I have to buy a dell, but need advice on addons

U

UNR.grad

New Member
I'm sure some of you are more knowledgeable when it comes to computer/laptop components, so any help would be appreciated. I am going to dental school in the fall at UCLA and we have to get a Latitude laptop D430, D630, or a D830. I think I am going to go with the D630 because the D430 may be too small and the D830 may be too big, but if you have any advice on this as well please help me out.

Like I said I'll be using it to school and carrying it to there everyday,using it 8-5 off and on, and also at least few hours each night to study, along with personal use. It's going to get a ton of use and I want it to last all 4 years.

Here are the options they gave us on the D630, I'll post all of them and tell me what you would recommend, if the add-ons are worth the money. Also some of my questions in Red.

Processor
  • Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (2.20GHz) 4M L2 Cache, 800Mhz Dual Core [Included in Price]
  • Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9300 (2.50GHz) 6M L2 Cache, 800Mhz Dual Core [add $80.00]


LCD
  • 14.1 inch Wide Screen WXGA LCD Panel [Included in Price]
  • 14.1 inch Wide Screen WXGA+ LCD Panel [add $30.00] I couldn't find the difference between the +, anybody know?


RAM

  • 2.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS [Included in Price]
  • 2.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 1 DIMM [add $30.00] I though this would be better in the future if I needed to upgrade
  • 4.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS [add $170.00]


Hard drive Not sure about the free fall sensor, but I should upgrade to 7200RPM right to help with speed?
  • 80GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 5400RPM [Included in Price]
  • 80GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM (Free Fall Sensor) [add $40.00]
  • 120GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 5400RPM [add $25.00]
  • 120GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM (Free Fall Sensor) [add $75.00]
  • 160GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM (Free Fall Sensor) [add $95.00]
  • 120GB Hybrid Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 5400RPM [add $130.00]


Keypad

  • Standard Touchpad [Included in Price]
  • Touchpad with UPEK® Fingerprint Reader [add $29.00] From what I've read is the fingerprint reader makes the keypad smaller and more of a pain to use, is the security worth it?


Wireless card I should just go for the n now right? Will both still be compatible with a/b/g networks? Is intel's better?

  • Dell Wireless™ 1490 802.11a/g Dual-band Mini Card [Included in Price]
  • Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Dual-Band Mini Card [add $10.00]
  • Dell Wireless™ 1505 Draft 802.11n Mini Card [add $20.00]
  • Intel® 4965 802.11a/g/n Dual-Band Mini Card [add $30.00]


Battery

  • 6 Cell Primary Battery [subtract $99.00] Save some money and go with a smaller battery? The school recommends the larger for all day in class, so maybe stay with it.
  • 9 Cell Primary Battery [Included in Price]


Charger

  • 90W A/C Adapter [Included in Price]
  • 90W A/C Adapter, Energy Star Compliant [add $0.00] Why would anyone not get this charger if it's better for the environment/powerbill, does it take longer to charge?


These are the specifications that we have no choice in, any thoughts if I should really try to change/upgrade any of them:
  • Genuine Windows Vista® Business Service Pack 1, With media [Included in Price]
  • 128MB NVIDIA® Quadro NVS 135M™ [Included in Price]
  • 8X DVD+/-RW w/Roxio and Cyberlink Power DVD™ [Included in Price]
 
I would upgrade the processor, get the 1 dimm of ram for upgrading like you said, I would get the bigger hard drive, also the + means a larger screen. I would get the screen, but that dell does have a bad graphics card.
 
WXGA+ (1440x900) pixel panel-stick with the 5400RPM HDD will make batt last longer. But I don't know about lasting 4 yrs. Most of the repairs I do are Dells. SO make sure you get the insurance on it. Dells notebooks are known for burning the charger area on the mother board which cost $$$$. You cant find this issues on own Dells forum.
 
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n usually works with b and g, but not a (hardly any cards work with a)

n isnt essential. G is fine at the moment.

get the bigger battery. Remember thay faster HDD = less battery life
 
Stick to the 5400 RPM drive. Not only will the battery last longer, the drive will, which is more important. A 7200 + RPM drive generates more heat, and a laptop cannot afford heat.
 
I have a 7200rpm hard drive and my laptop isn't hot. But, if you get a large 5400rpm hard drive, for example a 5400rpm 320gb hard drive will be about as fast as a 160gb 7200rpm hard drive. I also don't think that dell will last more than 3 years tops.
 
cohen said:
Build your own :P

Get better stuff anyway.
Click to expand...

please read before you post. they were required to get either of the three dell models.

i would stick with the weaker processor, it's not that weak and it'll be fine for clerical tasks. and get the 9 cell battery, with that your laptop should last most of the day. ;)
 
The 9 cell battery might be worth getting. It actually doubles as a wrist-wrest I believe but it might get too warm for comfort if you're using the laptop for a long time and charging.
 
UNR.grad said:
I am going to dental school in the fall at UCLA and we have to get a Latitude laptop D430, D630, or a D830.
Click to expand...

I would double check this. It sounds to me like a Dell payed the collage to do this.
My sister had the same issue when she went to collage I called asked exactly why she needed this labtop brand and they wouldn't give me a answer SO my solution was to use a old Dell case and build it from scratch.
Teachers didn't know the wiser and she had better performance for less then her class mates. She never had problems.

I would at the least ask for the exact reasons why you need those 3 models. If they can't give you a exact reason then you can decide from there.

If it won't effect you then id go another route problem with Dell is it uses Dell only parts = buy from Dell = More Cash Gone.
 
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