Vostro 1400 current parts details

I jumped on a deal on Vostro 1400 last week and just received it 20min ago. I was looking for some hardware details of the current batch of Vostro 1400 (such as HD and DVD make and models) and could not find it. I am posting some details I found in my new laptop which are some what different from certain reviews:

Vostro 1400 ($599 base price):
120GB HD 5400RPM Toshiba MK1237GSX
NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
DVD: Pioneer DVD+-RW DR-K17Y ATA Device
Display: WXGA+ Samsung SEC4457 ($40 upgrade)

If you ordered yours was in production last week, it is likely to have the same parts. The Toshiba HD is very quite.

 

I got the exact same specifications as you.

 

Great. I have read someone getting the AUO instead of Samsung WXGA+. Mine has no viewing angle problem al all.

 

so, do they work well, i have the same specs and it went into production 15/8

 

So far I am very pleased with it. Much better build quality than my HP DV4000. I was surprised that the 14.1" screen is not much smaller than the 15.4" on my HP. The Samsung screen is very sharp and very bright. It is also much better than the 15" XGA screen on the D520 I have at work. I was worry when I saw other people complaining the graininess and poor viewing angle, but I think that is a problem of a different LCD.

 

no prob. here so far.

 

I got the same config as you guys too!

 

Hey Caveman, we got exactly the same options too (6cell + 9 cell). I am now testing the 9-cell battery. I was surprised that the speakers are not bad at all. You should expect it some time this week. Mine was ordered on 8/13 and came in today (8/20).

 

Yeah... I had a 1400. Just sold it tonight, with the GMA 3100.. Thought it would be fine for some light CS:Source, but in the end i was dissapointed.

Sold for $675, bought new with 8400 for 678...

now thats a bargain.


Edit: hoping to get $50 back for shipping. Last time they shipped ground when I selected next business day and it took 2 days (ship day, transit day, delivery day) so I got 50 back last time, hoping for the same

 

Consider yourself either lucky or blind, because my SEC WXGA+ LCD in the Vostro 1400 I had, was terrible. Just moving your head back and forth or up and down would cause drastic changes in contrast on the screen, almost to the point of needing to keep your head perfectly still...

In contrast, the LG panel in my Vostro 1500 is great. I wish the 1400 had a good panel...

 

how do you figure out what screen you have i cant figure it out?

 

Perhaps there is something wrong with yours. My HP DV4000 has some verticle viewing angle problem, but my Vostro is much much better. Yes, there is some minor change in contrast which is normal for LCD. I have no problem in reading text or watch video at a very wide angle. Either I am lucky or you are unlucky.

Are you sure you have the SEC not AUO?

 

everytime i read a thread like this i am def happy for the person writing it but it makes me more pissed that i keep getting these crap auo's... i want a stinking sec or lpl or something better than this auo lcd.. man im so mad right now..

one thing i can say is next to the shp and cpt screens in the othe two systems we have the auo is much much better in viewing angle.. the cpt is HORRID...

 

Yes, it's a SEC panel. There are others here with the WXGA+ panel with the same issue, so it seems it's not just me.

I'm still within my 30 days with Dell and will be sending it back for a refund. It's too bad, because I like the size and the overclocking ability of the 8400m GS video card. My Vostro 1500 doesn't overclock on the video the same (even though it is also an 8400M GS video).

I turned it on yesterday and noticed the screen just looks lousy. Not even bright and white. Just drab.

 

Hi Lancorp, is yours SEC4457 or a different model number? It seems there is shortage of LCD and they will put it whatever they get. Some may have lower quality. It is actually hard to predict which LCD they put in until your receive it.

 

Yes, I have the SEC4457. I've heard rumors of people having the LPL (LG) panel, but no one has claimed it for sure yet
on the 1400 with WXGA+.

 

I am going to order a Vostro 1400 today. What screen should I get... a) the XGA display. b) the XGA display with Truelife or c) the XGA+ display with truelife.? Option C is 40 dollars more. I definitely want to avoid this problem some of you are having!

 

I believe you're less likely to get the grainy screen w/ one of the lower resolutions but it seems to be luck of the draw for the 1440x900. My friend got a 1420 like me, but had a grainy screen (i didnt get to check the type of screen) while I got a crystal clear SEC screen. I don't know if there have been any reports of AUO screens being clear (or if they're all bad) though there have been both good and bad SEC screens.

I'm also unsure about the LG screens, whether they've all been good or having both good and bad screens.





I called Dell to get a replacement drive because it was making really loud noises and they sent me a replacement. Unfortunately, the first one got lost by DHL and they had to send another one (which I haven't gotten yet.)

The first drive I got, which was really loud was the Optiarc - part number FW411

1st replacement that got lost was Phillip BenQ - part number WR091

The replacement I should be getting tomorrow Nec - part number PU627


I'm not that familiar with NEC I hope the drive doesn't have problems too. I was wondering if anyone else had that drive and could give me opinions on it?

Also, for people wondering, my SEC screen had the part number JX293 and item number 320-5521

 

My SEC4457 (WXGA+) has an item number of 320-5566 and is also crystal clear. So it is really a matter of luck on whether you'll get a good display in additional to the brands. By the way, my DVD burner is a Pioneer and it isn't noisy at all (compared to those on my other laptops at home and at work).

 

You got a PIONEER DVD drive from Dell? I've not heard of them using Pioneer drives...

 

Mine came with a Pioneer dvd+-rw model dr-k17y

 

Do a google search with Pioneer DR-K17Y and you'll find it is in all kind of Dell laptop.

 

i was told by dell the 1500's primarily from here out will use auo displays while in the inspiron 1520 will share mostly lg and sec panels

 

Well, they may not have a choice right now as there is still somewhat shortage of LCD. They'll have to use whatever they get a hold onto.