VeeshanVault

As a preface I build and upgrade high-end gaming PCs as a hobby. And for what it's worth, Winnow's posts in this forum are impressive and very helpful (as are a lot of his other posts--I'm something of a Winnow fanboy).

Anyway, I helped my friend order a new Dell for "general" PC use. Her only high-resource uses include digital photos and the possibiliy of future digital video editing. I configured a nice AMD dual-core system that came in at $550 (including 19" LCD monitor).

I'm really impressed with the result, after spending 3 hours doing updates and cleaning out all the garbage trial software (something you have to expect when you buy from consumer PC distributors). I don't know that I could have saved money building this PC from scratch, if you include the cost of legal software.

I'm impressed enough to consider ordering a similar version for my wife's PC upgrade next year, instead of handing down one of my PCs as I've done for the past few years.

One major downside I've found is the convoluted options they offer on their site. Not only do the prices change apparently by the hour, but depending on the way you access their configurations you will get different results with different prices. I had two browsers running on their site and actually encountered a configuration that I could not replicate, for the same price, on the other browser. The lesson there is to spend a good amount of time (and days) continually checking their site to find the best combination value (if you're patient enough).

I have, and will continue, to recommend Dells for anyone that isn't PC-savvy or into high-end gaming (although mid-to-low-end range gaming is now acceptable after viewing the results on the build I just worked on).

Fenna wrote: Anyway, I helped my friend order a new Dell for "general" PC use. Her only high-resource uses include digital photos and the possibiliy of future digital video editing. I configured a nice AMD dual-core system that came in at $550 (including 19" LCD monitor)...

...One major downside I've found is the convoluted options they offer on their site. Not only do the prices change apparently by the hour, but depending on the way you access their configurations you will get different results with different prices. I had two browsers running on their site and actually encountered a configuration that I could not replicate, for the same price, on the other browser. The lesson there is to spend a good amount of time (and days) continually checking their site to find the best combination value (if you're patient enough).

Wow, that sounds like a great price for a full system w/monitor.

From my Dell monitor buying experience, it became apparent that if you have the patience, you can eventually find a coupon a special contact to call at Dell, leaked on a message board, that will give you a discount. The other thing that throws a loop in Dell's ordering process is the Home User vs Small Business user pricing which sometimes varies. I bought my 24" monitor under the "Small Business" umbrella although I don't think anything was ever asked about a business or if you had one.

The other thing with Dell is the tax/no tax depending on what state you live in. Arizona doesn't happen to have a Dell outlet store so saving on the tax is a nice additional factor (depending on location).

I built every one of my own computers until my last one, which I bought from Dell. I bought an XPS, top of the line system because after speccing everything out to buy and assemble myself, I would've saved about 250$ (not including the OS, which I've always had hacked versions of).

Fuck it. It's just not worth my time anymore. I'm still extremely happy with my Dell. I think it has another solid 2 years on it before I have to consider getting another.

My next PC won't be home built. The prices on the system are too good now and it's inexpensive to swap out the peices I don't want for high performance parts and still come in under the price of pre-built.

I could also purchase HP systems through work and get access to government/charity pricing

I built my last PC, had no end of problems (including a bundle that included RAM that was incompatable with the motherboard... wtf?).

My wife got a $400 E-Machines PC like 5 years ago that she still uses with no troubles today. All I did for it was perform the same type of software cleanup Fenna mentioned and normal patching/maintenance you would expect and give it some additional RAM.

I'm pretty sure my next PC will be pre-assembled.

Here is a warning on DELL. Don't buy one if you intend to upgrade any of its components. I have a DELL at work here and we bought a stick of RAM for it for $10. It would not fit in the DELL. Everything is proprietary in DELL computers, that same stick of RAM cost $108 on the DELL site. If you are happy to never upgrade then go for it but be warned.

Deward wrote:Here is a warning on DELL. Don't buy one if you intend to upgrade any of its components. I have a DELL at work here and we bought a stick of RAM for it for $10. It would not fit in the DELL. Everything is proprietary in DELL computers, that same stick of RAM cost $108 on the DELL site. If you are happy to never upgrade then go for it but be warned.

Dell are not proprietary unless your employer has some really weird business system that I am unaware of. I added a gig of aftermarket RAM with no problems.

That's BS, Dell is the only one that isn't, buy and HP and see what you get! Hell even Dell's Servers aren't which can save you a shitload on RAM. I got a quote to upgrade a PE1850 with 2GB and the same quote for a DL360 system at another location. The Dell memory (Kingston) was $290 the HP branded Kingston memory was $1600, I shit you not.

Anyway, I got my mom an E510 last year with a 3.4Ghz P4, dual 160s, 2GB RAM, TV tuner / remote and a 20" widescreen for $1000, ordered a BFG 7600GT from Dell at the same time for $175 (had a coupon) and her frame rates are fantastic in EQ2... seriously considering getting an XPS for myself next time and I've been building PC for myself and my friends since the late 80s...

Marb

I saw an XPS yesterday at the Vista/Office 2007/Exchange 2007 Launch event in town here yesterday.

That thing packed some seriously crazy hardware. The video cards alone (Asus nvidia cards in SLI) used up 4 expansion slots of space on the thing.

The heat evacuation unit on the dual processors were massive as well.

Animalor wrote:I saw an XPS yesterday at the Vista/Office 2007/Exchange 2007 Launch event in town here yesterday.

That thing packed some seriously crazy hardware. The video cards alone (Asus nvidia cards in SLI) used up 4 expansion slots of space on the thing.

The heat evacuation unit on the dual processors were massive as well.

How loud was it. I am all about having a nice silent pc.

There is a review of the new XPS 710 on Firing Squad, they were pretty impressed, gave it an 89%, not bad for a gaming site. They were most impressed with how silent it was. The 710 is the quad core and this one had dual 7950 GTXs.

Marb

Marbus wrote:this one had dual 7950 GTXs.

Pshh, so last gen. Anybody that can afford such a rig without getting 8800s should be Cheneyd.

I am a Dell authorized reseller, so I deal with Dell a lot. They are a marketing Guinness; nothing beats their free big monitors with a new system. I go into an office of 20 people to do an install of a new system. When I break out the 20" flat panel, now everyone wants a new PC!!

cid wrote:They are a marketing Guinness; nothing beats their free big monitors with a new system.

You just made me want to crack open a beer!

Everything is proprietary in DELL computers

That is completely untrue.

Bubba Grizz wrote:

Animalor wrote:I saw an XPS yesterday at the Vista/Office 2007/Exchange 2007 Launch event in town here yesterday.

That thing packed some seriously crazy hardware. The video cards alone (Asus nvidia cards in SLI) used up 4 expansion slots of space on the thing.

The heat evacuation unit on the dual processors were massive as well.

How loud was it. I am all about having a nice silent pc.

It was in a large noisy room so it was hard to gauge how loud the thing was sadly.

I couldn't hear it over the crowd however, to that has to be a plus.

as for the pre-installed software, that is how most OEM's make money on their systems. Most of them barely make a dime on the PC itself, and only make money on bounty's for signups (for AOL or similar) or just for fees for pre-installation.

Dell is the one exception i think (Best BUy might be another....the Compaq and HP machines sold at Best Buy are custom configured by Best Buy...so they are sort of like an OEM) that actually makes money on the computer.

Well i'm pretty sure Apple makes money on the computer at the prices they charge, but we are obviously talking about Windows machines.