bought Inspiron 1505 is this a good price?

[*]Intel Core Duo processor T2300 (2MB Cache/1.66GHz/667MHz FSB)
[*]LCD Panel: 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife
[*]Memory: 512MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHZ, 1 DIMM
[*]Video: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
[*]Hard Drive: 60GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
[*]Operating System: Genuine Windows XP Home
[*]Network Card and Modem: Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
[*]Combo/DVD+RW Drives: 8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
[*]Wireless Networking Cards: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
[*]Primary Battery: 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
[*]Hardware Warranty: 1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr Mail-In Service, and 1Yr HW Warranty Support


Got it for 750$. Did i make the right decision?

 

Doesn't seem too bad. Don't think you have done wrong thing.

 

Looks good to me too. As things stand right now, $750 to $800 seems about as low as you can go for dual core, a good hard drive and a DVD burner. I'm assuming you don't plan to play graphics-intensive games, so GMA 950 should be fine. I'd probably upgrade to 1 GB RAM before long.

 

Yeah the memory upgrade would be a good idea. usually see a dramatic improvement in the computer's performance upgrading to 1 gig. an idea for the future maybe... but for the mean time this is enough.

As for the GMA 950, as motes said this should be fine if you intend NOT to play any high end graphic games. i.e Doom III, F.E.A.R...
It's not a gaming card. Mind you i still like to play C & C : Generals on it

I have the GMA 950, it does the job. It's good on the battery life compared to a dedicated card.

 

This memory should fit correct?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231038


or should i go all out on 2 gigs?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231042

 

Yes, that will fit.

It all depends on what you are doing with the computer. Heavy video-editing and or gaming would be a good idea for 2GB. But that is a choice you have to make.

 

I'm no memory expert, but those both look good: 200-pin DDR2 @ 533. I guess the only thing I wouldn't do is mix module sizes, e.g., I wouldn't add 1 GB to the existing 512. I'd either get the 512 or get two 1 GB modules, which is apparently what you're looking at anyway.
There may also be some dual channel issues, even with two modules of the same size and speed, but these are really beyond me, and the RAM should work.
So, if it were me, I'd get the 512, which is pretty cheap, and promptly check, using CPU-Z, to see if I'm running in dual channel mode.
Others may have some better opinions on this, and it might be worth checking the hardware/aftermarket forum.

 

man how did you get this deal?

 

bought off the forums

 

ok i ordered the stick 40$ shipped not bad at all.

 

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Really??? You can play CNC Generals on the Intel GMA 950? I haven't tried it yet. What play settings on Generals do you play? Low, Medium or High?

 

I've been reviewing this site for awhile now and have come to the conclusion that the 1505 is right for me, too. But when I placed your exact specifications on the Dell website and used the Dell coupon for $300 off (since the total was not over $1499, I didn't think the higher discounts were usuable), the price was $1011, which is FAR above your price of $750. How did you get that price for the 1505? (Or what did I do wrong?)

 

I bought it off the forums at Anandtech.com

 

Well i just got the laptop in the mail. Wow. This is the first laptop i owned and i am very very pleased.
I see everyone likes the XGA+ True life screen with the 1680 x 1050 but the 1280 x 800 seems good for me.

My ram stick comes tomorrow. so i will have 1gb. only problem is that The laptop was bloated with all that crap software. i didnt wanna do a reinstall so i just disabled all of it in the start up options by typing msconfig in the run line.

 

Can you post a link to where you bought this for that price?

 

anandtech.com