Next "refresh" in the XPS2 line?

I am set on getting a Dell XPS2 after researching other possible candidates, and was wondering if there will be a "refresh" in the components any time soon? What I mean is, will there be any new options and tech [P-M 780, 7800 Go, etc] within the next month or two? Also, how upgrade-friendly are these systems, and how does Dell take to upgrading? Thanks.

 

Well, the desktop GeForce 7800GTX just came out, so don't look for a mobile version for at least 2 months.

But you can't go wrong with the GeForce Go6800 Ultra. It can run your games on the highest settings. Don't worry about getting something more powerful.

As for upgradeability, NVIDIA has a new technology, called MXM, which makes the mobile video cards interchangeable (NVIDIA Only). The video cards are called MXM modules. However, I don't know if all the manufacturers promote upgrading your own video cards. But, in their previous generation dell XPS, the video card was upgradeable, so there is a chance this one may be, you will have to email dell and ask them.

Happy buying, you cant go wrong with a XPS2.

 

Well thats good if they DO in fact encourage it. But I'm still left in the dark on the CPU situation. The current chipset is a dead end, save for the 780, which may more may not come out, correct? And the next chipset won't be out until next year? It doesn't seem worth getting something that has a dead upgrade path. I know its just a laptop, but I just like having options. Is there ANY chance Dell will switch to another CPU type? Thanks.

 

I know exactly what you mean, not wanting to be left behind. Well, if you want a better CPU, as in a dual core or 64 bit, then you will have to wait around 6 months or so, when the Intel "yonah" dual-core Intel Pentium M with 64bit technology is slated to come out. Right now, there is always the possibility of a faster CPU (780), but if you keep waiting for something faster, you will never get a notebook. I assume that when the dual core yonah comes out, then Dell will update its XPS2, but until then.....

 

Seems like I'll go with Sager then, even if it means little to no battery life. I need it before Sept, so I was hoping the XPS2 would get some sort of update, but it seems not.

 

I also bought my laptop, hoping it would be upgradeable, but I guess you can't have everything...it is 64 bit though, an AMD64 3400+.

Might I ask what the Sager has in it?

I would try www.newegg.com, and see what kind of notebooks they have before you choose. They have an excellent variety of laptops, with good prices and cheap shipping. No tax either.

Perhaps I could make a recommendation. I am a computer technician, and I do this all the time.
Just give me a price limit, what you plan to do, and if you care about battery/weight.

 

The D900K, which is from Clevo [or will be, in August], has support for A64 and A-FX chips, and comes with the X800XT PE Mobile and the 6800U Go video options. Read more here. It will support dual core, so it will be around for a while. I know the battery life will be short as hell, though.

 

BTW, for "what I want", I'm set on getting a gaming notebook, and really, there's Clevo or Dell, in that regard. Sure, the Acer Ferrari is nice, but its got an X700, and I want the latest and greatest. And I already have a SFF desktop, so I have no need for something like that. I'd buy the XPS2 in a heartbeat if the Sonoma had another year in it. I don't like buying dead-ends.

 

yea...like chazman said...there won't really b a need 4 the 7800 GTX rite now...or even in a few months...cuz the XPS Gen 2 is the best gaming notebook out there rite now and can handle anything that u throw at it

 

I like the specs of the sager notebook. Sounds like a killer configuration.

If you can afford that, do not hesitate to get it! That should be awesome for gaming, especially with the X800XT/6800U and the AMD Athlon 64 - I have an AMD64 in my notebook, a 3400+, and it absolutely rocks. It can beat my 3.2GHz Pentium 4 in my desktop.

Well, don't forget that the Radeon X700 delivers very good performance. That is still a very good option, and the Acer Ferrari 4000 has light weight and good battery life, so the performance trade-off might be worth it! Check out the link below for the ATI Mobility Radeon X700 review

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NzQ2

 

Well, I still have to wait, since that won't be shipping til mid August or so. I'm hoping Dell does at least something to the XPS2. It's been pretty much the same for the whole year. Again, I just wish the Sonoma had SOME life in it. I don't understand why there will be such a large gap of time before Yonah comes out, because yes it won't be able to be manufactured til next year, but that doesn't mean the current platform has to die a slow death [again, from a technological standpoint].

 

It is a shame. I wouldn't buy a 32 bit notebook at this time, because we are so close to transitioning to 64 bit. I have XP64 installed on my laptop, and it is noticably faster. For example, I click on things and they are just.... there. No wait. It's awesome. 64 bit gaming is also a bit faster too, as I have noticed.

I also wish they would do something to the XPS2, because I really like that notebook as well. I would buy it if it had a 64 bit processor!

Ahh Dell! Always held back by Intel and Microsoft.

 

if you want to run the latest and gratest games then the gpu will be doing the work not the cpu especialy if you have AA+AF enabled the cpu will be fine for ages its not dead yet, and it may also be overclockable.

 

Yea my SFF PC I built in April is 64-bit, and WinXP64 is pretty fast. I have an A64 +3500, and while it IS very fast for gaming, for some tasks its KIND OF slow. I believe stuff like archiving/un-archiving, encoding, etc, are much faster on Intel systems, but for gaming, AMD owns. If only Dell would use A64s in the XPS2. I'd even take a dual-core desktop Intel, if they had low enough voltage to sustain at least 1 1/2 hrs of battery life. By any chance, will the XPS2 ever allow Raid, or is this for the XPS3 in the spring?

 

I would keep my eye on next spring for the XPS3, yes. I don't know about RAID, as that will absolutely destroy battery life and add weight, and perhaps dell doesnt want to scare off potential customers looking for a moderately slim gaming rig. For example, I really really like the Alienware Area-51M 7700 with the GO6800, and it has raid and two optical drives, but at almost 15 pounds, it is too heavy even for me. The XPS2 is much better suited to my needs and I would buy that in a heartbeat (except it lacks the 64bit).

So, go for your clevo notebook, looks good. Be sure to post benchmarks!

 

The Alienware is in fact a Clevo clone. It is the D900T, which is the Sager 9880. The only difference is they jack the price up A LOT. Anyways, I expect the D900K [the AMD Clevo] to have a little less than an hour on battery, which is pathetic. But again, this is high end desktop parts, so its not THAT bad. I HAVE to get a notebook before September, so I don't have the luxury of waiting until Spring for the new XPS3. I'm still hoping Dell updates the line with a new chipset and CPU type, since the model is overdue for an update. I mean, the model has been the same for the majority of the year. I guess noone really knows at this point.

 

Yeah, all those manufacturers like Voodoo, Falcon Northwest, Alienware - they're just Clevo's with their logos and prices (Inflated a lot). Not worth it in the least. Better off going to the original manufacturer to get one.

Well, you said 1 hr battery life. One way to look at it is: What is wrong with a desktop that doesn't shut off right away when you unplug it!!? Kinda helps things. 1hr is what you get for attaching a slim desktop to a battery though...

I get about 4 hours on my AMD 64 Desktop Replacement notebook, pretty good. But it is not as high powered as the one you are looking at. That is an awesome computer, will be the envy of everyone at a lan party.

 

It seems the D900K WILL NOT be shipping until 9/20 at the earliest, so thats out. So noone has heard anything on Dell updating the XPS2 any time soon?

 

One thing is that keep in mind RAID 0 (the stripping configuration), adds virtually NOTHING to performance. What it does add is SIGNIFICANTLY greater chance of data corruption. I hope xps3 will not have a gimmick like this when it does gets released (probably not for another year -- considering how long it has been for the transition from xps1 to xps2).

Also remember that the main bottleneck still is, and probably will remain, to be the GPU. it was a BIG jump from an m18 cored xps to a Go6800 ultra cored xps2 -- the jump from a pentium4 EE to a pentium-M really isn't all that significant by comparison. Will will there be an xps3? When there is a gpu that FAR out-paces the Go6800 ultra! Which, as far as I know, won't be anytime soon.

cheers,

yass