As some of you may know, I get to play with a few of Dell's computers. One of them is Dell's Precision T3400 Workstation, and it is definitely my favorite model. So I wanted to take some pictures and write up a little review for this system. First off, my review may be a little biased, and I'm not going to compare it directly to another brand's system. But, I hope it is still informational and helpful to someone.
The Dell Precision T3400
http://www.dell.com/downloads/...esktops/prec_t3400.jpg
The model I am working with today is Refurbished, purchased from Dell Outlet, and comes with a 3yr on-site warranty. However, I have replaced MANY of the parts, and while Dell certainly will not warrant the parts I added, doing so does NOT void the warranty of the rest of the system, as some may have previously thought.
The final specifications of this system...
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor (replaced E4400)
A-Data 8GB DDR2 800mhz (non-ECC) (replaced 1GB ECC 667mhz Samsung)
eVGA 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX (replaced 256MB Quadro NVS)
Integrated High Definition 7.1 Channel Audio
Samsung Spinpoint 500GB SATA II w/ 16MB Cache (replaced 80GB Western Digital)
16X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW SATA
Three (1-Front / 2-Rear) 1394 Firewire Ports
Dell (optional) upgraded 525W PSU
Microsoft Windows Vista Business 64bit
Front View
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/images/t3400/t34_front.jpg
As you can tell from the picture, the T3400 has two 5.25in front bays for two Optical drives. As well, two 3.5in bays for a floppy drive and/or an internal Media Card Reader. It also has front audio ports for for a Microphone and a Headset.
There are two front USB 2.0 ports. The front 1394 Firewire port is optional from Dell, and if purchased also includes a firewire PCI card with two additional rear firewire connections.
This system can be configured not only as a tower, but also as a desktop. You can either have it shipped your preferred way, or do this yourself by purchasing the appropriate front cover, both of them pictured here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/images/t3400/t34_desktop.jpg
As you can see here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...3400/t34_desktop02.jpg
...and here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...3400/t34_frcover01.jpg
... the internal design of the bays allows both configurations. Just simply slide the drives in, in regards to the orientation you wish.
Rear View
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/images/t3400/t34_rear.jpg
There are six rear USB 2.0 connections, and of course the Gigabit Ethernet connection. Also, from this view, you can see a lever at the very top of the case, which when pulled, releases the side door of the case for easy internal access.
You may also notice that the dual-slot 9800 GTX video card is installed upright, with the heatsink facing upwards. This is a Dell proprietary version of BTX, and because heat rises, the video card may run a little cooler in this position.
Internal View
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...t3400/t34_internal.jpg
Bird's Eye Views...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...3400/t34_bird_east.jpg
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...400/t34_bird_north.jpg
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...400/t34_bird_south.jpg
The T3400 motherboard has an Intel X38 chipset. Unlike the XPS 420, the T3400 has two PCI Express slots (x16 and x8), and officially supports Nvidia Quadro SLI. I honestly do not know if it supports Crossfire, nor have I tested it, but it should. Nvidia GeForce SLI is another story, and there is definitely no official support for it.
There are four DIMM slots for DDR2 memory modules and supports up to 16GB (4x4GB) (make sure to have A08 or newer BIOS). The T3400 supports both ECC and non-ECC memory, but not mixed. This is really nice because non-ECC DDR2 memory is very inexpensive these days. Installed in this system are four 2GB modules of A-Data DDR2-800 memory. I have also used with much success the Super Talent DDR2 memory modules, which are also very inexpensive. Most likely any memory that runs at standard JEDEC 1.8V will work in this system. As for 4GB modules, I have tested with success, Aeneon (model number "AET960UD00-25D-S"), Super Talent (model T800UB4GSA) modules, and Samsung (part# D2-4G800SO).
Another nice feature of the internal design is the blue plastic do-hickey pictured here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/images/t3400/t34_vid_sup.jpg
This can rotate up and down for installing the video card, but its sole purpose is to give physical support for heavier video cards, like the installed 9800 GTX, to help prevent bending which can happen over a long period of time.
Installing or replacing a hard drive is extremely easy to do. There are two internal hard drive bays. The enclosures pictured here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...t3400/t34_hd_brack.jpg
... pull out. Just simply put the hard drive in the bracket, and slide it back in. No screws necessary.
The heatsink is held onto the motherboard with two screws and can be easily removed to replace the processor. With the case laid on its side, and with the front of the case pointed away from you, simply remove the screws and rotate the heatsink toward you for removal.
There are NO PATA connections. All optical and hard drives MUST be SATA. I wouldn't even bother trying to use a PCI PATA card.
Power Supply
This system can be configured from Dell with the standard 375W power supply, or with an upgraded 525W power supply.
The 375W has two 12V rails @ 18A each, and has one PCI Express 6-pin connector.
This system pictured has the upgraded 525W PSU. You can see the ratings here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/images/t3400/t34_power.jpg
It has three 12V rails @ 18A, and has two PCI Express 6-pin power connectors...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...t3400/t34_x16power.jpg
Original configurations from Dell
Dell charges a lot of money for upgrading parts, so buying this system fully-equipped is not recommended for those looking for a good deal. But thanks to their internal design, replacing and/or adding parts is very easy to do.
The 525W PSU however is probably a really good idea to get on the front end. But the 375W is plenty for mid-range and even higher-end range video cards that only require one 6pin power connection. The 512MB 8800 GT and GTS, as well as the HD3870 cards will perform just fine using the 375W PSU.
Most systems from Dell will come with an 80GB Western Digital WD800JD hard drive, or a Hitachi 80GB HDS721680PLA380 drive. It is rare, but I have seen Seagate 7200.10 80GB drives as well. In the past couple of years I have seen nothing but Western Digital, Seagate, and Hitachi brand hard drives.
Dell uses Samsung, Nanya, Hynix, Infineon, and ProMos memory. I have never seen ProMos ECC memory, but I see a good mix of the other four brands when they come with ECC memory, as well as non-ECC. I usually pull whatever ships anyway.
Just to dispel ignorant rumors, of course Dell uses the exact same Intel processors found in retail boxes.
The 256MB Nvidia Quadro NVS 290 card that comes standard with the T3400 looks very similar to the older 128MB NVS 285...
http://www.benmacre.com/images/nvidia_quadro285.jpg
... and will come with both the dual DVI and dual VGA cables.
This is a very quiet system. Even adding a powerful video card doesn't add much noise. However, configuring or adding 15K rpm SAS drives does make the system much more noisy.
That is pretty much all I can think of saying about the T3400. I will update this as I think of other things to add, or as I respond to any of your questions.
The Dell Precision T3400
http://www.dell.com/downloads/...esktops/prec_t3400.jpg
The model I am working with today is Refurbished, purchased from Dell Outlet, and comes with a 3yr on-site warranty. However, I have replaced MANY of the parts, and while Dell certainly will not warrant the parts I added, doing so does NOT void the warranty of the rest of the system, as some may have previously thought.
The final specifications of this system...
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor (replaced E4400)
A-Data 8GB DDR2 800mhz (non-ECC) (replaced 1GB ECC 667mhz Samsung)
eVGA 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX (replaced 256MB Quadro NVS)
Integrated High Definition 7.1 Channel Audio
Samsung Spinpoint 500GB SATA II w/ 16MB Cache (replaced 80GB Western Digital)
16X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW SATA
Three (1-Front / 2-Rear) 1394 Firewire Ports
Dell (optional) upgraded 525W PSU
Microsoft Windows Vista Business 64bit
Front View
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/images/t3400/t34_front.jpg
As you can tell from the picture, the T3400 has two 5.25in front bays for two Optical drives. As well, two 3.5in bays for a floppy drive and/or an internal Media Card Reader. It also has front audio ports for for a Microphone and a Headset.
There are two front USB 2.0 ports. The front 1394 Firewire port is optional from Dell, and if purchased also includes a firewire PCI card with two additional rear firewire connections.
This system can be configured not only as a tower, but also as a desktop. You can either have it shipped your preferred way, or do this yourself by purchasing the appropriate front cover, both of them pictured here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/images/t3400/t34_desktop.jpg
As you can see here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...3400/t34_desktop02.jpg
...and here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...3400/t34_frcover01.jpg
... the internal design of the bays allows both configurations. Just simply slide the drives in, in regards to the orientation you wish.
Rear View
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/images/t3400/t34_rear.jpg
There are six rear USB 2.0 connections, and of course the Gigabit Ethernet connection. Also, from this view, you can see a lever at the very top of the case, which when pulled, releases the side door of the case for easy internal access.
You may also notice that the dual-slot 9800 GTX video card is installed upright, with the heatsink facing upwards. This is a Dell proprietary version of BTX, and because heat rises, the video card may run a little cooler in this position.
Internal View
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...t3400/t34_internal.jpg
Bird's Eye Views...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...3400/t34_bird_east.jpg
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...400/t34_bird_north.jpg
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...400/t34_bird_south.jpg
The T3400 motherboard has an Intel X38 chipset. Unlike the XPS 420, the T3400 has two PCI Express slots (x16 and x8), and officially supports Nvidia Quadro SLI. I honestly do not know if it supports Crossfire, nor have I tested it, but it should. Nvidia GeForce SLI is another story, and there is definitely no official support for it.
There are four DIMM slots for DDR2 memory modules and supports up to 16GB (4x4GB) (make sure to have A08 or newer BIOS). The T3400 supports both ECC and non-ECC memory, but not mixed. This is really nice because non-ECC DDR2 memory is very inexpensive these days. Installed in this system are four 2GB modules of A-Data DDR2-800 memory. I have also used with much success the Super Talent DDR2 memory modules, which are also very inexpensive. Most likely any memory that runs at standard JEDEC 1.8V will work in this system. As for 4GB modules, I have tested with success, Aeneon (model number "AET960UD00-25D-S"), Super Talent (model T800UB4GSA) modules, and Samsung (part# D2-4G800SO).
Another nice feature of the internal design is the blue plastic do-hickey pictured here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/images/t3400/t34_vid_sup.jpg
This can rotate up and down for installing the video card, but its sole purpose is to give physical support for heavier video cards, like the installed 9800 GTX, to help prevent bending which can happen over a long period of time.
Installing or replacing a hard drive is extremely easy to do. There are two internal hard drive bays. The enclosures pictured here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...t3400/t34_hd_brack.jpg
... pull out. Just simply put the hard drive in the bracket, and slide it back in. No screws necessary.
The heatsink is held onto the motherboard with two screws and can be easily removed to replace the processor. With the case laid on its side, and with the front of the case pointed away from you, simply remove the screws and rotate the heatsink toward you for removal.
There are NO PATA connections. All optical and hard drives MUST be SATA. I wouldn't even bother trying to use a PCI PATA card.
Power Supply
This system can be configured from Dell with the standard 375W power supply, or with an upgraded 525W power supply.
The 375W has two 12V rails @ 18A each, and has one PCI Express 6-pin connector.
This system pictured has the upgraded 525W PSU. You can see the ratings here...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/images/t3400/t34_power.jpg
It has three 12V rails @ 18A, and has two PCI Express 6-pin power connectors...
http://www.benmacre.com/mt/ima...t3400/t34_x16power.jpg
Original configurations from Dell
Dell charges a lot of money for upgrading parts, so buying this system fully-equipped is not recommended for those looking for a good deal. But thanks to their internal design, replacing and/or adding parts is very easy to do.
The 525W PSU however is probably a really good idea to get on the front end. But the 375W is plenty for mid-range and even higher-end range video cards that only require one 6pin power connection. The 512MB 8800 GT and GTS, as well as the HD3870 cards will perform just fine using the 375W PSU.
Most systems from Dell will come with an 80GB Western Digital WD800JD hard drive, or a Hitachi 80GB HDS721680PLA380 drive. It is rare, but I have seen Seagate 7200.10 80GB drives as well. In the past couple of years I have seen nothing but Western Digital, Seagate, and Hitachi brand hard drives.
Dell uses Samsung, Nanya, Hynix, Infineon, and ProMos memory. I have never seen ProMos ECC memory, but I see a good mix of the other four brands when they come with ECC memory, as well as non-ECC. I usually pull whatever ships anyway.
Just to dispel ignorant rumors, of course Dell uses the exact same Intel processors found in retail boxes.
The 256MB Nvidia Quadro NVS 290 card that comes standard with the T3400 looks very similar to the older 128MB NVS 285...
http://www.benmacre.com/images/nvidia_quadro285.jpg
... and will come with both the dual DVI and dual VGA cables.
This is a very quiet system. Even adding a powerful video card doesn't add much noise. However, configuring or adding 15K rpm SAS drives does make the system much more noisy.
That is pretty much all I can think of saying about the T3400. I will update this as I think of other things to add, or as I respond to any of your questions.