Question about 8600 video card

Hi

i just bought an i8600

Pentium M 1.8 (Dothan)
512 ram
60gb 7200rpm
Dell wireless b/g
wsxga+
nvidia 64mb go5200

im pretty happy with my configuration, but the one thing im kinda worried about now is my graphics card. I just started reading reviews about it, and a lot of people say its absolute garbage...

just wondering if you guys think its worth the extra $120 to upgrade to the 128mb ati 9600?

Also, would i be able to upgrade after dell ships?... like if they can just send me the card, and i send the old one back?

thanks alot
-Evo

 

The Geforce 5200 is not a bad card at all. However, if you play a lot of games, then I would highly recommend the ATI 9600. If you are a casual gamer that plays the occasional graphic intense first person shooters, then the Geforce is just fine.

As for upgrading. Once the computer ships, Dell will not let you upgrade the card. You can purchase the card yourself from Dell spare parts and install it yourself, however this will void your warranty.

If you regret not getting the ATI 9600, then you can always return your laptop in the 21 day return period, and reorder a new 8600.

Hope that helps.

 

Hi Evo,
I just read the specs on the i8600 over at Dell. From reading it I swa nothing to suggest the video is upgradable by the end user. One of the Dell systems the XPS does have the option to upgrade the graphics, on the 8600 and others there is no "video card" it is just a chip integrated(soldered) to the motherboard.

If you think you will need more, do as nesbo said and return it before the 21 day period is up and then reorder another one with a faster video chip.

Jack

 

Actually Jack, the 8600 does have a "removable" video card. If you do a search in the documentations section on Dell's website, there is a service manual that tells you how to change the video cards in this system. This is not sanctioned by Dell so it would void your warranty.

See my post regarding video cards and Dell systems.

 

Thanks nesbo,
I stand corrected. It is good info to have for future reference.

Jack

 

Therefore second you who has a dell 8600c, in future can even change to card video putting Ati 9700? ¶

 

Right, currently the best card available for the 8600 is the ATI 9600. If in the future Dell starts offering the ATI 9700 with the Inspiron 8600, then you could purchase that, however that is unlikely because they want you to buy the 9100 and XPS systems.

 

As far as I know, you can only replace the video card with another one that was designed specifically for that model. So you could put the Radeon 9600 in your I8600, not the Radeon 9700.

 

thanks for the replies.

i just got my i8600 today, and its incredibly fast, and the screen is beautiful. I however didnt play any games that require good graphics yet.

I ran 3D Mark 2003, and got a score of 1005... is this good?

Also, just curious... but i thought 8600s came with the "eraser" mouse, in addition to the touch pad??? .... i never use it, but mine didnt come with it... did they change the 8600s chasis?

 

Yes, Dell got rid of the eraser head in the 8600 when they got rid of the legacy ports.

 

I have had a dell 4600 with a pentium 4 and 128mb FX 5200. It scored about 7500 in Aquamark, while my 8600 (pentium M 1.8ghz radeon 9600 pro turbo) scored about 21500. I could run UT2004 at 1024x768 resolution (everything else max) with very smooth framerates on the 4600, but could do 1680x1050 on the 8600. The 9600 is about 3x as fast, so you decide whether or not that warrants the cost of $190. I personally believe that it is much more future proof, however I really should have waited for the mxm interface :-X.