Dell Vostro 1500

Just ordered the following

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7250 (2.00 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2-cache)
Memory
3072MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM (1x1024 + 1x2048 MB)
Video Card
256MB nVidia® GeForce® 8600M GT
Hard Drive
160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
LCD
15.4" Wide Screen WXGA+ (1440 x 900) Display with TrueLife™

Whoop, the only downside for my ordering stuff on the net is that I have to wait and I know now there will be a few sleepless nights lol :p
 
u have to wait if u ring up too =) same spec as what i have except iv only got 2gb of ram, 3 wouldnt make a diff for me though, cant see it making much for many since its not exactly a super computer =)
 
peetee said:
u have to wait if u ring up too =) same spec as what i have except iv only got 2gb of ram, 3 wouldnt make a diff for me though, cant see it making much for many since its not exactly a super computer =)
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I was just comparing to going into a shop and being able to walk out with what I want.

I wasn't looking for 3gb, 2gb would have been plenty but at the price I bought it for, I thought why not.

You say its not a super computer but against the one I'm using at the moment, 2GHZ P4, 512mb ram, 64mb graphics its certainly gonna be faster!
 
XP is faster than Vista as then OS has less to do (like no fancy Aero graphics etc). However, you can't get DirectX10 enabled features in XP- it's a feature only Vista supports.
 
Bossk128 said:
XP is faster than Vista as then OS has less to do (like no fancy Aero graphics etc). However, you can't get DirectX10 enabled features in XP- it's a feature only Vista supports.
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Just had a quick read on google about DirectX 9.L/9.0L for XP, seems to be the eqivilent for Vistas DirectcX 10. But dunno if its gonna be released or its just a rumour going around. :confused:
 
Bossk128 said:
XP is faster than Vista as then OS has less to do (like no fancy Aero graphics etc). However, you can't get DirectX10 enabled features in XP- it's a feature only Vista supports.
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Vista doesnt do the fancy aero graphics while you're playing games etc..
Plus its easy enough for someone to turn them off, its only drivers really seperating the 2 at the moment, and even then the difference is generally negligable..
Although I do prefer to use the XP install on my laptop over the vista because of compatibility, less keypresses(vista confirm this confirm that etc) and general compatibility.
 
fat_wife said:
Oh and.. what are the current advantages of xp over vista for gaming? im new to vista aswell o.O
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Better framerates, less issues, more free memory, less cpu usage by the OS etc. Just deleted Vista off my lappy and put XP on - the difference is enormous.
 
havnt really bothered using vista much on the laptop, since iv hardly used the thing anyway but i have no idea - vista isnt such a good option for me right now, ill wait a few months till i embrace it. I hope there is though, its bloody annoying for the ones among us that dont open stupid .exes etc.
 
I just got my vostro a few days ago, has anyone reinstalled windows and dell media direct? did you run into any problems?

I was reading the lil bit about dell media direct that you get with the cd and it says, 'after reinstalling media direct, exit the program then using the start menu turn the computer off. After its turned off press the media direct button to launch media direct??? is that a typo it makes no sense.

Also do you have to backup/burn anything thats already on the laptop? I've copied the dell and drivers folder but is there anything that I should copy before its gone?
 
Something I have just found out about.

My 160GB Seagate HD has been clicking when idle, I must admit that I didn't hear anything over the last two days, but today I have noticed it and its annoying. A clicking noise every second or two was gonna drive me up the wall even with the radio one I could still hear it! :mad: So After a quick google search I found these threads. I've done whats in the second thread and can confirm that it does stop the clicking noise. :) happy days.


HD problem

HD solution

Theres also interference when using headphones but from what I have read thats got something to do with a wire/s going over a certain part causing the interfernce. This vostro is nearly as bad with problems as my MK4 Golf 1.8t but im used to it. lol
 
SimonC said:
I just got my vostro a few days ago, has anyone reinstalled windows and dell media direct? did you run into any problems?

I was reading the lil bit about dell media direct that you get with the cd and it says, 'after reinstalling media direct, exit the program then using the start menu turn the computer off. After its turned off press the media direct button to launch media direct??? is that a typo it makes no sense.

Also do you have to backup/burn anything thats already on the laptop? I've copied the dell and drivers folder but is there anything that I should copy before its gone?
Click to expand...

The media direct button is also a power on button which boots into the media direct mini OS.
 
I wiped all the media direct etc partitions as i didnt have a need for them at that point in time, plus i was being told i wasnt aloud anymore partitions :( Where exactly is the media direct button? cos b4 i wiped it i had never found it :)
 
Anyone using duel-boot, Vista/Xp, had this problem...

sam.wheale said:
I’ve got Vista Ultimate installed on my Vostro 1500 laptop with XP Pro installed along side it in dual boot. Had no problems until a week or so ago when I think some new Vista updates were installed…

Now, only every now and then, upon trying to boot Vista I get the start of the load process and then I see a very brief flash of a BSOD before the machine re-starts. If I try to start Vista again it comes up the list of safe boot options – none of which seem to work? I think its more frequent after I've just restarted from XP?

The only thing I’ve found that does work is switching off and leaving it a few minutes, then its fine.

Loading XP is fine during this issue.
Click to expand...

Cheers,

SW.
 
I really do hate dell for not having the option of non truelife panels for higher res.

What are peoples take on the 1400x900 and the 1680x1050 panels?

Also i'm drawn to the 2Ghz CPU rather than the 1.4Ghz.. 600mhz seems like quite a hop, is it worth the extra?
 
I am typing this reply on my new vostro which came yesterday evening. I ordered the following;

Vostro 1500

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7250 (2.00 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2-cache)
2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM (2x1024)
256MB nVidia® GeForce® 8600M GT
120GB (5400rpm) SATA Hard Drive
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition - English
15.4" 1400x900 truelife.

This laptop is fantastic, the bloatware isn't that big of a deal and I didn't really find any need to format. I have installed Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop CS3, Photomatix and Noise Ninja 2, which are all resource hungry programs, and the laptop flys and has absolutely no problem processing 25MB RAW images from a digital medium format camera and my 8MB raw images from my 1D-s.

As for the monitor, it's very very crisp and puts my desktop to shame. The colors and clarity is spot on for my photo editing.

As for gaming, I installed CS:Source, the game runs fine, load up times are quick and I get around about 70-100 fps on a packed out (20 slot) deathmatch server, I didn't stick around though because he's hard to aim with a touch pad ;D I will say though that the graphics drivers need updating, everything in the distance is foggy/white. Does anyone know where I can get the latest drivers for the graphics card? Much appreciated.

Well chuffed :)

EDIT: peetee - the media direct button is the home key next to the num/caps lock lights :)
 
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