Dell XPS Desktop 8300, i7-2600 3.40GHz, 12GB ram, 1.5TB HDD, W7

ionapaul

Smurph90 wrote: »

ordered. seen the months delivery time. seriously regret ordering now

BTW, just reordered there and the new order shows an estimated delivery date of 16/1, rather than 6/2 for the 'old' build. Happy with that

Soarer

Must resist!

Alkers

ionapaul wrote: »

BTW, just reordered there and the new order shows an estimated delivery date of 16/1, rather than 6/2 for the 'old' build. Happy with that

Yeah I had a fair bit of hassle cancelling my order as my system had already entered the manufacturing stage. Ordered again and will get a refund when the first system is manufactured or something. The delivery date is a worst case scenario.

ablelocks

still resisting.

it helps to have a strong willed financial controller.

although I was reading that there's a bug in dell dimension 520's that could cause them to malfunction on the evening of january 6th, 2012.

Dufresne

Guys - Just wanted to say thanks for the help on this thread esp Zab and ionapaul. I normally avoid 'causing hassle' by cancelling things etc but I with the extra stuff available for an additional €40 it was too good to pass up. So thanks again for the push I needed.

For anybody else thinking of cancelling it was pretty straightforward. I just gave the honest answer that the new offer was IMO much better value. The guy emailed me back within the hour. New system ordered

CombatCow

Thanks for these codes "thegift06" I used them on an Alienware m14x which dell has €286 off at the moment anyway. I saved €350 in total

Here is the spec if anyone is interested:

Alienware M14x : 3.0 Base Red
English Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 BIT)
Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 2670QM (2.20Ghz, 6MB, 4C)
3GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GT555M
4096MB 1600MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
14.0" Widescreen High Definition + (1600x900) WLED with TrueLife
750GB (7,200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Drive including software
Integrated High-Definition 5.1 Performance Audio
Killer™ Wireless-N
8-cell 63W/HR LI-ION
3.0 Mega Pixel HD Camera
Total Inc VAT: € 1,086.71

MrSparkle

This offer is amazing, nice spot thegift06

Jaegermeister

I agree this offer seems amazing. The only downside as been pointed out is the graphics card. If you put in a new card yourself does it void the one year warranty?

As I mostly play World of Warcraft (and possibley SWTOR in the future) would I be as well off waiting a year or so before upgrading as I think the 530 will be more than enough for that?

Also for €60 is it worth upgrading the sound to the Soundblaster?

partyatmygaff

Jaegermeister wrote: »

I agree this offer seems amazing. The only downside as been pointed out is the graphics card. If you put in a new card yourself does it void the one year warranty?

Probably not.

Even if it did, just remove the graphics card before getting Dell to repair the computer. If they really wanted to they could find out you installed your own graphics card but from my experience they don't really care so long as the fault didn't arise from the part you installed.

Also for €60 is it worth upgrading the sound to the Soundblaster?

If you need clean sound inputs, yes. If you don't need clean sound inputs, no.

There's absolutely no need for a sound card unless you're going to do some home recording.

Jaegermeister

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Probably not.

Even if it did, just remove the graphics card before getting Dell to repair the computer. If they really wanted to they could find out you installed your own graphics card but from my experience they don't really care so long as the fault didn't arise from the part you installed.

That's good to know. I think if I get it I'll try it out with WoW etc anyway and if I'm not happy or I see a great bargain I'll get a new card and put it in.

partyatmygaff wrote: »

If you need clean sound inputs, yes. If you don't need clean sound inputs, no.

There's absolutely no need for a sound card unless you're going to do some home recording.

Ah ok, I do occasionally mess around with programs like Acid and Mixcraft, but only with loops, and just for my own amusement really. I'll leave that out so.

I'm thinking of pairing it with this screen:

http://komplett.ie/Komplett/product/ZKB_04RAND/16_MONITOR/01_MONITOR/productdetails/10023200/Asus_22_VH222D_LCD_5ms_VGA/90LM73101500001C/default.aspx

So if I can get a 15% discount on the dell that should make it about €750 for the lot excluding the graphics card.

Anyhoo, thanks for your reply. I'm definatly leaning towards getting it. I don't think they can really top that deal unless they put in a decent graphics card.

partyatmygaff

It's a very good deal as it is. It matches the price of self-builds.

Jaegermeister

partyatmygaff wrote: »

It's a very good deal as it is. It matches the price of self-builds.

That's what I thought. And as I mostly play WoW currently my demands on the graphics card shouldn't be too high initially at least.

Zab

It's an easily upgradable component. You don't have to decide now, you could see what it's like with the 530.

HovaBaby

Can you build your own PC via the website?

Jaegermeister

Zab wrote: »

It's an easily upgradable component. You don't have to decide now, you could see what it's like with the 530.

That's what I'm thinking too. Given that i currently play WoW on an old Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop with a Pentium Dual core and nvidia 8600m I reckon I can get some use out of the 530, by which time the graphics cards will have gotten cheaper (I hope)

Zab

Some benchmark numbers from http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html


GT 530 - 745 - This is the stock card

GT 555M - 1012 - This is the graphics card in the Alienware laptop above, purely for comparison

These are Dell's upgrade options:

6670 - 1232 - €40
GT 545 - 1214 - €81
GTS 450 - 1423 - €142
6870 - 2817 - €274
GTX 560Ti- 2973 - €325

Some other cards mentioned in this thread:

5770 - 1683
5850 - 2524
6850 - 2737 - €134 (komplett)
6950 - 3050 - €198 (pix - probably an extra €10 for delivery)

baronflyguy

Hi All,

Looks good spec and good price. My old desktop is 6 years old now so I need to new one.

I can't seem to find a list of rear and front connection ports on this xps 8300 machine.
Can anyone tell me if the xps 8300 mentioned on this thread has USB3 ports?

-BFG

Zab

I'm pretty sure it doesn't. Ports should be listed in the 8300 page (the link above is already specialised so you'll have to go in again from the menus). Not currently an issue for me but I'm sure it'll bite me in the ass at some stage.

baronflyguy

Zab wrote: »

I'm pretty sure it doesn't. Ports should be listed in the 8300 page (the link above is already specialised so you'll have to go in again from the menus). Not currently an issue for me but I'm sure it'll bite me in the ass at some stage.

No I looked and I couldn't find any mention of what type of connections come with the desktop.
I don't see any mention of what you get.... Like do I get VGA, dvi, HDMI, Multimedia card input ports, number of USB ports and if there is USB 3 etc.
I'm guessing purely on the basis it is a modern machine that I do. Maybe not the HDMI port but everything else I mmetioned.

Zab

http://www.dell.com/ie/p/xps-8300/pd

Click tech specs. Doesn't have USB 3. I believe they were having a lot of trouble with their USB 3 controller so they pulled it.

ShaneU

Anyone know the difference between the two wireless cards? I don't think my upc router supports wireless N and they're both the same price.

partyatmygaff

ShaneU wrote: »

Anyone know the difference between the two wireless cards? I don't think my upc router supports wireless N and they're both the same price.

Pretty much all Wireless N devices are backwards compatible.

jaykhunter

Hey guys, badly need a new PC, was sorting out building my own but these deals sound great.

Base Intel® Core™ i7-2600 Processor (3.40GHz, 8MB)
Memory 12288MB Dual Channel DDR3 1333MHz [2x4096 + 2x2048] Memory
Keyboard Logitech MK520 Wireless Combo UK (the upgrade option)
Video Card NVIDIA® GeForce GT 530 1GB DDR3 Graphics Card
Sound Cards Sound : Integrated 7.1 with THX® TruStudio
Gedis Bundle Reference D11X8328

Total cost €687

Is that keyboard worth the extra cash?
Also will this video card need to be upgraded to play (eg) Skyrim on highest/ultra settings? Will i be able to play PC on high specs for the next few years?
This sound card - is it ok; like is it HD audio; the upgrade they offer is really overpriced (60bucks, costs about 35 on amazon).
I'll be editing HD video and recording podcasts; do i need to upgrade the soundcard?

If i'm to upgrade, best bang for your buck is the graphics card, right? So maybe up to the 545? Would there be that much difference?

From the OP "you can also get an additional 3% off if you order through fatcheese, to find this machine on the dell site go to search and type in D00X8328 and follow the steps above."
.....I don't understand! Can you still get an additional 3%? is fatcheese a computer or a user or.....?

Thanks guys

Sharp

Fat cheese is a referral site.
http://www.fatcheese.ie/

Sign up to fat cheese then click the referral link on their site for Dell(do a search for Dell) which will bring you to the Dell site then do a search on the Dell site for D00X8328 which will bring up the specified offer.

Clear as mud but hope it helps.

kaizersoze

Still resisting...............

Icarus152

Jaegermeister wrote: »

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Probably not.

Even if it did, just remove the graphics card before getting Dell to repair the computer. If they really wanted to they could find out you installed your own graphics card but from my experience they don't really care so

Ah ok, I do occasionally mess around with programs like Acid and Mixcraft, but only with loops, and just for my own amusement really. I'll leave that out so.

I'm thinking of pairing it with this screen:

http://komplett.ie/Komplett/product/ZKB_04RAND/16_MONITOR/01_MONITOR/productdetails/10023200/Asus_22_VH222D_LCD_5ms_VGA/90LM73101500001C/default.aspx

So if I can get a 15% discount on the dell that should make it about €750 for the lot excluding the graphics card.

Anyhoo, thanks for your reply. I'm definatly leaning towards getting it. I don't think they can really top that deal unless they put in a decent graphics card.

I need a screen aswell,that one looks good for a ton,right?

theteal

Sharp wrote: »

Fat cheese is a referral site.
http://www.fatcheese.ie/

Sign up to fat cheese then click the referral link on their site for Dell(do a search for Dell) which will bring you to the Dell site then do a search on the Dell site for D00X8328 which will bring up the specified offer.

Clear as mud but hope it helps.

i think fatcheese might be finished. i've not had a reply from a couple of claims with them since August. apparently, according to consumer issues, i'm not the only one

back OT, i really want to build my own rig as it's been ~8 years since i've even changed a component but this deal is somewhat tempting

Zab

jaykhunter wrote: »

If i'm to upgrade, best bang for your buck is the graphics card, right? So maybe up to the 545? Would there be that much difference?

Don't go near Dell's upgrades. See my benchmark post above. I don't know anything about Skyrim in particular but at a guess you won't be playing it at 1900x1080 on ultimate with the stock card. However, games vary a lot these days so you'll have to do some research yourself.

Kenny Logins

theteal wrote: »

i think fatcheese might be finished. i've not had a reply from a couple of claims with them since August. apparently, according to consumer issues, i'm not the only one

I had cashback awarded just last week, from Simply Electronics. My Dell claim is showing as pending, estimated Apr 12.
I'd still buy through Fatcheese, nothing to lose.

Kenny Logins

Icarus152 wrote: »

Jaegermeister wrote: »

I need a screen aswell,that one looks good for a ton,right?

This might be worth a look, you won't find many IPS displays for that price. I think ebuyer deliver for £10, but I'm not 100% on delivery to Ireland...

http://www.ebuyer.com/284104-lg-ips225v-lcd-led-21-5-hdmi-monitor-ips225v-bn

It's £120 on Amazon with delivery.

EDIT: Sorry, it seems they don't deliver to Ireland any more, but good news is Amazon has dropped to £110 inc. delivery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0060LCBRI/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d1_g147_i2?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1YC1GX61D5H02KCXW1PX&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294