Looking for a laptop

[mb]

The Dell Inspiron 6000 *almost* fits the bill.
I'm looking for:
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 (2 GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB)
Windows XP (Home is ok)
1GB ram
15.4" 16x10 widescreen display
80+gb hdd @ 5400rpm
cd/dvd burner
x800xt or 6800 ultra video card

The only thing the Dell is lacking in is the video card - the best you can get for it is a 128mb x300.

I can find a 17" laptop with these specs, but I don't want one that big, and I don't want a desktop chip (ala Sager or Alienware). I've looked at HP, Toshiba, Dell, Alienware, and Acer but I have not had any luck. I'm not in too much of a rush to order one so I can wait if I have to, but if anyone knows of one I'd appreciate some help.

 

[Accord99]

The Dell M70 maybe, though even it doesn't have a 6800 Ultra level video card.

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product...s.aspx/precn_m70?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

 

[RamIt]

You might want to look at the asus z70v refresh but it has a x700.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: Accord99
The Dell M70 maybe, though even it doesn't have a 6800 Ultra level video card.

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product...s.aspx/precn_m70?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

Nice find. Any idea how the Quadro FX Go1400 256MB OpenGL graphics card performs in games? In a quick search the best I can find is a site that calls it "the fastest mobile graphics available."

 

[Accord99]

It's based on the same core as the Geforce 6800 Go like that on the I9300, but lower clocked at 275/590. People seem to have good success in overclocking it though, to mid 300MHz core, mid 700MHz memory levels. It has better optimizations for professional 3D applications also, which may be beneficial.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: supafly

Originally posted by: Accord99
The Dell M70 maybe, though even it doesn't have a 6800 Ultra level video card.

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product...s.aspx/precn_m70?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

Nice find. Any idea how the Quadro FX Go1400 256MB OpenGL graphics card performs in games? In a quick search the best I can find is a site that calls it "the fastest mobile graphics available."

For that you will probably want to use some modded drivers that are designed for the 6800 series. Quadro cards are optimized for 3D rendering and such, not actual 3D gaming. The drivers will help change that.

A model with X700 or GF Go 6600 graphics is no slouch either.
Acer 8103 w/X700
Asus Z71v w/6600 benchmarks

 

[mb]

Thanks for the help guys. The Acer 8104 looks like a sure bet, but I think I'm gonna try to hold out for a while until my Toshiba dies. The screen is fading, I've had to replace the hdd, the speakers are busted, and it overheats after a few hours.. but I'll just have to tough it out

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: supafly
Thanks for the help guys. The Acer 8104 looks like a sure bet, but I think I'm gonna try to hold out for a while until my Toshiba dies. The screen is fading, I've had to replace the hdd, the speakers are busted, and it overheats after a few hours.. but I'll just have to tough it out

We're benchmarking the 8104 to compare to the new Ferrari 4000.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: Accord99
The Dell M70 maybe, though even it doesn't have a 6800 Ultra level video card.

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product...s.aspx/precn_m70?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

Eh, you do realize that that quadro is based on the fx 5800 ultra, or something around there. The 6800 based quadro is the 4000 series.

I'd recommend the D810, it has an x600 video card at least, probably about the best you'll find that's fairly light weight. Well, you can find some laptops with a 6600 at around the same weight, but I don't know if it's faster.

 

[Accord99]

Originally posted by: Fox5

Originally posted by: Accord99
The Dell M70 maybe, though even it doesn't have a 6800 Ultra level video card.

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product...s.aspx/precn_m70?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

Eh, you do realize that that quadro is based on the fx 5800 ultra, or something around there. The 6800 based quadro is the 4000 series.

I'd recommend the D810, it has an x600 video card at least, probably about the best you'll find that's fairly light weight. Well, you can find some laptops with a 6600 at around the same weight, but I don't know if it's faster.

The Quadro 1400 Go is based on the NV41M core. In stock mode, it scores around 2400 in 3D Mark 05.

http://www.beyond3d.com/misc/chipcomp/?view=boarddetails&id=240

Here are some benchmarks:

http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=86045&highlight=quadro

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: Accord99

Originally posted by: Fox5

Originally posted by: Accord99
The Dell M70 maybe, though even it doesn't have a 6800 Ultra level video card.

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product...s.aspx/precn_m70?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

Eh, you do realize that that quadro is based on the fx 5800 ultra, or something around there. The 6800 based quadro is the 4000 series.

I'd recommend the D810, it has an x600 video card at least, probably about the best you'll find that's fairly light weight. Well, you can find some laptops with a 6600 at around the same weight, but I don't know if it's faster.

The Quadro 1400 Go is based on the NV41M core. In stock mode, it scores around 2400 in 3D Mark 05.

http://www.beyond3d.com/misc/chipcomp/?view=boarddetails&id=240

Here are some benchmarks:

http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=86045&highlight=quadro

Nice. Too bad I haven't ever seen Dell run coupons on the Precision laptops. It'd be cheaper to get a 17" Inspirion with a 6800 than the Precision.

 

[Fox5]

Tom's Hardware disagrees about the quadro.
http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20040816/opengl-pcie-06.html

As the last representative of the NV3x generation, processing on the FX 1300 is tackled by the NV38 with its 135 million transistors. So the counterpart in the mainstream sector is the GeForce FX 5950 Ultra.

Latest news: At Siggraph, NVIDIA served up a revamped version, the Quadro FX 1400, which offers a memory bandwidth of 19.2 GB/s and SLI.

Hmm, on 2nd thought, a revamped version to me made me think that it was just a clock speed upped FX chip, but I just remembered that the FX series doesn't support SLI.

 

[han405]

what about ASUS Z71V?

? Intel® Pentium® M Processor: Sonoma (2nd generation of Centrino): Up to 2.5GHz Dothan 400/533 MHz FSB w/2MB L2 Cache
? 15.4" WSXGA+ (16:10) (1680x1050) widescreen LCD Display.
? 128MB PCI-Express nVIDIA GeFORCE GO 6600
? Up to 2.0GB DDR2-533MHz SO-DIMM SDRAM System Memory.
? 8X DVD/16x10x24 CD-RW Combo Drive.
8xDVD Dual: 8x/4x2.4x2 DVD-RW/16x10x24 CD-RW (Optional)
? Built-in Intel/Pro Wireless 2200 802.11BG LAN Card.
Built-in Intel/Pro Wireless 2915 802.11ABG LAN Card. (Option)
? 5 USB 2.0 ports; Ethernet Port: 10/100/1000BaseT.
? 4-in-1 Card Reader. (Secure Digital, MMC, Memory Stick & MS PRO).
? 6.5 Pounds Light, 11.6?9.0?1.12"
? Primary: Li-Ion 8 cells, 14.8V, 4400mAh, 65W battery pack
Secondary battery available (using modular bay)
Battery life 3.0-6.5 hrs (6.5-10hrs with 2nd battery)
Charging time, 2.5 hrs Quick charge 90% (Power off) / 4hrs (Power on)
Battery low warning under Windows environment
Enters Save-To-Disk mode automatically if less than 5%)

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: han405
what about ASUS Z71V?

? Intel® Pentium® M Processor: Sonoma (2nd generation of Centrino): Up to 2.5GHz Dothan 400/533 MHz FSB w/2MB L2 Cache
? 15.4" WSXGA+ (16:10) (1680x1050) widescreen LCD Display.
? 128MB PCI-Express nVIDIA GeFORCE GO 6600
? Up to 2.0GB DDR2-533MHz SO-DIMM SDRAM System Memory.
? 8X DVD/16x10x24 CD-RW Combo Drive.
8xDVD Dual: 8x/4x2.4x2 DVD-RW/16x10x24 CD-RW (Optional)
? Built-in Intel/Pro Wireless 2200 802.11BG LAN Card.
Built-in Intel/Pro Wireless 2915 802.11ABG LAN Card. (Option)
? 5 USB 2.0 ports; Ethernet Port: 10/100/1000BaseT.
? 4-in-1 Card Reader. (Secure Digital, MMC, Memory Stick & MS PRO).
? 6.5 Pounds Light, 11.6?9.0?1.12"
? Primary: Li-Ion 8 cells, 14.8V, 4400mAh, 65W battery pack
Secondary battery available (using modular bay)
Battery life 3.0-6.5 hrs (6.5-10hrs with 2nd battery)
Charging time, 2.5 hrs Quick charge 90% (Power off) / 4hrs (Power on)
Battery low warning under Windows environment
Enters Save-To-Disk mode automatically if less than 5%)

Yup, already mentioned that one

 

[mb]

Where can you buy an Asus Z71v? I was trying to check prices and don't really see it anywhere, at least ones with the high end options.

 

[speedlever]

Where can you buy an Asus Z71v?

Here:
The Asus Z71V

It's referred to as the A2:21 and was my choice as well. But I saved several hundred bucks and went for the C 2:20 (Z71A) instead.

I got the M730 processor, 1 Gig DDR333 RAM, 80 Gb Seagate Momentus HD, Arctic Silver Thermal Compound, DVD/RW option, Intel Prowireless, etc. for under $1400.

Check the knowledgebase there for some really good info on laptop displays, the new DDR2 RAM, etc.

They seem to be a really good company. I bought a couple of weeks ago and have been very pleased.

Edit: phraseology

 

[han405]

"Where can you buy an Asus Z71v?"

google will help you, good luck shopping..

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: supafly
Where can you buy an Asus Z71v? I was trying to check prices and don't really see it anywhere, at least ones with the high end options.

http://www.proportable.com

 

[mb]

Well, it finally happened - my Toshiba died. Good timing, too, because Dell had a 40% off coupon for their laptops.
As much as I didn't want a 17" laptop, it seemed the only way to go to get a 6800 in there.


Inspiron 9300
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 750 (1.86 GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB), Qty: 1 Unit Price: $2,190.00
Display 17 inch UltraSharp? Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife?
Memory 256MB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz 1 Dimm (I'm going to upgrade to 1GB myself)
Video Card 256MB NVIDA® GeForce? Go 6800
Hard Drive 80GB Hard Drive
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
CD/DVD Drives 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Wireless Networking Card Intel® PRO 2915 and Dell 350 Bluetooth Internal Wireless Cards
Primary Battery 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (53 WHr)
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options 2Yr Ltd Warranty, 2Yr At-Home Service, and 2Yr Technical Support
Free Dell Color Printer 720

Sub-Total $1,314.00
Shipping Discount -$24.00
Shipping and Handling $25.00
Tax $66.94
Total $1,405.94

The 1.86Ghz also seemed to be at the best price point. The 2.0 was $160 more, and the 1.7 was $80 less... also I rarely use my dvd burner on my desktop so I figured I wouldn't need one at all on my laptop.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Not bad at all
Check out the performance of your new 9300 in our review
http://www.laptoplogic.com/reviews/dell/89/1/1/

 

[mb]

I wish I realized the hdd was only 4200rpms. I would have gotten the 40gb from Dell and order an 80gb 5400rpm hdd from newegg.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Call them and change the order

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Call them and change the order

On the webpage it says:
# Your original order will be cancelled and you will be credited the full amount of the purchase.
# A new order will be placed that reflects your new purchase choices.
Your Total Cost and your Estimated Delivery will change from your original order with Dell.

I called them and asked what would happen to the price if I changed it, since I ordered with the 40% off coupon that has already expired. She said she was "pretty sure" that I would still get the 40% off my total order before tax and shipping.
"Pretty sure" isn't good enough for me, so I'm going to leave it. Hopefully I can just sell it on ebay or FS/FT for a decent value.