INFO: Building/Buying a Laptop (PC or Mac) - Page 5

Jabberwhacky · 01-17-2008, 11:39 AM

Umm, when you say you were "using 300 mb" did you get that number from the Performance tab of Windows Task Manager? I just opened that and it shows me sitting at 700mb with nothing open...

Phoenix · 01-17-2008, 03:45 PM

Yeah its in the task manager, but look at the bottom right at the commit charge.

Kaio · 01-18-2008, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix

What? A 8600GT is easily 2x as powerful as a 8400GS.

Also with Dell laptops, you really need to go into msconfig and turn off all extra bullshit they add. When I first booted up my laptop it was using close to 300 megs of memory on a fresh boot, but after I went in and turned off all the junk I was down to 140ish, which gives a massive difference in performance.

Sure, but i can kinda run crysis and he can't really run wow with good frame rates in a lot of places. I used to play wow with a 9700 128mb at decent settings and it ran very well. Although I'm not sure if i've completely maxed out everything in wow.

Regardless, i had a sizeable boost from getting rid of dell clutter at least. I could barely run the old need for speed: most wanted game well before i refomatted.

Jabberwhacky · 01-21-2008, 04:59 PM

Sooo all my Vostro came with is a "Reinstallation DVD;" does this mean once I reformat to make the swap to XP I can never go back to Vista, without using a bootleg copy?

tjac · 01-21-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jabberwhacky

Sooo all my Vostro came with is a "Reinstallation DVD;" does this mean once I reformat to make the swap to XP I can never go back to Vista, without using a bootleg copy?

I think the Reinstallation DVD you have just puts the starting image back onto the hard drive -- so you'll have all the bloatware and other unnecessary installs, but you will have the Vista OS, if you want to return to it. I would call Dell, and ask them to mail you an actual OS installation disk for Vista. That's my preference anyway.

Jedite · 01-21-2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjac

I think the Reinstallation DVD you have just puts the starting image back onto the hard drive -- so you'll have all the bloatware and other unnecessary installs, but you will have the Vista OS, if you want to return to it. I would call Dell, and ask them to mail you an actual OS installation disk for Vista. That's my preference anyway.

Just an FYI, atleast with HP they make you go through a few hoops and pitfalls to get a "PURE" OEM installation disk, not to mention that they make you pay for it.

tjac · 01-24-2008, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jedite

Just an FYI, atleast with HP they make you go through a few hoops and pitfalls to get a "PURE" OEM installation disk, not to mention that they make you pay for it.

Yeah, definitely a case of YMMV with each manufacturer. Toshiba are dicks about OS install discs, too.

Lenas · 01-28-2008, 08:32 PM

Macbook Pro perfect condition, 2.16ghz core duo, 2gb ram, 100gb 7200rpm drive and a fresh install of Leopard - $1k. Good deal?

Phoenix · 01-29-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenas

Macbook Pro perfect condition, 2.16ghz core duo, 2gb ram, 100gb 7200rpm drive and a fresh install of Leopard - $1k. Good deal?

No idea specifically for macs, but the linked Tbird has posted you can still get a brand new Vostro with better specs than what you listed for less.

Lenas · 01-29-2008, 12:15 PM

The only 15.4" Vostro builds I could make included a worse processor and video card than those available in last-gen MBP's.

Phoenix · 01-29-2008, 12:17 PM

Odd? I can make a 2200mhz c2d, 120gig HD, 8600M GT, and 2gigs of memory for $910.

Lenas · 01-29-2008, 12:34 PM

My bad, was looking at the Vostro 1000's, not 1500's.

Next problem: My build comes out to $1053 (including the built in web cam) and only has an option for 5400rpm drives. Getting a matte screen also gimps you down to 1280x800 res. After tax, even with free shipping, that comes out to be $1130 and I have to wait probably a week and a half.

I dunno.

Kaio · 01-29-2008, 08:17 PM

That reminds me, how much are the ram upgrades costing now? Back when i got my vostro I ended up getting one gig of ram and two gigs from newegg to put in myself. It saved me like a hundred bucks since i bought the ram for like $50 (ddr2 ram is extremely cheap) and dell's 1gig->2gig upgrade used to cost like $150.

edit: I see the $599 version comes with 2 gigs already, nice deal.

edit2: new monitor black level test.

Teger · 02-10-2008, 02:08 PM

In the next couple of months I'm looking to purchase a pretty nice laptop. I have a good amount to spend ($2,000+), and I'd like something that is decently portable (nothing bigger than 15" screen), doesn't run too hot, and able to browse internet/word processing/watch movies. I'd be using it as my main home PC too, and would be taking it to class almost every day.

So far from the people I've talked to I've heard good things about macbook pros and dell xps. Anyone have any good tips?

Aulirophile · 02-10-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teger

In the next couple of months I'm looking to purchase a pretty nice laptop. I have a good amount to spend ($2,000+), and I'd like something that is decently portable (nothing bigger than 15" screen), doesn't run too hot, and able to browse internet/word processing/watch movies. I'd be using it as my main home PC too, and would be taking it to class almost every day.

So far from the people I've talked to I've heard good things about macbook pros and dell xps. Anyone have any good tips?

Nothing is better then a MBP. IBM Thinkpads come close, Dell's are just cheap alternatives. If you want quality, get a MacBook Pro.

01-28-2008, 08:32 PM	#68 (permalink)
Lenas 0 kills, 0 alerts Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,069 -4 Internets	Macbook Pro perfect condition, 2.16ghz core duo, 2gb ram, 100gb 7200rpm drive and a fresh install of Leopard - $1k. Good deal? __________________ 360 / PSN - LenasUchiha

01-29-2008, 12:15 PM	#70 (permalink)
Lenas 0 kills, 0 alerts Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,069 -4 Internets	The only 15.4" Vostro builds I could make included a worse processor and video card than those available in last-gen MBP's. __________________ 360 / PSN - LenasUchiha

01-29-2008, 12:34 PM	#72 (permalink)
Lenas 0 kills, 0 alerts Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,069 -4 Internets	My bad, was looking at the Vostro 1000's, not 1500's. Next problem: My build comes out to $1053 (including the built in web cam) and only has an option for 5400rpm drives. Getting a matte screen also gimps you down to 1280x800 res. After tax, even with free shipping, that comes out to be $1130 and I have to wait probably a week and a half. I dunno. __________________ 360 / PSN - LenasUchiha

01-29-2008, 08:17 PM	#73 (permalink)
Kaio Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 868 +2 Internets	That reminds me, how much are the ram upgrades costing now? Back when i got my vostro I ended up getting one gig of ram and two gigs from newegg to put in myself. It saved me like a hundred bucks since i bought the ram for like $50 (ddr2 ram is extremely cheap) and dell's 1gig->2gig upgrade used to cost like $150. edit: I see the $599 version comes with 2 gigs already, nice deal. edit2: new monitor black level test. Last edited by Kaio : 02-04-2008 at 03:37 PM.

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01-17-2008, 11:39 AM	#61 (permalink)
Jabberwhacky Walker told me I have AIDS Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: In da FACE!! (two times) Posts: 2,412	Umm, when you say you were "using 300 mb" did you get that number from the Performance tab of Windows Task Manager? I just opened that and it shows me sitting at 700mb with nothing open...

01-21-2008, 04:59 PM	#64 (permalink)
Jabberwhacky Walker told me I have AIDS Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: In da FACE!! (two times) Posts: 2,412	Sooo all my Vostro came with is a "Reinstallation DVD;" does this mean once I reformat to make the swap to XP I can never go back to Vista, without using a bootleg copy?

02-10-2008, 02:08 PM	#74 (permalink)
Teger Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 553 -2 Internets	In the next couple of months I'm looking to purchase a pretty nice laptop. I have a good amount to spend ($2,000+), and I'd like something that is decently portable (nothing bigger than 15" screen), doesn't run too hot, and able to browse internet/word processing/watch movies. I'd be using it as my main home PC too, and would be taking it to class almost every day. So far from the people I've talked to I've heard good things about macbook pros and dell xps. Anyone have any good tips?