Dell P3-866 / i815 chipset system for $685

[docinthebox]

http://www.dell.com/us/en/bsd/products/series_dimen.htm

Choose Advanced (for i815 systems) and then "Customize and Price". Then choose the "P3-866 with premium sound" (original price $1065) system and customize as follows:
- Add $100 special offer
- Reduce RAM to 64MB
- Remove monitor (Set to Video Ready w/o Monitor)
- Remove sound card
- Remove speakers
- Remove network card

Then press "Update price". The price comes up to $685. This comes with a free 3-year extended service plan which they're offering until 11/2. I think this is a pretty good deal considering this setup uses the i815 chipset.

 

[abracadabra1]

pretty good find.
keep em comming@

 

[Zorro]

I can`t get it below $785.00

 

[Dantzig]

This is what you get for $685 + ~$85 shipping:

Case
i815 Mobo
P3-866
64MB RAM
Windows ME or 98SE
MS Office 2k Small Business
16MB ATI Rage 128 Video
48x CD-ROM
Floppy Drive
QuietKey Keyboard
MS IntelliMouse
Norton Antivirus 2k

Not bad, but one may be able to do better building a system from scratch. For this to be a good system, you'll have to add at least another 64MB of RAM, a good video card, a sound card (why not leave the SBLive! in there?), and a modem and/or NIC. Many people will also want a DVD drive instead of/in addition to the 48x CR-ROM.

 

[Bob61]

I've not yet figured out why a DVD in a PC. My 60" TV blows away even my largest 19" display on my PC. Unless you don't have a stand alone DVD. Something I'm missing?

 

[RadMan]

Think college student, think tight dorm room, think TV/VCR combo but DVD doesn't degrade nearly as fast, think everything through one idiot box (the Monitor, not the person I'm replying to).

Or someone (like myself) who moves often and doesn't feel like carting around big stuff. The dvd is to assure that the movies I have will last more than a few years...

 

[narciarz]

This box comes with sound and NIC. Good Deal!!

 

[trikster2]

Close to buying a computer and trying to work all the angles.

Looks like I can't build an Intel based 800+ Mhz computer for much cheaper than these recent Dell deals.

Could Dell be getting some CPU discounts that are not available to consumers????

Question:

Would it be cheaper to buy the Dimmension L series 800Mhz ($432 + $85 shipping + $35 tax) and upgrade it (when I get tired of the bad intel 3D graphics) with an 815 based microATX MB with an AGP slot???

$432 + $130 == $560 almost $100 less.....

Thanks!

 

[Unsickle]

<< Could Dell be getting some CPU discounts that are not available to consumers???? >>



Yes.

 

[Floyd]

Techbargains outlines a couple of good Dell systems on its home page...a Celeron 566 for $295 and a P3 800 for $435. Incredible prices for sure, until you consider the $85 shipping charge (the box only, no monitor). I backpeddled and placed a monitor in my cart to see if their shipping charge is based on actual weight/quantity. The shipping charge remained at $85, so it appears to be arbitrary. The disclaimer at the bottom states that the shipping charge is an estimate only and actual charges &quot;will be communicated following receipt of your online order&quot;.

All the computers I've owned to date have been home-built, but these prices are making it a difficult decision. Only problem is, if they were to actually charge $85 to ship, the $435 P3 800MHz will end up costing $570.40 including tax (which is something else screwy; doing the math, that is 9.7% tax whereas my state tax is only 7%). What the hell is Dell doing?

Anyway, with regard to shipping, it might be a good idea to set up a home-user account with FedEx and specify that Dell ship using your personal account. That way you only pay actual shipping. That is, unless someone can confirm that Dell adjusts the shipping charge to something more reasonable.

What do you guys think?

Best regards,
Floyd

 

[RossMAN]

trikster2 - How much would the Dell Dimension 4100 cost with your same specs? It would probably cost a little more but it offers a lot more upgrade possibilities and a better chipset.

Here's another great Dell thread to check out.

 

[cisco]

again, (like the other thread) make sure it has an AGP slot listed in the specs or you will be stuck with crumby graphics..and no decent upgrade possible.

 

[dragfree]

Looks good until I consider that:
1--It has Dell's proprietary board instead of the CUSL2 I'd prefer
2--It's still an overpriced 6.5 multiplier CPU (I'd rather OC a 650)
3--I'd have to buy a vid card I don't want (16mb Rage) or pay an inflated price for Dell's proprietary Nvidia card
4--Stuck with whatever HDD Dell installs (can't specify 30GB GXP75)
5--Get Dell's good-but-undersized case with weak PS
6--Upping to 128MB RAM costs almost as much as a Crucial 128 stick
7--Aforementioned inflated shipping charges

I can build exactly what I want for about the same price, or pay $100 more and have a local shop assume the headaches. There's enough gray in my beard to know that if it's not exactly what I want, then it's not really a bargain.

 

[SSGTi]

Floyd, would it cost anything to set up a account with Fedex for us home users ?

 

[Floyd]

No charge, just go here to set it up. Only potential problem is that the setup is not instant, you have to wait until FedEx ships your account materials (and account number). So if Dell pulls the deal before then...

 

[lchen66666]

Don't buy integrated System if you are family with computer hardware.
It would be very difficult to upgrade in the future.I had such kind
of experience before.

Right now SDRAM price is very low, assemble a computer by yourself
would be cheaper, plus you can consider future upgrade option when
you select components. For example, I bought Duron 650MHZ with Asus A7v
motherboard and pulled all other components from my old system. I can
upgrade my computer to 1.2 GZ Tbird and ATA 100 harddisk in the future.
Right now I am thinking about to buy some nice PC-133 CAS2 SDAM because price
has gone down almost 50%. At least my system has option to double
my current speed(2 times faster). Think about how nice that I could just pay
probably $50-$60(after 2 years price) for a 1.2GZ Tbird to double my computer
speed.

Just check all the spec before buy an integrated system. How much potential
that system can be upgraded. Many integrated system has almost no potential
to upgrade(because of motherboard). My friend bought 433HZ Emachine(Celeron
system) 1.5 years ago, he is feeling too slow right now(he already put another 128MB RAM), and asked me how to upgrade it. I checked the
motherboard and found 433MHZ is the maximum that motherboard can reach.
No upgrade option at all.

 

[trikster2]

Rossman!

Ordered a $432 PIII 800Mhz Dimmension L series last night.

Here's my logic:

Cheapest I can get the 4100 series is $685. The Extra $250 buys me an 866 vs. 800; 815 MB (w. AGP) and Office.

Not worth it! Heck you could almost buy a PS2 or a DC w. 4 games with the diff in price.

AGP is not too critical, I've vowed to use this system for serious (mostly 2d) work and use the DC for fun stuff. If I break my non-gaming vows I'll get a Voodoo 4500 PCI for $138, and have an OK gaming system for less than the 4100. (Even the Voodoo 5500 will have a PCI version so the skies the limit regarding 3D accell). I do plan on trying out my Voodoo2 in the 800L and see if I get any improvements over my PPro.

In or year of so when I get the upgrade urge I'll throw in a microATX i815EP (w. USB 2.0 and no onboard video) and OC the 800E to 1Ghz.

Will probably melt down that mini tower case and ignite the wimpy 145W PS; I'll keep a fire extinguisher handy and rejoice at the need to shop for a new computer.....

 

[skywhr]

This doesnt come with a modem, and you cant lower the ram cause its already at 64mg and the price starting is 1178.99 after all the subtraction you can make and without a modem its 900+

 

[darthtony]

skywhr,
This is an old deal - it's dead now. Sorry,
T