Author Topic: Dell Dimension question (Read 227 times)

Nilsen · « **on:** June 14, 2006, 03:04:57 AM »

hello

Im tempted too buy a Dell Dimension 9150. We got a great deal in the mail today for a system but I have never owned a desktop before.

Do Dell use standard innards these days or do you need to get expencive upgrades later from them? Cant seem to find any hard info on the mobo and powersupply in those machines. I have asked on some other geeky forums but all i get are laughs.. building your own is appartently the only way to go.

anyways.. the system is cheap and powerfull exept for the graphics so im thinking about getting one for the office.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2006, 03:31:36 AM »

Dell is proprietary.

I love the "build it yourself" Nazi's.

If you're going to use it only as a work PC there's nothing wrong with it at all.

As a gaming rig, that's why they're laughing.

Nilsen · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2006, 04:12:37 AM »

mainly work yes, but i cant see a problem gaming with it if i can replace the gf 7300 with say a 7600gt myself

i have also read that some or most socket 775 mobos will accept conroe cpus when they come, but how are the psu on the dell and cooling solutions going to cope with that?

Where can I find details on their components?

DiabloTX · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2006, 04:48:51 AM »

Dimension 9150

Don't know if you saw that but thought I'd post it anyway.

I know it's for the US-spec version but it's a place to start.

Thud · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2006, 04:50:39 AM »

Perhaps not fully representative for your situation since I'm overseas but I thought I'd share my experiences anyways:

Ordered my first Dell some 4 years ago, in hindsight I must've been impressed by the brand name and forget to do a proper comparison with other suppliers. Ran into severe problems when upgrading, motherboard, casing and brackets all proved to be substandard in both quality and compatibility. Their MoBo's in particular have a long history of not working properly with much third party hardware. The knowledge level of their support staff is even more deplorable.

Since then I've purchased a considerable number of rigs for both friends/relatives and employees, regardless of it being a work or 'fun' purpose pc, Dell never could hold their own against the competition or even more so against self-assembly.

My advice: find a computer store where you get the impression of capable, well-informed personnel when talking to them about systems and order a customized system there. If they're trustworthy and professional you will get all the value for money you can ever get (custom does not imply expensive in a good computer store). Not to mention that in case of problems or support needs you will be more grateful than ever for not purchasing a Dell.

Good luck with finding a good rig

Nilsen · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2006, 04:54:56 AM »

thank you both

i think ill sit on the fence for abit longer. i may miss out, or perhaps dell will give me an even better offer on the "old" cpus when conroe is realeased.

anyway.. there are several excellent webshops that lets you compose your own system with only brand name hw so i need to do some more price comparisons.

Sixpence · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2006, 05:40:08 AM »

I have built 2 computers, my wife decided she wanted a dell like her 2 sisters got. They have had many problems. A friend of mine bought a dell, said "if you build one yourself you have no support and you don't get the anit virus software(and other software). He has had many a virus, I have not had one.

As mentioned in another post, their mobos are made specifically for them and alot of the time you cannot upgrade.

Oh, and the financing can be tricky, the wife has been having problems with her bill. I don't ask, she gets pissed and thinks I am giving her the "I told you so"

I thought there were some companies that build pc's with brand equipment, not sure though. Nothing is free and things are cheap for a reason, you get what you pay for

Nilsen · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2006, 05:45:45 AM »

Every online hardware store here can build a system for you based on the components you choose. for an additional fee you also get extra support and warranties.

Are the Dell entry-level servers any good?

I will buy the stuff as a "small business" customer, not "home & home office"

Mighty1 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2006, 08:58:21 AM »

With most companies they have models that are proprietary but I don't think the 9150 is.

I have been using Dells at home and here at work for around 6 years and I have only found the Small Form Factor and Ultra Small Form Factor PC to be any problems upgrading.

We currently have over 1500 Dells in our Schools and I personally have 5 at home right now.

My gaming PC currently is an upgraded Optiplex GX270:

3.2 upgraded from a 2.2
2 gig ram upgraded from 256
Nvidia 6600 upgraded from integrated card
2 80 gig drives upgraded from 1 20gig
1 DVD player upgraded from 1 CD player
1 DVD burner

You can have someone build one for you locally but personally if I have to spend the money I would rather get one that I know has all the parts tested to see if they work right together and has more than a 90 day warranty.

Mighty1 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2006, 09:01:47 AM »

Also I don't know how things are there but here our School has a deal with Dell that anyone who has a kid(or knows a kid) in the school can get the same deals we get.

So our community saves around 25% if they buy Dells.

lazs2 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 14, 2006, 09:08:13 AM »

Ya know... I don't know squat about puters but bought a dell about 3 years ago... had the better vid card and stuff for AH.

It was fairly cheap and seems to perform as well as any computer I have ever had. I get good frame rates still even with 512 memory. I figure I can upgrade the memory and it will probly give me another year of AH..

I can't think of any puter that someone builds me that anything in it will be useful much past 4 years.

lazs

Nilsen · « **Reply #11 on:** June 14, 2006, 09:14:51 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2
Ya know... I don't know squat about puters but bought a dell about 3 years ago... had the better vid card and stuff for AH.

It was fairly cheap and seems to perform as well as any computer I have ever had. I get good frame rates still even with 512 memory. I figure I can upgrade the memory and it will probly give me another year of AH..

I can't think of any puter that someone builds me that anything in it will be useful much past 4 years.

lazs

Thats why its important for me to get one that uses pretty much standard size and fittings for mobos, psu etc. That way you can keep the case, drives and whatnot and just upgrade the parts that make it run faster.

Having only owned laptops im i dont know much about it but thats what ive read anyway

Thud · « **Reply #12 on:** June 14, 2006, 09:14:51 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mighty1

I have been using Dells at home and here at work for around 6 years and I have only found the Small Form Factor and Ultra Small Form Factor PC to be any problems upgrading.

You can have someone build one for you locally but personally if I have to spend the money I would rather get one that I know has all the parts tested to see if they work right together and has more than a 90 day warranty.

On the first one, I've encountered upgrade/compatibility problems all across the Dell line, though I must admit that I did not work with every available Dell system that has been available the last half decade. Especially Sapphire and Creative components integrated in a Dell are a notorious recipe for disaster, other mobo's / ready systems do just fine in that respect (in general of course).

On the warranty thing, here you can get fairly cheap 4 years warranty at location if you purchase your rig at a proper computer store. Assembly and testing is done more thorough than Dell's or any other post order supplier (again based on my personal experience only). If one has a good, dependable specialty store within a few miles there is no reason to go Dell I can think of...

But maybe I'm a bit biased because of Dell mishaps in my past.

lazs2 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 14, 2006, 09:18:46 AM »

nielson... I guess my point was that in 4 years... nothing in the case including the case will be worth saving to "upgrade" for an AH playing puter in any case... I will just give the old dell to a grandkid or somone who doesn't play games on it. Even the damn cases change in this field every couple of years.

lazs

SOB · « **Reply #14 on:** June 14, 2006, 09:19:52 AM »

If you've gotta buy a brand name desktop, then I'd say Dell is a decent choice. I don't know about upgrading in the case of swapping out motherboard and/or power supply, but if you go for the full size chassis, like Mighty1 mentioned, you'll probably have better luck.

I couldn't see doing anything other than building my own, but then I enjoy it, and I can fix it if it doesn't work.