Good Deal on a 1330?

Just bit the bullet on a refurbished M1330, was wondering if people think this is a good deal or if I should be preparing to return it once it arrives


Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.5GHz/800Mhz FSB/6MB cache)
500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) with Free Fall Sensor
9 Cell Primary Battery
Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED HD Audio Software Edition
4 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz (2 DIMMs)
8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
13.3 inch WXGA Slim and Light LED Display

and a few extras like a fingerprint reader.

All that for ~$869

When I spec'd this on a brand new system, the price came to at least $1550 every time I built it, so I jumped on this as a great deal.

Am I missing something? Am I going to regret the 8400? Should I have tried my luck with a 1340 refurb?

I wanted a cheap laptop mainly for writing a book I'm working on, but being the tech freak I am, I couldn't just get some bare bones inspiron. I love to play video games too, but I had no intention of doing any serious gaming on the lappy. Yet in the back of my mind I still wanted a rig that I could casually game on if on the road.

 

That is a very good deal on that laptop. Although you should know the 1330's do have some heat issues(just get a warranty and you will be fine).

The 8400 isn't bad, just depends on what type of games you want to play. My brother has a 1330 with a bit lower specs and the 8400 and is able to play Warcraft 3, TF2, CSS, and a few other games on it with no problem. It obviously isn't going to play the latest games with the highest settings, but it isn't a terrible card.

 

It doesn't look like a bad deal...
But you might want to take a look at the refurbed 1340's
People here at NBR have been getting them for around $600-800 with excellent specs.
http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnline...ob=INSP&MODEL_DESC=Studio XPS 13 - 1340&s=dfh

There aren't any instock ATM but keep refreshing and one should pop up.
You'll need to grab it quick cause there are quite a few people who are doing the same thing

 

pass on this one if you don't need a graphics card... m1330 = heating problems...

get the STudio XPS or another brand(eg lenovo U330, or a netbook)

 

I didn't want anything smaller than a 13", since I need a full sized keyboard for some serious typing.

If I don't do much gaming, will I really have much of a heating problem?

@ElijahRW

I had a couple of the 1340's in my cart at one point before I bought the 1330. But from everything I read about the 1340, again the complaint was heating issues.

Am I really better off with a 1340, despite most of them having lower specs than the 1330 I just bought? The reviews I've read about the 1340 always seem to have the conclusion that a high end 1330 is still the better choice.

 

Well the minimum specs of the outlet 1340 are:
P8400 CPU-9400M GPU-2GB DDR3 1066 Ram-13" LCD-320GB Hard Drive-Wireless N.
You can pick out a 1340 from the outlet and compare it with your 1330 and some of the specs in the 1340 will be better than the 1330 and visa versa.
So I guess which ever has the best-most important specs to you would be the best choice.
The reason I recommended the 1340 was because it is newer and has faster Ram and CPU FSB, but actually I think you did made a good choice considering the specs.
Also I own a 1340 and it DOES NOT have heat issues as some people say.
It has a good GPU for a 13" screen so you have to expect it to run a bit warm .

Good luck with your purchase and remember-you have a 21 Day no questions asked return policy on that 1330 so if you decide you don't want it or want something different you can easily return it for a full refund

EDIT: The outlet has 8 1340's in stock ATM so you could take a peak at them if you would like

 

I would indeed love a P version of the core 2 duo, but I just spent fifteen minutes reading the 1340 owner's thread and I see complaint after complaint about different aspects.

Screen scratching, BSOD, Memory failures etc.

I guess my question is...

Is the boost from a T9300 to a P~8-9000 really that great, and is the heating problem with the M1330 that big of a hindrance?

I'm planning on upgrading my desktop sometime in the fall, so I'm not in need of a graphically advanced laptop, but I would like it to be relevant for 2-4 years.

 

the GPU (well mine at least) idles at 55-65 degC (depends which OS and stuff)... base of laptop gets mildly hot, not that good to put on a lap... if you can get more warranty or the IGP version, it'd be better, but still not that decent

relevant-> as in still usable? anything is still usable after 2-4 years, but the new technology that evolves will make it obsolete after 2 years if you compare to laptops at that time period

 

That is mildly concerning. The idea was to have a laptop that I could take with me out onto the porch, to the park, on my bed, etc. I find writing inspirations come to me easier away from the dark living room where the desktop is.

So if the 1330 gets too hot to use on the lap just idling, I might be in for some trouble.

Any suggestions on a cooler option, in the $500-800 range?

 

The ATI 3200HD is actually a surprisingly capable chip. It can play WoW easily on medium-low settings and it can play Left4Dead on the lowest settings. The 8400m GS is better, but not by a lot.

If the 3200HD is good enough for your gaming purposes, there are several nice laptops that use it.