One of the first laptops with Intel's new Core Duo processor to hit the street, the Dell Inspiron 9400 inaugurates the company's new entertainment line of laptops with a bang. In addition to its top-shelf processor and graphics card; its bright, 17-inch widescreen display; and other leading edge technologies, the Inspiron 9400 adds a few welcome multimedia features not found on the model that it will eventually replace, the Inspiron 9300. These include a five-in-one media card reader and Dell's MediaDirect software, though there is no integrated TV tuner. We think the slightly less expensive HP Pavilion dv8200 is a better deal for basic users who want more features than performance, but the Inspiron 9400 owns the other end of the spectrum as an incredibly powerful laptop that can speed through virtually any multimedia task from video editing to gaming.
Editors' note: Dell has recently changed the video card option worldwide from Nvidia's top-of-the-line GeForce Go 7800 to ATI's Mobility Radeon X1400 graphics processor. As a result, we expect the gaming performance of the current crop of Inspiron 9400 to suffer compared with the Nvidia GPU-equipped models. There have been no comments from Dell regarding this move.
Some of the comparison models in this review use benchmark results from CNET US Labs and may differ from the results by CNET Asia reviewers.
Design
The Inspiron 9400's design is nearly identical to the Inspiron 9300's. Crafted out of sturdy and stylish magnesium alloy and measuring 394 x 288 x 41.5mm. Our test unit weighed 3.6kg (4.2kg with its AC adapter) -- 100g lighter than the HP Pavilion dv8200. Still, the Inspiron 9400 is too heavy for regular travel.
The Inspiron 9400 includes a full-size keyboard, though it lacks a separate number pad, as found on the HP Pavilion dv8200. The Inspiron 9400's mouse buttons are very big, however, and the touch pad is adequately sized. The latter features arrows running along its right and bottom edges, outlining where to place your finger when using the software-enhanced pad to scroll through documents or Web pages.
Features
A minor but appreciated upgrade from the Inspiron 9300 model is the Inspiron 9400's inclusion of Dell's MediaDirect software, which plays CDs and DVDs and lets you access photos and other media files stored on your hard drive without booting up Windows first. The two speakers and the internal subwoofer -- a rare feature among laptops -- deliver crisp and rich sound. Better yet, because the speakers sit in the corners of the laptop's front edge, your hands won't muffle them while you're typing and you can play music with the lid closed. Sandwiched between the speakers, a row of seven buttons lets you control disc playback and adjust or mute the volume. However, the Inspiron 9400 lacks an integrated TV tuner found on more expensive systems, such as the Toshiba Qosmio G20 and the Fujitsu LifeBook N6210.
Our Inspiron 9400 test unit had a bright, vast, 17-inch widescreen display with a superfine WUXGA 1,900 x 1,200-pixel native resolution. Though we experienced no problems with our unit's display, we've observed many user complaints about other recent Dell models' screens.
There's no dearth of ports, jacks, or slots here: The Inspiron 9400 offers FireWire, S-Video out, VGA, a whopping six USB 2.0 ports, 56Kbps modem, 10/100 Ethernet, headphone and microphone jacks. Also available are Type II PC Card and Secure Digital slots and a swank DVI port should you want to connect the laptop to an even bigger digital LCD. There's also a five-in-one media card reader, a key feature that the Inspiron 9300 lacked. Last, but definitely not least, the Inspiron 9400 includes a multiformat double-layer DVD drive.
Performance
Like all of Dell's laptops, the Inspiron 9400 is extremely configurable. Our loaded, test configuration was equipped with a new Intel Core Duo T2500 (2.0GHz) processor; 1GB of DDR2 667MHz SDRAM; an 80GB, 5,400rpm hard drive; Nvidia's high-end GeForce Go 7800 GPU with 256MB of dedicated video memory; and a nine-cell battery.
One of the first Core Duo systems we've tested, the Dell Inspiron 9400 did not disappoint. Using a collection of multithreaded and single-threaded multimedia applications, we tested the Inspiron 9400 to determine how well it handled multimedia workloads, such as ripping MP3 and encoding video. Generally speaking, the Inspiron 9400 delivered roughly a 25 per cent performance boost compared with a Pentium 4-fueled test system, the Acer Aspire 1700, and its performance was approximately 50 percent faster than that of a ThinkPad Z60t equipped with Intel's previous generation 2.0GHz Pentium M processor.
The Inspiron 9400 also delivered very competent gaming performance, turning in 57 frames per second in our Doom 3 test. That said, the Acer TravelMate 8204, outfitted with the same processor but twice the RAM, bested the Inspiron 9400 in a few of our multimedia tests and posted the highest SysMark score we've ever recorded, though its gaming performance was lacking. Though we did not test an Inspiron 9400 configured with the less expensive Core Solo processor, Dell said that its performance would be comparable with that of an Inspiron 9300 loaded with a Pentium M, a configuration that we tested last year.
On our SysMark 2004 test, the Inspiron 9400's score of 211 was 33 per cent faster than the Inspiron 9300's and faster than that of any other single-core system we've tested.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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BAPCo SysMark 2004 rating | |
SysMark 2004 Internet content creation | |
SysMark 2004 office productivity |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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BAPCo MobileMark 2002 performance rating |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Id Software/Activision Doom 3 |
(Shorter bars indicate faster performance)
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McAfee VirusScan and Dr. Divx file creation | |
Dr. Divx file creation | |
McAfee VirusScan |
(Shorter bars indicate faster performance)
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iTunes MP3 conversion | |
Photoshop CS | |
Sorenson Squeeze 4 |
Though battery life and mobile performance aren't a primary consideration for a laptop the size of the Inspiron 9400, in our MobileMark 2005 test, which tests how well a laptop performs when running on battery power, the Inspiron 9400 delivered a very good score of 234, but it ran for 30 fewer minutes than the previous Inspiron 9300 model, for a total of about 2.5 hours.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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BAPCo MobileMark 2002 battery life in minutes |
NOTE: Products in this test are for comparative purposes only and are not necessarily available in the Australian market.
Dell offers a one-year next business day onsite warranty which covers parts and labour. The company's support website contains a knowledge database for basic troubleshooting and downloading of updated drivers. Optional warranty options include extended three-year warranty, HelpDesk, onsite service during nights and weekends, and Plus Phone support can be purchased together with the system. Plus Phone support extends the technical phone support to include Saturdays. HelpDesk coverage provides 24-hour phone support from an expert who can help with any problems related to Dell hardware and peripherals and even some third-party software from major vendors, such as Microsoft Office.
sahebi
21/06/2008, 05:26 PM
rating
10/10
i need for my lop top inspiron/9400 windows viewer msi
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joma
02/05/2008, 09:06 PM
rating
10/10
one of the best laptops I have had. I t has endured a long hours of work and still performs well
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Anarkiz99
05/04/2008, 04:23 PM
rating
9/10
Awesome! Great for anything (well except portability) but who needs portability when it's acting as a desktop replacement! With the Nvidia 7900 and 2gb ram, and for the price, this laptop kicks **** Awesome speakers, some of the loudest I have ever heard from a laptop. The subwoofer does a great job. Super quiet fans. The 9400 is still potentially better than some xps models, considering the price.
I had one of my battery chargers fail, contacted dell, received an overnight post bag from dell in the mail, sent charger off and received a brand new one 2 days later!
Pros: Almost everything! Gamers, graphic editors, media directors and a cinematic delight!
Extraordinary Dell support! Super quick with replacing parts.
Cons: No internal TV tuner. Internal fans don't run to full speed unless third party software is installed. Otherwise, thats about it..
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Agemo
10/01/2008, 02:38 AM
rating
5/10
The VGA adapter (ATI mobility Radeon X1400) is not installed on this Notebook
Pros: vga
Cons: 10
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unknown
18/10/2007, 02:33 PM
rating
9/10
Simply Incredible!!!
VERY POWERFUL.
IT IS A "MULTIMEDIA POWERHOUSE"!!!
GOOD FOR GAMERS, MUSIC AND MOVIE LOVERS>>>>>
Pros: extraordinary performance, Dual-core AND is extremely comfortable to use.......
Cons: display and battery
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philby
20/09/2007, 11:59 AM
rating
9/10
Well still running strong - now using two HDD @ 160gig 5400rpm running XP Pro & another 250gig 5400 running Vista Ultimate.
The 9400 is still a great beast, so far my kids have dropped a glass of water on the keyboard and broken off a key which I repaired. The unit after stripping down and drying out the water ran fine. This Unit is now 2 years old being use 100% full time at work, and after hours as the main gaming rig.
Use this also for travel throughout Ausi and use a backpack for travel which makes carrying it a bit easier on the shoulder.
Overall I still rate the 9400 as much as a workhorse which can still run a quick mile if needed. As long as you have the Nvidia 7900go card and 2gig of ram you should be have no issues.
Pros: A solid performer should see me through for another 1 - 2 years
Cons: Now starting to get a bit old - but still a good buy.
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wilson49
26/06/2007, 10:20 AM
rating
5/10
9400 with Vista has a great display but oh so slow. Should have taken the XP option.
Pros: great display, speakers
Cons: Vista, large size.
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jimmyjamma81
25/06/2007, 02:28 PM
rating
2/10
my dell 9400 with VISTA and nvidia 7900gs just arrived, and its flickering like mad straight out of the box. with dell's advice ive restored the factory settings and reinstalled drivers, but when maximising windows or opening the nvidia gpu control panel it flickers like crazy. the flickering only goes away when i close all windows and dont touch anything.
i havent even tried any serious software yet, so that will be fun.
buyer beware!!
Dell then suggested i turn of the 'Powermizer' setting in the NVidia control panel. But my version of the control panel doesnt even include the 'Powermizer' on/off option. Good times!
good old Dell tried to remote control my laptop, and then install an old NVidia driver for XP (as NVidia dont provide a Vista driver for the 7900gs). but now the nvidia card is not responding and it still doesnt fix the bug.
Dell said the bug happens 'less often these days', so it appears to be an ongoing issue for these things.
now an onsite engineering tech is coming to my place (how romantic!) to reinstall the software from the discs i have...
I think its a conflict with VISTA and the NVidia card, as NVidia havent released a VISTA compatible driver for the 7900gs. I hope they can sort out their issues soon. :(
Pros: looked nice in the box
Cons: see above
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Spidey101
15/05/2007, 05:55 AM
rating
9/10
Sick Laptop. Everything i need. I can be downloading huge files, waiting for my 3d model to render, and playing memory intensive games at the same time!
Pros: Everything
Cons: I had to convince and probably trick my dad into buying it, since he thought it was just like any other laptop
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Jason
09/05/2007, 09:39 PM
rating
10/10
i have the 2.0 ghz duo core, ati raedon 1400, 160 gig hard drive, 2gb ram, double layer dvd writer, bluetooth, and gps for only $1600
Pros: No problems, been a fantastic computer, The ATI graphics card isnt awful bad, when i had mine built i wasnt sure what card was better and while doing searches in forums believe it or not most said the raedon was but i honestly dont know which is better
Cons: nothing yet though i only owned it for 3 months
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