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    XPS M1530: Worth the risk?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by eqmassa, Aug 8, 2008.

  1. eqmassa

    eqmassa Notebook Enthusiast

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    I've found great XPSs out there used for something like $800-$900. Thinking about pulling the trigger...

    But there's two things I can't abide by: loud fans (especially since I use my laptop in class) and heat. One thing I absolutely cannot afford: losing access to my work for 2-3 weeks while waiting for Dell to send me a new computer. If I buy this laptop, it'll be my *only* computer. I'm a student and would be utterly screwed if it randomly overheated and fell apart.

    It's not about the odds of this thing breaking down on me while I'm blasting through an FPS tournament... it's not because I've weighed all the comments about defectives ones against all the comments about perfect ones... it's because so much (virtual) ink has been spilled on the topic that you have to ask yourself if it's worth the risk.

    Any advice would be really appreciated, all these problems make me feel I should look for a used thinkpad or something, that this generation of Dells is too risky.
     
    eqmassa, Aug 8, 2008
    #1
  2. rezendevous

    rezendevous Notebook Evangelist

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    Check out what these people had to say:
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=283259

    Also...if you end up getting one.....you should really consider getting an extended service plan with in home service. (this means that they will come to you....and it will happen within a day).
     
    rezendevous, Aug 8, 2008
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  3. tcaughey

    tcaughey Notebook Enthusiast

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    Pull the trigger if it's truely a good deal, and you need the computer. And you are not utterly screwed if it breaks down. You are a student, and most, if not all, schools provide a computer lab. Flash drives are pretty handy. This method of getting your work done may not be convenient, but it works. Of course, you still are screwed; If it breaks, you cannot game. :p Good luck!
     
    tcaughey, Aug 8, 2008
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  4. eqmassa

    eqmassa Notebook Enthusiast

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    Will the GPU issues materialize only when it's being used for gaming, or is there a chance it could come up when just being used for office programs?
     
    eqmassa, Aug 8, 2008
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  5. paper_wastage

    paper_wastage Beat this 7x7x7 Cube

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    the main problem is heating+cooling cycle for GPU.....

    it should be okay for office programs... if ur worried, underclock(GPU temp doesnt go up that high) and use a cooler
     
    paper_wastage, Aug 8, 2008
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  6. Death Ro

    Death Ro Notebook Guru

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    What would be a good, cost efficient cooler for an XPS M1530? I also want mine to last a long time, even though I have a 4 year warranty on my laptop.
     
    Death Ro, Aug 8, 2008
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  7. paper_wastage

    paper_wastage Beat this 7x7x7 Cube

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    Zalman NC1000 fits just barely, NC2000 fits better, though bigger
     
    paper_wastage, Aug 8, 2008
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