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    Dell Sells another M1730.....

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by ifti, Dec 18, 2007.

  1. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    Ive decided to bite the bullet and go for one in the end......

    Smoke Grey
    Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme X7900 (2.8GHz/800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
    Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate Edition - English
    4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
    200GB 7200RPM Hard Disk
    Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW)
    Dual NVIDIA®SLI™ GeForce®8700MGT with 512MB GDDR3 Memory – With nVidia SLI Technology
    AGEIA PhysX™ 100M Processor

    Hopefully I did the right thing - I'll upgrade the GPU to a 8800 when they are more readily available and price isnt too steep. I would have waited for it, but had to order before Xmas....
     
    ifti, Dec 18, 2007
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  2. B2TheEYo

    B2TheEYo Notebook Deity

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    Sounds like a great system :D congrats.

    Someone has a nice xmas present coming.. Lucky punk.. lol

    I'm speculating if you had to pay - the video card upgrade for 8800GS SLI would be roughly $300-$600 bucks. 8800GTX SLI is $1000, so I seen on Alienwares configuration page.

    Which is ridiculous, because you could buy 1 - 3 really low priced laptops for that money. But they obviously have no where near the power.

    Still..steep..
     
    B2TheEYo, Dec 18, 2007
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  3. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    Yeh thats a bit steep. Is there a major difference, or a real gain in getting the 8800 over the 8700 anyway?

    Not really an Xmas pressie, since its estimated delivery date is the 9th :(

    Nevertheless - Im excited!!!
     
    ifti, Dec 18, 2007
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  4. quitlifecfg

    quitlifecfg Newbie

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    congrats, i just ordered mine 2 days ago with the similar setup. cant wait for it, lol
     
    quitlifecfg, Dec 18, 2007
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  5. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    Someone who knows how I feel!! lol

    I need to sell my current laptop now - it's like brand new, Ive even got a brand new spare keyboard that Im gonna put onto it, so it'll look brand new ;) Gotta make way for the BEAST! ;)
     
    ifti, Dec 18, 2007
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  6. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    Does anyone know what make/model HDD Dell tend to use? Ive gone for the 200GB 7200rpm, and Im kinda regretting the fact that I didnt get a second 200gb drive to set up RAID 0......

    I can always get a second drive of the same type from elsewhere, add it, and set up RAID myself via the BIOs cant I?
     
    ifti, Dec 18, 2007
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  7. mtv2004

    mtv2004 Notebook Evangelist

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    how much does this laptop weigh? 11 pounds? I couldn't carry that beast around all day (college & work) ;)
     
    mtv2004, Dec 18, 2007
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  8. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    I wont be carrying it about much, its more a desktop replacement that wont be moved very often.....and if it is....lucky I could the backpack carry case with the laptop!! lol
     
    ifti, Dec 18, 2007
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  9. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    My M1730 has entered PRODUCTION stage!!!!!
    Excited!!!!!! :)
     
    ifti, Jan 3, 2008
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  10. super-twisted

    super-twisted Notebook Consultant

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    Lol :)

    My 1530 is still in pre-prod at the mo. I'm rather excited too, I think this is my most anticipated gadget purchase in quite a while. Probably because I know I'll actually use this one, unlike most of my gadgets which get a months use and then end up on eBay... :|
     
    super-twisted, Jan 3, 2008
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  11. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    ^^^
    lol I am EXACTLY the same!
     
    ifti, Jan 3, 2008
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  12. Aderon

    Aderon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Haha talk about taking the words straight from my mouth. My Archos PMP and my mp3 player almost never got used. I think the mp3 player is collecting dust and I sold the Archos awhile ago :D
     
    Aderon, Jan 3, 2008
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  13. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    Next step already - its being packed and prepared for delivery!!!

    Here's a snippet from my packing slip.......

    I'll be sticking Vista Ultimate on it.
    Also if the HDD is a Seagate Momentus, I'll keep it and add a second of the same for RAID 0. If its not, I'll be selling it and replacing it with 2 Seagate Momentus 200GB 7200rpm drives in RAID 0 - I regret not choosing this option to begin with, but its too late now - besides I dont want Hitachi drives, Seagates are quieter ;)
     
    ifti, Jan 3, 2008
    #13
  14. super-twisted

    super-twisted Notebook Consultant

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    Yep - this purchase was part funded by the sale of my PSP and Cowon A2 PMP. :)

    ifti - glad to hear yours is on it's way. Careful you don't tear the couriers arm off when he delivers it... :D
     
    super-twisted, Jan 3, 2008
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  15. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    finally dispatched! Might even get it earlier then expected!

    :)
     
    ifti, Jan 3, 2008
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  16. Carrnage

    Carrnage Notebook Enthusiast

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    One 8800GTX spanks two 8700GTs handedly (8874 vs 8033 in 3dMark2006)

    Crysis FPS:
    8700GT = 22ish at 1280x800 (Med setting)
    8800GTX = 34ish at 1650x1080 (Med setting)

    The 8700s just don’t have the memory (256mb with 128bit bandwidth) to run decent frames at higher resolutions. Dell lists them as 512mb but that is combined. Cards in SLI have to mirrors each other’s memory, so the effective ram is 256mb.

    I weighed mine and it came in at 13.76 lbs with the power block and cord. The Power block is the size of 2.5 stacked DVD cases and comes in at 3.1 lbs on its own.

    I'm not trying to hate on the M1730, the other features are great, but the 8700 left me wanting. Once they offer them with 8800GTXs, watch out.
     
    Carrnage, Jan 3, 2008
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  17. Pommie

    Pommie Notebook Deity

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    Im the same as your Carnage.

    The Dell XPS M1730 is really quite a nice laptop. I like it more each day I use it!

    But the Nvidia 8700M's in SLI left alot to be desired in my opinion.

    The performance of the machine is still pretty good, just not upto the standards I thought it could achieve.

    Oh well, bring on the 8800!
     
    Pommie, Jan 3, 2008
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  18. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    What more could I ask for when I got it for free anyways ;)

    I will be upgrading to the 8800 SLI card as soon as Dell release it for sale with the M1730 - thats IF they release it!!...........
     
    ifti, Jan 4, 2008
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  19. super-twisted

    super-twisted Notebook Consultant

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    You got it for free? Now that's what I call haggling... :)
     
    super-twisted, Jan 4, 2008
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  20. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    Getting it on the 7th rather then the 9th now :)
    Gonna check which HDD it comes with before I order a second - I want a matching pair of Seagata Momentus 200GB 7200rpm drives, so that I can set up RAID 0. It'll give me a chance to mess about and try things out with the laptop (drivers etc) before I rebuild it ;)
     
    ifti, Jan 5, 2008
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  21. Matt is Pro

    Matt is Pro I'm a PC, so?

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    Now that's going to be a beast, especially once the 8800s get into it.

    Congrats on your rig.

    I'm hoping to join the XPS club with my future purchase of the m1330. Waiting for Vista SP1 to start shipping standard....oh, and money. :)
     
    Matt is Pro, Jan 5, 2008
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  22. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    Cheers, Yeh I'll defo be getting the 8800 into it, thats if it ever comes along!! lol

    Just one more day to go!
     
    ifti, Jan 6, 2008
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  23. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    Its arrived!!!!
     
    ifti, Jan 7, 2008
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  24. CenA

    CenA Notebook Enthusiast

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    Cool !! Pics please :p
     
    CenA, Jan 7, 2008
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  25. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    Will do, when I get home and unbox!!
     
    ifti, Jan 7, 2008
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  26. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    It looks awesome!
    Ive just opened the box and checked out the accessories etc. Havent even switched the laptop on yet, but I opened it up ;)

    I tend to open my kit up to have a look before I even switch it on!

    I didnt realise both RAM chips were under the laptop - so no need to remove the keyboard, which is nice and easy - not that I'll be upgrading for a while yet!!

    Unfortunately, the HDD is a Hitachi - I want Seagates, since they are quieter and cooler etc. Im about to order 2 Seagate Momentus drives instead and I'll RAID them, then sell the Hitachi.......
     
    ifti, Jan 7, 2008
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  27. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    Looks like I have BIOs version A03, and the Samsung screen. The screen brightness seems OK to me for now, I do have it at full though. Nevertheless it looks spot on.

    Ordered my drives, so just waiting for them, and then I'll rebuild the laptop over the weekend and start using it properly.

    Ive made a Youtube video with a quick hardware and accessories review - I'll upload it later ........ ;)
     
    ifti, Jan 7, 2008
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  28. mtv2004

    mtv2004 Notebook Evangelist

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    how big is that laptop? :D I'm looking into a gaming notebook but i don't want one the size of a frig :D
     
    mtv2004, Jan 7, 2008
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  29. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    If you want a portable laptop, this isnt the one for you. Its big, and heavy!

    I got the XPS backpack with this laptop, and I was shocked when I saw the size of the backpack - it was huge!
     
    ifti, Jan 7, 2008
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  30. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    3DMark06 Test results so far.....

    Completely stock M1730 - 7931

    Stock M1730 with SLI enabled and some 3D settings tweaked - 8348

    Drivers updated to Dell Performance 167.45 - 8896


    Ive not installed the 169.45 drivers yet, but Im pretty happy with the stability of 167.45 so far. May try some games on it and see what I get.......
     
    ifti, Jan 9, 2008
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  31. mtv2004

    mtv2004 Notebook Evangelist

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    Can anyone post some screenshots of Unreal Tournament 3? :)
     
    mtv2004, Jan 9, 2008
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  32. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    ^^^^
    I'll make a video of it running later today ;)
     
    ifti, Jan 10, 2008
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  33. ifti

    ifti Undiscovered

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    ifti, Jan 10, 2008
    #33