines.

But like kbdrand said, if you factor in other goodies for the XPS2 (Better Styling, LEDs, Personalized Snap-On Covers, Gigabit Ethernet), then the price margin between the XPS2 and the 9300 becomes even narrower than $400.

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post #6 of 13
3/10/05 at 12:18pm
Different support as well but don't know how different it actually is
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post #7 of 13
3/10/05 at 12:36pm
Another point in favour of the XPS2:
- Gigabit ethernet.

Points in favour of the 9300:
- Almost a pound lighter
- It's actually shipping - you'll get it a few weeks sooner.

The fillrate of the 6800 Ultra is much higher than that of the non-ultra, which is something to consider against the huge 1920x1200 resolution you have to fill

Personally, I found every coupon I could get my hands on, talked with EPP folk, and haggled like heck. The difference was around $650 to upgrade from a 9300 to an XPS2 for a similar configuration.

I would prefer an XPS2, but I couldn't convince myself that $650 was worth it. I ordered a 9300.
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post #8 of 13
3/10/05 at 12:40pm
i think the weight difference isn't that great if you have the 9-cell battery in the 9300. the main difference in weight is that the xps2 comes with the standard 9-cell and the 9300, the 6-cell.

but both are a lot lighter than the clevo d900t's!
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post #9 of 13
3/10/05 at 1:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kbdrand
The styling on both models is different (XPS2 more gamer focused, with the LEDs and snap-on covers, 9300 more business focused).
Quote:
Originally Posted by TECHNETiUM
nice nice, so i think that the xps2 is worth this 400$, it also looks better...
I dunno. I'm 21, and a gamer, and I think it's just gaudy. If it just had black where the i9300 has white, with the same lid design as the i9300, and it got more than 2:15 of battery life, maybe I'd be more interested. That 6800U is sexy...
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post #10 of 13
3/10/05 at 1:59pm
I went with the 9300 for the reasons you stated. This is like Desktop components though. Some people are willing to pay the premium for the best. And the XPS 2 is the best NO DOUBTS. It is the king and will be for at least a few months I would think. Even so, think about it like this: Our notebooks (9300 and XPS2) legitimately compete with top of the line Desktops now So no matter which side of the fence (XPS2 or 9300) we are ALL in good shape...
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post #11 of 13
3/10/05 at 2:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by operaman
I went with the 9300 for the reasons you stated. This is like Desktop components though. Some people are willing to pay the premium for the best. And the XPS 2 is the best NO DOUBTS. It is the king and will be for at least a few months I would think. Even so, think about it like this: Our notebooks (9300 and XPS2) legitimately compete with top of the line Desktops now So no matter which side of the fence (XPS2 or 9300) we are ALL in good shape...
Well said.
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post #12 of 13
3/10/05 at 2:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibby
I dunno. I'm 21, and a gamer, and I think it's just gaudy. If it just had black where the i9300 has white, with the same lid design as the i9300, and it got more than 2:15 of battery life, maybe I'd be more interested. That 6800U is sexy...
I didn't say that everyone would like it, but it is more gamer focused with the LEDs and covers. I personally like it and I'm a gamer.
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post #13 of 13
3/10/05 at 3:55pm
Check out those reviews, I like seeing the XPS 2 beating the 6800 GT desktops. I never thought I'd get this much performance in a laptop this soon. I can't believe I considered buying a laptop less than a year ago with the radeon 9700. I'm glad I waited.

Good thing the battery life issue isn't a big deal for my purposes. I still want to play around with coolbits to see if underclocking to the i9300 speeds increases battery life.

And back to the main topic, nice compilation of work there steele, I'm sure a lot of people will find that helpful.
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