Studio XPS 16 should i ?

Been looking for a laptop for awhile now that suited my needs which are game development stuff such as 3D work and also graphic designs and video editing, would also be using it for some gaming as well.

Looking at the Studio XPS 16 these are the specs, only thing i am thinking about is the processor good enough for the job and also would it be worth while getting a longer warranty have heard a few things about heating problems.

This price is kind of reaching my limit but i am willing to spend a little more if it makes working and gaming easier.

PROCESSOR: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.40Ghz, 3MB, 1066MHz)

OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1 32BIT

WARRANTY AND SERVICE:1Yr Premium Warranty Support

LCD: 16" (inch) Truelife 720p HD WLED Edge to Edge Display

MEMORY: 4096MB 1067MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [2x2048]

HARD DRIVE: 250GB Free Fall Sensor (7200RPM) Hard Drive

VIDEO CARD: 512MB ATI® Radeon™ HD 3670 graphics card

OPTICAL DRIVE: Internal DVD+/-RW (DVD & CD read and write) Slot Load Drive including Software

WIRELESS CARDS: Intel WiFi Link 5300 Half Mini Card (802.11 a/g/n) (Centrino)

BLUETOOTH : Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module

BATTERY OPTIONS: 56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)

£919.01

About the screen as well how is this screen on the 16 setup?

 

the GPU is midrange at best

its a medium /low settings for newish games

 

I agree that the GPU is midrange.

Have you thought about looking at the Dell Outlet UK?

 

Had a quick look over it havnt really seen anything so far, i was looking at the studio 15 but heard the 512mb card in it is not very good.

 

Dell outlet uk is crap. All it has is rubbish latitudes and inspirons. I think the US one is much better.

 

I bought a Studio XPS 16 from UK Dell Outlet last week from a choice of 8-10 and even more 13's so I think it's worth checking out, even if your standards were not met when you checked.

 

Hi

Would you be able to give me a link? I must be on the wrong page

Thanks

 

If you want one, and you want a better GPU, it's coming soon. The new BIOS was released with support for the ATI 4670. If I were you I would wait until it's released with this, unless you really don't need it. I'm completely happy with mine for what I do with it. Don't get me wrong, I wish I had the 4670, but it's not necessary. It's a great laptop as it sits.

*As for the outlets, you have to get lucky. The 1340, 1640 and 1730's go quick. You have to dedicate some time and sit and refresh until you see something you like. You can only keep it in your cart for 15 minutes and then it's automatically removed.

 

Google dell outlet that's all I did. The problem is, that once it goes in someone's cart, it is removed from the site for up to a couple of hours before returning. Like said, you just have to keep checking. Bear in mind also that you're not gonna get one with the new GFX card on outlet for a while yet. I think all these people that return their perfectly fine laptops are taking things a bit far by trying to find ways to return them etc.

 

Thanks for the heads up, think im going to wait it out until the new card is available. Think it will be better in the long run. Any idea when the card will show up?

 

If I had to guess, I'd say around between now and July. They just did a blowout on the 1730. I'm assuming this is because of two things. They are switching all the gaming laptops to AW and the release of the 1640 with the 4670. Of couse, you know what you get when you assume.

 

Wow, I didn't realize how excited people get over a GPU. I am quite certain that the current one is more than most people will ever need, and to wait is just plain stupid....Then you'll wait for the next super high def screen, then the next faster processor, then the next color, then the next flux capacitor, computers are replaceable, and fast changing... If you wait, you'll never get a computer

It's a good setup, the screen is kinda low resolution though, I tried it, and didn't like it. I went with the 1080p, if they offered the 900p (16:9), I'd have gone with that. The 720p "HD" screen is actually a backwards technology, and isn't as good as their past 1280x800 screen, it just sounds better to suckers.

 

So the stock screen on the SXPS 13 (1280x800) is better than the stock screen on the SXPS 16 (720p)?

 

This is so true! Almost every thread in here I read is "what should I tell the sales guy so I can return my laptop for the new model bla bla bla"

Same with TV's, AV components etc etc.

I swear some of these people:

A) never leave the house
B) never actually use their computers and just spend their time moaning about the spec!

 

Most of the time I would agree with you, but if you want better graphics, the card coming out is twice as good as what's in it. I know I've taxed my GPU already. It's all about what you do with what you have. BTW, I see you're in Tampa, I just live across the bridge in Pinellas.

 

WOW... I don't think I have even began to use my GPU, and probably never will. I would guess that 85% of the population won't ever need the capacity of a 512mb graphics card, heck... most wouldn't even need a 128mb graphics card.

If you are into heavy graphical apps, video editing, gaming etc.... Then wait, but, like I said... there is ALWAYS something better around the corner.

 

I Would have to answer A. I never leave the house except for work. Log into my office PC, and then back home to log into my own pc.

Since I'll use the studio xps for gaming mostly, it is important to me.

important enough to be w/o a pc for however long it takes till the new card is released? I'm not sure. Ill try out my current configuration first before making a decision.

However, it is true that there will always be something new to wait for... I mean those that would wait for July might also want to wait for windows 7..and after that im sure other things would come up. I guess it all comes down to what is really a maker or breaker for ya.

 

I'm sorry, but when you judge a GPU based on it's memory buffer you illustrate how little an understanding you have of GPU's.

You're right, people surfing the web and working on spreadsheets can get away with a low/mid GPU. But for a multi-media machine with a price breaking $1200 people often expect more than the performance they could have gotten out of a $400 netbook.

 

are there any laptops whether it be dell or another brand with the 4xxx series ati available now?

 

Yep. The Studio 15 has the 4570 as an option.

 

You really shouldn't berate others choices on subjects you are clearly clueless about. You have obviously never used your laptop for gaming and if you have, it's probably been limited to web games or solitaire. Those of us waiting for the new revision have good reason. The new GPU will have twice the gaming performance, this isn't something that comes along every day -- it would be foolish to buy an "older" SXPS 16 now for so much money. And as another poster said, if all we wanted to do with our laptops is work on spreadsheets, we could buy a more suitable netbook for 1/3 of the price.

 

Adding the 4670 will make the xps 16 much more attractive to people who do some gaming. I am looking at a late summer timeframe for replacing my laptop, and it looks like the 1730 may be gone by then (the m17x is already gone), and the XPS 16 with a 4670 would then have an advantage over the base m17 with the 3870, as well as having a better screen. It does make a tempting option, but it would not make my short list with the current GPU. That's assuming that the new Dell/AW gaming rig will be beyond my price range.

 

I think you really need to re-read my posts. I didn't berate anyone. I questioned the waiting for the next better thing... and waiting for it. Please don't judge others unless you read their posts and fully understand them. Also, you seem to berate other by stating that it is "Foolish" to buy an older SXPS 16 now for so much money. Hi Kettle...

 

You were essentially calling people idiots for returning their laptops and waiting on the newer version, the tone and intent of your post was quite obvious. And then you made a sweeping assumption that 85% of the population won't utilize the video card without even bothering to understand why some of us are choosing to wait. Yes waiting for the next iteration of any technology can be endless but in this case it's prudent to wait because the next version is literally weeks away - and it would be foolish for those of us that value GPU performance to settle for the 3670 rather than wait a bit more.

 

Let's not forget a small detail: Adding a 4670, which supposedly is 2x more powerful, will cost you more money. The OP has a price limit so he probably will have to downgrade some other parts.

 

So are they expected to just drop the 3670 or have the 4670 as an upgradable option?

 

It's not confirmed yet, but if the BIOS adds support for it, I'd guess that the HD4670 is another configuration for which they'd probably charge more.

I mean, for the multimedia type people, the upgrade is near worthless since the HD3670 does more than all they need. The HD4670 is probably to attract the casual gamer since the XPS refresh isn't happening.

 

but the 3670 > 4570 isn't it?


either way, i just placed my order today with the 3670

it's heaps better than the x2300 i'm running at the moment anyway so i think it'd b fine.

my problem was at the time wen i got this laptop a couple of years ago i didn't think I would need gaming capability but i realise having 'some' gpu grunt would be nice for the occasional muck around with games.

thats y i chose the xps 16 with the 3670 over the studio 15 with it's 4570 and similar running at similar specs.

but i don't really know too much about these things so feel free to comment.

 

The cards are pretty much a dead heat, maybe a slight advantage to the 3670.

You'll be completely happy with the SXPS16, I was.

 

thanx, N2

i was already unsure about going from 720p to 1080p (made the switch)

and now the GPU too!!! haha

yeh, i think u'll b right. there'll b no reason y i wouldn't like this lil machine =)

after all it carries the xps badge, thats gotta mean something?