Top of the range DELL bargain

bambam

Hi, I've been keeping an eye on the dell website - things just keep getting better. Check out the price below - amazing. Does anyone know if Dell offer as good prices in Jan sales ?

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(Dec 86) Dimension 8300 3.0GHz
Includes Choice of Free Gift + Free Delivery + Free Memory Upgrade! + VAT : EUR
1,758.33

Standard Features: Intel 875P chipset with support for Intel® Pentium ® 4 processors with 800MHz system bus
Equipped with Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system
Dual Channel 400MHz DDR Memory
Midnight grey mini-tower with 8 USB 2.0 ports, 4 PCI slots and AGP 8x slot
Integrated 10/100 Pro Ethernet
Norton AntiVirus 2003 (with 90 days free virus updates)
No Floppy Drive as standard
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition (Why not upgrade to Windows® XP Professional?)

Choice Of Free Gift!: Free Dell All-In-One Printer A920 (Cable not included)
Online Saving - Free Delivery!: FREE Delivery

Online Memory Promotion!: 1024MB Dual Channel DDR 400
(4x256MB) (Includes 512MB FREE)

Enhanced Support Packs: 1 Year Collect and Return Service (-EUR - EUR 149.00)
Processor Upgrade: 3.0GHz Intel Pentium 4 Processor with HT technology and 800 front side bus - Dell Recommends

Floppy Drive & Additional Storage Devices: No Floppy Drive

Hard Drive: 120GB 7200rpm Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache (+ EUR EUR 9.50)
Optical Drives: 4x DVD+R\+RW with DVD Authoring Software

Monitor: Dell 17" UltraSharp (17.0" VIS) (with Height Adjustable Stand) Analogue/ Digital Flat Panel Monitor (+ EUR EUR 95.00)
Video Card: 128MB ATI Radeon 9800 Pro Graphics Card with DVI Dual Monitor Support and TV - Out via S-Video (+ EUR EUR 147.25)

Sound Card: Integrated 5.1 audio
Speakers: Dell A425 Speakers with Subwoofer

Modem: Dell 56k Data/Fax/Voice Modem

Digital Photography: Dell Picture Studio Standard Edition (note: contains a 21 use trial version of Paint Shop Pro)
Software: Microsoft® Works 7.0
Keyboard: Dell Standard PS2 Keyboard
Mouse: Dell 2 button Wheel Mouse

Corkey123

Shop around. Dell don't do anything cheap. Beware of the printer, it could cost you in the end when you need cartridges. Identify the components and price them on the likes of www.komplett.ie or give the specification to someone who builds PC such as www.marx-computers.com or www.itdirect.ie or www.jaguarcompsys.ie My experience is you can do a lot better than Dells price

bambam

dunno mate, I've been searching around for a while; this is by far the best offer going. I tried to piece together a system on Komplett and it comes in as dearer (and thats using the cheap option for each part). I've also tried elara's website - a similar config comes it at well over 2000!! - try it yourself..

With Dell I have a system that is guranteed to work and has good support forums. I've used dells at home and at work, here and abroad. TBH I find them to be very reliable. Also talking to friends, sometimes when you by off the shelf components for a self assemble PC they don't always work well together, major source of hassle IMO. But some people are in to this kinda thing, me, I just prefer getting a complete working system out of the box - zero hassle.

Corkey123

Yeah building can be a pain alright and you do have to know exactly the componets you want, however you are paying a high price for the Dell support and whose to say that the components dell are supplying are completely compatible. Do you know the exact motherboard, etc. I would still recommend you give the spec to systems builders as mentioned earlier.

The best of luck whatever purchase you make

davelerave

not good enough to get excited about,maybe they'll be cheaper again after christmas

shoegirl

Beware of buying Dell, you could be letting yourself in for a nightmare. Dell support has deteriorated quite dramatically in the last few years and the quality of the components has fallen a lot also as they seek cheaper and cheaper parts.

Many of the Dell motherboards are now ASUS manufactured, so they are probably very compatible. Also anything Intel based is the main industry benchmark so you have some security. Dell tend to use moderately high end, very standard parts, but they have a few quirks.

However, certain "high end" monitors were known in the past to fail standard PAT (electrical safety) tests, so I'd be cautious.

You would actually be quite shocked if you saw some of the "true" Dell statistics on machine failure I've seen in companies I've worked for who used a lot of Dell. Also another thing that has fallen by the wayside is the old system of maintaining parts for 5 years - you'll be lucky to get three years. I'd recommend buying from Marx Computers as pretty much everything can be easily upgraded in the future. I had a computer for 7 years once and everything had been replaced except the case. You can do a lot with a custom built system and they are a lot cheaper to repair. Dell repair prices for out of warranty system is borderline usury (some systems are actually more expensive to repair than to buy brand new.)

Good luck with your purchase!!

Jorinn

Do i really need to point ou the flaw in bambams post?

You see the bold parts? Look across to the side to see you need to add extra for those. Or some of them at least. Also the dvd burner is only a plus drive, makes no mention of who actually makes the mobo, dell branded printers, ugh.

Dell are in the business of just shipping boxes, as a result they will usuallypublicise things like the clock speed and not tell you they paid €20 for some b grade mobo, as for the ram theirs a big difference between dual channel no name ram and branded ram. If you want value for money you build it yourself. If you couldn't be arsed or tech illiterate, sure then, go for Dell.

From the post bambam made that thing would actually cost you over €2000.

spongebob

Originally posted by shoegirl

Also another thing that has fallen by the wayside is the old system of maintaining parts for 5 years - you'll be lucky to get three years.

Correct

Dell repair prices for out of warranty system is borderline usury (some systems are actually more expensive to repair than to buy brand new.)

Also correct, especially with laptops, sometimes within 3 months of them ceasing to make the model in question.

M

Corkey123

Bambam

I think you will agree that the overall opinion is to steer clear of the Dell offer. The price is not attractive in the least and the quality of components is questionable. Dell package advertisements to highlight processor and memory and usually throw in something "free" such as double the memory or a printer. This alone should make you suspicious. Any decent builder of machines will give details of the motherbaord that can be rated by a simple search on the net.

Don't ruin your Christmas !!

bambam

mmm, Jorinn - quite the little rant there. The price I stated is the full price payable including delivery. I copied and pasted in the format that dell provide once you have clicked the checkout button.

As for Dell's reliability, personal experience and talking to IT dept people show little problem with them. Our I.T. head guy at work has been using Dell for 6 years and has nothing but praise for them. My last employers in Sydney said exactly the same thing. As for future upgradability - what's the problem, it has an agp slot, dimm slots and SATA/ide connections ??

Out of the box its a stable system running at 3GHz with 800Mhz FSB, a 9800 pro graphics card, a gig of RAM, a DVD burner and a 17" Digital TFT with 25s refresh.

its got a NEC 1100a DVD burner, Seagate 120GB SATA, heck man, if you don't like the ram pick your own from crucial, though to be honest do I really need that extra oomph from low super low latency non-parity pc 3200 - the dell has a gig of pc3200 with runs at an acceptable speed for me.

TBH guys you are coming over a bit elitist here, its a good reliable system for a great price. There is no way another manufacturer can touch this price in Ireland. It will handle all normal tasks in its stride - DV editing being the most stressfull 2D app. As for gaming I think a 9800 pro will be more than adequate.

Yes I am a technophile, but over the years the fun of configuring and overclocking has grown tiresome. Years ago the were good gains to be made from overclocking i.e. the famous Celeron overclock. But I don't want that hassle anymore, matching memory timings with a particular board, making sure I have appropriate cooling. Having problems like when I shut down my computer restarts and my two IDE devices are not fully compatable with my board.

These days I ask myself, what do I want? the answer is : "A good machine that will do everything I want for the next few years for a good price" - The afore mentioned Dell meets and exceeds my criteria. I'm interested in working with software not fcuking around with hardware settings.

If you still think that Dell suck that much, do a google for "Dimension 8300 review" - I don't see anything off-putting from it.

And for those elitists, have a look at this review / graph comparison : http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_Dimension_8300_Consumer/4505-3118_7-21152445-4.html?tag=review

The Dell seems to be holding its own quite well...

Lemming

Bambam, I might point out something here (disregarding all else). All of the "good experience" you've had with Dell machines comes from a commercial viewpoint.

Which is where the money is for Dell. Joe-Bloggs at home who *might* buy a SINGLE new machine every seven years can go whistle dixie by comparison.

A != B in the eyes of C

Corkey123

Bambam

The point here is value for money. Yes the review you included gives a good review, however compared to what other machine and against what price ? The advice you have received to date may appear to be anti Dell. But I think the overall issue is.. what do you get for your money. Most agree Dell is not the most cost effective option.

The point about tweaking hardware is well made, you have obviously done some. Yes it can be a pain in the arse. You last reply smacks of a frustrated overclocker looking for a peaceful solution. So go for the Dell for the peace of mind, however ..........

Happy Christmas

bambam

Good thread guys, it's interesting to hear other opinions.

Lemming, as for experience: I've spent quite a lot of money on Dell laptops which I've found great (8100 & 8200). One of them had a overheating transformer - but Dell had a guy on site the next day with a replacement.

Also I know of others that have Dell desktops and experienced little or no problems. That's good enough for me.

I am trying not to be blinkered here, I know well that there are Dell machines with problems and that some people have issue with Dell's support structure. But my experience has been without fault. Again that's good enough for me.

So IMO I think the Dell is a good buy, simple as that. I've put my money where the cake goes and bought one yesterday. If $hit goes wrong, rests assured I'll post about it without hesitation. But I have a certain feeling it should be ok...

For comparison, would anyone like to get a quote for a similiar spec'd PC? It may be useful for other people who search the boards for advice on Dell's offerings.

The TICK

Hi there.

I bought a Dell Dimension 8200 some 2 year's ago and have to say that IMO Dell make great machines for the price and give the consumer a wide scope to customise their machine. I have also use dtheir support page for (drivers etc etc) and found it to be very good, also I have had very good email support from sales/aftersales staff when upgrading. I have owned and built other machines in the past but I will deffinetly be buying another "Dell" when the time comes to replace my current Dell system. I have had no trouble with it and would have no hessitation in recommending a Dell to anyone. So in answer to your post "YES" go for the Dell...

Jorinn

That sounds so completely scripted it's not even funny.

Makaveli

In contrast to The Tick, I will never ever buy from Dell again after they messed me around for ages about a graphics card. I upgraded the standard one and they then sent out the standard one. Many phone calls and a threat to send the whole thing back I eventually got the right one sent to me.

RicardoSmith

Dell is a box shifter. You're buying a package deal so your getting a system built to a price point period. Fine for people who never want to open their PC or even know how it works. You want their service and support. Dell are one of the better box shifters in this regard.

If you want the best price/components and a more flexible upgrade path then a PC you build yourself is best. But you have to do the legwork and take on servicing the system yourself. If you don't want to do this buy the Dell.

Both approaches suit different users. Its like trying to compares apples and oranges IMO.

Fry

Ya, i bought a dell last april. worse nightmare i ever had. i order pretty much the same system above except it was an 8200 i think and 2.8ghz. the graphics card was blown when i received it. after many, many calls to their tech support (if u can call it that) in india to a guy who couldnt speak english that well. to make a long story short, i had to send a solicitor's letter to get my money back. they wouldnt send anyone out or replace the part until u spent a week on the phone with an indian guy ripping open your pc. KEEP CLEAR!

http://forums.baddealings.com/showthread.php?threadid=62&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

Corkey123

Well Bambam. I hope your happy now !! I knew this would end up in tears

bambam

yeah, quite the passionate subject. Right up there with beer and women...

spongebob

The problem with Dell (recently) is that their tech support nowadays follows a script and will not deviate an inch from the bloody thing! .

After a few recent calls about servers I am reconsidering them as a supplier, it took absolutely ages to get past front line muppets following scripts who simply did not listen when I said that I had checked yadda that n the other so my question (by the time I rang them) was blah blah. Muppet goes back to beginning of script, I hang up and try again......another bleedin muppet!

Yes the kit is good, I have no complaints at all about Dell servers but the tech support foir servers has gone to hell in the last year. I would accept a muppet if I rang about a low margin product like a dimension but would still like a sentient being if I escalated.

M

spuddy

Ive just taken delivery of an 8300 on monday and have been very impressed with it. It is unbelieveably quick and virtually silent....with the exception of the heatsink fan which in my opinion is a bit on the 'buzzy' side. Don't know if its worth the hassle of trying to do anything about it - has anyone else had problems with noisy fans from dell?

Gibs

Slightly tangential, but has anyone used a company called Discount Computers in Northern Ireland? Their website is at :

www.discount-computers-ni.co.uk/catalog.php?cid=162

They appear to have some very good deals re hardware and components (although not a very wide selection). Prices are the best I've seen for "shipped boxes".

I'd like to know if they are reliable though before I order anything from them - anyone had any experience with them?

Jorinn

I'm getting stuff from their retail store next weekend, will post how good I find the quality, I remember someone saying they bought from them before, do a search and you might find the thread, think it was something about blank discs.