Dell Demension XPS

[MasterSamwise]

Hey Everyone -

Been thinking about getting a new system... I would like to build but $$ is an issue! Basically I would have to have all the cash in hand for a new system to build. That's why I have been looking at the Dell Demension XPS system Dell Demension XPS. (Dell's financing avalibility will allow me to pay for it when I have the money)

Here is the system I have been looking at. Mostly the 'stock configuration':

[*] P4@3GHZHT w/800FSB
[*] 2GB DDR @ 400MHZ
[*] 128MB GeForce FX 5200 TV-Out
[*] Sound Blaster Audigy 2
[*] 120GB ATA 7200 RPM
[*] 16x DVD-ROM Drive
[*] 48x CD-RW Drive
[*] 3.5 in Floppy Drive
[*] Int Intel Pro 100 Ethernet
[*] 19 in M992 Monitor



Anyone have one of these systems? Can anyone tell me anything about the specified machine aka Motherboard, RAM Video Card, HD, Monitor? Is there somewhere I could get a better machine for my money? Monthly financing options are pretty much a MUST. I am definetly not afraid to build my own machines (I have built 2)as I said it's an issue of money.

I would really like to go with the new AMD stuff like the A64 but Dell doesn't offer any AMD processors... Anywhere I can customize a system with an A64?

My current rig is quite old so even a middle ground AXP system would probablly be a step up. What do you guys think? Should I just wait it out save up some more cash? I have also been looking at Dell's notebooks.. One of those might be a possibility.

Master Samwise

Perhaps.. *gasp* Alienware?

 

[MasterSamwise]

Damn.. The A64... Look so tempting..

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

the 5200 uh.... sucks.

Alienware is extremely overpriced.

 

[Lonyo]

That Dell stock setup sucks. 2GB of RAM is overkill, and a GF FX 5200 is total crap.
Also, no CD burner is poor.

Anandtech did a review of the Dell gamers XPS and it was worse in performance than similarly equipped systems. Also, limited overclockability.

Falcon NW might be better
They do AMD systems as well as Intel, but might be quite expensive.
Check out Alienware and Falcon NW before Dell.

 

[waylman]

VoodooPC is sweet also

 

[Vonkhan]

BYO

 

[MasterSamwise]

I will take both into consideration.. Looks to me that you can pick up a pretty damn good stock Falcon Northwest System for pretty cheap... Voodo seems a little bit more. The Talon very well might be a soloution to my current computer problem.

MS

 

[waylman]

the xps is a good system also. just get a 9800 pro in it.....either way, you can't go wrong.

 

[BG4533]

While that Dell is a pretty full featured machine it seems a bit overpriced. Is there any way you can get a loan from elsewhere to get the money? I think you could build a similar machine for far less.

I see Dell is having a quadruple memory sale, but I don't think anyone really needs 2GB of memory for a home/gaming system. I would just get 1GB.

 

[nick1985]

2 gigs of ram paired with a 5200? gimme a break.

 

[Schadenfroh]

1st, real gamers build there own, unless they get insane deals or lazy, both of which do not apply in this case
2nd, let me critique your XPS system

P4@3GHZHT w/800FSB (awesome CPU, but its locked, you dont have any freedom to play with it as its on a locked intel mobo)

2GB DDR @ 400MHZ (overkill X 1000)

128MB GeForce FX 5200 TV-Out

(what the hell are these guys smoking pairing this with a 3ghz p4 and a 2 gig or memory, do they think gamers are stupid?)

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 (i would rather have a M-audio revolution)

120GB ATA 7200 RPM (give me 2 raptors in raid0 baby)

16x DVD-ROM Drive (get a dvdrw)

48x CD-RW Drive (see above)

3.5 in Floppy Drive

Int Intel Pro 100 Ethernet (integrated is your friend)

19 in M992 Monitor (get one from HD forums)

3rd, dell sucks
___________________________________________________
4th here is what you should get


A7N8X deluxe (nforce2) $120

2500 barton $86

1gb of Corsair XMS PC3200 $209

NEC +/- DVDRW $101

Antec case with 350 watt PSU $82

Thermal Right SLK900 HS $35

unable to determain fantype without knowing how much noise you want to deal with, but i reccomend this if you dont care about noise $10

ATI Radeon 9800 pro $298

Samsung 19" flat screen CRT with .20 dotpitch $179

WD Raptor for OS and applications $120

WD 120 gig for Porn and Warez $91

The motherboard has onboard dolby digital 5.1 sound and 2 intergrated 10/100 eithernet ports along with serial ata

so

120
86
209
101
82
35
10
298
179
120
91
-------
$1331 shipped

basically a much better system for cheaper

 

[BG4533]

Schadenfroh, good demonstration of how he can get a better deal. From the HD forum he could probably save a bit on most of the system. Hovever, if he was considering a 3ghz P4 the Barton 2500 non OCd might not be quite enough. Who knows if he wants to OC. Even your setup with a nice P4 would be cheaper than the Dell though.

 

[Amused]

I agree with most others here.

If you need financing, find it elsewhere and build your own system.

 

[MasterSamwise]

Let me say first that i didn't select 2gb of ram.. It's some promotion deal they have going on..

And I would definetly like to build my own so perhaps i best wait.

 

[Sid59]

3 GHZ paired with a 5200 .. how can you lose!?

 

[MasterSamwise]

Originally posted by: MasterSamwise
Let me say first that i didn't select 2gb of ram.. It's some promotion deal they have going on..

And I would definetly like to build my own so perhaps i best wait.

I would definetly not be opposed to OC. I would go software before hardware because I have never done a harware OC before. Quiet is better. I might use this machine for music production. I could shave off the monitor and the 120gb drive. (Have a few extras here)


120
86
209
101
82
35
10
298
120

-------
$1061 shipped

Although, I might want the extra monitor in which case I could use my other machine as a dedicated *nix box. Something I have desired for quite a long time...

 

[Daniel]

I'd suggest building but don't forget to add OS costs to the comparison.

 

[dexvx]

If you're on a budget, wait for a Dimension 4600 deal.

There was one just a few weeks ago, for less $700 shipped, you could have a P4 2.6HT, 256MB DDR400, Radeon 9800 Pro, WinXP Home, Office2K3 and other stuff. Just add more memory and you're set.

 

[MasterSamwise]

The O.S. Is not a problem. it's sitting on my desk right now..