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    Dell laptop for gaming? Inspiron 1520 or XPS???

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Dustin_D, Oct 30, 2007.

  1. Dustin_D

    Dustin_D Notebook Evangelist

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    Hello,

    I was looking at Dell notebooks, and like the 1520, and noticed that the XPS line is more geared towards gaming, but this iswhat confused me:

    The 1520 has a 8600 GT card and the XPS I was looking at has a 8400 GT, so how can the XPS be more expensive if it has a lower card?
     
    Dustin_D, Oct 30, 2007
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  2. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    well which models were you looking at? the 13.3" one? Its an ultra portable laptop, not a gaming laptop...

    The best gaming laptop dell has right now is the 17" xps with a 15" xps coming soon. The 13.3" xps is not meant for gaming.

    For the price, the 1520 will give you best bang for your buck for gaming...well the vostro 1500 being the same thing as the inspiron 1520 is better, but you get what i mean.
     
    nizzy1115, Oct 30, 2007
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  3. Gilliann

    Gilliann Notebook Consultant

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    Right now the inspiron with coupons is cheaper then the vostro, I got mine for 984.
     
    Gilliann, Oct 30, 2007
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  4. DMAK02

    DMAK02 Notebook Evangelist

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    Depends on your budget. If you have the money, go for the XPS.
     
    DMAK02, Oct 30, 2007
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  5. David

    David NBR Random Reviewer NBR Reviewer

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    The m1330 is NOT a gaming notebook.
     
    David, Oct 30, 2007
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  6. Waveblade

    Waveblade Notebook Deity

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    The m1330 is not much for gaming. You won't be able to play newer games at high resolutions or not at all.

    8400m GS is a decent midline card, but the 8600GT is much better
     
    Waveblade, Oct 30, 2007
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  7. Dustin_D

    Dustin_D Notebook Evangelist

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    Oh, I always thought that the XPS line was for gaming.

    But the 8600 GT is a good card, yeah? Good enough for Medieval II and Battlefield II?
     
    Dustin_D, Oct 30, 2007
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  8. sticky101

    sticky101 Notebook Enthusiast

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    you can definitely play Battlefield II on the 8600GT...i think u can pull it off on the 8400m GS but obviously it wont run as smooth with high settings...
     
    sticky101, Oct 30, 2007
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  9. Necromas

    Necromas Notebook Deity

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    I wouldn't say the M1330 isn't for gaming, I'd say it prioritizes portability, there's no such thing as a (standard sized) 13 inch notebook with todays technology that will have the high end gaming hardware.
     
    Necromas, Oct 30, 2007
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  10. AX7

    AX7 Notebook Enthusiast

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    1330 may not be a gaming rig, but I play bioshock and orange box at max resolution and near max settings at a very playable framerate.
     
    AX7, Oct 30, 2007
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  11. B2TheEYo

    B2TheEYo Notebook Deity

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    The m1330 is the rich media experience ultra portable notebook. Frankly considering it's form factor, and the second fact I haven't seen any other notebooks that size with that kind of GPU power, I'd consider it a great notebook.

    With that aside,

    The 1520 is the way to go if you want a mid range sized notebook with jaw dropping power and warranty service for the money. With a good set of drivers, it handles everything very well when taking in consideration that it's a notebook, not a liquid cooled, SLI, quad core, $4,000 custom built desktop.
     
    B2TheEYo, Oct 30, 2007
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  12. booboo12

    booboo12 Notebook Prophet

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    I would say that the XPS line is sort of split, there's high end gaming system's (XPS 720, Loaded versions of the XPS 420, M1710/1730) and there is also systems aimed toward users that want the premium support, features, and styles that XPS provides (M2010, M1330, Entry level versions of the XPS 420, XPS 210, and the upcoming XPS One)
     
    booboo12, Oct 30, 2007
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  13. Dustin_D

    Dustin_D Notebook Evangelist

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    I like the look of the XPS, but is it reliable?

    My friends Dell 1521 just had to wiped clean and rebooted through Dell's support because it just would turn on to a black screen...
     
    Dustin_D, Oct 30, 2007
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  14. B2TheEYo

    B2TheEYo Notebook Deity

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    That'll be a windows problem, because whipping a hard drive clean, doesn't fix a hardware issue. All software side.
     
    B2TheEYo, Oct 30, 2007
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  15. Dustin_D

    Dustin_D Notebook Evangelist

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    Ok, so the general concensus is the 1520 over the XPS???
     
    Dustin_D, Oct 31, 2007
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  16. chelet

    chelet Notebook Deity

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    1520 over the XPS M1330.
    XPS M1730 and M1710 over the 1520.

    If you configure a coupon on the Dell site you notice they now separate "XPS Notebooks" from "XPS Gaming Notebooks."
     
    chelet, Oct 31, 2007
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  17. Waveblade

    Waveblade Notebook Deity

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    The 8400m GS isn't a bad card at all though. It'll play source games easily, and whatnot.

    Just that newer games like Crysis and whatnot will be hardpressed or impossible to run.
     
    Waveblade, Oct 31, 2007
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  18. TheGriffin

    TheGriffin Notebook Consultant

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    Why dont you wait for the M1530?
     
    TheGriffin, Oct 31, 2007
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  19. Dustin_D

    Dustin_D Notebook Evangelist

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    What exactly is the M1530??? :D Sounds exciting.
     
    Dustin_D, Oct 31, 2007
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  20. sticky101

    sticky101 Notebook Enthusiast

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    sticky101, Oct 31, 2007
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