XPS M1210 Configuration Question

Hello everyone!

I'm thinking of purchasing the Dell XPS M1210 and would like to hear what everyone has to say about the configuration I chose:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T5600 (1.86GHz/667MHz/2MB)
Genuine Windows® XP Professional
12 inch WXGA Wide Screen with TrueLife™ and A/V Communications Pack
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7400 TurboCache™
8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability 8XDVDRW
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 Mini Card (802.11 a/g, 54Mbps)
Integrated Audio with Sound Blaster® Audigy® ADVANCED HD Audio
Combo: Sonic DigitalMedia and MyDVD Plus (DVD+RW only)

I plan to use this set up for school and some gaming. I already have a 20" LCD, so I have the luxury of going with a smaller laptop. Will this configuration be good enough for most stuff?

Also, can I ask dell to not install the mcafee antivirus for me?

Thanks everyone!

 

I would really recommend getting 2GB of RAM, it is a great upgrade, and will definitly be usefull, especally for gaming. Other then that it looks alright. And no you cant ask them to not install it for you, but you can easially take it off yourself in 5 minutes when you get it.

 

Dell can't change the amount of software installed on the machines...otherwise everyone would ask them to not install all the bloatware.

Just ask for the OS CD (and all resource and programs CDs), and do a fresh install of XP yourself...you'll appreciate how fast a clean XP will run.

COMMENTS
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1) Do you need the webcam? If not, don't get the AV package and save $100.
2) What games are you planning on playing? 2GB RAM might help, but it depends.
3) How much does a CPU upgrade to T7200 cost? The T7200 is the best bang for your buck.

 

Thank you!

What other unnecessary software does it come installed with?

 

1) No I don't, but Dell Canada is having an online offer where the AV package is free. I'm not sure if they'll take it off for me and give me 100 back...
2) Probably Neverwinter nights and RPG games. Not online though. The 2GB ram is 250 extra which i'm not really willing to spend on right now. RAM can be added later right?
3) the T7200 is 100 extra, which I think I might choose instead.

If I do a fresh install of XP, will I have to load all the drivers again???

 

i just ordered an m1210 as well and do i just call dell and ask them for the cds? is it free of charge?

 

Those are good specs. I only have one suggestion regarding RAM. First Dell overcharges you for RAM, so if you are comfortable, get the least ammount of RAM you can get, and buy some from a place like newegg. Second, if you even plan on getting 2 GB of RAM, you may want to consider just getting one stick of 1GB, so you don't end up with RAM you need to sell. Hope that makes sense.

 

You will have to reload the drivers again after you reformat...It's not a big deal really, just take a look at SG's excellent reformatting guide stickied on the top of the forum.

sneakmefood:

Yes, you should be able to just contact dell for the cds, but i would advise using internet chat rather than making a phone call. ALso I think you will have to wait until you actually get the laptop to request the cd's. Don't worry though-they overnight them to you.

 

All XPS systems come with almost all the CDs/DVDs needed.

 

That's a very good suggestion. I'm guessing the RAM is just plug and play like any other RAM? Would I have to tell Dell that I want only 1 stick of 1GB?

 

I will definitely check out the sticky.

 

i bought it from dell outlet though so i dont know if im going to get it.

 

I would also suggest the Core 2 Duo 7200 it's only $75 more the last time I checked.

You can't order one stick of ram on this system. So if you decide to upgrade later you will have to sell the memory it comes with.

Do you really need XP Pro? Isn't XP Home a lot cheaper?

 

XP Pro is only 50 dollars more...and i've always used XP pro all this while...I love it.

 

While I don't have the list of software (literally), most people report very respectable increases in speed when doing a fresh install. On one of their notebooks I spent four hours trying to locate and uninstall all the crap...ended up reformatting the system.

1) If it is free, they won't give you $100 back...just take it!
2) RAM is probably the easiest component to upgrade. Just do it when you know you could use the extra bump in power.
3) Get the T7200...best bang for the dollar.

You probably can, assuming you do not get them all to start with. Just tell them you did a manual re-installation of Windows and didn't know you didn't have all the software needed. Worst case is that they ask for $10.

 

Thanks everyone.

I believe I will be placing the order this week.

As for doing a fresh install, I'm still contemplating that and will see how much the junkware bothers me. I just got a new HD for my old laptop and spent the whole of yesterday setting everything up. The process was painless (Fujitsu's recovery disk was really user-friendly, hopefully Dell's will be too).

I will go with the T7200 and 1GB RAM and probably upgrade the RAM in future.

 

Okay. I just placed my order and here is my configuration:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7200 (2.0GHz/667MHz/2MB)
Genuine Windows® XP Professional
12 inch WXGA Wide Screen with TrueLife™ and A/V Communications Pack
2GB RAM
80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7400 TurboCache™
8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability 8XDVDRW
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Internal Bluetooth
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 Mini Card (802.11 a/g, 54Mbps)
Integrated Audio with Sound Blaster® Audigy® ADVANCED HD Audio
Combo: Sonic DigitalMedia and MyDVD Plus (DVD+RW only)

The 2GB RAM was a free upgrade. And I also got 3 year complete care with NBD service.

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

How much did it come out to?

 

Looks like a nice config.

 

1800 before taxes. I have EPP though, so that made a difference.

 

XPS series were NEVER part of EPP discounts, right?

 

I'm not sure...I got the discount for the XPS M1210.

But now that I think about it, i called to inquire about the XPS M1710 when it was first released and they said that it didn't apply...maybe it's changed?

 

other than the graduated 4-12% discount based on total purchase amount and warranty, did you get additional %-off?

 

I got 12%. I was also given the free 1GB upgrade, and i think bluetooth was free too.