Dell Inspiron 8600: Mobile Multimedia goes Wide Screen
by Andrew Ku on October 9, 2003 1:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
Construction — Under the Hood (continued)
As we previously mentioned, our test system came with a single 512MB DDR PC2700 memory module. This leaves one other SODIMM slot unpopulated for upgrades down the road.|
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The mini-PCI slot on the 8600 is default configured with the Intel Pro/Wireless 2100, which qualifies the system to be called a “Centrino notebook.” Since our sample came configured with Dell's TrueMobile 1300 DualBand, it can't technically qualify for the “Centrino” dubbing. But this is more of simple marketing semantics, since the branding of “Centrino” gives the mobile vendor access to Intel's co-marketing funds. We found the TrueMobile 1300 DualBand to work just fine in comparison to Intel's standard Centrino wireless standard. This choice also provides us with 802.11g connectivity, which Intel has yet to provide.
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On the back, lower right-hand portion of the motherboard, there is a riser, which interfaces with the PCTEL modem that the 8600 uses. Our system didn't come with Bluetooth, which connects to the white connector below and to the right of the modem riser, so we weren't able to test this feature.
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Below is the motherboard, which as you can see, is basically the same as the motherboard that the Latitude D800 uses.
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We noticed that there was hand soldering involved for the D800's motherboard. The system we received this time seems to have undergone whatever they needed to fix.
The hard drive that came with our Inspiron 8600 is the Hitachi Travelstar HTS726060M9AT00 60GB 7200RPM. This is one of the more popular 7200RPM drives that we have been seeing in desktop replacement notebooks. This has some give-and-take issues. Since the 8600 is based on Centrino technology, it will benefit from the 5400RPM hard drive, which is the default configuration option. A 7200RPM drive will benefit those seeking to dedicate this for multimedia or other high-end purposes, but on the other hand, it will consume more power.
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olberd - Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - link
I've bought a Dell 8600c and I'm wondering if I can use generic SODIMM 200pin RAM for it, or I must use the more expensive RAM from kingston specifically designed for it.Some computer resellers tell me that I must use the kingston RAM 5150 for Dell. But a Dell supporter told me that standard RAM will do as well.
I understand that some notebooks are made with customized RAM modules. This makes spare parts more expensive and thus makes it an interesting note to add in the review of a notebook computer.
Rune
Duddy - Friday, November 26, 2004 - link
I just purchased an 8600 from Dell.com and the option for a Mobility Radeon 9600 was there and I ordered it. :)VIDEO: 128MB DDR ATI's MOBILITY® RADEON? 9600 PROTURBO
Total came out to be around $1800 plus 20% off all Inspiron notebooks. I paid exactly $1,516.40.
akodi - Thursday, November 6, 2003 - link
I bought a dell 8500 last week and am typing on it currently, it is the most awesome laptop I have ever used, the screen is super sharp (15.4 sxga+) to tell you the truth 1900x1200 would be way too small, 1680x1050 is preemo, so much damn realestate. I had a centrino but wasn't too impressed (600m) battery life was not that much better than a standard p4m, perhaps only a difference of a half hour. Being a college student at Cal I believe the 8500 is perfect, because at the library there are many power outlets so battery life isn't an issue, also if you plug in a wlan card you can use it in the library without a hitch (preemo bandwidth). On the video card issue, I wouldn't want to play games on a laptop not because of the graphics but mainly for the sound quality...sigmatel in my opinion is not kosher on the ears. Long live the forums and dell stackable coupons.Andrew Ku - Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - link
Sony, doesn't sell in the same volumes as Dell. Toshiba was the first to market with the Go56x0 (we mentioned this in the M10 and NV31M head to head). However, this was mainly with the Japanese market. This is also the case with Sony, as they are not widespread domestically. We didn't say that the 8600 was the first with NV31M; we said it was the first mainstream laptop with NV31M. This is in the context of the domestic market and demographics.Anonymous User - Saturday, October 18, 2003 - link
Just wanted to correct an error in the article. The Dell is not the first laptop with the Geforce FX 5600go. In fact I'm typing on a laptop that has one in it right now - a laptop I bought 3 months ago. The Sony Vaio GRT170. Just thought I'd let you know.Anonymous User - Thursday, October 16, 2003 - link
Somebody know EUROCOM notebooks?? are they good quality? They have "nice" notebooks wit m10pAnonymous User - Thursday, October 16, 2003 - link
nice photoshop art in my opinion... otherwise Andrew Ku would aahve known this don't you think????Anonymous User - Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - link
http://forum.tt-hardware.com/uploads/pub_dell_pcac...This scan shows a Dell 8600 with a mobility Radeon 9600XT (128mb). It does not show up on any of the dell sites I visited (French, Dutch, English). Is this a hoax or a dream come true?
Anonymous User - Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - link
Whatever... Dell is bull....Anonymous User - Sunday, October 12, 2003 - link
I must apollogize Mr Ku , I do seem to be wrong on certain facts there , but for my interest , would you kindly explain where the term Molex comes into mbile processing ,as it also refers to the electrical connector for a hard drive(or so I have been told/taught ) . As for Mobile processing often been entirely diffrent park , doesn't a desktop replacement laptop like , say a dell 8600 user a Pentuim-M chip , which uses 478 PPGA Flip - chip 2 array , just likes its desktop brother , the same that can be found in certain laptops as well , ? and doesn't Laptops use 333MHz DDR -Ram (albiet in SO-DIMM format ) , latest GPU'S , 7200 RPM hardrives , and some even with RAID systems . Please would you clarify this , as I am not challenging you , just simply asking ?Bandwidth Boy