X-bit labs

Dell’s XPS “Formula” Notebooks Get GeForce Go 7900 GTX, Dual-Core Chips.

Category: Mobile

by Anton Shilov

[ 04/18/2006 | 12:40 PM ]

Dell Inc., the world’s largest maker of personal computers, has updated its lineup of XPS notebooks for performance-minded gamers with the new XPS M1710 that feature dual-core processors, Nvidia’s new GeForce Go 7900 GTX graphics chip as well as special edition Formula red or metallic black designs, which makes gaming a stylish thing.

Top-of-the-range Dell XPS M1710 comes with 17” UXGA (1600x1200) screen, Intel Core Duo T2600 (2.16GHz) processor, Nvidia GeForce Go 7900 GTX graphics adapter with 512MB of GDDR3 memory, up to 4GB of dual-channel DDR2 PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 SDRAM, up to 100GB hard disk drive, CD/DVD burner, wireless 802.11g networking, TV-tuner and so on. Dell installs Windows Media Center edition operating system and may bundle the remote control with the laptop as well.

The new XPS M1710 notebooks not only sport dual-core processors – for the first time in history of mobile XPS machines for gamers – but also sport Nvidia’s new GeForce Go 7900 GTX graphics processing unit (GPU), which is currently only available at Dell.

Nvidia GeForce Go 7900 GTX is produced using 90nm process technology and is based on the recently introduced GeForce 7900-series graphics processing units (GPU). The GeForce 7900 GTX has 24 pixel processors, 8 vertex processors and is clocked at 500MHz, a pretty high speed for mobile chip. Nvidia recommends to use 512MB of 1200MHz GDDR3 memory with 256-bit along with the new mobile graphics chip.

Dell offers design choices of special edition Formula Red or Metallic Black displays so gamers can play in high style. To further customize the look, each XPS M1710 notebook features an illuminated XPS touchpad and adjustable 16-color perimeter lighting.

The ultimate performance, however, comes at a pretty high weight – about 4 kilograms (8.75 pounds) – and at the costs starting from $2600 and ending at $4310 price-point when fully featured.