Thinking about buying a Dell XPS...

[nin96932]

So I'd like a new computer, but just don't have the money to buy all the seperate parts that I want, so I was kind of thinking about getting a Dell. I built a pretty decent machine for around $700-800 or so on their website, Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of RAM, etc.

Mainly use it for general tasks and some video processing/encoding type stuff.

Any thoughts on it? I haven't had a pre-built computer in 7 years or so.

Also, can you overclock with a Dell?

[jeffy]

Did you customize something like XPS410? If so:
http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.aspx?i=2834&p=2

Quoting:
For Dell, it means they can strip out all of the stuff that they don't want you to have, like overclocking features and advanced BIOS options. (Overclocking is supported on the Dell XPS 700, we understand, but not on other models.)

...but keep in mind that there are no options to overclock for better performance with Dell.


BTW, my customized X410 configuration without any monitor is about $950 ($949). How did you get $800 with 2GB RAM?
My Components
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6300 (2MB L2 Cache,1.86GHz,1066 FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs
250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
I will select a 27in wide flat panel monitor from the large display section
256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
My Accessories
Dell AS501PA 10W Flat Panel Attached Spkrs for Analog Flat Panels
Dell USB Keyboard
Dell Optical USB Mouse
No Floppy Drive Included
56K PCI Data Fax Modem
My Software
Microsoft Works 8. DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD
McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 15-months
Trial pack- Basic and trial products from Corel and Yahoo
My Service
1Yr Ltd Warranty and At-Home Service
6 Months of America Online Membership Included
Also Includes
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 7.0
Windows Vista™ Premium

(http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/cto_xpsdt_410?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs)

[nin96932]

I'm dumb. I mixed up the price I got by building one of their Dimension models with the XPS that I had built, sorry about that.

Hmm, bummed out that you can't OC with the XPS 410 but not that surprised.

I appreciate you taking the time you took to look that info up for me.

How about a system from Ibuypower.com? I built one there for around $950 or so. I wonder if you can OC with their systems....

[jeffy]

I'm dumb. I mixed up the price I got by building one of their Dimension models with the XPS that I had built, sorry about that.

Hmm, bummed out that you can't OC with the XPS 410 but not that surprised.

I appreciate you taking the time you took to look that info up for me.

How about a system from Ibuypower.com? I built one there for around $950 or so. I wonder if you can OC with their systems....
I've just taken a look at these customized setups:
http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/store/configurator.aspx?mid=72
($574+)
http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/store/configurator.aspx?mid=191
($999+)
They use standard motherboards, made by various brands. Their overclocking capabilities do differ. You should take a look at some hardware sites, like http://www.tomshardware.com/index.html
and
http://anandtech.com/

Believe me, choosing the right motherboard is not an easy task :(

I will point you more directly,

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/07/26/beginners_guide_to_motherboard_selection/

http://www.tomshardware.com/motherboard/index.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/12/19/intel_or_nvidia/
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/11/13/shootout_at_the_core_2_corral/
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/10/11/four_975x_motherboards_for_core_2_duo/


http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/05/22/six_975x_enthusiast_motherboards_for_today_and_tomorrow/ (older stuff)

http://anandtech.com/mb/
http://anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2914
http://anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2797
http://anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2860

and much more elsewhere... :)

[KESHACAT]

I,m really pretty new to the computer world , lot of things still learning..I bought my HP about 4 years ago. So everything is starting to get out dated. But it still does everything I want it to do. My question is , what do you mean by overclock. I would like to buy a laptop but I don't know want brand would be a good buy. If you have any answers I would appreciate some info. Thanks

[jeffy]

Overclocking Guide Part 3: How To Gain 81% For $27
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/01/18/overclocking-guide-part-1/

Overclocking Guide Part 2: Suggested Components and Settings
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/01/04/overclocking_guide_part_2/

Overclocking Guide Part 1: Risks, Choices and Benefits
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/12/11/overclocking-guide-part-1/

Quotes from Part 1:
"Overclocking refers to increasing the speed of any component beyond that specified by its manufacturer."
"Overclocking allows a low-end part to achieve the performance of a higher-priced version, or a better-quality model to be pushed beyond what the best models offer. For example, a 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 at 3.4 GHz performs similarly to the more expensive Pentium 4 3.4 GHz."
"The primary risks of overclocking are instability and a possible loss of data, which can be overcome through extensive testing to verify the highest stable speed."
"The most significant of secondary risks is hardware damage."

(http://www.hkepc.com/bbs/itnews.php?tid=755292&starttime=0&endtime=0)
However, in about 14 days there should be a good price cut for Intel CPUs: dual core Core 2 Duos and quad core Core 2 Quad Q6600.
AMD already cut its prices, on April 9, 2007:
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_609,00.html?redir=CPT301

Highlights:
CPU cores frequency old / new price
C2Q Q6600 4 2.4 GHz $851 $530
C2D E6700 2 2.66 GHz $530 $316
C2D E6600 2 2.4 GHz $316 $224
A64 X2 6000+ 2 3.0 GHz - $241
A64 X2 5600+ 2 2.8 GHz - $188
A64 X2 5200+ 2 2.6 GHz - $178

[jeffy]

I,m really pretty new to the computer world , lot of things still learning..I bought my HP about 4 years ago. So everything is starting to get out dated. But it still does everything I want it to do. My question is , what do you mean by overclock. I would like to buy a laptop but I don't know want brand would be a good buy. If you have any answers I would appreciate some info. Thanks


Well, there is at least one thing you should definitely know:
Most laptops use slower hard drives than desktop computers, 5400 rpm instead of (most common) 7200 rpm.

So, unless you buy a laptop equipped with a faster (and a little louder) hard drive, your drive will be a bottleneck. However, apples to apples, there is still a really huge difference between a laptop 7200 rpm hard drive and the same rpm desktop one:
http://metalinkltd.com/?p=104

Maximum read rate
Approximately, when comparing 7200 rpm units, a common desktop drive can read about 65-70 MB/second maximum, but a common laptop drive can read less than 40 MB/second. 5400 rpm laptop hard drive less than 35 MB/second.

The problem is, IMHO, that you can buy a relatively cheap, yet fast (dual core) laptop with the restrictions mentioned above. The desktop solution would cost you less and your hard drive wouldn't be a performance bottleneck.

Nowadays, some laptops have eSATA connectors, allowing you to connect a common, fast, external SATA drive to your laptop, thus overcoming the slow read rate of an internal drive.