Please help me configure my inspiron 1440

Hi
Please let me know your feedback over the configuration i just made on dell site:
Processor:Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor P7550 (2.26GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 3M)
Operating System:Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium 64 bit SP1 Edition (English)
Dell Services: 1 Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis
Display:14.0 " High Definition (1366x768) LED Display with TrueLife(TM)
Memory:4GB (2x2G) Dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Drive:320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Optical Drive:8X DVD+/-RW Drive with DVD+R double layer write capability, with Roxio Premium 10 edit
Video Card: 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330
Audio Solution: Intel(R) High Definition Audio 2.0
Wireless Network Cardell Wireless 1397 802.11b/g Half Mini Card
Bluetooth Moduleell Wireless 365 Bluetooth

Now my confusion is - Should i go for Core 2 P8600 which is 2.4 Ghz or stay with the P7550? Because I am thinking that if i stay with P7550 then i can add that money which i would have given for P8600 to get a 500Gb HDD..wat u guys say? Also how is the performance of ATI 4330 card..currently i am using 256MB 8600 GT Nvidia?

 

if u need the extra capacity HD, go for the 500GB since both r P series CPU's and a diff of .14ghz in the CPU wudnt make much diff at all....
if u dont need the extra capacity then its always better to have a higher rated CPU..
ATI 4330 is an average graphics card which will have performance below that of the 8600 GT....if u want ur laptop more for gaming then u r better off with the Studio 15...which wud cost u around the same..

EDIT: oops sorry..the studio 15 will cost u more by around 6-7k INR i think..at the same config..

 

And what if i reduce the processor to 2.1Ghz? Will that reduce performance considerably? I am asking this cos there is a difference of around $100 in price. And also because Dell is offering $200 difference for Studio Series between 2.1 and 2.26 Ghz.

 

You also need to look at what else you would be missing if you drop the CPU down some levels. Many people overlook the level 2 cache, but it can make a big difference in some instances; it kinda depends on the programs you use though.

The Studio 15 is considerably more expensive than the Inspiron, so unless you are willing to accept a lower configuration or spend more money, I'd stick with the Inspiron.

The 4330 is a fine GPU, though it is at the lower end of the gaming GPUs. It's difficult to advise on whether it is enough when we don't exactly know how you intend to use it though. If you look at this post here you will see that I ran some benchmark figures for Crysis on my Inspiron 1545 with the HD 4330 GPU. That might give you some idea perhaps.

 

hmmmm...as per ur crysis benchmarks the 4330's pretty decent.. .

 

First off let me put down my requirements:
1. Games: I play usually Fifa 2009,Grand Theft Auto San Andreas,Call of Duty.I have not played Crisis but i intend to but i would be fine if settings are set to low or medium.
2. I need 14" Screen so I cannot go for Studio 15 which offers ATI4570
3. Light weight and good looks

Another option I got today while speaking to Dell person was of Studio 14 which is re-launched in India. Its on the model of Studio 14z along with Optical Drive. In that I am getting ATI4530 512MB but the only disappointment is 2.1 Ghz instead of 2.26Ghz I was getting in Inspiron 14.

So I am confused - Inspiron 14 with AT4330 2.26 Ghz or Studio 14 with ATI4530 2.1 Ghz. Price for both are same.

 

I would go with the Studio 14, with the 4530 and 2.1GHz processor, on the grounds that this one has a DVD drive.

 

I thought even the Inspiron 14 had a DVD drive??

 

I have zeroed on following config now
Dell Studio 14 (with optical drive)

Midnight Blue Colour with Black U-Trim
Processor
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T6500 (2.10GHz/ 800 FSB/ 2MB Cache) edit
Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium SP1 64 bit (English)
Software
Microsoft(R) Works Include Microsoft(R) Home & Student 60 Days Trial Pre-install
Dell Service: Hardware Maintenance
1 Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis edit
Display
14” High Definition 720p WLED (1366x768) Display with TrueLife™
Memory
4GB Dual-channel 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 2GB)
Hard Drive
320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Optical Drive
Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Combination Drive with dual layer write capabilities edit
Video Card
512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4530 edit
Wireless Network Card
Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 (802.11a/g/n) Half Mini-card
Bluetooth Module
Dell™ Wireless 365 2.1 Bluetooth® Adapter
Palmrest Option
Silver Palmrest


Batteries
6-Cell (56WHr) Li-Ion Primary Battery
Power Option
90W AC Adapter

Keyboard
Dell™ Backlit Keyboard with Touchpad (English)
Mouse

Now my question is should i opt for 1600X900 screen or 1366x768 is fine? If i opt for 1600X900 screen will it be different in size as compared to other screen i mean width and length wise or only there is difference in resolution? Which one is better?

 

There will be no physical difference in size. One is not better than the other; it is personal choice as to which one each of us prefer.

 

Hi I have choosen 500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive but why Dell does not provide an option of partitioning the hard drive? If they are not providing what are the ways I can do this partitioning without causing any damage to the disk? Is there any available tool in Vista to do the same which shows us this facility step by step? I m using Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium SP1 64 bit

 

i am almost buying the first inspiron config u posted. am not a heavy gamer. so dont know if i need anything better than ATI 4330.
but just in case, can i overclock it to the level of 4530 ( a review says 4330 is just underclocked 4530)?
about RAM, what is max capability of inspiron 14? 4 or 8 gb. i wont ever need 8, just wanted to know. i a getting 2 right now, is it enough or should i get 4?
how important is FSB and level 2 cache?