Help me customize my laptop!

[jmoore2001]

So I'm getting a Dell... the XPS M1530 to be exact. I've done enough research and decided this is the one for me. I'll be gaming, watching videos, using a lot of RAM for multitasking, etc.

Anyway, on the Dell website I'm trying to customize it, but I'd like your advice between some of the options. I haven't been keeping up with a lot of things nowadays so I'm not sure if some of these should be upgraded or just kept as is. If there's a big overall improvement, let me know please! I'd hate to upgrade everything and it not make much difference (plus I'd like to save as much as I can).

Thanks!
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-CPU- it comes with option number 2. Should I go with Option 1 and go down on clock speed but up on the Cache? Obviously #3 is the best of all, and is the 6mb THAT much worth it to just invest in this?

1) Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache) add $0

2) Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache) [Included in Price]

3) Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.5GHz/800Mhz FSB, 6MB Cache) [add $125 or $4/month1]

-Screen- I have no experience with any of these screens, so will they make a difference? I won't have a high-end Blu Ray player or anything, but I do enjoy movies and gaming... I don't even know what the #3 LED LCD even is.

1) High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD(1440x900) & 2MP Camera [Included in Price]

2) High Resolution glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD(1680x1050) & 2MP Camera [add $50 or $2/month1]

3) High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LED LCD (1440x900) & 2.0 M [add $150 or $5/month1]

4) Full Hi Definition, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD (1920x1200) & 2.0 M [add $100 or $3/month1]

-Hard drive- Typically I've always gone with the 7200rpm over 5400, but I'm also cutting down on space and spending more money. Will this affect performance if I'm already spending more on the CPU?

1) Size: 320GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive [Included in Price]
May delay your XPS M1530 ship date

2) Speed: 250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive Free Fall Sensor [add $100 or $3/month1]
May delay your XPS M1530 ship date

-Wireless card- I really have no idea on this one. Should I invest in the Wireless-N? I've heard that there are drawbacks if I'm in an area with a B/G connection but I have no clue. Also, Dell or Intel?

1) Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini-card [add $25 or $1/month1]

2) Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card [add $35 or $2/month1]

3) Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini Card [Included in Price]

-External USB Modem- What the heck is this? I've already got wireless, so I'm not really sure if I'll need this. What's it used for?

1) None

2) Dell External Mini USB Modem XPS M1530 [add $20 or $1/month1]

-Sound card- Option #1 says "Ultra-realistic surround sound" but option #2 must be better...right? Any ideas on this?

1) Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition [Included in Price]
Ultra-realistic surround sound

2) ExpressCard Sound Blaster X-Fi® Xtreme Audio Sound Card [add $50 or $2/month1]

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Thanks for anyone who has time to reply to any of these!

[osprey4]

CPU, the default processor is fine. Not worth the upgrade there.

LCD panel, you really ought to see one in person to decide. The higher res is probably fine if you have really good eyes. I'm not a fan of the glossy screens, which tend to look better only in dim light, but looks like that's your only choice.

Hard drive speeds are generally 5400 rpm in laptops for battery life. If you buy a good warranty and keep regular back-ups, then the upgraded drive is not worth the money.

If you have a wireless G router, then just get the wireless G card. Not worth it for the "N" standard just yet, and this isn't hard to upgrade later.

You don't need an external modem if you already have wireless.

The sound card is totally up to your taste and ability to discriminate good fidelity sound. Unless you're using high end headphones or speakers, it's not going to make any difference.

Don't go cheap on the warranty. At least a three-year warranty for laptops!!!

Excellent machine!! Good luck with it!