Dell Computers

ReiXiao · 04-13-2006, 01:10 PM

i was thinking of buying one of the dell xps 400 or xps 600 with the moniter. but i have heard mixed reviews about dells. i was wondering if this would be a good investment.

ReiXiao · 04-13-2006, 01:25 PM

thats about how much i have to spend on a computer

Protoplasm72 · 04-13-2006, 10:01 PM

I personally build all my own computers. I also build them for close family but for other people I recommend buying Dells. I think they are generally a good value for the money.

*Kage* · 04-13-2006, 10:03 PM

But there is nothing better than building your own...satisfying.

John64 · 04-13-2006, 10:36 PM

I have another vote for building yourself.

Right now Intel chips are behind AMD, and they will be that way until the next chip comes out (Conroe). Dell only has Intel, so you would be getting an inferior chip. Other than that, Dell build quality for hardware is excellent, but their software leaves a LOT to be desired. If you do get one, i would recomend doing a clean install with non-dell cd's so none of their terrible software is on your computer. Normally any OEM disc would work with your Dell OEM liscense

3 of 7 · 04-13-2006, 11:47 PM

I just talked a buddy into getting a Celeron D outfit from Dell....at $249cdn with XP Home,512 mg ram, 80 gig drive with a cdburner/dvd combo and a tooless case I could never hope to buy the hardware for anywhere near that.... I did a reformat with my OEM CD and it's a fine beginners box (quiet too)

*polonyc2* · 04-13-2006, 11:53 PM

building yourself is always the better option...otherwise have a specialty high end PC builder do it for you...I've always liked Falcon Northwest...

http://www.falcon-nw.com/flash/

3 of 7 · 04-14-2006, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polonyc2

building yourself is always the better option...otherwise have a specialty high end PC builder do it for you...I've always liked Falcon Northwest...

http://www.falcon-nw.com/flash/

I think it depends on what the end user is going to use the computer for...If it's just going to be an email/surfing machine with the odd bit of word proccessing thrown at it the Dell is going to be just fine...
I wouldn't buy one for myself, but I'm a pretty demanding user and I like building them.

John64 · 04-14-2006, 12:43 AM

For me, nothing but a home built would suffice, however, my father doesnt care at all whats inside the computer, for him a dell with a reinstall of windows is the best option.

Dell hardware is some of the best i have seen. I have an old workstation from 1998 that is plodding along with 2 P3's in it. They make good stuff, but you have to install the OS yourself!

*polonyc2* · 04-14-2006, 12:45 AM

plus by building yourself you gain knowledge and familiarity with the inside of a computer...then you can learn how to put one together by yourself

that's how I learned...I had my friend build me a high end rig many years ago...I then studied/wrote down/memorized all the connections he had made and read the manuals to understand the connections and learnt that it wasn't difficult at all to build a PC...just a case of connecting wires and manufacturers make that really simple as well by labeling everything so clearly...only thing that really changes are the power supply/MB connectors...I then began discovering sleeving, VGA cooling, extra fan mounting w/rubber gromets etc etc and pretty soon I could build a high end PC at a huge savings compared to buying it retail...

theres still a lot I would like to learn how to do, such as soldering, modding, extreme overclocking, water cooling etc, but I'm content for the moment

SupDawg · 04-14-2006, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReiXiao

i was thinking of buying one of the dell xps 400 or xps 600 with the moniter. but i have heard mixed reviews about dells. i was wondering if this would be a good investment.

I'd say go with Dell, but I might be biased..

John64 · 04-14-2006, 01:20 AM

hahaha

Learning how to build a PC is only usefull if it actually interests you. I agree that its not difficult, but its tedious. Fixing your computer is a pain when things break and you have to ship the part yourself and it takes months!

*polonyc2* · 04-14-2006, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John64

Fixing your computer is a pain when things break and you have to ship the part yourself and it takes months!

takes months for what?...you mean to do an RMA?...RMA's are really simple now as most companies use cross shipping/Advanced RMA where they send you the replacement part first and then you have 2-3 weeks to ship the defective part back...just finished an RMA of my A8N32 board...my video card manufacturer does not use cross shipping so I had to send them my card first and wait for them to send me my new one which according to HIS could take as long as 2 weeks

*Kage* · 04-14-2006, 01:49 AM

ATi is excellent with RMA's. I sent my 9800 in and got a new one before the end of the week! And I sent it halfway accross the country!

*polonyc2* · 04-14-2006, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qxp

ATi is excellent with RMA's. I sent my 9800 in and got a new one before the end of the week! And I sent it halfway accross the country!

ATI may be good...but dealing with HIS was very frustrating...their website has no contact numbers (except one in Hong Kong)...they only have an online form to fill out which they say they will respond to as soon as possible...2 weeks and 5 forms later no reply...I then contacted Monarch Computer where I bought the card from and they said they could not do anything because I did not purchase an extended warranty from Monarch...they then gave me the number to their distributer called Lexy Pacific Corporation...I called them and they finally were able to help me...

they explained that HIS does not deal with end users directly and everything goes through Lexy Pacific which is the official US distributer of HIS products...filled out the RMA form on their site, got the RMA number the same day and sent the card out

http://www.lexycomp.com/

once I found the right place everything was handled very quickly and smoothly...but going around in circles trying to find the place was the hard part...

04-13-2006, 01:10 PM	#1
ReiXiao Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 55	Dell Computers i was thinking of buying one of the dell xps 400 or xps 600 with the moniter. but i have heard mixed reviews about dells. i was wondering if this would be a good investment. __________________ Last edited by ReiXiao : 04-13-2006 at 01:28 PM.
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04-13-2006, 01:25 PM	#2
ReiXiao Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 55	thats about how much i have to spend on a computer __________________ Last edited by ReiXiao : 04-13-2006 at 01:31 PM.
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04-13-2006, 10:01 PM	#3
Protoplasm72 Mmmm..... Folding@Home Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 3,298	I personally build all my own computers. I also build them for close family but for other people I recommend buying Dells. I think they are generally a good value for the money. __________________ proto My Folding Details "Friends, Family, Religion... These are the three demons you must slay in order to succeed in business" C.M. Burns
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04-13-2006, 10:03 PM	#4
Kage Man-Foe! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fiery depths of Hell Posts: 3,602	But there is nothing better than building your own...satisfying. __________________
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04-13-2006, 10:36 PM	#5
John64 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,449	I have another vote for building yourself. Right now Intel chips are behind AMD, and they will be that way until the next chip comes out (Conroe). Dell only has Intel, so you would be getting an inferior chip. Other than that, Dell build quality for hardware is excellent, but their software leaves a LOT to be desired. If you do get one, i would recomend doing a clean install with non-dell cd's so none of their terrible software is on your computer. Normally any OEM disc would work with your Dell OEM liscense __________________
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04-13-2006, 11:47 PM	#6
3 of 7 You can run..... Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,660	I just talked a buddy into getting a Celeron D outfit from Dell....at $249cdn with XP Home,512 mg ram, 80 gig drive with a cdburner/dvd combo and a tooless case I could never hope to buy the hardware for anywhere near that.... I did a reformat with my OEM CD and it's a fine beginners box (quiet too) __________________
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04-13-2006, 11:53 PM	#7
polonyc2 Helter Skelter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 7,444	building yourself is always the better option...otherwise have a specialty high end PC builder do it for you...I've always liked Falcon Northwest... http://www.falcon-nw.com/flash/ __________________ ASUS Maximus Formula (X38) *** EVGA 8800GT Superclocked 512MB Intel E8400 * Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro G.Skill 4 GB (2 X 2 GB) DDR2 800 4-4-4-12 * Western Digital RE2 500 GB WD5001ABYS Lian Li PC-A70B (black) * Corsair HX620 AuzenTech Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1 * Creative Inspire P5800 5.1 speakers Lite-On DVD-RW w/LightScribe LH-20A1L-06 * Sony GDM-F520 21' CRT monitor (19.8' viewable) Vista Business 64-bit w/SP1 * standard 3.5" floppy drive Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000 *** Microsoft Wired Keyboard 500 (Black)
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04-14-2006, 12:43 AM	#9
John64 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,449	For me, nothing but a home built would suffice, however, my father doesnt care at all whats inside the computer, for him a dell with a reinstall of windows is the best option. Dell hardware is some of the best i have seen. I have an old workstation from 1998 that is plodding along with 2 P3's in it. They make good stuff, but you have to install the OS yourself! __________________
(Offline)

04-14-2006, 12:45 AM	#10
polonyc2 Helter Skelter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 7,444	plus by building yourself you gain knowledge and familiarity with the inside of a computer...then you can learn how to put one together by yourself that's how I learned...I had my friend build me a high end rig many years ago...I then studied/wrote down/memorized all the connections he had made and read the manuals to understand the connections and learnt that it wasn't difficult at all to build a PC...just a case of connecting wires and manufacturers make that really simple as well by labeling everything so clearly...only thing that really changes are the power supply/MB connectors...I then began discovering sleeving, VGA cooling, extra fan mounting w/rubber gromets etc etc and pretty soon I could build a high end PC at a huge savings compared to buying it retail... theres still a lot I would like to learn how to do, such as soldering, modding, extreme overclocking, water cooling etc, but I'm content for the moment __________________ ASUS Maximus Formula (X38) *** EVGA 8800GT Superclocked 512MB Intel E8400 * Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro G.Skill 4 GB (2 X 2 GB) DDR2 800 4-4-4-12 * Western Digital RE2 500 GB WD5001ABYS Lian Li PC-A70B (black) * Corsair HX620 AuzenTech Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1 * Creative Inspire P5800 5.1 speakers Lite-On DVD-RW w/LightScribe LH-20A1L-06 * Sony GDM-F520 21' CRT monitor (19.8' viewable) Vista Business 64-bit w/SP1 * standard 3.5" floppy drive Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000 *** Microsoft Wired Keyboard 500 (Black)
(Offline)

04-14-2006, 01:20 AM	#12
John64 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,449	hahaha Learning how to build a PC is only usefull if it actually interests you. I agree that its not difficult, but its tedious. Fixing your computer is a pain when things break and you have to ship the part yourself and it takes months! __________________
(Offline)

04-14-2006, 01:49 AM	#14
Kage Man-Foe! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fiery depths of Hell Posts: 3,602	ATi is excellent with RMA's. I sent my 9800 in and got a new one before the end of the week! And I sent it halfway accross the country! __________________
(Offline)

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