Inspiron 9400 (E1705) buying help

I want to buy an Inspiron 9400 to replace my old FSC Lifebook s6120.

My budget is limited and I believe I could get enough money for this configuration: (from Dell Switzerland)

Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core-Processor T2060(1,6 GHz, 533 MHz, 1 MB)
Original Windows Vista™ Home Basic (32 Bit) - Deutsch
1024 MB 533 MHz Dual-Channel DDR2 SDRAM (2 x 512)
SATA- 80 GB (5.400 U/min)
8x-DVD+/-RW-
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ GO 7900 GS
Lithium Ion 53 WHr (6Cell)

My main concern is to get a good graphics card in order to be able to run newer games in addition to the regular stuff I use the laptop for (writing mostly), and the Go 7900 seems to be a good choice.

The only thing I'm worried about is the processor. Will the T2060 perform well in games or is an upgrade to a T2250 (+$70: 1.73, 2MB) or T5500 (+$340: 1.66, 2MB, 667 Mhz) absolutely necessary?

I know I will need to upgrade to 2 GB of RAM ASAP, but for starters that will have to wait. But I need to make a decision on the processor before I can order the laptop.

 

whats your budget?

 

The Pentium Dual Core is very weak, when compared to Core Duo and Core 2 Duo processors. Go for the T2250.

 

I agree with jetstar. You rcurrent configured processor is good, but it may bottleneck the system slightly when coupled to the Go 7900 GS. The T2250 is a good option, as is the T5500.

 

Thanks for the input

My original budget when I was aiming for an Inspiron 6400 was about 750 Euros or about $900, but when I realized that I can't get a better graphics card in that model than Radeon x1400 or GF 7300 I decided to "upgrade" to a 9400 model.

Checking the Dell.ch page again I discovered that the "mid-range" model they offer, when "upgraded", costs the same as the one I posted in my first post, about 1500 Swiss Franks or about $1250

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T5500 (1,66 GHz, 2 MB L2-Cache, 667 MHz FSB)
Original Windows Vista™ Home Basic (32 Bit) - Deutsch
Deutsch
17" Wide Screen WXGA+(1440x900)
Interne Tastatur - Deutsch, Schweiz (QWERTZ)
1024 MB 533 MHz Dual-Channel DDR2 SDRAM (2 x 512)
SATA 120 GB (5.400 U/Min)
8x-DVD+/-RW-
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ GO 7900 GS

So this will be my choice I guess, after I work out the financial aspect, of course

 

If you're gaming on the laptop, may want to consider waiting for Santa Rosa and GF8xxx Go to pop up in the next few months.

Performance-difference wise, in terms of games you may see very little difference between CoreDuo and Core2Duos; google around for some benchmarks, and you'll notice that while benchmarks have 10~20% performance improvements game performance sees little to no increase in performance.

Also, are you REALLY sure you want a 17inch laptop? The lappy you own currently seems to be a smaller 13.3" laptop, and if you're planning to do any sort of traveling with your laptop (especially if work requires you to lug another PC along), you may want to consider a smaller PC.

 

If hes on budget of $900 he cant afford santa rosa anyway, atleast not without sacrificing somewhere else. I would say wait two more weeks, not to buy the santa rosa but to see what it arrivel does to prices of current systems.

 

I increased my budget to $1200, which just about covers the T5500 configuration I mentioned. I'm aware of the laptop's weight, but my traveling days are almost finished so at most I'll move the laptop a few times a year between home and the uni.

Since I want this machine to last at least 2 years I want the maximum I can get for the money I can pay, and I couldn't find a 15' laptop with at least a GF7600 card that would be cheaper than $1200 (in Switzerland at least).

 

I carry my 17" 9400 to college sometimes.
Aslong as you have a comfy bag to carry it in it's really not that bad.

 

I carry mine on transcon and transpac flights in a Booq back. Quite comfortable and have not have any issue.

 

Ye people always go on like they are impossible to carry.
Aslong as your not carrying it ALL day and you have a decent bag/case then it really isn't a problem.
Sometimes they are a bit big and awkward to use in caffes but it's rarley a problem.
I think the advantages out wheigh the disadvantages.

 

One more question... how much is a 1 GB ram upgrade? Dell charges almost $200... INR Rs 10000.. Is it cheaper at other retailers? If so can u give me a price so that i could compare.. probably of ddr2 667mhz and what diff in performance could i get with a ATI x1400 Vs Nvidia 7900GS

 

you can get ram of ebay cheap, just make sure it's from a seller who has really good feedback.

 

Or from online retailers like newegg for the ram. x1400 vs. 7900 has been extensively reviewed, checkout the graphics card forum as well as the reviews on the 9400