Inspiron 9300 Released

[mdahc]

So the i9300 has finally been released. With the education discount, a similarly configured 9300 ended up over $700 less than the XPS 2 (1.86GHz PM and Geforce Go 6800 standard). Although I'm hesitant to get a Sonoma PM when Yonah and Turion64 are just around the corner, I must say that this is quite an attractive machine. Has anyone heard what the battery life is like with this model?

 

[Commodus]

No word on battery life yet. The only worry I'd have about the Inspiron 9300, aside from Dell's typically iffy styling, is that some of the $700 gap may be due to build quality and support (XPS owners get special support - presumably that means "not in India").

And just for reference: the XPS 2 does have the Go 6800 Ultra, not the plain 6800, so there's going to be a performance delta there. But odds are that if you value price first, you're not looking at getting the absolute fastest system money can buy.

 

[mdahc]

The XPS 2 and the 9300 use the same ODM kit. The XPS 2 just has some different paint trimming, the extra clip-on cover option, and the LED's (thus, build quality should not differ). I'm not looking to get a notebook for gaming, I just wanted a mobile GPU that can really handle a WUXGA display (no lag when dragging windows over each other, 3D screensavers, etc.) and minimize CPU usage (not to mention advanced video decoding features) during DVD playback (i.e. PureVideo).

BTW, does anyone think the Geforce Go 6800 (standard or Ultra) supports HDTV/progressive scan output over DVI like the desktop counterparts? I've been looking for a notebook with this capability so that I can use the machine for DVD viewing on my HDTV in the living room (I had a desktop HTPC-like setup, but the machine was just too loud and took up too much space). I'd also like to try DVR w/MCE, but I'm a little doubtful about the quality of the external USB TV tuners that are available. The only other notebook that I've seen with the aforementioned features is the Toshiba Qosmio series, and those bastards are way overpriced.

 

[DaisyHead]

How do get an educational discount? Do you have to order by phone instead of online? How do they verify?

 

[mdahc]

Originally posted by: DaisyHead
How do get an educational discount? Do you have to order by phone instead of online? How do they verify?

Gotta ask your educational institution for its member ID to order online. I don't know if they can look up your institution over the phone, but you could always just give the education sales department a call and see (don't call regular consumer sales, they REALLY hate getting those types of calls, and they might not even transfer you to the right #). If you don't know the member ID, you can at least view the discount prices online (there's an option to browse without an ID).

Originally posted by: Commodus
(XPS owners get special support - presumably that means "not in India")

First of all, XPS tech support is still the same crap Dell tech support, and it doesn't mean US tech support. All of Dell's tech support agents (even XPS agents) are forced to follow an automated intranet-based troubleshooting system that's largely based on MS knowledge base articles, which, coupled with their problematic logistical system for replacement/service requests, is why their support sucks so hard. All the XPS queue does is offer shorter hold times, but the queues are still located all over the world (there are no 24hr Dell call centers in the US). For that matter, I've had the same lackluster quality of service no matter what country I end up getting routed to.

 

[trikster2]

> similarly configured 9300


When I set the 9300 to the minimum specs for the XPS-2 (including the 9 cell battery, 2ghz CPU, WUXGA display, 60gb hd) I come up with about a $300 difference.

Perhaps "meets my requirements for $700 less" is a better assessement?


For that $300 difference you get:

As mdahc states
different paint trimming, t
he extra clip-on cover option
and the LED's

Plus you get an Ultra 6800 that is blowing away many high end desktop graphic cards
Plus you get gigabit ethernet.


Questions I have regarding "(thus, build quality should not differ)."
Is the XPS-2 cover sturdier? It looks like real metal?

 

[manko]

Originally posted by: trikster2
Is the XPS-2 cover sturdier? It looks like real metal?

I have read that it's the same material as the 9300 cover, but with a plastic "metal-look" decal/sticker (for lack of a better word). I could be wrong, but I don't think it's actual brushed aluminum like it seems like in the pictures.

 

[ND40oz]

I just ordered one of these for one of my users. He wanted a 17 inch widescreen and the biggest lattitude is the D810 with the 15.4. It's fully speced out except for the videocard, user only needed the 64 mb x300. I'll let you know what it's like when I get it in.

 

[trikster2]

Sorry to seem so pro XPS-2

If it was not for the lack of gig-e I would probably be all over the 9300. I especially like the option to have a screen that does not glare! Also the non glary screen is actually listed as 115 nits brighter (not sure if that matters0. However 90% of the time my external LCD will be the main LCD with the laptop screen used for IMing while playing games.

Hmmm. The external/secondary display IS 3D accelerated right? Should be no problems playing games on it?

If I'm going this big, it's my next desktop. Any idea if the networking is upgradeable like the WLAN or is it built into the MB.

Disappointing if that is a an aluminum sticker. Looks amazingly real in the picts.

 

[dr150]

Is there a big performance difference between the 256 mb 6800 Ultra (XPS2) and Non-Ultra 6800 (i9300)?........

 

[mdahc]

iXPS 2:
PM 2GHz
1GB DDR2 533
256MB Geforce Go 6800 Ultra
17" WUXGA display w/TrueLife (glossy anti-glare)
60GB 7200rpm HDD
DVD/CDRW combo drive
Intel Pro/Wireless 2200 adapter
9-cell Lion battery
3yr std warranty
Windows XP Home
Total w/education disc. & before tax: $2650.82

i9300:
PM 1.86GHz
1GB DDR2 533
256MB Geforce Go 6800 std
17" WUXGA display w/TruLife (glossy anti-glare)
60GB 7200rpm HDD
DVD/CDRW combo drive
Intel Pro/Wireless 2200 adapter
9-cell Lion battery
3yr std warranty
Windows XP Home
Total w/education disc. & before tax: $1981.06

With tax the XPS2 came to $2897.97 and the i9300 came to $2164.33 for me, constituting a > $700 difference. Even if you upgrade to the 2GHz PM on the 9300, the difference is still > $500. BTW, I assumed people would know that I meant "that meets my requirements."

As far as Gbe goes, I don't think I'd ever use it on a notebook, so that wouldn't matter to me. I have no idea what the cover is made of, but I seriously doubt it's anything but plastic

Lastly, again, has anyone heard anything about HDTV/progressive scan output over DVI with the Geforce Go 6800 std or Ultra?

 

[dr150]

mdahc,
The current 20% discount thru Dell Home should net you a lower price than the educational discount...

--------------------------------------

The i9300 seems to be the way to go here......unless there's a compelling argument for the 6800 Ultra vs non-ultra video cards.

Enthusiasm aside, the 6800 Ultra premium doesn't seem sensible.

Thoughts?????

 

[mdahc]

Originally posted by: dr150
Is there a big performance difference between the 256 mb 6800 Ultra (XPS2) and Non-Ultra 6800 (i9300)?........

I've never seen a review directly comparing the two, but from what this ET article (6800 std) and this AT article (6800 Ultra) are saying, there is a significant gaming performance increase, especially at resolutions > 1280x1024. At 1280x1024 and below, though, the chips seem to perform more similarly.

Originally posted by: dr150
mdahc,
The current 20% discount thru Dell Home should net you a lower price than the educational discount...

--------------------------------------

The i9300 seems to be the way to go here......unless there's a compelling argument for the 6800 Ultra vs non-ultra video cards.

Enthusiasm aside, the 6800 Ultra premium doesn't seem sensible.

Thoughts?????

The 6800 Ultra certainly isn't worth it to me, but I'm not really a gamer. Also, the educational discount is an extra 12% (w/3yr warranty selected) on top of the 20% regular Home & Home Office discount (my total under Home & Home Office was $3012 before tax for the XPS 2 and $2251.20 before tax for the 9300).

 

[Looney]

You're just getting a 6800Go so that you can display 3D screensavers (dragging windows etc isn't affected by videocard performance)? Are you crazy?

 

[trikster2]

mdahc

My comparision was using the 1 year waranty. Not sure why you insist on comparing a 1.86ghz CPU to a 2ghz? So take $160 off your delta.

http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/20050224/index.html

Shows that at UXGA resolutions the XPS-2 is nearly twice as fast as the non-pro 6800.

I have a gig-E network at home with a gig-E file server. Everything I do (even some software) runs off the server, so gig/no-gig is a big deal for me.

 

[Stealth1024]

Originally posted by: dr150
mdahc,
The current 20% discount thru Dell Home should net you a lower price than the educational discount...

--------------------------------------

The i9300 seems to be the way to go here......unless there's a compelling argument for the 6800 Ultra vs non-ultra video cards.

Enthusiasm aside, the 6800 Ultra premium doesn't seem sensible.

Thoughts?????

Educational discount today is offering $100 rebate, free shipping and other "free upgrades", 12% off and another 20% off... not bad.

 

[Gulzakar]

if its a big deal, then just buy the freakin xps!

 

[mdahc]

Originally posted by: Hardcore
You're just getting a 6800Go so that you can display 3D screensavers (dragging windows etc isn't affected by videocard performance)? Are you crazy?

Wow, you're really sharp. No, I don't just want a 6800 Go for 3D screensavers. I was just giving an example of 3D apps I frequently use (I find it a little annoying when a screensaver runs and starts skipping frames like crazy), and since Windows draws the desktop and windows objects in the frame buffer before it goes to screen, a 256MB frame buffer coupled with a powerful GPU actually helps when your dragging stuff around at high resolutions (for example, I have an i8500 right now with a WUXGA display and a Geforce4 Go 4200 and 64MB frame buffer, and whenever I'm dragging windows on top of one another I get noticeable lag...yet it's not so noticeable when I decrease the resolution).

I also love how you conveniently left out my whole mentioning of PureVideo and (hopefully) HDTV/progressive scan output over DVI for watching DVD's. That's the main reason I'd prefer a Geforce Go 6800, in case there is any room left for confusion.

Originally posted by: trikster2

mdahc

My comparision was using the 1 year waranty. Not sure why you insist on comparing a 1.86ghz CPU to a 2ghz? So take $160 off your delta.

http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/20050224/index.html

Shows that at UXGA resolutions the XPS-2 is nearly twice as fast as the non-pro 6800.

I have a gig-E network at home with a gig-E file server. Everything I do (even some software) runs off the server, so gig/no-gig is a big deal for me.

Thanks helper. Look, I feel that the 2GHz and the 2.13GHz are at too high a premium since they're the fastest PM's you can get (Intel always does that with their highest clocked chips), and since the XPS2 does not give the option for a 1.86GHz CPU, I went with the closest option.

I also already specified that even if you configure the 9300 with a 2GHz the difference is still > $500 (FOR MY REQUIREMENTS) and that AT RESOLUTIONS > 1280x1024, the 6800 Ultra surpasses the standard, as can be concluded from the aforementioned ET and AT articles in addition to the Tom's Hardware article.

Originally posted by: Gulzakar
if its a big deal, then just buy the freakin xps!

No sh*t!

 

[trikster2]

if its a big deal, then just buy the freakin xps!

Yes Sir! Seriously, I do intend to buy the XPS. Once the lead time gets a lot less than the current 6 weeks.

So now as an official card carrying XPS-2 fanboy I must take exception when someone claims a computer with ALMOST 1/2 the graphics and network performance is "similarly configured". Yeah a camry is a "bargain" compared to a lexus, but I rather drive the lexus....

 

[mdahc]

1/2 the graphics performance? If you're going to be so anal about everything, then I must insist that you alter your statement to say "less performance at resolutions higher than 1280x1024 with Halo and Doom3." I tend to take issue when people make blanket statements like that based on two benchmarks from Tom's Hardware.

 

[CptTripps]

Not quite half, about 40%. And there was more than two benchmarks at multiple resolutions in which the 6800 Ultra Go for the most part is beating out a 3.2 Desktop with X800XT cards and 6800GT's, I'm sorry but the standard 6800 Go will just not come close to doing that. I'm not claiming Tom's hardware as the Be All End All source of info, but you must give him some validity. I personally think that this benchmark is a great thing since mine is on order

3DMark2005 from Tom's

 

[mdahc]

What happened to the 3DMark2005 gif on Tom's? Anywho, Trikster2 was just annoying me with his anality and "take $160 off your delta" commandment. I don't think there's any question that the Ultra is faster than the standard, but come on, twice as fast based on two gaming benchmarks and one synthetic benchmark?

 

[CptTripps]

Roger dodger, I did find some other benchmarks that were similar but I don't remember where. I did a google search for "Inspiron XPS 2" if curious. I do in fact understand your point of view also, and you make good points as some people just don't need\want the extra zip. Just for me, a complete gaming nerd with a little extra cash that hates desktops the extra cash was worth it.

P.S. I also do not like blanket statements, is kinda like my wife using the always\never statements It can't be always and never, sometimes fits in there somewhere

P.S.S I could care less about special XPS support or gigabit ethernet, I spent my xtra $100's simply for the Ultra what a loser, heh.

 

[mdahc]

:thumbsup:

 

[slightlyhuman]

Looking for opinions?

Going to go with a 9300 in about a month, here's what I'm looking at:

P-m 1.73 or 1.86(think that's the right speed next up from the 1.73)
512MB ram(I'll buy a 512 stick from the forums to save $)
40GB HD(7200rpm HD from the forums again to save $)
6800 256mb GO
cd-rw/dvd combo

came out to be around 1622 with the 1.86 proc in it. I'm really hoping after I get the gig of ram installed and the 7200rpm HD that this laptop will give me the same feeling that my 2.8p4, gig of ram, 6800OC desktop rig gave me. what do you think?

Looking forward to grabbing one of these laptops asap.