Dell Vostro 1500 Received

My Dell Vostro 1500 arrived today, with the following specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 DIMM
120G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X CD/DVD Burner w/ double-layer DVD+R write capability
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
Intel 4965AGN Wireless-N Mini-card
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)
Integrated 2.0 mega pixel Web Camera
High Definition Audio 2.0
56 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

I upgraded it to Windows Vista Business x64. Dell does not offer Windows x64 graphics drivers for the Vostro, so I was distressed to learn that the driver packages on nVidia's website do not include drivers for the GeForce 8-series mobile GPUs, leaving it for the OEMs to provide. Fortunately, I was able to find a working nVidia driver package from LaptopVideo2Go.com.

I will upgrade to at least 2GB of RAM, and will probably go with a dual-channel kit from G.Skill, $100 at Newegg, because its CL4 as opposed to CL5. I've ordered a 1GB Intel Turbo Memory card, just to see if it helps speed things up a bit, or save on battery life.

I have noticed that my LCD does bleed, and I'm probably going to contact Dell about this. I hope I won't have to send it in, as a couple people have mentioned that Dell does send out replacements. My LCD's hardware ID is LPLCC00.

I'm putting the Core 2 Duo CPU through its paces with a few BOINC projects, and the laptop does get hot on the bottom, which is to be expected I guess. My battery also wobbles a tiny bit.

All in all, I think the Vostro 1500 is a pretty good laptop, though I wish it had a DVI or HDMI port for digital output.

Those are my thoughts for now, comments are appreciated!

 

What battery life are you getting?

 

Thanks for the post man, and post up pictures! Until I get mine I can never get enough of them

Although service for you may be completely different, when I bought my Dell 2005FPW on release (back then it was over £400 = $800 >_>) the version they sent me had quite major backlight leakage so they sent me a replacement and didn't pick the faulty one up for around a month. Within that time I was having fun with a dual monitor setup, brought it to a LAN Party and everything Just thought I would share that lol!

You can buy Intel Turbo Memory for these things and just slap 'em in?!

 

Unfortunately, I don't have a digital camera, else I would definitely post pictures.

Yep. The Turbo Memory is just a little card that you can snap into the FCM port right next to the wireless adapter. Details can be found in the Vostro 1500 owners manual here.

 

I think I got about 2 hours of use with the standard Windows power saving plan. I've mostly been using the AC adapter. Windows Vista estimates around 2 hours and 12 minutes of run time for a full charge. I think I should have gotten the higher capacity battery, but the 56 WHr battery is flush with the case (it doesn't stick out).

 

Awesome machine congratulations!!!


Quick question though.

Do you feel any heat on the touchpad, palm rest or keyboard area?


Thanks in Advance,

Ulti

 

Did you check out the HP article about them not using the intel 1Gig turbo memory as it isn't better than using a new USB drive with say 4-8Gig on it? I guess for $40 it can't hurt to have it, but the benefits if your system is running 2 Gig RAM has been described as minor.

 

The keyboard, touchpad and palm rest are warm when running at full CPU usage, but they aren't too warm. The bottom of the laptop is what gets really warm.

 

Yeah, but the good thing about the Turbo Memory card is that it snaps into a slot inside of the laptop, so I don't have to deal with anything sticking out of a USB port. Perhaps Intel should have made 2 and 4 GB Turbo Memory cards.

 

Ah great thanks a lot, I didn't know that at all because I ordered a Compal FL90 before this, and I heard a lot about incompatibility and its not like a 3rd party upgrade. But excellent stuff if I can just wack it in there