This review is done thanks to member shboyles. Be sure and check out the tons of pics at the bottom which are thumbnailed from an 1100X res.
Processor:
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 (2GHz, 2MB Cache, 533MHz FSB)
Intel® 915PM Chipset with PCI Express
OS:
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
Memory:
1GB DDR2 533MHZ MEMORY (2 x 512MB Modules)
Ports:
IEEE 1394 integrated port
6-USB 2.0 (Universal Serial Bus) compliant 4-pin connectors
Video: 15-pin monitor connector
Digital Video Interface (DVI)
S-Video: 7-pin mini-DIN connector
Audio jacks: Stereo headphones/speakers miniconnector (same as line-out), microphone miniconnector
LCD
17-inch Wide-Aspect WUXGA display with TrueLifeTM Glossy (1920x1200)
Size
Height: 1.6-inches (41.5 mm)
Width: 15.5-inches (394 mm)
Depth: 11.3-inches (287 mm)
Weight: 7.85 lbs. (3.56 kg).
Power:
6 Cell 53 WHr Lithium Ion Primary battery. Approximate operating time: Up to 3.4 hours
AC Adapter: Output power: 90W standard, Input voltage: 90 to 264 VAC
Slots:
Connectors: (1) Type I or Type II card
3.3 and 5 V cards supported
Graphics:
PCI ExpressTM x16
256MB DDR NVIDIA® GeForceTM Go 6800 (NOT DDR3 Version)
Storage:
8x DVD+/-RW
100GB 5400 RPM Seagate Momentus Drive (Came with a 100GB 4200RPM Fujitsu Drive)
Audio:
Integrated stereo sound
Integrated subwoofer
Communication Devices:
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet (Broadcom 440x)
Dell 1350 internal wireless solution (802.11b/g)
Dell TrueMobile 350 internal Bluetooth module
Review:
Chassis/Build/Apearance:
The build quality is very good in comparison with past models Dell has released. It is actually identical to that of the Inspiron 9200 model. Same dell quicksnap Covers are offered to change the appearance of the cover to the LCD. Considering the size of the notebook, it is fairly light weighing in at just under 8lbs.
Keyboard/Touchpad:
The keyboard has no Flex. (Identical to that of the 9200)….Considering it is a 17” notebook, there is NO numberpad/extended keyboard. Keyboard feels very good overall.
Speakers/Sound:
The sound is very good/loud. However if the sound is cranked up too much, distortion is heard out of both the subwoofer and the front speakers which reside under the palmrests
Display:
This is what everyone is anxious to see. After the HORRIBLE WUXGA screen Dell offered on the 9200 model, they added this “truelife” WUXGA screen to the 9300. Basically it is the same WUXGA that is found on the 9200, except it has a GLOSSY Coating. Therefore, everyone who is familiar with the “sparkle effect” that was apparent on the 9200 screens, is also apparent on the 9300 model. However, I feel that the coating as some how made the screen seam brighter and lessened the sparkle effect (I would say the sparkle effect is about 50% of the 9200 screen’s sparkle)
The sparkle effect goes almost entirely away when watching DVD’s, or playing games. In fact I found the screen was EXCELLENT under gaming conditions. Definitely a major improvement from the 9200’s screens. The screen doesn’t have very good uniformity. It has to be angled perfectly in order to get the brightest picture out of it. There is also some minor light leakage in the bottom most part of the screen.
Graphics/Performance:
The model reviewed came with the Nvidia Geforce GO 6800. It is the DDR1 version. It came stock clocked at 290/590 (GPU/MEM).
I was able to overclock it to 340/750 without any problems or artifacts.
Battery Life:
The model reviewed came with the 6-cell battery which lasts around 3-3.4 hours. There is 9-cell battery option which can last 5 hours.
Fan Noise/Cooling:
There are fan exausts in the back and on the sides towards the back. The fans are WHISPER QUIET…Even during gaming and intense CPU/GPU usage!
Benchmarks:
STOCK CLOCK RESULTS (290/590):
3DMark03: 8065
3DMark05: 3322
Aquamark 3: 48813
UT2004 1024x768: 157fps
DOOM3 1024x768: 71fps
Far Cry 1024x768: 65
Far Cry 1280x1024: 60
HL2 BenchemallDemo 1024x768: 45fps
OVERCLOCKING RESULTS (401/685):
3dmark03: 10119
3dmark05: 4337
Aquamark3: 60,524
UT2004 1024x768: 161fps
DOOM3 1024x768: 83fps
Far Cry 1024x768: 64
Far Cry 1280x1024: 63
HL2 BenchemallDemo 1024x768: 43fps
Some more thoughts, Pros/Cons:
This is one of the best laptops Dell has released to date. Although the Inspiron XPS 2 with it’s LED lights, and Nvidia Geforce GO 6800 ULTRA will put this laptop to shame. The 9300 is well priced for what you can get in it. Where Dell comes short with this laptop is that there is NO GIGABIT (which is offered in the XPS 2). And of course the screen….Which I feel is a big improvement from the 9200 WUXGA screen, however, it doesn’t even come close to competing with the Sony A-Series 17” XBRITE Screens. By adding the gloss coating to the WUXGA screen it does seem better for text, and while gaming or watching DVD’s it is very good looking. Would also be nice to see Dell offer ATI Graphics in the 9300/XPS 2 models (Such as the Radeon X800 Mobility). The unit also has BOTH DVI and VGA ports. Will review the XPS 2 when I receive it in early April.
Below are more pictures of the Dell next to the Sony XBrite with the last two pictures being next to the Sager 9860. The Dell 9300 is on the right side of all the following pics:
Processor:
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 (2GHz, 2MB Cache, 533MHz FSB)
Intel® 915PM Chipset with PCI Express
OS:
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
Memory:
1GB DDR2 533MHZ MEMORY (2 x 512MB Modules)
Ports:
IEEE 1394 integrated port
6-USB 2.0 (Universal Serial Bus) compliant 4-pin connectors
Video: 15-pin monitor connector
Digital Video Interface (DVI)
S-Video: 7-pin mini-DIN connector
Audio jacks: Stereo headphones/speakers miniconnector (same as line-out), microphone miniconnector
LCD
17-inch Wide-Aspect WUXGA display with TrueLifeTM Glossy (1920x1200)
Size
Height: 1.6-inches (41.5 mm)
Width: 15.5-inches (394 mm)
Depth: 11.3-inches (287 mm)
Weight: 7.85 lbs. (3.56 kg).
Power:
6 Cell 53 WHr Lithium Ion Primary battery. Approximate operating time: Up to 3.4 hours
AC Adapter: Output power: 90W standard, Input voltage: 90 to 264 VAC
Slots:
Connectors: (1) Type I or Type II card
3.3 and 5 V cards supported
Graphics:
PCI ExpressTM x16
256MB DDR NVIDIA® GeForceTM Go 6800 (NOT DDR3 Version)
Storage:
8x DVD+/-RW
100GB 5400 RPM Seagate Momentus Drive (Came with a 100GB 4200RPM Fujitsu Drive)
Audio:
Integrated stereo sound
Integrated subwoofer
Communication Devices:
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet (Broadcom 440x)
Dell 1350 internal wireless solution (802.11b/g)
Dell TrueMobile 350 internal Bluetooth module
Review:
Chassis/Build/Apearance:
The build quality is very good in comparison with past models Dell has released. It is actually identical to that of the Inspiron 9200 model. Same dell quicksnap Covers are offered to change the appearance of the cover to the LCD. Considering the size of the notebook, it is fairly light weighing in at just under 8lbs.
Keyboard/Touchpad:
The keyboard has no Flex. (Identical to that of the 9200)….Considering it is a 17” notebook, there is NO numberpad/extended keyboard. Keyboard feels very good overall.
Speakers/Sound:
The sound is very good/loud. However if the sound is cranked up too much, distortion is heard out of both the subwoofer and the front speakers which reside under the palmrests
Display:
This is what everyone is anxious to see. After the HORRIBLE WUXGA screen Dell offered on the 9200 model, they added this “truelife” WUXGA screen to the 9300. Basically it is the same WUXGA that is found on the 9200, except it has a GLOSSY Coating. Therefore, everyone who is familiar with the “sparkle effect” that was apparent on the 9200 screens, is also apparent on the 9300 model. However, I feel that the coating as some how made the screen seam brighter and lessened the sparkle effect (I would say the sparkle effect is about 50% of the 9200 screen’s sparkle)
The sparkle effect goes almost entirely away when watching DVD’s, or playing games. In fact I found the screen was EXCELLENT under gaming conditions. Definitely a major improvement from the 9200’s screens. The screen doesn’t have very good uniformity. It has to be angled perfectly in order to get the brightest picture out of it. There is also some minor light leakage in the bottom most part of the screen.
Graphics/Performance:
The model reviewed came with the Nvidia Geforce GO 6800. It is the DDR1 version. It came stock clocked at 290/590 (GPU/MEM).
I was able to overclock it to 340/750 without any problems or artifacts.
Battery Life:
The model reviewed came with the 6-cell battery which lasts around 3-3.4 hours. There is 9-cell battery option which can last 5 hours.
Fan Noise/Cooling:
There are fan exausts in the back and on the sides towards the back. The fans are WHISPER QUIET…Even during gaming and intense CPU/GPU usage!
Benchmarks:
STOCK CLOCK RESULTS (290/590):
3DMark03: 8065
3DMark05: 3322
Aquamark 3: 48813
UT2004 1024x768: 157fps
DOOM3 1024x768: 71fps
Far Cry 1024x768: 65
Far Cry 1280x1024: 60
HL2 BenchemallDemo 1024x768: 45fps
OVERCLOCKING RESULTS (401/685):
3dmark03: 10119
3dmark05: 4337
Aquamark3: 60,524
UT2004 1024x768: 161fps
DOOM3 1024x768: 83fps
Far Cry 1024x768: 64
Far Cry 1280x1024: 63
HL2 BenchemallDemo 1024x768: 43fps
Some more thoughts, Pros/Cons:
This is one of the best laptops Dell has released to date. Although the Inspiron XPS 2 with it’s LED lights, and Nvidia Geforce GO 6800 ULTRA will put this laptop to shame. The 9300 is well priced for what you can get in it. Where Dell comes short with this laptop is that there is NO GIGABIT (which is offered in the XPS 2). And of course the screen….Which I feel is a big improvement from the 9200 WUXGA screen, however, it doesn’t even come close to competing with the Sony A-Series 17” XBRITE Screens. By adding the gloss coating to the WUXGA screen it does seem better for text, and while gaming or watching DVD’s it is very good looking. Would also be nice to see Dell offer ATI Graphics in the 9300/XPS 2 models (Such as the Radeon X800 Mobility). The unit also has BOTH DVI and VGA ports. Will review the XPS 2 when I receive it in early April.
Below are more pictures of the Dell next to the Sony XBrite with the last two pictures being next to the Sager 9860. The Dell 9300 is on the right side of all the following pics:
