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    How do extra components (e.g. video cards) affect weight?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Fewmets, Oct 17, 2007.

  1. Fewmets

    Fewmets Notebook Consultant

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    The Inspiron 1520 I'm considering starts @ 6.4 lbs, which seems reasonable enough for a 15" screen: My question is, how does extra features (video card, bigger hard drive, aftermarket RAM) affect the weight? Does this weight include the battery or not?
     
    Fewmets, Oct 17, 2007
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  2. Eleison

    Eleison Thanatos Eleison

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    The weight most likely DOES include the battery, and I doubt one COMPATIBLE video card would be significantly more or less weighty than any other. Hard drives are virtually identical in weight, and RAM is so light as to not even be worth considering.

    The only thing I could think of that might affect the weight would be if you got a larger capacity battery.
     
    Eleison, Oct 17, 2007
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  3. Adaptive

    Adaptive Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    The accessories really won't affect the weight too much. Based on my D420 review, Dell's numbers were actually *higher* than what they quoted, but a lot will depend on what parts/suppliers they are using. Those numbers are estimates, and they do include the battery for sure (although it depends on which battery).
     
    Adaptive, Oct 17, 2007
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  4. Fewmets

    Fewmets Notebook Consultant

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    So would a 9-cell be much heavier than the standard battery? (I'm a soon-to-be college student and I figure if I can get a couple more hours of battery life - as in 5ish hours - it would be worth an extra half pound or so). So you can see why weight is an issue, although, as I have said, battery life is probably even more of one. 7 lbs shouldn't be too heavy?
     
    Fewmets, Oct 17, 2007
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  5. Eleison

    Eleison Thanatos Eleison

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    You would be able to tell a difference in weight if you held them in your hands, but it would not be significant enough to make the notebook go from, "Oh, that's nice," to, "Medic! I think my back's broken." In fact, you probably would not notice the weight difference at all in a backpack, shoulder-bag.
     
    Eleison, Oct 17, 2007
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  6. adinu

    adinu I pwn teh n00bs.

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    The only thing out of those upgrades that might increase the weight is the gpu. A dedicated gpu will require more cooling, thus extra heat pipes would need to be installed.

    A bigger hard drive, or more memory will not require anything else, thus will not affect weight.
     
    adinu, Oct 17, 2007
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  7. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    the gpu in my c90 is feather weight, I have taken it out and held it. ram is feather weight. The weight is from things like the chassis in general, all your heatsinks, and the battery.

    From there its just all the really small stuff adding up.
     
    ViciousXUSMC, Oct 17, 2007
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  8. Dreamer

    Dreamer The Bad Boy

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    Well, it's written on the site...
    Otherwise, the Vostro 1500/ Inspiron 1520 is about 7.4 lbs with the 9 cell battery, and the total carrying weight (with AC Adapter) came out about 8.4lbs... In other words, it's one of the thickest and heaviest 15.4" notebooks around.
     
    Dreamer, Oct 18, 2007
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