Need Help With Dell Studio 17 Order

Okay, I am ordering a Dell Studio 17. I would just like a few questions answered if possible so I know.

1.) Dell only has Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit, is it better to get 4 GB of RAM or 3GB of RAM and save the extra $50? What would be better? Please explain this to me as the RAM issue is confusing. Dell offers all the way up to 4 GB RAM for the Dell Studio 17.

2.) Being in quite a few Best Buy's and Staples lately toying with the Dell Studio 15 and 17, the sound is actually louder at 100% than other Dell laptops at 100%. Is it honestly worth $25 to upgrade to the Sound Blaster Audigy Software Edition??? Does sound come out better? I don't plan on using external speakers or earbuds.

 

1.)For windows vista home premium 32 bit, you're going to want to get only 3 gigs of ram. Only 64 bit operating systems recognize more then 3.5 gigs of ram.

2.)Well that all depends on you. Do the ones at staples and best buys have that upgrade?

 

As far as I know and have poked around, no, they do not have the Sound Blaster Audigy Software Edition on them. So, I do not know if the software actually makes it considerable and justifiable enough to pay the extra $25 dollars. Any want to chime in???

On the RAM, if I opt for the 4 GB RAM on the 32-bit operating system, will I gain any type of advantage instead of just having 3 GB RAM?

 

IMO the software isn't worth the additional $25.

Negligible performance if any if you pick 4GB rather than 3GB. Mostly having the 4GB run in dual channel since it'll be matched pairs.

 

I wouldn't go for the software.

However, how much is it to get 3GB of RAM over 1GB? It might be cheaper for you to order it with 1GB and get 4GB through newegg and install it yourself. Of course, this is only worthwhile if you're comfortable with installing RAM.

 

So stick with 3 GB RAM then? An additional 1 GB RAM at Dell is $50 (I know!) on top of the 3 GB RAM.

I don't really need the 4 GB RAM then on the 32-bit OS?

I want great performance, so that is why I am asking about the Sound and RAM.

Any more opinions, seems like a dead forum?

 

Checking some laptop manufacturer websites, some laptops with Windows Home Premium 32-bit have 4 GB RAM. Why? I'm so confused

 

On the Dell Studio 17, there are actually 5 USB ports but one looks odd, why does Dell advertise 4 USB ports and says nothing about the 5th one?

 

The bizarre 5th port is either a power USB port or an eSata port - since I don't have either in real life, I can't tell for sure, but it looks very much like an eSata - have a look at this picture: http://img.directcanada.com/images/NGEAR/NG-ESATA-ESATA-2/NG-ESATA-ESATA-2_1.jpg and compare it to the port picture in the Studio 17 review on NBR.

 

Well the fifth (or on the studio 15, the fourth) USB port is identical in look to an eSata port. Dell however, insist that it is a powered USB port. :confused2:

The confusion comes from the fact that USB 3.0 is also now referred to as powered USB! So either some dell tech got the wrong end of the stick and it's exactly what it looks like i.e. an esata port or Dell have snuck in an early implementation of the USB 3.0 standard. If it's the latter, then the port will only function as a standard USB 2.0 port because there are no USB3.0 drivers or devices available at present. :twitcy:

Either way, just be aware that the port is usable as a USB port regardless of what it actually is underneath.

 

Yup! Got my Logitech keyboard plugged into the eSata/USB right now...works fine!

 

vista x32 is faster than x64 with 4gb ram,
i had hp dv7t and now gateway p7811, x32 clearly faster.

the creative software adds a few sound effects, dont really improve sound quality.

 

what do you use esata for?

 

eSATA is for hooking up an external SATA hard drive to your notebook. It is much faster than USB.

 

Sounds like your systems were not configured properly then...