Dell XPS System

[BFMF]

I know, it's another 'I wanna get a new computer, is this a good setup' post. It's been years since I built a computer, and i've never owned an intel system before. Some people recommended the Dell XPS systems, so I got onto the Dell website, and custimized one to see how much it would cost. Is this a good deal? Any idea how well this system would handle FSX. How much difference would an additional 2GB of ram make, and would it be worth it?


Dell XPS 710
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6600 (4MB L2 Cache,2.4 GHz, 1066 FSB)
2GB Dual CHannel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs
768MB NVidia GeForce 8800 GTX
320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200 RPM) w/Databurst Cache
Dual Disk Drives: 48X CD-ROM + 16x DVD+/-RW
13 in 1 Media Card Reader
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Windows Vista Home Premium

$1800

[ozzy72]

I wouldn't touch a Dell with a bargepole! I've known quite a few people who got them and had no end of trouble. Andrew go for a build, you'll get a better machine at a better price and we're always happy to try and help you

[Fozzer]

I wouldn't touch a Dell with a bargepole! I've known quite a few people who got them and had no end of trouble. Andrew go for a build, you'll get a better machine at a better price and we're always happy to try and help you

..Blimey, Mark....!

You've opened a can of worms now.... ...!

(I can see a queue forming).

I'm going to hide in the trench now, with my trusty tin-helmet... ...!

...LOL... ...!

Paul... ...!

[Celtman]

I wouldn't touch a Dell with a bargepole! I've known quite a few people who got them and had no end of trouble. Andrew go for a build, you'll get a better machine at a better price and we're always happy to try and help you

I second that, Dell are nothing but trouble, and if you need customer support........ well you can forget it with Dell .

Also (please note: I am no expert) I would go for the newer Intel core 2 Duo E6850 with 1333Mhz FSB, 3Ghz. From what I have heard they are pretty good, and in some places (at least here in the UK), they cost less than the E6600.

An extra 2Gb RAM to take you to 4Gb will be useful if you plan on running Vista, I don't think you'd need an extra 2Gb for XP though.

[ozzy72]

Or you could wait until the end of the year when the new AMD processors come out and see if they're any good. Personally I've always been an Intel man myself

[BFMF]

What kind of problems have you guys had or heard regarding the Dell XPS systems? Hardware or software problems?

[Brett_Henderson]

I wouldn't worry about problems people have had with Dells (that usually stem from sub-standard main-boards, RAM and power-supplies, according to what I've heard).. It's the cost factor.

I just priced the computer components you listed, at New Egg, for just under $1300, case, power-supply and all. The extra $500 could be put into a Quad Core CPU and an even better GPU.

[Nick N]

The good with Dell is you get the system built for you and if you buy the extended service plans you get support


the bad with dell is they will use nothing but OEM parts, the BIOS will be limited and performance features locked out and you will end up with a Windows install disk that has a process list like this one running by default: http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 1185007409

If you dont want to deal with building the system yourself and you dont intend to try and get any more performance out of the tower than comes to you from dell, and you dont mind having to clean up the Windows install to get rid of all the junk that will slow that 1800 dollar computer down to a 1000 dollar unit, buy it




There you have it

Dell is for businesses and people who need technical support and who do not require true high performance


Some people buy dell and clean up the Windows install, or even buy their own Windows disk and throw dells in the garbage. That helps but you will still only be getting an OEM motherboard and BIOS which will most likely lock you out of any manual fine perfomance tuning and will probably come with an OEM video card which is also not the full deal. Dell does not buy top shelf parts theu buy 'lots' of OEM grade components that allow them to lock their features so the user can not override what dell considers the performance limits, which is usually pretty low on the scale too.

Add to that, hardware upgrades such as processor and memory sometimes need BIOS updates and if dell does not write the BIOS themselves, you cant go to the motherboard company and download an updated BIOS.  you are stuck, which is how dell wants it so you have to upgrade the hardware.

Then there is the PSU. Some of those dell towers will no take a PSU upgrade other than their own hardware. It depends on the area in the tower the PSU fits. Sometimes you can, sometimes you cant. PC Power and Cooling had to make special power supplies just to help out Dell customers because they were being shafted by dell on upgrades.


Anyway... there is the good and the BAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaD

[BFMF]

The problem i'm having is that it's been several years since I rebuilt or upgraded my own system. And even then, i've only had Athlon systems, and I'm not familiar with intel systems at all. I've been 'out of the loop' for so long, that I have no idea how much technology has changed, and the thought of me building a brand new system, not to mention an Intel system, is overwhelming me.

I wouldn't even know where to start when it comes to deciding on simple parts such as the case, power supply, heat sink, drives, ect...

[a1]

Simple Answer: DON"T BUY DELL


Just buy it if you do a lot of office stuff. For gaming forget about it.

[Nick N]

The problem i'm having is that it's been several years since I rebuilt or upgraded my own system. And even then, i've only had Athlon systems, and I'm not familiar with intel systems at all. I've been 'out of the loop' for so long, that I have no idea how much technology has changed, and the thought of me building a brand new system, not to mention an Intel system, is overwhelming me.

I wouldn't even know where to start when it comes to deciding on simple parts such as the case, power supply, heat sink, drives, ect...

Then you may want to go with Dell, simply from a standpoint that you cant build your own.

As far as prices go, you will most likely get the bext price from them for similar componets because they do work in volume. Just be aware that upgrade and performance tweaking will be limited to what you get.

You may get lucky and they send you a system that allows more than they have in the past but their track record is to give you the least, for the most, meaning least access and control of the hardware without going back to them.