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Future XPS2 Revisions

post #1 of 5
3/29/05 at 7:40pm
Thread Starter 
I am thinking of buying a XPS2 in late July specifcations as followed:

Pentium M 780 2.26GHz - 533MHz FSB
2GB DDR2 533MHz
17" UltraSharp Wide Screen UXGA Display
100GB Hard Drive
8x DVD+/-RW Burner
GeForce Go 6800 Ultra 256MB
Intel PRO/Wireless 2915 Internal Wireless

Their are only two things that concern me with the XPS2! The lack of Intel HD Audio, and the lack of a SATA Hard Drive and support. The big question is will Dell down the road add Intel HD Audio to the XPS2 to replace the ageing and lack luster AC 97 standard. Also will Dell start offering SATA based XPS2's once SATA hard drives become more available?

Both of these missing peices wouldn't require any major changes to the laptop design, size, heat, or power wise. Has Dell ever made changes like this to a laptop once it has been in production?

The reason I would like to see these parts make then into the XPS2 is if I am going to spend $4000 on a laptop, I want it to be exactly perfect. I know I am being pretty picky here, but I am a picky person when it comes to computer hardware.
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post #2 of 5
3/29/05 at 7:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brett VanKirk
I know I am being pretty picky here, but I am a picky person when it comes to computer hardware.
most of us here are like that....


I have no idea on how dell works but I would think they will come up with a new model.. by that time if they are going for new specifications
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post #3 of 5
3/29/05 at 8:46pm
I haven't located any documents that said the XPS 2 lacks SATA support. SATA was mentioned in one preview for the XPS 2, but it was in reference to the Intel 915 PM chipset. I am led to believe that the XPS 2 supports SATA until I see some evidence of the contrary. One more thing-- Even a 7200 RPM notebook hard drive can't utilize the extra bandwidth provided by SATA, so SATA has no advantage over PATA 100 (right now). But you probably already knew that...

As for Intel High Def audio-- it's good, but if your spending $4000 on a laptop, it's expected that you buy an Audigy. The Audigy's come in external USB and PCMCIA flavors, and they have better audio and more inputs/outpus than Intel High Def. They run at about $100. I'm thinking really hard about using a gift card to bestbuy for one...I'll test out the AC'97 first.
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post #4 of 5
3/29/05 at 9:07pm
Thread Starter 
SATA is not just all about raw bandwidth, SATA supports alot of new features that ATA doesn't have NCQ is just one of them. I am not about to go into all the features of SATA over ATA but you get my drift. Sure SATA doesn't give you more then a 3-5% increase in performance, but its also just the fact that its there and its not being used. Now if the XPS2 has a SATA port on the motherboard and its not being used thats a different story, but from what I am reading it doesn't.

As for an add in card, I wouldn't think its expected that I buy an Audigy! Intel HD Audio can more then handle its own for gaming and audio intense applications, alot better then the AC 97 standard. I am not looking for loads of outputs, and I want the use of my laptop speakers with the best possible laptop audio solution. Plus I am not looking to add something into my laptop that is going to further drain my battery. I am puzzled at the lack of Intel HD Audio, seeing that it's used as Dells intergrated Audio on their desktop line.
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post #5 of 5
3/30/05 at 2:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brett VanKirk
SATA is not just all about raw bandwidth, SATA supports alot of new features that ATA doesn't have NCQ is just one of them. I am not about to go into all the features of SATA over ATA but you get my drift. Sure SATA doesn't give you more then a 3-5% increase in performance, but its also just the fact that its there and its not being used. Now if the XPS2 has a SATA port on the motherboard and its not being used thats a different story, but from what I am reading it doesn't.

As for an add in card, I wouldn't think its expected that I buy an Audigy! Intel HD Audio can more then handle its own for gaming and audio intense applications, alot better then the AC 97 standard. I am not looking for loads of outputs, and I want the use of my laptop speakers with the best possible laptop audio solution. Plus I am not looking to add something into my laptop that is going to further drain my battery. I am puzzled at the lack of Intel HD Audio, seeing that it's used as Dells intergrated Audio on their desktop line.
Actually the Intel HD audio chipset sucks for gaming IMO. My Asus {5AD2-Premium MB has this audio chipset. The lack of EAX3/4 support alone is worth getting the pcmcia card or even the usb audigy. Plus their is a noticable difference in cpu usage.
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