When customizing...

I do not see an option to upgrade the HD on a i710m from the promo 80GB (assuming 4200rpm - I know 5400 is now STANDARD on the US 700m) to a 80GB (or 60 or 40) 5400rpm HD. Only other option is a 100GB 5400 but I don't want to fork out the extra cash for the unncessary space really.

Do you think if I call Dell once the order is placed and ask, they will upgrade the HD to 5400rpm (assuming that isn't standard - it's not specified)? Anyone with any experience? I've heard someone say they did that free of charge for them once.

And I have also heard about calling and claiming that one is a repeat customer and a discount is applicable. Is this so?

 

the hdd is 5400. Since last may, all of the hdd drives for every system was upgraded to 5400.

I seriously doubt that you can get a discount because you are a repeat customer.

 

All of the HD were upgraded?? Hmmm, then why all the various threads/posts in the past from various persons on this issue....

And by the way, how does one check their HDD speed?

 

I'm no HD expert, but I think you can use HD Tune to check the HD speed.

 

Is that some downloadable program?

 

Once you get your laptop, you can go to the device manager, and google the hdd. That is the way that most users have suggested.

I'm not sure why there are so many threads about it. I can understand why we had so many threads about back in June/July because Dell hadn't updated their website. Now, Dell has updated their website, and I guess some users haven't checked the updated information.

With the 710m, all of the hdd are 5400. Check here for more information:
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/lea...ine=notebooks&~lt=popup&~series=inspn&ref=CFG

SG

 

Thanks for the link. I hope it is the same for the Dell Canada laptops. Where do I look for that kind of webpage on the Dell Canada website?

 

They didn't have the link on the 710 on dell's canada site. I went to the 9300 on the dell's canada website, and you can scroll down to the harddrive choices. You'll see "help me choose" and it will show the speeds of all the hdd.

I checked Canada's site, and it gave me the exact same link as the one I posted. The 710 isn't even listed on the USA website, so I'm assuming the 710 that is listed in that link is the canada release.

 

Ya it must be. I checked out the Dell Canada website and a couple of the machines (710m being one) and the only part of the configuration that doesn't have a 'Help Me Choose' link within it, is the HDD one. Figures, but I assume it is like that just for now because the HDD is the part that is the free promo upgrade at this time.

 

What it currently looks like is as so:
(selected by default) 80 GB Hard Drive [Included in Price]

100 GB 5400rpm Hard Drive [add $70 or $1/month1]

Notice the default selection does not specify the speed, however, the next largest capacity does, but you say that all the HDDs now are 5400rpm so there shouldn't be any concern. Plus I can always just call and confirm once the order is in place. One would think the Dell reps would have that knowledge off the top of their heads...

 

LOL, you would be surprised. I believe it is always good to call once you place your order to confirm the details of your order. Like I said, I highly doubt that they are still sending out 4200rpm drives especially since that link has 5400. I can't really explain the link. Dell's website designers seem to have problems updating their pages. It was two months before they had updated the HDD from 4200 to 5400 on their website.

Unless it says 7200, I am 99.9% sure that it will be 5400.

SG

 

Haha, alright thanks.

By the way, how significant is the battery life difference between a 2.0GHz P M and a 1.7GHz P M (all other components remaining constant)? I reading on cNet a difference of 18 mins on a standard battery life between a 2.1GHz and a 1.7GHz (on a HP machine I believe it was).

 

With my dealings with HP laptops they seem to have a little less battery life...well that is my experience at least, so if I had to take a guess the difference would be about 14-15mins. Hope this helps, I will look for info to back up this post, but my friends laptops get about that on their laptops with the different speeds. Hope this helps.

 

Yup, thanks. I am wondering if the upgrade to 2.0GHz (which is currently promo) is worth the difference compared to a 1.7GHz. Is there anyway to underclock the processor so that it runs cooler and gives more battery life?

 

I don't have too much experience with laptops, but I am pretty sure you would see much of a performance slowdown, but depending on what you want to do with it while you are on battery...if it is just WP then I beleive underclocking the CPU will save on battery, but not anything extreme, maybe about 15-30mins, depending on how much you do it.

 

Well that 15ish minutes is about the difference between a 2.0GHz processor and a 1.7GHz one. As for heat, i'm not sure.