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    What tests to do on a new m1530

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Apello, Aug 5, 2008.

  1. Apello

    Apello Newbie

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    Hello!

    I must start by thanking you all on this forum for making my choice to buy a m1530 well informed. I ordered friday afternoon (1st Aug) and today (5th) its getting ready to be delivered! Thats very fast! (estimate: 18th Aug). I'm in the UK.
    -
    My question is that after reading countless number of threads into the late night about the m1530, I understand that it is best to 'test' the laptop as much as possible as early as possible to make sure no faults are occurring.
    The tests that I will do are:

    1) Check every port (USB etc)
    2) PCMark 05
    3) 3dmark
    4) HWmonitor
    5) SuperPi (what results am I looking for? - specs below)
    6) (Burn a dvd)

    Are there any tests that I have missed that might be worth doing? As far as I know, the UK returns policy is 8 days, only 1 day more than standard in uk law, so I want to test it as thoroughly as possible in that time. Especially as I am not going to be in the country for 6 months of the next 12 months (canada).
    -
    Specs:
    T8300 2.40GHz
    15.4" Widescreen WUXGA (1920x1200) TFT
    4.0GB (2x2048) 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
    320GB SATA (5400rpm)
    8xDVD+/-RW Slim Slot-Load Drive, including SW
    9-cell 85WHr Li-Ion
    256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 8600M GT
    Intel® Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-PCI Card, EUR
    Crimson Red
    £855 inc tax and free delivery (US$1650)

    Expensive for all you Americans but I found this config cheaper here than in Canada which is the only other place I could have bought it.
     
  2. kenv202

    kenv202 Notebook Guru

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    once u r sure everything is working.. screen lookin good then it's time to wipe and re-install a clean vista or xp (ur call) then i say undervolt it asap =)
     
  3. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    You should definitely do some real time performance using a game that is graphically demanding such as Call of Duty 4, or Assasins Creed. Turn it up to max settings and play it for a couple of hours and if you suddenly experience slowdown in the middle of the game... then you will want to get a replacement right away.
     
  4. xnightxwingx

    xnightxwingx Notebook Consultant

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    What are your settings for cod4 I don't know how you can play with settings maxed, and i was lagging hard with the first play of assassin's creed and had to change the settings
     
  5. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    Aside from the default, here are the values:

    Video Mode: 1440x900
    Shadows: yes
    Specular Map: yes
    Depth of Field: yes
    Glow: yes
    Number of dynamic lights: normal
    Soften Smoke Edges: Yes
    Ragdoll: Yes
    Bullet Impacts: Yes
    Model detail: Normal
    Water detail: Normal
    Number of Corpses: Tiny

    I think these are the right ones I set, though I don't remember entirely since I don't have my notebook with me and I'd have to reinstall it. Though assasins creed... just put everything up to the highest bar. You might have to turn down shadows by one-two levels and anti-aliasing by one to two levels for faster than smooth performance, but it should not be choppy or slow.