Questions about the insides of an XPS M1210

I am thinking of buying this laptop, and have some questions about the "insides".

1) I plan to get the one from Costco that comes with the GeForce 7400, but wondering if I can remove the GPU (IE is it modular or soldered in). I figure if I remove it, my battery life should be 1.5 times normal and the fan should run much less.

2) Also, I am wondering what DVD burner Dell puts in it? NEC, Aopen, etc...

3) Also, does anyone know how/where I can buy the big battery for? I don't see it listed on Dell's accessories page, but it looks like it costs $129 when you buy a system?

Thanks for the help...

 

1) sorry dunno, but don't think so
2) AFAIK it's a sony
3) the 9 cell? it is on the website

 

1). Not possible....the GPU is soldered to the motherboard.
2). Mine is a Sony.
3). Batteries are not available for seperate purchase at this time. You have to get it configured with additional batteries if that is what you want/need. Eventually, batteries will be available from Dell.

 

now why would you want that? especially since that is the very feature which makes the m1210 special (power in a small package)! are you concerned about battery life but at the same time, want the option of a dedicated graphics? how many hours would you like in the battery?

most importantly, what's your budget for a notebook?

because the sony SZ gives you the option of switching between 2 GPUs - an intel integrated and a 7400. average battery life is 4 hours (mine goes up to 5+). you can customize it to prices ranging from $1400-2800. and it weighs 3.7 - 4 lbs

if that's over your budget, you may have to choose between battery life and dedicated graphics. unless you play a lot of games and use high graphic programs, an integrated GPU isn't bad.

 

Oddly, with a 9 cell, when not doing something graphics intensive (the 7400 does use powermiser) I get just over 6 hours on my 1210.

 

really? if that's true for a lot of people then i don't think you need to do something drastic like remove the video card.

i'm quite content with the 5+ that i get with the standard in the SZ and don't have the extended batt, so i can't comment on how much life it would add.

 

If you removed your 7400, your computer wouldn't work. Keep it in, and if you don't need the power then underclock and if you can undervolt the GPU. And do the same with the CPU, if your after more battery life. And dell uses a wide variety of DVD drives. It could be a Sony, NEC, or something else. Not one company can support dell. If you have an ebay account, I'd check there. Batteries are much cheaper on ebay, and you can get a really good deal!

 

By Sony for the burner, do you mean Matsushita? That sucks... Guess that's something I would change out... (Another thing to buy from Newegg...) unless I get the NEC.

I own a VGN-S360, and actually prefer it over the SZ series (SZ looks kinda ugly, keyboard kinda sucks, the SZ is bigger but thinner, camera seems to be a cludge on the top of the LCD, etc...), my problem with my S360 is G@D D@MN my fan just keeps getting louder and louder (I'm tired of ripping the laptop apart to clean the dust out of it)... Also I want an 8x burner and the possibility of a 12X-16X when they come out.

As for battery life, 6 hours is good, but I fly from the California to Europe fairly often and 10 hours on one battery (IE without a dedicated graphics card) would kick ass... Guess I can go with a big battery and a small one, that's the same thing I do with my S360. I like the Dell, seems to be the best SFF notebook with a slim optical, and a camera. A friend has the ASUS, and that would be my second pick I guess...

Last question, Ebay doesn't seem to have the M1210 battery there yet, is the battery compatible with another model or is it for the M1210 only?