FFXI: Dell E1505

Hey guys, this forum seems pretty helpful since I've been browsing the last twenty or so minutes so I decided to join and post. I'm currently on a pretty crappy budget for a laptop for school that can "also" run Final Fantasy XI. I'm not very experienced with hardware anymore since I stopped keeping up around two or so years ago and just recently caught up with the whole dual core craze. Anyway, I want to know if this Dell Laptop, specifically with these customized stats can run FFXI successfully, even in the laggy end-game areas like Dragon Aery, Dynamis, Behemoth's Dominion, etc. If anyone is familiar.

Here are the stats:
Intel® Core™ Duo Proc T2250 (1.73GHz/533MHz/2 X 1MB L2 Cache)
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife™
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
60GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory™
Wireless Card Only: Dell Wireless 1390b/g (54Mbps)

I'm most interested on feedback about the X1400 and FFXI, I read the thread and understand that it is the "strongest mid-grade" card. This helped me open my mind up to Radeon since I was generally a Nvidia faithful. The sticky also surprised me finding out cards like the 7300 are weaker than the 6600 go. If anyone plays FF end-game and can give me some feedback it would be really great.

 

I used to play FFXI, I will be starting up my account again sometime in the next few months.

The X1400 will play it just fine, however, even if you had the most powerful graphics card there is there'd likely be lag in many of the higher end areas because it's not only based on your computer but also on Square's servers.

The E1505 wouldn't be bad, but you could probably find something better. If you like you can fill out the FAQ and we can try to find some others for you to look at.

 

Sure, I'll fill out the FAQ, sorry I didn't read that earlier.

General Questions

1) My budget in this situation ranges to thne $700-800 range unless I want to wait longer (I partly need this notebook for school also, hence the rush to get one).

2) Size doesn't matter too much, but I read on the graphic card thread that 14+ is ideal for graphic cards.

3) Pretty much just school work and FFXI, ocassionally watching videos and other human-like behavior.

4) I would be taking it to different places like class and friend's apartments and stuff, but in those situations they would be a desk and a power outlet anyway.

5) Yes, I'd most likely be playing FFXI and maybe games like WoW if I get peer pressured enough.

6) I don't really care, I just look at dell because if I buy through someone I know, I could get an undisclosed discount.

7) I don't care too much about battery life because there are always electrical outlets near, but 3hrs seems to be ok.

8) Online is perfectly fine.

9) USA, maybe I should have started a new thread. (So. CA)

Screen Specifics

10) Nothing specific.

11) NO IDEA LOL From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?

Standard
a. XGA -1024x768 - Large and easy to read text + graphics icons, but you fit less stuff on the screen.
b. SXGA - 1400x1050 - Compromise resolution between XGA and UXGA.
c. UXGA - 1600x1200 - Very small text and graphics icons, you can fit lots of stuff on the screen.

Widescreen
d. WXGA or WXGA+ - 1280x768/800 or 1440x900; Wider viewing version of XGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
e. WSXGA+ - 1680x1050; Wider viewing version of SXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
f. WUXGA - 1920x1200; Wider viewing version of UXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.

12) No preference.

Build Quality and Design

13) Style does not matter to me.

14) As long as possible to justify the price.

Notebook Components

15) 80gig seems to be a magic number, but anything above 40 is cool

16) DVD/CD burner combo drive is OK, don't care too much to burn DVD if it ups the price.

 

with your limited budget, i would definately get a E1505.

You can get a lower end dual core processor, 5400 60 gb HD, x1400, for about 800$.

 

With that limited budget the E1505 would probably be your best bet, be sure to use the coupons, even though they're not as good as they used to be, it still saves you some cash. Check the Dell coupons tab up top.