Dell Vostro 1500

lay-z-boy · 8 May 2008 at 22:47

jmhduck said:
anyone know how good the intel x3100 (I know its probably not great, although I'm not interested in comments that just say they're ****). I believe that is the gfx in the new vostro 1510.

With the latest drivers, I'm able to run source games at 1280x800 high settings, no aa and 16x af around 20-30fps in 'action', very playable.
I also have oblivion installed, 800x600 low-med settings, getting about 20-25fps avg. when I'm outside.

fish99 · 9 May 2008 at 03:17

jmhduck said:
anyone know how good the intel x3100 (I know its probably not great, although I'm not interested in comments that just say they're ****). I believe that is the gfx in the new vostro 1510.

Intel have a game compatibility list for the GM965 which has the X3100 video. Here's for Vista-

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intelgm965/sb/CS-026200.htm

and for XP-

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intelgm965/sb/CS-026146.htm

if you click the 'details' you can see settings. For instance optimal setting for Quake 4 is 640*480 res, same thing with COD2, tells me it's not gonna be up to much gaming with recent games TBH.

Bradmax57 said:
same as in the vostro 1500 isnt it?

Until about 2 weeks ago you could get the 1500 with 8600M GT 256 mb DDR2. Looks like the 1510 is replacing it.

Fozzie55 · 9 May 2008 at 07:53

Qdos said:
It's a minor niggle

The whole bottom row shifted one key to the right, the Z under the S/D instead of the A/S keys. What a ****-up, good job you don't touch type

SimonC · 9 May 2008 at 11:06

fish99 said:
Intel have a game compatibility list for the GM965 which has the X3100 video. Here's for Vista-

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intelgm965/sb/CS-026200.htm

and for XP-

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intelgm965/sb/CS-026146.htm

if you click the 'details' you can see settings. For instance optimal setting for Quake 4 is 640*480 res, same thing with COD2, tells me it's not gonna be up to much gaming with recent games TBH.

Do you know if there is a similar thing with Nvidia, i've been searching but not found anything.

fish99 · 9 May 2008 at 11:45

Fozzie55 said:
The whole bottom row shifted one key to the right, the Z under the S/D instead of the A/S keys. What a ****-up, good job you don't touch type

Yeah it's way more than a minor niggle IMO, even if you don't touch-type, your brain and fingers are still used to keys being in a certain place. There's no way I'd keep a 1510 with that keyboard. Good job Dell seem to be doing something about it.

SimonC said:
Do you know if there is a similar thing with Nvidia, i've been searching but not found anything.

Sorry but I don't no.

Qdos · 9 May 2008 at 17:52

Yeah minor niggle is understating it slightly - I have a penchant for understatement

I sent an email as soon as I found that link to Dell, got a reply back just after lunch:

John, Thank you for your e-mail of 8th Of May 2008, regarding the issue with your Vostro 1510 keyboard. We are currently in the process of confirming the delivery of the replacement keyboards and BIOS update CD’s into the UK, at which point we’ll be able to begin the replacement program. It is anticipated that this logistics work will be completed mid next week, allowing us to contact you towards the end of that week and arrange a date for the technician to perform the necessary replacement.

Should you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the [email protected] mail address, or via phone, on 02871303045.

Looks like they're on the ball, might send em a cheeky email seeing if I can get any swag for the inconvenience of having a wonky keyboard.

Ascendancy · 19 May 2008 at 13:28

Well my Vostro 1510 came about an hour ago. Pleased with it so far, just performed a fresh install of Vista x64 on it and I'm currently installing all the drivers for it.

Ripper · 19 May 2008 at 18:33

I'm considering selling my Vostro to get a mac. Been out of the loop since I started this thread, how much do you think I could sell it for now? Still as good as new, specs in OP.

prescott28 · 19 May 2008 at 19:03

Why are you wanting to swap to a Mac? I am looking for a replacement laptop for my 2001 antique and have been looking at Mac as well as Dell and would love do ideas on which to choose.

prescott28 · 19 May 2008 at 19:08

A NOTE FOR THOSE WHO WANT A BIT MORE POWER

I spoke to a Dell person this afternoon and was told the 9 cell battery is available on at least the 1700 range of Vostro for an extra £50. Worth thinking about to keep the thing running away from home - a concern of mine..

Ripper · 19 May 2008 at 19:10

Just for a change really

The Dell's a cracking laptop but I can't afford to keep it and get a mac so something has to give. And considering i've finished my degree my computer usage will consist of just net browsing and listening to music now so the power of the dell is wasted on me

Bonjour · 19 May 2008 at 21:56

prescott28 said:
A NOTE FOR THOSE WHO WANT A BIT MORE POWER

I spoke to a Dell person this afternoon and was told the 9 cell battery is available on at least the 1700 range of Vostro for an extra £50. Worth thinking about to keep the thing running away from home - a concern of mine..

I got a 9 cell battery with my 1500, for free!

Definately helps.

Qdos · 25 May 2008 at 22:41

[RANT]
Had the engineer over on Wednesday to replace my dodgy keyboard - sorted that no problem, but went to flash the BIOS as that's muffed up as well - but couldn't as he didn't have the right BIOS.

Promised to come next day, but didn't call - and now I'm currently stuck with a normal keyboard layout, but the keys are still one out. Had to attach a wireless keyboard to the laptop to use it now. Called Dell on Friday, but no call back as to when they're going to sort me out. Seriously annoyed :mad:

Reckon it's worth me asking Dell for some recompense for the trouble they're causing me? (as I will have to take another day off to wait in for the engineer)

[/RANT]

fred_easey · 26 May 2008 at 10:43

Out of interest, did anyone ever find out a fix for the BSOD that you get when coming out of sleep/hibernation mode sometimes?

Bonjour · 26 May 2008 at 12:38

fred_easey said:
Out of interest, did anyone ever find out a fix for the BSOD that you get when coming out of sleep/hibernation mode sometimes?

Never got it tbh.

XP or Vista?

peetee · 26 May 2008 at 13:30

iv just started using the sleep mode etc quite a lot lately n never had it either.

edit **im XP for the record, investigate the BSOD code its bound to be a dodgey driver.

SimonC · 26 May 2008 at 13:38

I use sleep, hibernate. XP 32bit. no BSOD

Bonjour · 26 May 2008 at 13:42

Same here, never experienced it on Vista 64-bit.

Possibly something to do with a dodgy ACPI driver?

lay-z-boy · 28 May 2008 at 14:08

fred_easey said:
Out of interest, did anyone ever find out a fix for the BSOD that you get when coming out of sleep/hibernation mode sometimes?

Graphics drivers.

Undoubtedly.

With some versions I couldn't come out of sleep/hib at all, some gave occasional bsods and others work perfectly fine.

174.74 allows me to sleep/hib perfectly fine, run the graphics card at full speed on battery (later ones like 175.xx don't seem to be able to do this) and give good performance/dvc.

bledd · 28 May 2008 at 14:50

we've got a few in work

not as nifty as the old D600 range, they were awesome laptops (albeit non widescreen, centrino etc)

takes two batteries (one in the dvd bay) and is nice and small

for me, this is the perfect laptop