Buying a Vostro 460 from Dell...what do you think?

[RobS10]

I have been stalking a Dell Vostro since they came out and ready to pull the trigger. The highlights of my configuration is as follows:

Intel i2500
Windows 7 Pro 64 w/XP mode installed
4GB RAM (2 dimms)
500GB HDD
Single DVD+RW
NVIDIA GT420
U2311H Ultrasharp monitor
2 years Pro Support
$1157.00 + tax, US

My questions are:

1. I know zero about video cards. I don't do any gaming. One thing I really need in a GPU is sharp text and 2D graphics. I do a fair amount of font type work. I plan on using the computer for the usual Internet stuff, + Quickbooks, photo editing via Photoshop Elements, possibly some CorelDraw 2D vector graphics. I might tackle some web design if I can figure it out, and maybe an occasional video encode/edit. The NVIDIA is an OEM card so price comparisons and reviews are tough to come by. The next card up is a Radeon HD 6670. What do you guys think?

2. I always thought a live sales person had a few tricks to get the price below the website? I can configure the system myself for the same price using the $322.00 off "18.5 in Monitor included" package as a starting point. There are no current coupons for the system (that I could find), but if I wait, is it likely a coupon will take more off the "$322.00 off" offer, or does Dell take the $322.00 off offers away when they release coupon codes so it's a wash?
I know negotiations are a little finesse, which I have none of ;-). How do these sales people usually respond after they've spent a certain amount of time with you on a not-too-expensive system when you hit them with "why is this the same price as what I could get from the website"?
Thanks!

 

[airdata]

You should look at the outlet store and ebay at similar models

New Dell Vostro 460 Desktop Core i5-2400 3.1GHz Win7 HP

Fast Ship, NIB , DVD Burner, 5000GB, ATI 5450, 4GB RAM



Item condition:New

Quantity:

4 available

Price:US $769.00

 

[RobS10]

You should look at the outlet store and ebay at similar models

New Dell Vostro 460 Desktop Core i5-2400 3.1GHz Win7 HP

Fast Ship, NIB , DVD Burner, 5000GB, ATI 5450, 4GB RAM



Item condition:New

Quantity:

4 available

Price:US $769.00

Thanks for the reply, but the one on Ebay is a i2400 rather than the i2500, Windows Home Premium not Pro, no monitor, etc. I do check the Outlet, but since they are so new, none yet.

 

[Kenmitch]

Depending on the price of the video card upgrades you may be better off ordering with onboard video and adding a dedicated card later. With your stated needs it looks like the onboard video would meet your needs anyways. If not it's not hard to install a video card and most likely you'll get a better one for cheaper anyways.

 

[RobS10]

Depending on the price of the video card upgrades you may be better off ordering with onboard video and adding a dedicated card later. With your stated needs it looks like the onboard video would meet your needs anyways. If not it's not hard to install a video card and most likely you'll get a better one for cheaper anyways.

That's what I figured...I had the salesperson price it without the GPU, at $1012.00.

 

[Kenmitch]

That's what I figured...I had the salesperson price it without the GPU, at $1012.00.

If that's the system you want then I don't see any problems with it. Although I'm a build your own kinda guy.

I think that it would be your best bet just to try out the integrated video first.

The only other option would be the CPU depending on upgrade cost you may be better off dropping it down to the i2400 depending on how much the upgrade cost is. The diff between the two won't be earth shattering. Pay attention to intels stated prices on these. Look at the clock speeds and turbo speeds and decide if the price diff is worth it too you.

Here is intels link to a comparison of them http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=52207,52209

In case your bored and have some xtra time on your hands here is a review comparing the cpu's in question 🙂

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core-i5-2500-2400-2300.html

Note: The graphics part of the review have a dedicated video card so just pay attention to the other parts of the review....Most likely you'll find that the diff between the two cpu's isn't worth the upgrade cost!

 

[RobS10]

If that's the system you want then I don't see any problems with it. Although I'm a build your own kinda guy.

I think that it would be your best bet just to try out the integrated video first.

The only other option would be the CPU depending on upgrade cost you may be better off dropping it down to the i2400 depending on how much the upgrade cost is. The diff between the two won't be earth shattering. Pay attention to intels stated prices on these. Look at the clock speeds and turbo speeds and decide if the price diff is worth it too you.

Here is intels link to a comparison of them http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=52207,52209

In case your bored and have some xtra time on your hands here is a review comparing the cpu's in question 🙂

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core-i5-2500-2400-2300.html

Note: The graphics part of the review have a dedicated video card so just pay attention to the other parts of the review....Most likely you'll find that the diff between the two cpu's isn't worth the upgrade cost!

I see what you mean. I admit, it's a bit of an emotional reflex to not pick the slowest of the choices. I was kind of shooting for a middle processor since I upgrade PCs pretty infrequently. I nixed the i7 2600 since there seemed to be less of a jump in performance between it and the 2500 (except for HT) than between the 2300 and 2400.

 

[kevinsbane]

Are you from Canada or the US? I know from the Canadian website, for $1,189, we are looking at:

i7-2600
win 7 pro
1.5 tb HDD
8GB ram
NVidia GT 420
Wireless LAN card
23" U2311h
But only 1 year NBD warranty.

The US options look very sad in comparison. You can press the Dell salesperson, telling them about the Canadian promotions too. I know CAN$ > US$ right now, but not enough to have these kinds of price differences.

 

[RobS10]

Are you from Canada or the US? I know from the Canadian website, for $1,189, we are looking at:

i7-2600
win 7 pro
1.5 tb HDD
8GB ram
NVidia GT 420
Wireless LAN card
23" U2311h
But only 1 year NBD warranty.

The US options look very sad in comparison. You can press the Dell salesperson, telling them about the Canadian promotions too. I know CAN$ > US$ right now, but not enough to have these kinds of price differences.

Nice deal you got for sure! Do you order through a company for some kind of discount? Yes I'm a small, one-guy business in the U.S. so I don't see that kind of deal :-(. That same build would cost me $1479.00 U.S.D, with no wireless card as an option. My little U.S.Dollar-Canadian Dollar converts that to $1421.00 Canadian I will bring that up with my salesperson and see if it helps in the negotiations ;-).

 

[RobS10]

OK, pulled the trigger yesterday. Here's what I got:

Vostro 460
Intel i5 2400
Windows 7 64 with XP Mode installed
2 GB RAM
500GB HDD
Integrated Intel HD2000 graphics
DVD+-RW
Dell Multimedia Pro USB keyboard
Ultrasharp U2311H 23" monitor
2 years Pro Support NBD bla, bla, bla warranty

$877.00 + tax

I tried wrangling a little to see if they could toss in the extra 2GB of RAM, but no dealing. Just didn't feel like spending another $60.00 for the 2 extra GBs. Today's Specials for what I needed (they change every Thursday) was $100+ more, so I feel OK (unless someone has to post a better deal somewhere else to make me feel like crap ;-).

As soon as I get it I'll probably have questions about RAM brands/specs, but thanks for everyone's input!