So, how good/bad is the T5250?

Hello,

Ordered a XPS M1330 last Saturday. I got a great deal (my current config is about 300 euros more expensive) but I'm a little worried about the CPU. It's the lowend (? Guess so?) T5250 (1,5GHz, 2MB L2-Cache). I currently have a E1705 with a T7200 which is blazing fast. Now, is the T5250 that much slower?

I can order a Compal IFT00 as well. Here in Holland it features a 8400M GS as well but they sell the barebone with 1x 2GB memory (one slot free for memory upgrading) and a WXGA+ (1440x990) screen. The processor included is a T7300 (2Ghz, 4MB L2-Cache). I've looked up the dimensions and there isn't a huge difference between these two. The IFT00 will cost me 80 euros more than the M1330, but it doesnt feature 1yr warrenty on-site, instead it has 2yr pickup&return and it hasn't got a WLED screen nor a slot-in DVD burner.

Do you think it's worth the upgrade, and worth ditching the XPS M1330? So, for 80 euros more (about $110 or so) you'll get a T7300 instead of a T5250, 1x 2GB instead of 2x 1GB ram, a higher resolution screen but a little heavier (about 1/2 - 3/4 lbs) machine. What to do?

Thanks!

 

The Compal will definitely be faster overall. What you lose is the LED display, size (thickest part of the M1330 is thinner than the thinnest part of the IFT00, assuming a 6 cell for both) and at 2.5kg, the Compal is more like 1-1.5lbs heavier than the M1330 - again assuming 6 cell batteries.

It'll depend on what you value more - speed or portability.

 

Hi Chuck,

I noticed that the XPS M1330 is about 1,8kg with a 4 cell battery. I ordered a 6 cell, dunno how much the extra weight will be.. That's why I thought the XPS M1330 is just 1/2 to 3/4 lbs heavier... Any thoughts on the weight of the 6 cell battery?

 

The weight with the 6-cell is approximately 4.2lbs. Since 2.5kg is something like 5.5lbs, that's definitely at least a pound more.

 

dont get me wrong, a T5250 is very fast but a T7300 upgrade is even faster, i would def get the T7300 as a bare minimum

 

That's what I thought. But I'm wondering if I really need the T7300 as I don't plan to really use it for gaming.. Just some basis games like GTA: SA, maybe HL2. Those games will run fine at medium/high settings right? I really like the idea of portability though, so I'll probably end up with the Dell

 

In UK we have 3 standard configurations for the M1330. The most expensive one has the T7100, 2GB RAM and the 8400M GPU at a cost much less than upgrading one of the lower cost standard configurations. The T7300 is not available as an option. I wasn't keen on the T5250 simply because Intel has not yet released detailed specs for me to study. I suspect that it doesn't have the 800MHz @ 0.85V mode of the faster CPUs.

My best guess about the weight with the 6 cell battery is 1.9 to 1.95kg. The 9 cell is significantly heavier because there is a lot more plastic to form that interesting shape.

The Compal IFT00 is a significantly bigger and heavier machine. It is best to compare volume, not individual dimensions. Then you start realising the substantial difference in size. If you want a good lightweight machine then go with the M1330. If you want more screen real estate and more computing power then get the IFT00. If running time away from a power socket is a consideration then the M1330 will win (and you can add extra batteries to you Dell order for a very small cost). What is the PSU for the Compal? Has it a higher power rating (and weight) then the M1330's 65W PSU?

Make a table with your priorities and how each computer rates against them. That way you come to a logical decision and, whichever model you choose, you can look back afterwards and see if you were right or wrong.

John

 

Sorry didnt look at the page properly, the T7300 is not available for the M1330 but i would still recommended at least a T7100 as you will be doin some gaming also they should run ok at medium but maybe not high but i do not know.

 

The T5250 is a crippled version of Core 2 Duo. It should be fine for basic computing/medium gaming. But, it dont multitask really well because of the lack of processing power. You probably will notice slowdowns when you use several programs at the same time. The T7100 should be significiantly faster than the T5250 in multitasking. But gamingwise, you wont notice any difference between the two,provided the game is the only thing that is running.

 

from this thread.

I've moved away from the 1420--purely because it doesn't have a fingerprint reader, and that's one of my (irrational?) criteria for my new laptop..

The best laptop in the bunch(for me) would be the M1330, but it's steep in price! But yeah, the M1330 is a very good notebook.

On the other hand, I am hoping I'll be able to customize my IFT00 for cheap. At this UK reseller, I can build one for £815, or $1100. My fully-loaded M1330, on the other hand, goes for something like ~$2300.

I might justify spending that much on an M1330, but I already see a lot of good things coming in the next year.... Samsung is producing 64GB ssd's shortly, GeForce 9 series might be around next summer, and Intel's smaller Penryn processor is coming out later this year(?)--this will help with battery power/heat.

If you're trying to decide between the M1330 and IFT00, regardless of price, the M1330 is the better laptop easily.. For me, however, the ~$2300 for the M1330 is hard to swallow when I hope I'll be able to get the IFT00 for half the price... not to mention, if I'm going to spend as much as $2300, I might want to wait until next year and get a really hot model.

 

I agree for both posts.

 

If you're not gaming or running any super CPU intensive calculation apps then you're fine. Keep the 1330. It's got the LED backlight and is more transportable. I have a T5600 in my M1210 and it doesn't really feel any slower in windows than my desktops 3.7ghz conroe. The bottleneck there is the HDD. 300mhz is a lot to lose but 1.5ghz dual core should be fine for typically stuff.

 

Define crippled - it is a 1.5GHz dual core processor with a 667MHz FSB. It has 2MB L2 cache. Essentially, it is a slower clocked T5500 (and possible missing TXT). I don't remember too many people complaining about the speed of the T5500 - especially not in desktop use.

 

I think he meant crippled as in it has a 2mb l2 cache

 

I didnt say it is slow or anything. Well, I should have said it is a crippled version of the santa rosa processors. I view it as crippled since the processor is santa rosa yet it is a level lower than T7100,T7300 and T7500. With lower FSB,clock speed and L2 cache, it seems crippled to me.

 

Wow, thanks for all the replies. I'll call Dell and see what they can offer me

 

I was going by the part where you explicitly state there would be slowdowns with multitasking.

 

Well, it wouldnt be really fast when I use two or three CPU intensive softwares(like photoshop and scaning software at the same time).Almost all the computer u buy now can open 10 web pages while listening to music. Thats not the multitasking I was refering to. I admit I was no where near specific in my post. Lets just call it a day.

 

I'd stick with the 1330 and the T5250.

IMO there is much less difference in getting a little slower processor than there is not getting the notebook you want. You'll forget that the slower processor is in there most of the time- but you'll be confronted with a bigger, heavier, notebook with a different display every time you look at it.

No WAY would I let a few MHz keep me from getting the notebook I want.