mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
User status: Offline
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For the usual stuff: watching blu-rays, downloading and watching movies and TV shows and music, streaming football games.
I've got a laptop at the moment and if I watch something on youtube or a downloaded TV program in HD it seems to struggle like it can't quite manage it!
Been look at a Dell Inspiron Zino HD 410.
Does this spec look man enough for the job?
AMD Phenom™ II X3 P860 (2GHz/1.5MB cache)
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz
1000GB SATA hard drive (7200RPM)
1024MB ATI Radeon™ HD5450 Video Card
Blu-Ray ROM Drive (read/write CD/DVD & read Blu-Ray Disc)
Only thing I'm not sure on is the processor, my laptop has an Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz, 3MB cache, which seems quite a lot better than the one in the Zino?
How important is the cache size on a processor?
My laptop doesn't have a video card so is that the difference between it playing HD smoothly or not?
Could I use the Windows 7 disc that comes with the new PC to put it on my laptop as well or will it only work on the one computer?
It's £528.99 for that spec and I can claim the VAT back by buying it through work so that works out at £423.19. Seem like a good deal/idea or not?
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Nismo
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Registered: 12th Sep 02
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have a look here.
http://www.cube247.co.uk/
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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Get a Core i5 or i7 processor if you can...
Graphics card looks good though 
[Edited on 22-05-2011 by pow]
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mwg
Member
Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
User status: Offline
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Can't upgrade the processor to either of those on a Zino pow... this is why I'm wondering if it's better getting a more 'normal' size base unit as you seem to get more for your money.
e.g. Inspiron 620s with an identical spec to the Zino apart from it has an Intel® CoreTM i3 2100 (3.1GHz/3MB cache) but it doesn't have a Blu-ray drive is £428.99. I guess blu-ray wouldn't matter so much really as I have a PS3 and blu-ray drive on my laptop already. Would have to check if it has a HDMI port on the Inspiron though.
To upgrade to an i5 processor over the i3 is £170 more.
And that site doesn't seem to list anything when I do a search on it Nismo.
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Russ
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Registered: 14th Mar 04
Location: Armchair
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if it just for watching blu-rays then you dont need an i5
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
User status: Offline
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If I get an Inspiron 620 it won't be blu-rays as they don't come with blu-ray drive. Will be playing HD downloads though.
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noshua
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Registered: 19th Nov 08
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Seems a bit overkill if you're just downloading/playing/streaming video and music. You having it connected to a TV in the living room or something?
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
User status: Offline
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Yeah it'll be plugged in to the TV all the time. I can't stand having a slow machine though, does my tits in so I'd rather over do it. Plus it's only £340 odd (without the VAT) if I get the Inspiron. I might have AutoCAD on it too if I can acquire a copy 
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noshua
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Registered: 19th Nov 08
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Fair enough - just make sure you think about what kind of noise it's going to give off, especially if the TV is on low.
edit: Grab a copy of XBMC as well if you keep your films downloaded
[Edited on 23-05-2011 by noshua]
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
User status: Offline
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That looks very cool!
Do you know if I will be able to use the copy of Windows 7 that comes with it on more than one machine? Pretty sure when I got my Dell laptop I could of installed Vista on up to 3 machines.
[Edited on 23-05-2011 by mwg]
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Russ
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Registered: 14th Mar 04
Location: Armchair
User status: Offline
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get a mac and install plex
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mwg
Member
Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
User status: Offline
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Mac's are expensive. Not sure if you can use sopcast on them either? Mac's are alien to me, I don't know what you can and can't download/do on them.
[Edited on 23-05-2011 by mwg]
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Russ
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Registered: 14th Mar 04
Location: Armchair
User status: Offline
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you can kind of use sopcast kinda kind of kinda
(you can't)
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noshua
Member
Registered: 19th Nov 08
User status: Offline
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I think you can use the Windows 7 license, as you mentioned, on up to 3 computers. Never tried to though.
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
User status: Offline
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 no you can't
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