The Test


Windows XP Professional Test System
Dell Inspiron 8600 Dell Latitude D800 Gigabyte NB-1401 IBM T40 IBM X31 Desktop System
CPU(s) Pentium M 1.7GHz Pentium M 1.6GHz Pentium M 1.4GHz Pentium M 1.5GHz Pentium M 1.4GHz Pentium 4 2.4GHz
Motherboard(s) Dell 855PM Dell 855PM FIC 855GM IBM 855PM IBM 855PM Intel D845EBT 845E
Memory 512MB PC2700 512MB PC2100 512MB PC2100 256MB PC2100 256MB PC2100 512MB PC2100
Hard Drive 60GB 7200RPM 40GB 5400RPM 40GB 4200RPM 40GB 5400RPM 40GB 4200RPM IBM Deskstar DPTA-372050 20.5GB 7200 RPM
CDROM DVD+RW CD-RW/DVD CD-RW/DVD CD-RW/DVD N/A Philips 48X
Video Card(s) NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5650 128MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce4 4200 Go 64MB DDR Integrated 855PM ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 ATI Mobility Radeon 16MB DDR ATI Radeon 9000 Pro 64MB
NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 128MB
Ethernet Onboard Broadcom 10/100 Onboard Intel Gigabit Onboard Intel Gigabit Onboard Intel Gigabit Onboard Intel Gigabit Linksys LNE100TX 100Mbit PCI Ethernet Adapter
Operating System Windows XP Professional SP1
Video Drivers NVIDIA 44.82 (latest available for Dell) NVIDIA 42.56 (latest available for Dell) Intel 6.13.10.3510 ATI 6.13.10.6278
(latest available for IBM)
ATI 7.79.7.3 (latest available for IBM) ATI Catalyst 3.1
NVIDIA 41.09
Benchmarking Applications Bapco SysMark 2002
ZDM Content Creation Winstone 2003
ZDM Business Winstone 2002
BAPCo Mobile Mark 2002

For benchmarking purposes, we will stick with our normal array of benchmarks. For 3D benchmarks, we would reference our ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 and NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5650 review.


Construction - Under the Hood (continued) General Usage Performance
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  • Andrew Ku - Saturday, October 11, 2003 - link

    Hey bud :), I don't recall 386 processors in notebooks that used sockets... In fact, only recently have notebooks on such a wide scale used molex socket designs to house processors, and this is more for the ease of scalability and or the need to use desktop components. Remember that when you are talking about the mobile side of pcs, often times it becomes an entirely different ball park than when compared to the desktop side.

    Btw, if you are refering to the use of "molex," it is a technically correct term. Additionally, we did not write "molex connectors." If you read page 4, you will see that we instead wrote "molex socket."
  • Anonymous User - Saturday, October 11, 2003 - link

    I just wonder when CPU's went from using sockets ," as they have done since the 386" , to using molex connectors as refered to in the article , should technical writers proof read more ????

    bandwidthboy
  • Anonymous User - Friday, October 10, 2003 - link

    The 7200 rpm uses less power if used over time..indicated by the write wattage.
    Here's a quick comparison of wattage use from the previous 60GB/5400 rpm model vs the 7K60/7200 rpm model:

    60GB/5400 RPM vs 60GB/7200 RPM:
    Max (startup/spinup) - 5W vs 5.5W
    Seek (avg): 2.6W for both
    Read (avg): 2.5W for both
    Write (avg): 2.7W vs 2.5W
    (7K60 slightly lower)
    Performance idle (avg): 2.0W for both
    Active idle (avg): 1.3W for both
    Sleep: 0.1W for both
  • Anonymous User - Friday, October 10, 2003 - link

    well if you guys are looking for m10's in laptops you can try looking here:

    http://atitech.com/buy/onboard/mobile/mobilityrade...

    you can also try http://pctorque.com, they have the same laptops as some of the ones on the ati site but a little cheaper i think (plus there's one that has an option for a 2x dvd-rw drive and a built in tv tuner :) (that's if you're willing to dish out upwards in about $3000US for it
  • Anonymous User - Friday, October 10, 2003 - link

    # 4 If you want quality settings like FSAA & Aniso the ATI is much..much.. better.
    Also 2D graphics quality is on the ATI A LOT better!!
  • Anonymous User - Thursday, October 9, 2003 - link

    He meant for a monitor only, read more carfully
  • Anonymous User - Thursday, October 9, 2003 - link

    # 2 try 2300.00 w/out a M10
  • Anonymous User - Thursday, October 9, 2003 - link

    Actually they are not nearley that expensive for the 17" wide screens. Samsung has one of the best, the 172w.

    http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&a...

    Well, I have a 8600 on the way, wont ship until early november because dell claims the 1920x1200 screens will not be in until OCt 28.
  • Anonymous User - Thursday, October 9, 2003 - link

    I totally agree on the fact that Dell should offer a notebook with the Ati M10(p) !!!
    ...I live in Belgium ( Europe ) an dcannot find a "known" brand with an ATI M10(p) offer...
  • Anonymous User - Thursday, October 9, 2003 - link

    Yes there out there but pricey, a 17" $700 -800 on up...

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