vostro 1500 - please check if the power of the componentes is as it should be

Hi,

just benched my vostro 1500 a bit, please check if it's ok (for that configuration); want to find out if the hardware i ordered really is inside.

Dell Vostro 1500 - C2D T7250 @2.00GHz (not overclocked) - 8400M GS - 160GB Sata/AHCI HDD - 3GB RAM - cpu / ram on 667MHz FSB - mainboard don't know


http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sandraleistungsindexak9.jpg
http://img210.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pcmarkscoreshl5.jpg

3dmark06, lowest settings I guess
http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3dmarkscoreskl9.jpg


- do i need a "dualcore optimizer" program? i already changed processor numb from 1 to 2 in msconfig.
- i found out that 8600m GT instead of current would only have been 50 €uros difference. did i make a mistake buying 8400M GS ?
- cpu reaches 75°Celsius when used. is this ok?
- there are so many drivers available. do i need "intel matrix storage manager" and "intel turbo memory" when i already installed the "intel chipset" ?
i don't want to use the dell support-utility, don't want to connect over the internet with them.

cYA

 

Your picture links are cut off.

It depends on your needs really, if you wanted to play newer games at higher settings then I would have jumped for the 8600M GT. If you're a light gamer, you should be fine.

75C for your CPU might be getting a bit hot, have you tried to undervolt your processor? It doesn't reduce performance in any way, it just reduces heat and power consumption. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=235824

 

You should be scoring ~1400 with the 8400m GS in 3DMark06 at standard settings.

 

CPU seems to be performing fine, what is hurting you is the 8400GS if you want high settings gaming. Especially since the 8400 shares memory with the system's main memory.

The 8400 is not bad for entry level gaming, but if you want higher quality gaming you should definitely change the card to a 8600GT, not only it is faster, it also has its own memory so it does not suffer performance wise.

Also, benchmark software should be run with a clean OS installation to obtain true results. Clean installation means just the OS, drivers and software to test.

No other programs should be running on the background.

 

The 8400m GS is a dedicated card that has its own memory as well.

 

No idea, depends on the model I guess, I've got a couple on a couple of Vostros 1400 and 1500 I had with 8400GS, they both had 128MB of their own RAM but shared other 128MB with the main memory to obtain 256MB of RAM. No way I've been able to turn it off.

 

The 8600m GT does that as well. It's usually 256+256. Almost all nVidia cards use Turbocache, and almost all ATI cards use Hypermemory.

 

Hmm...I've got to check on that.

I think the 8600GT on my Vostro 1500 has 256MB of its own RAM. I'll have to confirm later when I get back home from work.

(the other two Vostros I mentioned that are equipped with the 8400GS are a couple I purchased acting as a proxy buyer for a couple of friends)

 

It does. The 8600m GT has 256/512 dedicated + some number shared. Same thing with the 8400m GS - some number dedicated + some number shared. That's how pretty much all dedicated cards are made.

 

I'll try to run 3dmark again, and i'll check the undervolting guide.

it's just that 8600M GT would have been cheap. and from 1400 to >3000 3dmarks06, i made a mistake, in my opinion.

are the steps the same in 3dmark 06? i mean, for example,
- from 400 3dmarks to 1400 = 50% more power let's say;
- 1400 to 2400 3dmarks = 50% more power too, or less?

 

I took a look. My 8600GT is 256MB of its own RAM. Doesn't use Turbocache to make the 512MB. Which is better for me as I don't want to compromise main RAM or performance.

 

It still uses turbocache RAM, check your display settings > advanced settings > adapter tab

It will say something like 2000mb total gpu ram but only 256mb of it is dedicated

you can also type in dxdiag.exe on the run bar

 

before i run any benchmarks, i will undervolt my T7250.
actually it seems to run @ 1.288V - 1.387V (Everest CPUID).


€dit: RMClock works with vista.


Undervolting sounds nice. but, what would happen if i don't? would it be a problem with the lifetime of cpu when running @70*Celsius +?

cya

 

Undervolting has no disadvantages. trust me, it may take a while to figure it out, but you will be so glad you did.
You will have lower cpu temperatures, and longer battery life, without sacrificing any performance.
Keep in mind that the lower the cpu temperatures the better so undervolting will be better for your laptop as a whole.

Undervolting = less heat generated, which means that the cpu, motherboard and near by components do not heat up as much, which means longer lifespans.

Usually laptops only fail because of heat, or a defective part.

K-TRON

 

Ok. But i still don't know in what steps i should undervolt it. And another issue is that there are differences in voltage anyway (i think), dependent on running with or without Power Supply....

Second thing: I ALWAYS use my notebook in a sleeve bag (the skin bag that fits to the nbook). the temps inside (sensors) don't really change, but the heat of the surface does. so this is not a problem, is it?

 

Donwload a copy of CPU Rightmark Clock Management, and follow the steps in the Undervolting thread. You should be able to cut about 18-20 F off of the running temperatures of your system.
Undervolting does not change any ac adaptor settings. Instead, it changes the resistivity on the mosfets on the motherboard. It increases the resistivity on order to drop voltage, and thus drop cpu temperatures.

The sleeve bag, is no good for your laptop. If it is blocking any of the heat vents, than you can potentially fry your laptop.
Keeping the laptop in a bag, cuts the airflow around the system, to zero, so the system will heat up much faster.
I recommend undervolting, and taking the system out of the sleeve (only if the sleeve is blocking an thermal vent)

K-TRON

 

Yeah, you're right, I just checked more thoroughly.