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Inspiron Notebook Graphics Card Options Are LACKING...budget gamers VOTE to change!

820 points posted to Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Gaming by syrics06 11/21/07

Dell,

It wasn't but 2-YEARS ago when I purchased my Inspiron E1705. It came equipped with a Geforce Go 7900GS ($299.00 Option) which was perfect for gaming....Now, it wasn't near as fast as the Geforce Go7900GTX that was in the XPS line but it provided me with a good 'BUDGET' gaming computer.

I recently have been circling your website to find a similar budget/gaming configuration and have been unsuccessful. Why?

Dell only offers LOW END graphics cards like the Geforce 8400GS/GT & Geforce 8600GS/GT...Sure, they are DX10...but what good does that do if you can't even play a DX10 game at a reasonable framerate?

I mean C'MON DELL....A Geforce 8600GT in a 17" laptop? My 2-year old laptops graphics card is MUCH FASTER....Whats up here?

It seams you are forcing the budget gamers to either choose HORRIBLE FRAME-RATES or $2500.00+ XPS Systems that the performance will be doubled on in two months AKA - XPS 1730 w/ SLI 8700M - Being replaced in January with 8800M SLI...by the way...ONE 8800M is faster than the TWO 8700Ms....WONDERFUL...
so for those of you that just dropped close to $3,000.00...SIT COMFORTABLE KNOWING YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOUBLED ON IN JANUARY.

Budget gamers UNITE and VOTE 'YES' to "BETTER GRAPHICS CARD OPTIONS IN INSPIRON NOTEBOOKS".

Dell, all we want is the OPTION...even if it costs $300.00...let us atleast choose a SINGLE 8700M or 8800M GT in the 17" inspiron notebooks "desktop replacements".

Josh V.

davcnslt
11/21/07		 This user make s a good point. I am not a gamer, but as a Dell user for last 12 years, (soho, 4 systems at any one time) I have felt that Dell's offerings in graphics cards has always been a knotch or two below the performance mark in the industry. The only point that I would make is that even as a non-gamer, I would like a richer higher performance graphics capability, and would choose an upgraded option if available. Higher-end graphics are not just for gamers but also for presentations that include video and other bit-rich graphic presentations.
winoffice
11/21/07		 syrics06: "Dell, all we want is the OPTION...even if it costs $300.00...let us atleast choose a SINGLE 8700M or 8800M GT in the 17" inspiron notebooks "desktop replacements"."

Yes and especially in the XPS notebooks. Did Dell not design XPS systems originally for gaming?
matthew2142
11/22/07		 I'm not a gamer,. but i do fell options should ALWAYS be included!
hieloco
11/22/07		 Competitors like Nexoc, Rock Xtreme, and others are already offering the 8800GT in their configurations as we speak. Dell HAS to introduce those parts to the XPS m1730 before Christmas. The fact that Alienware is getting them in Q1 2008 is not good enough. It seems as if the XPS line is playing second fiddle to Alienware.

The release of UT3 is obviously boosting the LAN gaming scene. If gamers on the go look for a computer right now, they will obviously go for the ones that include the 8800GT. Dell is making a grave error by not releasing these parts sooner for the XPS m1730! It will loose customers to competing brands! I can't stress how obvious that is!

Dell could market the XPS m1730 with the 8800GTXs SLI and the Ageia card as the ultimate Unreal Tournament 3 rig for laptop gamers! Please don't miss this opportunity!
winoffice
11/22/07		 I completely agree with matthew2142 - the key words here are "the option". This way, those who do not want the high-end graphics cards will not order them, and those who want them will.
matthew2142
11/22/07		 yep. There are people with tight budjects you know... they can't afford high end parts...
matthew2142
11/26/07		 some do you know, they make them. Alein ware makes them, dell marks them.
matthew2142
11/26/07		 just cuz u dont doesn't mean others do
ah1f
11/28/07		 I agree I have bought 2 systems in the last 3 months. AMD is my preference, so the choices were limited to...none. 1721 and 1521 note books. Less ram no video choices. Why do we have to buy Intel to get choices?
artifexanimus
12/04/07		 Idea: Make the top card for the Inspiron 1520 the 8700M GT. Then make the options for the Inspiron 1720 the 8700M GT and the 8800M GTS. For the XPS, include the top of the line 8800M GTX.

Aside: Why do the cards Dell install only use GDDR2? The nVidia cards support up to GDDR3. The faster RAM = better performance.
dannyboy91
12/20/07		 this guy knows what he's talking about... even the XPS 1330 would be endlessly more appealing if it had more options with the graphics. I know its meant for portabillity but still. . .even an 8600M GT for the 1330 for be great
tad1214
Feb 19		 Budget and Gaming cannot be used in the same sentence, unless your saying its not possible.
canadaboy
Feb 21		 The 17" Inspiron is sooooooooo close and ready to replace my Inspiron 9400. But it's the graphics card/video out:
(1) We've got the 9300 chip option! Yes!
(2) But I'm needing the 8800M GXT + DVI out.

Dell - you are so close to having me drop my cash for the laptop I'm looking for: Intel 9X00 chip (yes), NVidia 8800 GXT card (not yet)
It's the sweet spot to drive a LOT of sales.
winoffice
Feb 21		 tad1214: "Budget and Gaming cannot be used in the same sentence, unless your saying its not possible."

That is not true. If someone is a budget gamer, then that means that he is a gamer, but he is not among the most advanced gamers. It means that he goes for the simpler games - those which do not require the most expensive hardware.
tad1214
Feb 28		 Ok, I apologize for that statement, it was a bit stretched. I mean more so to say, you can't expect the latest and greatest in consumer grade laptops rather than Gaming grade. Not to mention the XPS series of laptops are very reasonable now. It would also just compete with their XPS line, and internal competition is not really a good thing. I would expect a middle of the road card to be the best you could get in an Inspiron.
memn
Mar 1		 I so agree about options. My Inspiron with integrated graphics won't run Second Life! Come on, Dell. Options, options, options used to be your game. Now...the graphics options on all but the *heaviest* (and therefore least portable) laptops are absolutely pathetic.
bucca09
Mar 10		 2 thumbs up. It would be great if makers would at least figure out a way to allow an external unit to be plugged in like the eternally-in-limbo ASUS XC or follow MXM designs. I'd trade off a thicker/wider case for room to upgrade.
No, I'm not technically proficient, but I've read some stuff in my searching...
union
Mar 16		 I strongly agree: if you're spending $1500-$2000 on a 17" laptop, CLEARLY customers are expecting solid multimedia performance.

At least make upper/mid-range cards available as options on the 1720 and smaller XPS laptops, even for a $200-$300 premium--they would still make money off it. And while Dell's at it, how about adding ANY graphics card to the new 1525?
sscott
Mar 31		 The inspiron deserves a 8800m GTS option and would be configured as such by many buyers!
jettic
Apr 17		 I'm currently saving up for an Inspiron 1720, and I'm really hoping that by the time I can afford to get one, that there will be a better option for graphics cards, at the very least Dell, could you introduce the 8700M GT as an option? I would even pay up to $500 extra if an option for something like the 8800M GTS where included.

The only limitations that I see here, is that Dell is unwilling to include better cards in the Inspiron 1720 because they want gamers to spend 2500+ on the XPS line, and as a teen, I just can't afford anything over $2000. (Dell, along with other companies out there, have managed to fit TWO 8800GTX's in one notebook, so heat/power req. are not the issue).

Please Dell, consider putting at least an 8700M GT, or even the 8800M GTS in your future upgrades of the Inspiron 1720, as I don't think the cost of an XPS is something I can afford, and I would be more than willing to add $500 to the price of the notebook I have currently configured (as my current configuration comes up to $1100).
canadaboy
May 20		 It's what's holding me back from my next purchase. Looking for non-dual 8800 video card in a non-powerhouse model ("the Beast" is too beasty for little old me) in 17" screen.

It seems to be the missing segment: while there's heavy gaming (the beast and Alienware), and the value/style line (Inspiron/XPS), there's a gap that's opened up in the middle, with something that's not 9.6 lbs. (7.6 is fine), and has more video power than the 8600.
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