Author Topic: Inspiron 8100? will it do? (Read 641 times)

mietla · « **on:** August 30, 2001, 03:35:00 PM »

I'm getting ready for the Con and it occured to me that instead of dragging my tower along, I could get Inspiron 8100.

Anyone ran AH and or WB on this box?

Is it going to cut the mustard?

bloom25 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2001, 04:05:00 PM »

Isn't that an Old socket 423 P4 system with integrated video?

I'm at work right now, so I don't exactly have time to look, but if it is I wouldn't want it.

mietla · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2001, 04:08:00 PM »

No this is a top of a line DELL with 1.13 Mhz 512 Mb RAM and GeForce 2

http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/model_inspn_1_inspn_8000.htm

bloom25 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2001, 07:05:00 PM »

That's about the best notebook you can get. That should be able to run AH pretty well.

-lynx- · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2001, 06:02:00 AM »

I have 8000 with PIII 1GHz and 128MB. It's not GF2 btw, GF2Go is probable same as GF2MX performance wise, comes with 16MB or 32MB. Mine's 32MB.

Reference drivers don't work with GF2Go - I found a good source of up to date drivers for GF2Go at www.3Dchipset.com (Dell's useless at providing updated stuff

)

Currently running 12.60 cuz it gives steady 1865-1870 3D2001 marks (12.90 never went over 1860, 14.xx hosed 3D2001 marks down to 1700's

). 2 USB ports are just perfect for an optical mouse and Precision Pro USB... 15" screen is quite big (in fact it's just a tad smaller than the screen of my 17" Dell monitor at work). Sound's crap - expected, really, it's a laptop after all

.

Other than being a bit (1/4") thicker and not available in sexy (erm...) dark blue it knocks the socks off more expensive Sony Vaio my girlfriend chose (jeepers - what's the deal with 3 - three!!! - MB of graphics "power" anyway?

).

You also get network card/modem/infrared port built in as well (had to pay extra £60 to get PCMCIA network card for the stupid Sony.... Beware of the crap (really bad stuff

) aftersales support though. Here in the UK Dell is notorious for it. But they surely build them right and price them right too

I haven't tried AH/WB on it yet - it's this weekend project - just finished re-surrecting it after reformatting Dell's screwy "let's install all crap that we think is good for you" install... IL2 demo does look sweet though

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: -lynx- ]

mietla · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2001, 11:29:00 AM »

lynx,

thanks a lot for the info. It took a month but I finally got my toy. So far, I'm very happy with it, but there is one snag. Although most of the gams run just fine (AH, WWIIOL among them), Warbirds won't run on it (neither 2.77 not 3.0). The screen just goes blank. I'm pretty sure that this is because the driver issue you've mentioned. I tired to get them from the site you've provided, but the site is down.

Do you happen to have a copy lying around somewhere and could you email it to me at

amazur@bayarea.net

thanks

mietla

mietla · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2001, 05:05:00 PM »

never mind, must've screwed up somethig during the installation.

Everything is fine, I can run all my games.

Love this little box.

-lynx- · « **Reply #7 on:** October 03, 2001, 06:40:00 AM »

I'm glad you like it - I was trying AH on it over weekend and getting mid 50-s at 1024/32 no FSAA off-line. Just make sure that you boot it up with power lead in cuz due to stupid step-speed technology mine starts at 700MHz when running on batteries and needs a re-boot under mains to get back to 1GHz...

3Dchipset.com is often down, not sure what the problem is, funding prolly

A message on the site says "We will be back"... But they are on the ball with the most current stuff whenever they are on-line. They had 21.81 from Dell last time I looked - unfortunately, for WinMe only...