jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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Need a 'new' laptop and have seen the XPS's (the 1330 and 1530) around alot on ebay etc and they seem good spec for the money. Anyone experienced them or recommend something similar thats better value or better built?
I don't need an amazing spec but would like to occasionally play the odd game on it (i know desktops are better but need portability) and run my web site from it.
Thoughts? 
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
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I've got an XPS420 desktop if that helps, and it plays stuff like Crysis fine on high settings 
Got a third party cooler and raised the clock speeds on my 3d card a little bit, but standard other than that.
I believe Alienware use the same Hardware as Dells with the newer laptops and desktops
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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You could probably get something as good without having to pay for the marketing from someone else.
As for Alienware, they are just Dells with ugly cases to make people think they are L33T.
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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quote:
Originally posted by ed
You could probably get something as good without having to pay for the marketing from someone else.
As for Alienware, they are just Dells with ugly cases to make people think they are L33T.
Any suggestions welcome! Just need something quick with a decent size RAM ideally 2GB+, a decent graphics card and 150GB (or so) hard drive.
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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oh and i don't want to spend more than £500 but don't mind slightly older models (ebay etc)
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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You can't go too far wrong with the deals they have on the Studio 15's at the moment. 320gb HDD, 250mb of video RAM, 4gb RAM..
http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop_studio_15?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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cheers they look pretty good actually! I'm always after a bargain so am gonna have a nosey on ebay
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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Just realised. Frustratingly (and illegally) Dell advertise their computer without VAT on their site so expect to pay a bit more if you go direct...
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PaulW
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Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Atherton, Greater Manchester
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The aluminium chasis has an adverse affect on the cooling, and gets very, Very hot!
Friend of mine has the 1530 and it gets stupidly hot running any kind of game, and will regularly blue-screen when its hot and under load too.
He downgraded from Vista to XP and it has helped quite a bit in regards to running temps, but still blue screens during game playing for any length of time.
[Edited on 20-08-2008 by PaulW]
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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He should get onto dell and make use of the excellent warranty then.
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PaulW
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Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Atherton, Greater Manchester
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he's on his third laptop already...
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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They'd have given him a refund no problem then, which is what i'd have taken after the second one if it's a system wide problem.
It doesn't have the faulty nvidia chip by any chance does it?
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PaulW
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Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Atherton, Greater Manchester
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Has the same Nvidia chip as my Acer (8600M GT), yet I dont have any of these issues, but I also don't run windows...
He's getting a refund soon though and buying something else.
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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Well thats exactly the effected chip then, G84, it's affecting millions, dell and hp have bought the majority of the faulty chips afaik.
The graphics chip in yours probably doesn't get much use without windows.
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PaulW
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Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Atherton, Greater Manchester
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Well I run compiz with all the glory at 1920x1200, and currently running eve online which is also at the same res ontop of compiz.
Mates laptop just running Eve with lower resolution blue-screens... I'd say mine is quite easily working harder than his.
[Edited on 20-08-2008 by PaulW]
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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lol so i shouldn't go for an XPS then? Any other recommendations?
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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The faulty chip isn't just a Dell issue, even alot of apple products have been recalled due to this.
Don't be put off of Dells for this reason alone
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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jrsteeve
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
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Update - got a Dell Studio 1535 2Ghz, 3GB, 250GB with 256mb Radeon graphics brand new for £449 (ebay) and then got 15% off for using paypal = £382.49!!!
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