i9300 opinions

Ok, so after posting yesterday about ordering a i6000d I went to the Dell website today and they had some great deals on the i9300, so I cancelled my order and ordered a new one. Wondering what everyone thinks of the 9300 and about my configuration...

I9300
Intel® Pentium® M 730 Processor (1.60GHz/533MHz FSB)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
17 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife
512MB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz 2 Dimm
60GB Hard Drive
256MB NVIDA® GeForce™ Go 6800
8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer write capability
9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (80 WHr)
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)
Dell Nylon Deluxe Carrying Case

is that a good system? And... is it easy for me to upgrade the Ram to 1gig, I thought Dells price for the upgrade was insane!! Or is it cheap?? I didn't know so I held off on it. Please let me know. Thanx!


Of all the things I've lost in life, I miss my mind the most!!

 

you always pay more for a RAM upgrade during the configuration steps, it's better to make sure you put 1 512MB stick in and then buy another via Crucial.com of Dell Home with a coupon code if it's available. Sometimes it's even cheaper to configure with 256MB of RAM and then order a 1GB stick and toss the 256MB stick. You just have to play with the configuration process.

Your configuration looks nice though, it'll be a fast system. I'd drop the nylon carrying case, they overcharge and you can get something better elsewhere that offers more protection and is more stylish.

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It's a great machine but it's not really very portable (alot more then a desktop but kind a big if you plan on bringing it with you alot). 256MB video is a great card [ ] . The screen is so big for a notebook, its awesome. I'm sure you used the 35% off entire system coupon. Isn't it great?[ ]

 

Yes....that is a Nice system.I have the same one minus the Nylon Bag.I had a little trouble with hooking up my Wireless connection but that was just a "Operator Error".I installed Doom3,FarCry,Americas Army and Colin Mcrae Rally 2005 and the I9300 can handle every one of them without a problem. I maxed out the resolution on Doom 3 just to see and it didn't run bad at all,a little lag when the Shooting and Fighting started but way better than my Desktop(ASUS A7N8X Deluxe,gig of ram,120gb SATA,Chaintech 5700 256mb....) The speakers are a little weak and the "Subwoofer?".?? This is my first Notebook so there are some things I need to get used to(Touchpad,no #pad). The Screen is Amazing, I was very Impressed with the Screen but a little concerned on how playing Games would look on a Widescreen. THEY LOOK AWESOME!!! Movies and Videos are true to life on this Machine. I also purchashed the Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 NX which is another neat gadget. I hooked up my Desktop speakers to it and they sound better than in my Desktop. Anyways,I'm sure you will be MORE than Happy with your purchase.

 

No reason to toss the 256Mb stick. Keep it and run it alongside 1Gb you buy.

Unless Dell is doing free memory upgrade it is cheapest to configure with 256Mb memory, and buy 1Gb Transcend memory stick from NewEgg for $180 (current price.) Otherwise you pay $200 to upgrade from 256Mb to 1Gb. Buy yourself it is $.18/Mb. Buy through Dell it is $.26/Mb.

In general Dell is making way more profit on upgrades than the base laptop. Unfortunately, you can't buy most of the upgrades yourself other than through Dell and then it is even more expensive. For example, it probably costs Dell $5-$10 bucks for the bluetooth card but Dell charges $50. Heck, you can buy a USB Bluetooth stick for $20 (but it is less convenient than built in one.)

Danny

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by abaxter

 

I bought the same computer, but I bought the 1 gig ram from Dell. I priced it out on crucial.com, and the price was not that different than the upgrade. memory from micron/crucial has always been excellent and i'll only buy from them. i've had problems when i've paid less for korean branded memory.
I should write a review, but so far I really like the 9300. The only problem i have had so far, is that Dell neglected to ship me out the O/S CD's/Drivers/Applications CD's. So i haven't been able to reformat the drive and get the crap off of it. I got the 40gig drive ( it is ATA-6 5400 ) and plan on buying a 80gig ATA-6 5400 off newegg for $126. So save money on the drive too by going with the 40. But then sometimes its easier just to pay and get it up front. whatever --

I ordered Win XP Media Center - paid $35 or whatever for the upgrade, and it turns out when you look in WINMSD it shows as XP Professional. So its XP Pro with some extra stuff to play DVD's etc. It does all the networking/domain stuff I need.
My only wish is that they put a 10key on the keyboard, there is a lot of real estate there. keyboard is firm and has a really good feel to it.
but the machine is QUIET!! I love how quiet it is !!! The WUXGA screen is great - i got a Samsung and there is a little sparkle, but not a big deal at all. I love the small font. The nvidia 256mg card is excellent.
I got the nylon case as well, and i only got it because i have one for my latitude D600 and use it all the time. its a nice quality case for nylon.
Overall excellent computer and I don't care what they say, its portable to me ....

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by oracledba

 

I didn't buy the Nylon case, just came with the system, same as free dvd burner upgrade and wuxga screen. All in all i think it will be a great desktop replacement with average potability which is what I want.

Of all the things I've lost in life, I miss my mind the most!!