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mach3

28 Posts

25466

September 14th, 2004 06:00

5160 vs 5150

Hi,

Can anyone tell the difference between the two systems other than the color? I have a 5150 right now running with screen resolution 1600 x 1200. This is very great when programming you have a lot better view.

But when it comes to the new 5160 the maximum screen resolution is 1400 x 1050. This does not make sense to me. Is there any good explanation for this?

Best regards

chaistt

797 Posts

September 14th, 2004 08:00

I take it you mean on the laptop display (native resolution) they appear to be the same according to Dell Specs on website 5150 SXGA+ = 1400x1050 and 5160 SXGA+ = 1400x1050. You must have 1600x1200 on an external display so the 5160 should also be able to cope with that too. As for telling the difference, on the 5150 i beleive the modem port is on the right hand side. on the 5160 its at the back where your rear middle fan/vent is. The underneath is slighly different too.

ILoveMullets

192 Posts

September 14th, 2004 09:00

If your screen resolution is 1600x1200 then you have an Ultra XGA LCD screen.  This UXGA screen is no longer offered on the 5150.  the new 5160 only comes with a choice of xga, or super xga.  in other words your computer is better than a 5160 because a 5160 is 100% completely the same in all other aspects.  i have no clue why they would change the model number, i guess so people think its new and improved, but if you download the 5160 user manual and compare it with the 5150 there is literally not one difference; it is exactly the same, aside from the new colour.

mach3

28 Posts

September 14th, 2004 10:00

I have 1600 x 1200 on the 5150 screen! So there is no reason to get a 5160 at all :-)

darrin99

520 Posts

September 14th, 2004 15:00

Doesn't the 5160 use a different chipset, and support faster CPU's than the 5150?

darrin99

520 Posts

September 14th, 2004 16:00


@ILoveMullets wrote:

Exactly the same chipset. Nothing is different.




So then the newer 1MB L2 Cache, 538, 532, and 518 processors offered on the 5160 should work in the 5150, should I decide to upgrade someday, or do you think there might be a bios issue?

ILoveMullets

192 Posts

September 14th, 2004 16:00

Exactly the same chipset.  Nothing is different.

ILoveMullets

192 Posts

September 14th, 2004 16:00

not too sure about that to tell the truth, but according to the spec sheet the chipset is the same.  whether or not it would support the new 1mb cache is a rather good question, but i have no clue.  perhaps someone can find out and let us all know.

Message Edited by ILoveMullets on 09-14-2004 12:40 PM

darrin99

520 Posts

September 14th, 2004 17:00


@ILoveMullets wrote:
not too sure about that to tell the truth, but according to the spec sheet the chipset is the same. whether or not it would support the new 1mb cache is a rather good question, but i have no clue. perhaps someone can find out and let us all know.

Message Edited by ILoveMullets on 09-14-2004 12:40 PM




I guess we'll have to wait and see. There was one poster claimimg that he a "3400+" running in a 5150. When questioned about how he got an AMD CPU in there, he changed it a P4 3.4. Then he said he was also running a Go5700 in it. When questioned about the fact the 5700 uses a different form factor, he said he bought it from a different company and made it fit. When asked how he got the 5150 bios to recognize it, of course he said he managed to hack the bios. So sometimes you have to watch where you get the info on here about possible upgrades. ;)

dspman

306 Posts

September 14th, 2004 18:00

This is a little disappointing ... since 5160 seems to be replacement for 5150.  Once again, latest is not always greatest.
 
I haven't checked ... are core voltages the same for Prescott vs. Northwood ?  That might be a compatibility issue, along with heat considerations.  Does 5160 have same dust buildup problem as 5150?
 
Would be more optimistic about better graphics card for 5150/60 if UXGA were offered for the new machine.  Perhaps Dell wants to push us towards the widescreen models.

darrin99

520 Posts

September 14th, 2004 18:00


@RRules wrote:
I would imagine the northwood CPU from the 5150 would be better than the new prescott in the 5160 anyway. In benchmarks the northwood usually is faster. It also runs a lot cooler and uses less power. I wont be upgrading my P4 3.06GHz HT unless the mobile prescott makes it to 3.6GHz and works in a 5150. One thing I'm still praying for from the little 5160 is a new GPU like a Radeon 9600. COME ON DELL YOU CAN DO IT!!!



We can only hope that they are working on a 9600 or 9700 for the 5160. At this point, I'll take a Go5650.

RRules

306 Posts

September 14th, 2004 18:00

I would imagine the northwood CPU from the 5150 would be better than the new prescott in the 5160 anyway. In benchmarks the northwood usually is faster. It also runs a lot cooler and uses less power. I wont be upgrading my P4 3.06GHz HT unless the mobile prescott makes it to 3.6GHz and works in a 5150. One thing I'm still praying for from the little 5160 is a new GPU like a Radeon 9600. COME ON DELL YOU CAN DO IT!!!

dspman

306 Posts

September 14th, 2004 19:00

Downloaded the new Prescott spec.  As suspected, Intel added an extra PID pin to provide different voltages for the new 90 nm cores. (Table 2-2 of new spec versus Table 3 of old spec.)  Doesn't bode well for 5150 compatibility with Prescott.
 
This is a separate issue from the common Northbridge/Southbridge chipsets.

RRules

306 Posts

September 15th, 2004 01:00

Oh well to the 5150 owners, looks like we may be stuck with our Northwoods. Thankfully I really don't have any complaints! The Northwood P4 kicks @$$!

The 5150 used to have the UXGA, i remember when they took it off as an option. I believe it was right around when they dropped the 5100. Considering dell was willing to release a new notebook with a different modem location, a few cosmetic changes and possibly a different mobo, i would imagine a new video card isn't much to ask. A Geforce FX Go5650 would be great, a Radeon 9600 even more so.

green apple2

76 Posts

September 15th, 2004 01:00

i should also mention that i did notice a larger screen opening on the right side of the 5160 right next to where the 56k modem used to be (they moved the connector to the rear)...maybe this should help in the cooling design.. i see instead of 3 screened openings (which i5100,i5150 has), it now has 4.. manual did say (i5100) it took in air from the bottom and side opening..

darrin99

520 Posts

September 15th, 2004 01:00


@RRules wrote:
@Oh well to the 5150 owners, looks like we may be stuck with our Northwoods. Thankfully I really don't have any complaints! The Northwood P4 kicks @$$!

The 5150 used to have the UXGA, i remember when they took it off as an option. I believe it was right around when they dropped the 5100. Considering dell was willing to release a new notebook with a different modem location, a few cosmetic changes and possibly a different mobo, i would imagine a new video card isn't much to ask. A Geforce FX Go5650 would be great, a Radeon 9600 even more so.



Dell has to know by now how poor the Go5200 is. Why on Earth would they put out a brand new system with card?? :(

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