Dell FINALLY offers 8600 with ATI 9600

[BargainSeeker]

Dell 8600

 

[Alt]

"This option may delay your ship date"
hmmm

 

[manko]

Wow, finally. I hope hp refreshes their compaq x1000 and zt3000 lines with the 9600 before Christmas too. After all this time window-shopping though, Dell is lower on my list. I like the ECS 556 and Korean LG IBM the most right now.

This will make it harder to hold out for Dothan.

 

[BargainSeeker]

Originally posted by: manko
Wow, finally. I hope hp refreshes their compaq x1000 and zt3000 lines with the 9600 before Christmas too. After all this time window-shopping though, Dell is lower on my list. I like the ECS 556 and Korean LG IBM the most right now.

This will make it harder to hold out for Dothan.

Amen. I'm in exactly the same boat you are. Though I am also keeping my eye on the Clevo M375E.

 

[BargainSeeker]

Originally posted by: Alt
"This option may delay your ship date"
hmmm

Alt -- did you know that the Gigabyte N601 you were waiting for came out as the Gateway M505?

 

[GnomeCop]

well I configured one and it said the ship date would be 12/19/03.... not too bad.

Damn, the specs look very nice indeed, too bad it didn't come out a month earlier or else they would have got my business.

 

[Bateluer]

They are probably trying to see how much of an interest there is in offering ATI mobile solutions. With ATI's dominance in the mobile graphcis industry, I am betting they are getting quite a bit.

 

[JuicyFruit]

Fixes and Enhancements

Dell Inc. Copyright (C) 2003, All Rights reserved. www.dell.com BIOS Release Notes =================================================================== =================================================================== Systems: Dell Inspiron 8600 Version: A03 Build Date: 11/18/03 The following updates were made to the A02 BIOS to create the A03 BIOS: Enhancements: =============== 1. Added support for newer video controllers. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1

Could it be? It'd be nice to be able to swap a 9600 into my 8600.

 

[Frightcrawler]

heh its not in the new catalog.
but then again, it just came today, and the catalog was probably printed earlier.

 

[hytek369]

Originally posted by: JuicyFruit
Fixes and Enhancements

Dell Inc. Copyright (C) 2003, All Rights reserved. www.dell.com BIOS Release Notes =================================================================== =================================================================== Systems: Dell Inspiron 8600 Version: A03 Build Date: 11/18/03 The following updates were made to the A02 BIOS to create the A03 BIOS: Enhancements: =============== 1. Added support for newer video controllers. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1

Could it be? It'd be nice to be able to swap a 9600 into my 8600.

where would you buy the part? any links or phone numbers?

 

[JuicyFruit]

I read somewhere on the Dell forums it would be $149. I'll have to check on that. Will report when I find this info.

 

[JuicyFruit]

When it's available here, you should be able to purchase it.

Putting it in, that's a whole different story.

 

[Sav]

Does anyone have benchmarks of a Pentium M vs a Pentium 4 computer with ATI 9600 cards?


Thanks,
Sav

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: JuicyFruit
I read somewhere on the Dell forums it would be $149. I'll have to check on that. Will report when I find this info.

You wish. A regular 9600 Pro/XT is around 160-190.

Considering these require more engineering and the upgrade from a GeForceFX 5200 is $199, thats hardpressed. But if it was $149, I may pick up one.

 

[Sav]

Guys I am thinking of buying a lap top for christmas, but I don't know if I should order A P4 3 Ghz w/ ATI 9600 or the Dell 8600 PM 1.6 GHz w/ATI 9600. I really want it to be able to play Half Life 2 on it. Does anyone know where I can find some benchmarks in games to compare how the two compare? To what equivalent in MHz is a PM equivalent to a P4.

Thanks,
Sav

 

[dnuggett]

The M chip is at a 1.6 multiplier to the P4. This puts that M chip at 2.56 with repect to a P4 clock. The 3.0 will be faster, and prob game a little better, but the M will win out in battery life by a lot especially if you are gaming. Either of those set ups will run HL2 with the 9600 card.

 

[Sav]

I am thinking of going with the dell 1.7 Pentium M with ATI 9600 over the 3 GHz Sager p4 w/ Ati 9600. Will I see comparable fram rates, will the comp really run at 2.72 GHz compared to a P4, or is the 1.6 multiplier just some thing that intel is throwing around. Doesn't the HT technology in p4s make them much more efficient? I wish there were some newer bench marks for these higher clock speeds.

Thanks, sorry for the many question and worries. I just want to order the best comp I can with my budget and I am having a hard time deciding between a P4 and a PM.

Savio

 

[dnuggett]

Sav-

In an overall sense the 1.7 M chip will run at 2.72 w/ P4 speeds. Intel isn't throwing that # around, they are rather hush on the suject because of a pending lawsuit realted to their P3 and P4. As far as HT you never mentioned that in your first post, and they may make a difference. The thing is I don't really know how much it helps in gaming, maybe someone else can give some input on that.

And when you say efficient how are you using that term? If you are talking about computing power vs. power consumption the M is far superior.