a few questions on the m1530

Good morning everyone,

Im new to this forum and planning on buying a 1530. After reading the posts here I decided not to go with the t9300 but the 8300 from what everyone is saying there's not much performance difference and I want the led screen so a good trade off.

My first question, Im planning on running xp pro. Can I burn the image files on the restore partition so I have a copy in case i want to go back to vista?

If I buy a new H.D are these 7200 drives sata 1 or sata 2

Whats your feeling on gaming performance xp vs vista?

Thanks

 

Performance difference between the T8300 and T9300 indeed is not great for most tasks. Both processors are much more enough for basic productivity and even heavier editing tasks, though the T9300 will definitely shine in those CPU intensive applications. Gaming will definitely be limited by the 8600M GT and not the T8300 or the T9300.

You won't need to make a disk image if you want the option of using Vista; the M1330 should come with an OEM Vista installation and a CD/DVD with [the most recent?] Vista drivers. Of course if you still want to save the factory installation, it's definitely possible. Just use Acronis or your disk image utility of choice.

The drives should be SATA2. All Dell computers should currently be shipping with SATA2 drives.

General consensus still seems to be that gaming is better on XP, but I don't game so I can't attest.

 

okay, as for restoring vista it will come with all the discs you need. and there is a factory.wim file on the recovery partition anyway, so you can just reset the whole hdd.

as for the processor, you really wont tell the difference unless you try to run crysis on highest settings. not with the limited graphics anyway.

in terms of gaming, if you play older games, go with xp. but vista will handle new games that have the games for windows vista logo better.

from my experience the best thing you can do to increase gaming perfomance on the xps is to get the best graphics card and a 9 cell for some airflow, dont worry about the processor.

 

gaming performance between xp and vista is minimal. in some games there is no difference at all. in few XP might have slight edge, and in other vista does.

just choose what ever OS you preffer and don't worry what some fanatics tell you.

 

Thanks for the response,

Just ordered today before the 599.00 deal expires tomm.

blue case
m1530
t8300
led 1400 x 900
250 7200 sata H.D
built in bluetooth
built in wireless usb
I went with the 6 cell as a trade off for the LED screen, Hopefully with the power savings from the LED I'll get more than 3 hrs.

4 year in home service with the free lojack tracing software and 70.00 gift card which I have my eye on the dell bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Darn the card wont come for 3-6 weeks.

I'll run visita and see what happens if I go to xp Im thinking about just getting another H.D and xp and swap. Travis at Dell did say if I reformat to xp it will void the service plan and with a 4 year I dont want that.

ship date 4/24/08

waitings always the hardest part.