DELL 4550 not offered with 3.06ghz?

[new2pc]

I was eagerly waiting to see DELL 4550 with 3.06Ghz and see price reduction for the 4550 < 3.06Ghz.
Will Granite Bay be offered for Dimension?

 

[dullard]

Dell often only sells the top Intel processor on Dell's top line of computers. That way they really get some profits from the people willing to fork over the money. So I wasn't at all surprized to read that. It also kind of makes sense. Imagine Dell letting someone pay for a 3.06 GHz P4 and then match it with SDRAM! Dell isn't that mean.

Dell always uses Intel motherboards - and ususually as soon as they are available (or at least within a week). So I don't see why Dell won't have Granite Bay available.

 

[LukFilm]

Originally posted by: dullard
Dell often only sells the top Intel processor on Dell's top line of computers. That way they really get some profits from the people willing to fork over the money. So I wasn't at all surprized to read that. It also kind of makes sense. Imagine Dell letting someone pay for a 3.06 GHz P4 and then match it with SDRAM! Dell isn't that mean.

Dell always uses Intel motherboards - and ususually as soon as they are available (or at least within a week). So I don't see why Dell won't have Granite Bay available.

Dell Dimension 4550 comes with DDR RAM.

 

[new2pc]

Will the granite Bay available under Dimension or Optiplex?
I hope it will be under Dimension and Optiplex.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: LukFilm

Dell Dimension 4550 comes with DDR RAM.

Correct, but I wasn't talking about the 4550. I'm just saying they have 3 lines - 8200/8250 with RDRAM, 4500/4550 with DDR, and 2300 with SDRAM. And I gave 2 reasons why Dell would limit the top Intel chip to their top line. One reason is that the 2300 will castrate the chip with the limited bandwidth.

 

[Hulk]

Could be that Dell isn't going to offer the 3.06Ghz in the 4550 series to keep it a high-end item, or

1. They don't want to create an updated bios that will enable hyperthreading in the 4550 motherboard.

2. The 4550 motherboard isn't a PE chipset and can't do hyperthreading. I hope it isn't this one because if it is they're going to be looking at a class action. But, if they never update the bios we'll never know.

 

[new2pc]

BTW, 4550 has 845PE chipset.

 

[Hulk]

new2pc -

Yes, I know the 4550 is supposed to have a PE chipset, I bought one. It's just a little difficult to confirm. The intel chipset identifier shows it as a G/GL chipset. This was actually discussed in an earlier thread. It could be that this identification program is old and can't recognize the newer PE chipset. And, as stated earlier, it is very unlikely Dell would overclock the memory to 333Mhz since the G/GL chipsets don't officially support 333Mhz memory.

Anyway, what I would like to know is when, if ever, can I put a hyperthreading chip into this system?

 

[Tom]

"The intel chipset identifier shows it as a G/GL chipset."

The latest version(1.05) of the Intel chipset identifier includes the PE suffix along with several others when it is run on a 4550. It doesn't differentiate between the 845 chipsets.

In order for the 2.4g processor to run at 133 and the memory to run at 166, there has to be a 4:5 divider. I am pretty sure that the only Intel motherboards that have this capability, otherwise known as DDR333 support, are the 845PE and newer boards.

I would guess that Dell will sell Granite Bay computers at some point, I think they would probably come up with a new model number for them.

 

[Hulk]

Good info. Do you have a link for the new version?

 

[Hulk]

Never mind, I found it.

 

[dexvx]

Since granite bay is a workstation chipset, I would imagine you seeing it in the top of the line Precision class.

 

[new2pc]

Would Intel make the granite bay available for P4 < 3.06Ghz?

 

[brian_riendeau]

1. They don't want to create an updated bios that will enable hyperthreading in the 4550 motherboard.

2. The 4550 motherboard isn't a PE chipset and can't do hyperthreading. I hope it isn't this one because if it is they're going to be looking at a class action. But, if they never update the bios we'll never know.

The 4550 DOES support HT since the A01 BIOS (which was the shipping BIOS so everyone should have it). It specifically says it supports HT since A01 in the release.txt file included with the A02 BIOS update. Also, if you read the updated specifications for the 4550 from support.dell.com you will find:

"Intel® Pentium® 4 microprocessor that runs at 1.80, 1.90, 2.0, or 2.20 GHz internally and 400 MHz externally; or 2.26, 2.4, 2.53, 2.66, 2.8, or 3.06 GHz internally and 533 MHz externally"

The cooling is another issue, I am not sure if the heatshroud/exhaust fan combo will be up to snuff with a 3.06+ GHz chip. You could always swap out the fan for a faster one though...

 

[Kowan]

I checked Gateway and they're offering the 3.06 in their top system.
Dell wants $660 to upgrade from a 2.4 to a 2.8, (3.06 not listed yet). Not only do they not give any break, they overcharge what you could pick up a 2.8 yourself.
Upgrading from the MX to a 9700Pro is $10 more than the lowest price listed at Pricewatch.

 

[DynaOne]

I fear that Dell will only be offering Granite Bay on the Precision Workstation line as someone suggested. I'm looking to buy Granite Bay - and looking to buy Dell. If they create an artificial price layer by only offering it in the workstation at $300-$400 premium instead of the $50 that is justified - it will be a real shame.

 

[DynaOne]

 

[DynaOne]

Sorry about the blank ...

Actually, after taking a look at the Dell page - the fact that they did not announce the 3.06 P4 in the Dimension 4550 line gives me some hope that there will be a new Dimension (perhaps a new number) which included DCDDR Granite Bay and P4 3.06.

 

[Hulk]

brian_riendeau-

You are 100% correct. I didn't know a new bios was posted for the 4550.

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[new2pc]

"I fear that Dell will only be offering Granite Bay on the Precision Workstation line as someone suggested. I'm looking to buy Granite Bay - and looking to buy Dell. If they create an artificial price layer by only offering it in the workstation at $300-$400 premium instead of the $50 that is justified - it will be a real shame. "

I am afraid that's what DELL would do.