Does this look good?

[Crescent13]

Inspiron XPS Gen 2
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 (2 GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB)

Operating System
Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005

LCD Panel
17 inch UltraSharp? Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife

Memory
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz 2 Dimm

Video Card
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce? Go 6800 Ultra

Hard Drive
60GB 7200rpm Hard Drive

Network Card
Integrated 1 Gigabit Network Card and Modem

Adobe Software
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0

CD ROM/DVD ROM
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive

Wireless Networking Card
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)

Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed)
No Microsoft Office

Security Software
No Security Subscription

Primary Battery
9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (80 WHr)

Carrying Cases
XPS Gen 2 Backpack

Limited Warranty, Services and Support
No Extended Service, Support or Ltd Warranty
XPS Specialized Support Inspiron XPS, Specialized Support

Dial-Up Internet Access
No ISP requested

Digital Imaging Photo Album? SE Basic

Additional Batteries
9-cell Lithium Ion Additional Battery (80 WHr)

Financial Software
No QuickBooks package selected- Includes limited use trial

ACCESSORIES
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card
Unit Price $99.00

Dell 720 Color Printer
Free Dell Color Printer 720 Unit Price $0.00

Dell Color Printer 720 Free Dell Color Printer 720
Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd. Warranty- Advance Exchange

TOTAL: $2,614.00
Additional Discounts and Coupons
Free Ground Shipping on any Dell Inspiron order greater than $899! -$49.00

Dell Home Customers: Get free ground (3-5 day) shipping on peripheral item -$0.00

Get free ground (3-5 day) shipping on peripheral items over $49! -$5.50

Total Price
Sub-total $2,614.00
Shipping & Handling $54.50
Shipping & Handling Discount -$54.50
Tax $156.83
Total Price $2,770.83

 

[Crescent13]

Anyone?

 

[Jassi]

Ummm, use the $750 off coupon from Dell.

And that looks like a SWEET rig

EDIT - I would skimp on the RAM (go with basic 512 MB) and buy it from the deals in the HD forum and save some $$. The upgrade could not be easier for even a new user. Maybe put that towards a DL DVD burner? Also, why the extra 9 cell battery? Most people keep the original 6 cell, order the extra 9 cell (save some $$ again), use the 9 cell and keep the 6 cell as a backup or sell it on ebay.

EDIT 2 - If you follow my advice, please be sure to post the new price of that machine

 

[Crescent13]

That price is with the $750 coupon. There is no 6 cell battery.

EDIT: BTW Thanks!

EDIT: Just realized, that's 512mb Dual Channel, I would have to take out one of the 256MB pieces, and if I added 512, that would give me 768 (non dual channel).

 

[Jassi]

A 512 stick is about ~$50 right now (saw the deal at Fatwallet) and people have confirmed that it works in dual channel with Dell laptops. So, get the minimum and pop in 2 512s for $100. Pocket the change.

 

[manko]

Originally posted by: Jassi
Also, why the extra 9 cell battery? Most people keep the original 6 cell, order the extra 9 cell (save some $$ again), use the 9 cell and keep the 6 cell as a backup or sell it on ebay.

The XPS 2 doesn't have a 6-cell option since it uses so much power (the power brick is 130W vs. 90W for the 9300). I ordered an extra 9-cell, for a combined 4+ hours of non-gaming.

I would also recommend just going with 512MB and buying a 1GB single stick or two 512MB sticks elsewhere. 1GB will run you less than the $200 Dell charges to upgrade from 512MB. Supposedly, the gain from dual-channel isn't very much and a number of people are running uneven memory sizes (like 1GB + 256MB).

I just got my XPS 2 last week and it blows my old desktop away.

 

[ShellGuy]

Sweet System but my first issue would be that you didn't get the WARRANTY, Or the Oppsie coverage. I looked at one at the dell store here localy and boy is that thing sweet. I will prob get one when i get my new Nikon D70.


Will G.

 

[Crescent13]

Thanks guys! Just one question, are both RAM slots accesible? I have a HP pavilion zv5000t, and only one slot is accesible.

EDIT: Do you have a link to that RAM?

EDIT: Maybe two of theese? Only $300 for 2GB.

 

[deathwalker]

Crescent13...I respect the opinions of our fellow forum members..however..in this case I have to strongly disagree with the memory recommendation made. Having quite a bit of experience with "Dual" channel memory systems I think it would be folly for you to get this rig with 512mb of memory and then purchase another 512 stick and just throw it in and keep your fingers crossed that they will play nicely together. Considering this stuff is DDR2 PC4200 (533mhz) I just couldn't support the concept of the recommendation to get it with one stick and then buy another..and besides...the 512mb configuration for the XPS/2 and 9300 Dell is 2x256...so...you have to pull them both and buy 1 gb...not 512. Suck it up, this is a lot of money to buy it not configured properly...BTW I have a 9300 with 1gb mem.

 

[Crescent13]

What if I took both 256MB sticks out and replaced them with two sticks of the RAM I mentioned earlier?

 

[CptTripps]

Yeah, Dell does not offer the XPS2 with a single 1GB stick. That is a decent price for sure beings you got the extra battery\backpack\audigy2 but; skimping on the warranty 100% is pretty gutsy. As deathwalker says, I would definitely put in 2 identical sticks of memory, me, I purchased the 1GB from dell as I bought through EPP (didn't have the cash to skimp and purchase seperately).

Regarding the Transcend memory mentioned above, I've never purchased it, but 1 review is not good enough for me. I did a search for ya and found the kingston chips though from pricegrabber. Kingston is a name I trust and the vendors have over 150+ good reviews which is nice for piece of mind. 2 day air for 2x1GB chips was 277.75 shipped from Spartan Tech. Here's the link for a 1GB Kingston DDR2 Sodimm.

 

[Crescent13]

Thanks!

EDIT: It comes with a 1 year mail-in warranty.

This is my 200th post!

 

[manko]

Originally posted by: Crescent13
Thanks guys! Just one question, are both RAM slots accesible? I have a HP pavilion zv5000t, and only one slot is accesible.

EDIT: Do you have a link to that RAM?

EDIT: Maybe two of theese? Only $300 for 2GB.

Yes, both slots are easily accessible. I just ordered 2GB of that Transcend from Newegg myself. I had the Kingston on order, but there have been too many delays and Newegg is also a bit cheaper.

I upgraded to a 4 year warranty (worked out the same after rebate as a 3 year). I hear that Dell's warranties are easily transferrable and can help the resale value, not to mention saving you money if you ever do need service.

 

[ShellGuy]

I would never buy a lappy with no warranty it is just asking 4 trouble. But good luck.

Will G.

 

[RamIt]

Dual channel has virtually no effect on the XPS2.
Mine benches just about the same with the original samgsung 256x2 as it does with one samsung 256 and 1 kingston value ram 1 gig stick.
This computer is not picky about the ram.

 

[dartworth]

I have some 9 cell batteries for around $100...

Pick up the RAM @ newegg...

 

[Crescent13]

Originally posted by: ShellGuy
I would never buy a lappy with no warranty it is just asking 4 trouble. But good luck.

Will G.

It has a 1 year mail-in warranty included.

 

[Crescent13]

Do you guys think I should add an external hard drive?

 

[ShellGuy]

I would get one from somebody other than dell. There are some great external drives out there. I just got an enclosure and used some old drives i have.


Will G.

 

[Ethan2099]

I would seriously think about changing your warranty to the 3 year depot. at the very least then you're covered for parts for 3 years AND you can just request parts and do the work on your own. the service manual that the machine should come with will also detail how to tear the machine apart completely.

 

[railer]

That's nuts. My 9300 is virtually identically (regular 6800 vs ltra in the xps2) and was under $1100. If you've got $1600 to waste on nothing then go for it....

 

[ShellGuy]

not nuthing he is gettin the ultra and an XPS 2.


Will G.

 

[railer]

Originally posted by: ShellGuy
not nuthing he is gettin the ultra and an XPS 2.


Will G.

I said that. Spending $1600 to go from 6800 to 6800 ultra....is a waste of $1600....imo.

 

[cirthix]

try get a 400fsb cpu and oc it to a 533 one, it will be cheaper for the speed

 

[AndyP123]

I'm very seriously considering buying an Inspiron XPS Gen 2 from Dell UK, but it looks like I'm going to have to go with the 512mb option. The reason for this is that Dell charge £400 (~$750 ffs) for an extra 512mb. I need 1gb of ram, but I need £400 more.

Everywhere else charges less than 1/4 of the price for 512mb of dual channel pc-4200 ddr2 memory. Unbelievable isn't it?

Does anyone think that installing an extra 512mb myself would be a good idea, even though it voids the warranty? Maybe I should get 512mb and hang on until someone else complains to Dell about the price of their memory and reduces it (I've already complained myself,) and then get them to install an upgrade.

Does anyone have any experience with Dell Japan, because that's probably where I'm going to be in a couple of months time.