Dell/Intel has better price/performance than AMD?

[Adul]

ok i customized that for the additonal items, but I still get a 2.0 P4 not a 2.4

 

[sharkeeper]

The main reason they are slow is because Dell in their mighty wisdom bogs it down with a lot of additional software at startup. If anyone with a half decent knowledge of Windows came along, they could easily disable those and make it run much faster. It has nothing to do with the hardware itself. The hardware is JUST like any other hardware that you or me build. A p4-processor, i845pe based mobo, ti4200 64mb, sb live 5.1, seagate barracuda IV hdd. I dont know where a lot of people get the idea that their identical pre-built system can be any faster, without overclocking or switching to different components. Yea, if I get a WD 8MB SE, it'd be a little faster. Or if I overclock to 166FSB and 200Mhz memory, it'd be faster also, but thats common sense. Hardware is Hardware, there is no difference in it, if you build it, or if Dell builds it.

I would have to disagree.

I had a client that had their Dell machine crash. Maxtor 5400 RPM hard disk dead. I replaced it with a WD 400BB which should be much faster. Instead of restoring the machine, I loaded 2000 from scratch and installed only necessary drivers. Despite the machine having 128 MB of RAM (it was using 60 after booting) it just seemed slow for its class. Not as slow as before, but I've built plenty of similar class machines (P3 933 128MB PC133 etc.) and they were much faster. I didn't have to run benchmarks to see the difference!

Cheers!

 

[Sid59]

if dell offered a similar XP 2400 with the same configuration, it would prolly be cheaper than the intel.

Where's Dell when you wanna upgrade just the mobo and a new cpu?

Is the dell tower gonna offer you a new case?
Does the dell mobo let you control many aspects of the BIOS?
How many watts is that dell desktop?

For reasons above, i like to control what i have. Custom built machines are controlled and if you make a mistake you know how to handle it.

 

[tart666]

OK, all y'all

Follow my lead:
dell.com > Small Biz > Desktops > Dimension > New Dimension 4550 > 2.4/533 | XP home | Premium audio > customize all you want.
Comes with free 15" LCD, free CDRW, etc
I configed:
- P4 2.4/533
- 256MB DDR333
- 40x CDRW
- 40GB harddrive
- 6 USB 2.0 ports (2 front)
- SB live! 5.1
- Geforce 4 MX 460 64MB with TV out
- Ethernet
- 15" Samsung-made TFT active matrix LCD (1024x768, 350:1, 250cd/m2)
- XP home , keybd, intellimouse, floppy, screwless case, silent PSU/fans
- 1 year on-site warranty ( I know, it's been getting worse, but still the best according to a pcmag study)

Total $639 shipped ($689- $50 coupon from your favourite site)

And yes, small biz division just has different config options, but it's open to everyone. I have ordered from them before, all you have to do is fill out the name of the business on the order form. I usually put "home", other people use their name.

And to address mobo upgradeability: All you have to do is get a new PSU. Extra $50. Like I said, this is not like the wimpy nforce, NOTHING IS INTEGRATED! Full upgradeability included!

 

[tenoc]

Tart, this is a b*llsh*t premise!

No-one here can build an AMD-based similar-speced system for the price because we can't buy parts for what Dell does.

Also, for the same reason, no-one here can build an INTEL-based similar-speced system for the price.

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: tart666
OK, all y'all

Follow my lead:
dell.com > Small Biz > Desktops > Dimension > New Dimension 4550 > 2.4/533 | XP home | Premium audio > customize all you want.
Comes with free 15" LCD, free CDRW, etc
I configed:
- P4 2.4/533
- 256MB DDR333
- 40x CDRW
- 40GB harddrive
- 6 USB 2.0 ports (2 front)
- SB live! 5.1
- Geforce 4 MX 460 64MB with TV out
- Ethernet
- 15" Samsung-made TFT active matrix LCD (1024x768, 350:1, 250cd/m2)
- XP home , keybd, intellimouse, floppy, screwless case, silent PSU/fans
- 1 year on-site warranty ( I know, it's been getting worse, but still the best according to a pcmag study)

Total $639 shipped ($689- $50 coupon from your favourite site)

And yes, small biz division just has different config options, but it's open to everyone. I have ordered from them before, all you have to do is fill out the name of the business on the order form. I usually put "home", other people use their name.

And to address mobo upgradeability: All you have to do is get a new PSU. Extra $50. Like I said, this is not like the wimpy nforce, NOTHING IS INTEGRATED! Full upgradeability included!

I did that, even with less options on there, still no go....

 

[tart666]

Tart, this is a b*llsh*t premise!

Did you read the thread title? I said DELL + INTEL has better Price / performance than ANYONE + AMD

HPQ / Gateway have the same volume price leverage. I don't see them offering AXP2400 systems with 15" LCD for $539. It must be impossible

Therefore, my statement must be true. DELL + INTEL has better Price / performance than ANYONE + AMD

 

[CrazySaint]

Originally posted by: tart666
OK, all y'all

Follow my lead:
dell.com > Small Biz > Desktops > Dimension > New Dimension 4550 > 2.4/533 | XP home | Premium audio > customize all you want.
Comes with free 15" LCD, free CDRW, etc
I configed:
- P4 2.4/533
- 256MB DDR333
- 40x CDRW
- 40GB harddrive
- 6 USB 2.0 ports (2 front)
- SB live! 5.1
- Geforce 4 MX 460 64MB with TV out
- Ethernet
- 15" Samsung-made TFT active matrix LCD (1024x768, 350:1, 250cd/m2)
- XP home , keybd, intellimouse, floppy, screwless case, silent PSU/fans
- 1 year on-site warranty ( I know, it's been getting worse, but still the best according to a pcmag study)

Total $639 shipped ($689- $50 coupon from your favourite site)

And yes, small biz division just has different config options, but it's open to everyone. I have ordered from them before, all you have to do is fill out the name of the business on the order form. I usually put "home", other people use their name.

And to address mobo upgradeability: All you have to do is get a new PSU. Extra $50. Like I said, this is not like the wimpy nforce, NOTHING IS INTEGRATED! Full upgradeability included!

I did get the $689 price, but I'd like to know what's so wimpy about the nForce? It has better sound than the SB Live! 5.1 and you can easily upgrade all you like. It also allows you to fully customize the BIOS unlike the Dell.

 

[tart666]

but I'd like to know what's so wimpy about the nForce?

Lack of upgradeability. If you want to replace the mobo, you lose sound/video. If anything, Dimension 4550 is much more future-proof. Frankly, I like the nforce, I build a PC last month with an Asus A7N266-VM. It's awesome for $80. But not as good as GF4MX. My PC came out to $400 with XP1600+, but this dell beats me by a long margin on both price AND performance. And anyone else who would attempt

In fact those bloody dell people made me buy another computer to replace the XP1600+. The axp has been demoted to be the girlfriends computer.

 

[blade2]

Originally posted by: tenoc
Tart, this is a b*llsh*t premise!

No-one here can build an AMD-based similar-speced system for the price because we can't buy parts for what Dell does.

Also, for the same reason, no-one here can build an INTEL-based similar-speced system for the price.

true true

 

[tart666]

I did that, even with less options on there, still no go....

let's try this linkie
Dim4550 > Pick 2.4/533 on menu, press continue. It works

 

[Tanked]

I followed that link and it came to $918...

 

[vansouza]

Perhaps the deal was seen at the Wal-Mart site. I own a P4 but I know that I couild not have gotten it at the price I did if AMD were not here to pressure Intel. My two cents...

 

[merlocka]

Dell is an amazing company. They revolutionized the way PC's are purchased by devloping the "inventory-less" PC assembly house. They will never use AMD because Mikey D. has sold his soul to Intel. I don't think I'd ever buy a Dell, but I admire the company.

 

[Tanked]

With the tiny/negative margins Dell has, it appears Intel platform has finally the best performance AND price. Just check this: Can anyone build a reasonable quality (no ECS/PCChips) XP2400+ system cheaper than a Dell 2.4? Or find an HP/Compaq/any reasonble vendor that can?

- P4 2.4/533
- 256MB DDR333
- 40x CDRW
- 60GB harddrive
- 6 USB 2.0 ports (2 front)
- SB live! 5.1
- Geforce 4 MX 460 64MB with TV out
- Ethernet and 56k modem
- 15" TFT active matrix LCD (1024x768, 350:1, 250cd/m2)
- Edit: forgot XP home license, keybd, intellimouse, floppy, screwless case, silent PSU/fans
- 1 year on-site warranty ( I know, it's been getting worse, but still the best according to a pcmag study)

All of this for $699 shipped, no rebates.

The GF4-MX they have listed is probably a MX-420 or MX-440, not a MX-460. (Yes, I know it says DDR but they do have MX-420 DDR variants now).

Also, I I tried your link again and it came to $918 with a 30 gig value drive...

 

[tart666]

Also, I I tried your link again and it came to $918 with a 30 gig value drive...

Well, I don't know. It works for me every time. As soon as I click the link the price is $758, then 1yr warranty, some adjustments and voila. I just couldn't resist, ordered one. Replacing two weeks' old XP1600+ system. Should shave off 50% on my SVCD encoding! hooray!

 

[BFG10K]

Intel is extremely competitive in the high-end range, in fact so much so that from about 2.53 GHz and higher they're probably better than AMD. Most people forget that when you buy AMD processors you also need a fan/heatsink that costs extra. Intel's CPUs all come with Intel's excellent cooling solutions.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Tanked
I followed that link and it came to $918...

I followed the link, upgraded to GF4 MX and 60gb hd, and subtracted the 3-yr warranty... It came up to exactly what tart said.

 

[JavaMomma]

I think Dell is great for many people.
They seem to offer good service and stable computers at great prices.

But Dell really is not that great for people who like to tinker and can build there own PC.

The one thing that gets me is this
A friend of mine spent a large amount of money on a dell it came with like the fastest CPU available at the time I think like a P3 933 or something
128MB RAM (was so so, should have had 256MB)
TNT2 M64 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG The Geforce2 was out at this time!!!
and the HD has to be a 5400RPM drive its so slow!

I just dont get there combinations of hardware, its so funny watching him try to play the new games, LOL

Ohh well so his machine is incredibly slow, feels slower then my girl friends PIII 450.
Least the dell is stable and came with good warranty

 

[Sunner]

Followed the link, didn't get $699 even with a 30 GB drive.

 

[JavaMomma]

I cant get the price to match up either.
I think I have everything but i get $689

 

[DLzone]

No one seems to be answering the question at hand. I've build a ton of custom computers and prefer them that way, but no way could I build what Dell is giving you for that price and neither could any of these guys. The LCD Monitor alone would bring the price to around at least $275, and that's not counting the Pentium 4 2.4 with the 533 bus. That's why these Dimension Desktops are now apearing in the Hot Deals forum on a regular basis now.

 

[new2pc]

The customize has limited option.
It does not gives option for Ti4200 with 64MB memory, but no selection for the Ti4200 with 128MB memory.
Intel motherboard (for 845PE chipsets) have integrated firewire/IEEE 1394, but the motherboard that is built for DELL does not have this feature.

 

[Priit]

Little OT, but why there is no choice (or at least I didn't see it) in DELL's site to buy computer without MSWindows or any other software? At least I don't have to waste money for that when I build computers by myself...

 

[jakobkraft]

I don't know how accurate the original statement about price/performance is, but as far as the comments made about Dell machines being slow, I'd have to disagree. And I'm not one of those people that disagrees because of ONE experience involving ONE individual; I'm a Fox Visual Pro editor, I have several-too many, actually-web designers and imagers as friends, and with the exception of one, who happens to suffer from severe insomnia, none of us have the time to build our own machines, though we all know how to do it. But the 8200 that I and someone else has not only benchmarks higher than a similarly spec'd Falcon that some moron at work has AND an Alienware Aurora DDR (can't remember the specs but was issued sometime in June) but it plays several games that we have in common either as good or better. The 8200 has been a fixture on Cnet as the 2nd highest performing machine available for a while as well as PC Mag's perpetual 'hot deal.' The very simple combination of a P4+Rambus + WD 120 GB 7200 works wonders and is extremely affordable... And what is all this crap about not upgradeable? I've upgraded my power supply, my vid card and sound card, and motherboad-which my friend just did on hers with no problem-is next.

Like someone else said, there will be things pre-installed that aren't necessary, but ever hear of 'msconfig?'