help me choose: Studio 15 vs SXPS 16

Studio 15

P8600 2.4 Ghz
4 GB DDR2
15.6 1080P HD LED
320GB 7200RPM
512 MB HD4570
8XDVD
Intel High Performance Wireless
TOTAL: $1389 CAD


SXPS 16
P8600 2.4 GHz
4 GB DDR3
16.0 720p LED
250 GB 720P
1 GB HD4670
Intel 5300 wireless
8X DVD
TOTAL: $1469 CAD

Please help me choose. I would love to get the RGB screen, but at $300, its out of my price range. These are Canadian prices on dell.ca. For me the 1080P screen on the Studio 15 is the only reason i'm making this comparison. Is the 720P screen on the SXPS as bad as people say it is?

And if i were to call up dell canada reps, would they give discounts/freebies?

Thanks!!

 

Er, it would be really good if you could tell us what you want to use the machine for.....

OK, regardless of that, my evaluation of those machines.
The resolution on the SXPS 16 is going to be quite large (i.e. I think that one would be something like 1366x768 or something). However, if you can deal with that then I'd suggest the XPS machine. The GPU is consdierably better than the Studio model. The Studio GPU is really only an overclocked 4330, which means it has a 64bit bus. The 4670 on the other hand had a 128bit bus. This will make a lot of difference for gaming.

 

2 different machines...XPS...Studio...

I'm with Fragile on this..we need more information..

And, you would also be better to fill out this:
What Notebook Should I Buy Form

then, create a thread here: What Notebook Should I Buy

and, paste the form into there..to get great comments/suggestions from all forum members!

Also, you can always get discounts/and or freebies from a Dell Rep..it's just how much they want to work with you!

Cin..

 

A lot of people said the 4570 has a 128bit bus on the Dell 1555 thread.

Anyways, unless you are really big on gaming I would suggest go with the Studio 1555. It plays games like WoW / Counter Strike Source with a breeze, and even some high end games with low/medium settings.
I chose the 1555 over the XPS because I wasn't really big on gaming, but I do play WoW etc. All the games ran fine. I've read countless reviews on both machines and settled on the Studio because of the 1080p screen, how quiet it is, batterly life, size and weight, heat issues, and price. My old laptop had heating issues and often times were uncomfortably hot, and there were too much heat issues with the XPS machine I didn't want to take the risk.

Anyways, my advice would to read the reviews. I'm not sure about the 720p screen on the XPS machine but the 720p on the 1555 sucks.

 

Yes I have heard this time and time again. However, the ATI GPUs tend to be 64bit for both the value and mainstream groups, 128bit for their performance groups and 256bit for their enthusiast groups. Therefore, as the 4570 is in their mainstream group and there is no technical documentation to state otherwise, I think you will find it is a 64bit memory bus.

I'd genuinely love to be proven wrong on this point - if anyone has any of the mobility 4500 series and can post a screenie of Everest or something, that would be great.

 

My 4570 256MB is 64-bit. I don't have Everest right now, but that's what it said last time I ran it.

 

Thanks Mastershroom, I didn't think I was wrong on this point. I think people are simply mis-reading the technical documentation on the ATI site and getting 128bit memory bus from there by not fully understanding terminology they use

 

Of course, it probably doesn't help that GPU-Z says it's 128-bit either.

Although for a 64-bit bus width, the 4570 performs extremely well. I have no trouble playing Call of Duty 4 at my native 720p, something that would cause my old 3450 to vomit pixels.

 

Yup, I have no problems playing CoD 4 at my native resolution. Have to tune it down a bit for when I'm playing it on my 30" display, but all things considered, ATI didn't do a bad job with these value & mainstream GPUs

 

Honestly, I think 1080p is too much for 15.4" screen. Plus the 16" has a stronger GPU.

If you plan not to game whatsoever with modern games, then the 15" would be better imo.

 

1080p is great on 15.6", and if things are too small, you can adjust the DPI accordingly. And who says the Studio 15 can't game? I've had no trouble with CoD4, Team Fortress 2 or Left 4 Dead.

 

Lol pixel vomiting...

 

I was worried about that initially, but after spending a weekend with my new Studio 15 1080p, I am extremely happy with the choice I made.

I've been using an Inspiron 6000d (15.4", 1680 x 1050) for the last 3.5 years and was really worried about things being too small, but those fears turned out to be for naught...

 

I agree. After reading about it I thought it might be way too small for me. But I went ahead and took the risk. Turns out I actually love it. Took me about a day or two to get used to though. But once I got used to it, looking at my old desktop's monitor I would always think it was blurry or something and the large text makes it look outdated. Its funny how, after a using my laptop for a while, when my iPhone rings or I receive a text and I see the text on the phone, I think the text is huge!

 

I'd say go for the Studio XPS 16. However, for what it is worth I can play TF2 fine on my Studio 15 as well as the other Steam games I have tried like Half Life 2.

 

thanks guys. i have decided to go with the studio xps because essentially got the RGBLED screen for free from the dell rep!

 

Wow, you got a very nice representative.

 

which GPU do you have? Or actually which Dell? I think I've seen you in the Inspiron 15 thread, so are you running the ATI 4330? If so I'm impressed that CoD4 runs well with that card. I'm currently on a Macbook w/ 9400m and in boot camp CoD4 runs nicely with a lot of extras turned off but native resolution 1280x800.. CoD5 on the other hand is a bit more sluggish but still playable.