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Dell Vostro 200 /w upgrades -- decent?

Z

zeroinfish

Junior Member
I have a 4 year old machine that I don't stress very much, and which I would like to replace with a more modern machine that can handle some moderate gaming. I got a discount through a professional association on some Dell machines, which lead to me browsing around their "small business" section, and I found the following which I thought may be a good deal. I would really appreciate if anyone more knowledgeable in such matters could look over this and make sure that I am getting a good deal, buying compatible components, and not foolishly overlooking some superior option in this price range or leaving anything out! Thanks in advance.

Base system: $349 http://configure.us.dell.com/d...&l=en&oc=brcw2fz&s=bsd

Upgrades:
(RAM $42) http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146580
(video card $99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150229

I know particularly little about processors and whether or not one of Dell's upgrades there would be worth it. Any comments on all this?
 
Welcome to the forums, zeroinfish.

Regarding the Vostro 200:

System has no PS/2 ports (in case you had an old favorite keyboard).

Foxconn makes the motherboard/case. Bestec made 300W PSU (some got LiteOn PSUs). The PSU should be good enough to handle a "loaded" system, meaning two SATA optical drives, two SATA hard drives, a floppy drive and a mid-range video card that does NOT need additional power. Note that the PSU only has the hookups to the motherboard, one FDD power connector and four SATA connectors, NOTHING else. Motherboard only has FDD and SATA, no EIDE.

The G33 chipset board should support any current CPU (except maybe the Wolfdale QX). It has no overclocking features in BIOS, but you can overclock by doing BSEL mods on the CPU (and maybe Vcore mods).

Upgrading video and RAM will make it a nice system as long as it fits your needs. If you end up needing to upgrade to a DVD burner and bigger hard drive, then it starts to not be that great a deal because at that rate you can build your own for the same price or less. Anyways, for the few upgrades, doing your own is definately better than paying Dell's pricing.

For the RAM upgrade, find a dual channel kit, not just a single stick... or were you buying two single stick packages? If you were just adding the RAM to the existing stuff, then DDR2-667 is fine. If you were replacing all the original RAM, then may as well get DDR2-800. Make sure you get JEDEC standard stuff (1.8v only, nothing that needs more than that voltage).

If you'd like to check out one of these in person and live near zip code 53144 let me know, because I have one. I may also be willing to sell it for cheaper than what it will cost you. 😉
 
Thank you for the great reply, Zap. I'd appreciate any other comments people have before I commit to this. I also have two more questions.

1) The graphics card I linked was http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150229 but since then I have discovered http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150247 which appears to be the same thing, with twice as much RAM, for only $10 more. Am I missing something, or would it be silly not to get the 512MB version? Also are these cards ones that require extra power or not? I am not sure how to tell. I am guessing they wouldn't have any heat or power issues in this system, but please tell me if that is wrong.

2) I am not sure I understood your comment about RAM. I was planning to buy two of those sticks I linked and use them in conjunction with the two 512 sticks that come with the system, for a total of 3GB RAM. Is that a bad plan because those sticks are not "dual channel"?

I also wondered how much of a difference it makes to go from 667mhz RAM to 800mhz. I was planning to use the RAM that comes with the system in addition to the stuff I buy, but if 667 is way slower, I guess I could just buy all new stuff at 800mhz. But I guess buying 4 1gb sticks would be bad because I heard that I can't use that much because of Windows XP. What would be the best way to upgrade this RAM? I'm looking for bang for the buck.

3) (I know I said two, oops) I sort of wonder about this Vostro system because it is for small businesses and I am not really using it for business purposes. I looked at their Home line (Inspiron) and it didn't look like quite as good of a deal. If anyone thinks I am starting with the wrong model, I'd love to hear any advice on that or any other tips to make the most of my buying power.

Thanks again for the great help.
 
I learned that that 512 card I linked was GDDR2 (which someone told me doesn't matter) and has a slower memory bandwidth... 1160 as opposed to 1600 on the 256 card. So it seems the 256 card wins that matchup!

However I also had a different card recommended to me. So now I am wondering about:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150229 (8600GT)
vs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102094 (X1950GT)
or maybe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102703 (2600GT)

Are these way better deals for the money? Will the Vostro be able to hold and power and cool them? Please advise. Thanks.
 
The Vostro is fine for a home system. It is all just marketing and hype.

For RAM, as long as you run them in matched pairs, it does not matter if they are 2GB "kits" or two individual sticks. Your idea would work just fine. If it isn't too much more, consider DDR2-800 as a "just in case." (just in case you upgrade to a CPU with faster bus speed)

As for video card, unless you upgrade the power supply you will NOT be able to use the x1950GT at all.

The 256MB version of that 8600GT is clocked higher for both core and memory, so it is the faster card. More video memory only becomes useful with faster cards, so don't sweat 256MB versus 512MB.

Your "2600GT" is actually a "slow" 2600XT. That card works fine, but probably isn't as fast as the cheaper (after rebate) 8600GT. There are actually two "types" of 2600XT cards. One type is slower because of much slower RAM speeds. There is an easy way to tell the difference - by the length of the PCB. The slower one basically uses the PCB of the 2600Pro with the addition of Crossfire connectors, and thus is much shorter. The faster one uses a much longer PCB and GDDR4 memory. Typically the GDDR4 runs around 800MHz faster than the GDDR3.

Take a look at these pictures... open all of them and click on the pics of the backside of the card so you can see the differences.

2600Pro
2600XT GDDR3
2600XT GDDR4
 
My tuppence (2 cents in American English) worth is this.

We got the Vostro 200 as an early Christmas gift for my wife's sister. The price was stated as $399.99 + $30 shipping. Above $400 got free shipping. Guess what, upgrade to 20 inch LCD from 19 inch LCD was $30! Analogue only LCD Monitors, but still. So an all-singing, all dancing home computer appliance for $430 - brilliant!

She's as happy as a pig in ~you know what~. Her two kids now have a computer each, after I messed around with one dead and one dying HP Pavilion. No more hassling mummy.

In other words, these "name-brand" computers are just fine for the mass-market. Don't knock them or expect too much from them. Gamers and enthusiasts should build from scratch.
 
Originally posted by: googly
upgrade to 20 inch LCD from 19 inch LCD was $30! Analogue only LCD Monitors
Click to expand...

AFAIK the 19" is VGA only, but the 20" widescreen that I got (207WFP) has both VGA and DVI.
 
Thank you all for your help, especially Zap.

Talking to some people about this, they told me that only the 3850/3870 or the 8800 GT graphics cards are currently worth buying. I was considering trying the 3850 or the upcoming 256 MB version of the 8800 GT, hoping for a price point around $150 in the next couple weeks.

However, I am worried that these somehow would not fit in my system. I don't know, lack of power, or the wrong kinds of fasteners or cords or something like that. In particular I feel like somehow I'd have to plug those cards into the PSU, and maybe this PSU couldn't do that? Or it would make my case too hot? I don't really know what the issues are or how to tell if they are compatible -- if anyone knows that would be great.

And if the PSU is the only thing causing problems, would this fix it:
Antec earthwatts EA430 ATX12V v2.0 430W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, FCC, TUV, CE, CB, C-tick, CCC - Retail ($35)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371006

Thanks!
 
3850/3870 or 8800GT with a 300 watt PSU is definitely pushing the envolope.
The Earthwatts you mention is better, but I do not now the precise power needs of the three new cards.
 
Thanks. My main concern was that someone told me that one or both of those graphics cards may require a special connection directly to the power supply in order to get enough power, and that not all PSUs have an extra connector for graphics cards. I am not sure if either of these PSUs have such a connector, or if I definitely do need one. Any insight? Thanks for the help.
 
Originally posted by: zeroinfish
I feel like somehow I'd have to plug those cards into the PSU, and maybe this PSU couldn't do that?
Click to expand...

That is correct. Those particular cards you mentioned requires a 6 pin PCI-E power plug, which the included power supply does not have. Indeed it does not even have a standard molex plug from which you can plug an adaptor. The Antec EA430 PSU you listed should work fine in a Vostro 200 for those video cards you listed. My concern with you adding this and swapping that... at the end of it all you may as well have just built one from scratch and ended up with a nice system.

Pentium Dual Core CPU with fan/heatsink starting at $75 shipped
motherboard $81 shipped
DDR2-800 $48 shipped
Radeon 3850 256MB $180 shipped or 512MB $217 shipped
Antec case with EA380 power supply $50 shipped after rebate
20x DVDRW SATA $29 shipped
160GB SATA hard drive $55 shipped
Windows XP Home $90 shipped

Total $608

Dell system $504 shipped (I just added your config to my cart and went partially through checkout, price includes sales tax and $109 shipping/handling)
RAM $42
Radeon 3850 video card $180
Antec EA430 PSU $35

Total $761

The Dell setup would have 3GB RAM instead of 2GB and a slightly more powerful power supply.

The custom built setup would have a DVD burner, twice the HDD space, faster RAM, overclockability, better quality case and cost over $150 less. For $150 you can get your 430W power supply and DOUBLE the RAM, and still come in less.

If you were going to use it pretty much "as is" then the Dell is a great deal. Since you were already looking into doing so many swaps and upgrades (video, RAM, PSU) then it becomes cheaper to just build from scratch.
 
If you were going to use it pretty much "as is" then the Dell is a great deal. Since you were already looking into doing so many swaps and upgrades (video, RAM, PSU) then it becomes cheaper to just build from scratch.
Click to expand...

He has a very good point.
 
Zap pretty much re-iterated my point from my earlier post. That deal was perfect for plug & play. Maybe the upgrade Monitor had DVI in (great if so, I don't know, we didn't open the box before we gave it to her), but the mobo's on-board video only had analogue out anyway, so *shrug*.

People who want to built a screaming machine, but don't have to be on the "cutting edge", can do very well by building from scratch by choosing judiciously from AT For Sale Forum and Newegg (I wouldn't buy by mail from anywhere else).
 
Originally posted by: googly
Maybe the upgrade Monitor had DVI in (great if so, I don't know, we didn't open the box before we gave it to her), but the mobo's on-board video only had analogue out anyway, so *shrug*.
Click to expand...

The 19" screen was VGA only. The 20" widescreen is VGA and DVI, but comes with the VGA cable pre-attached. Dell monitors seem to be always like that. I've seen the pre-attached VGA cables on their 17" few different 20" models, 24" wide.

Originally posted by: VinDSL
BEST THING I ever bought
Click to expand...

I've got one similar to that. Had it for years, got it to go with my first notebook computer.
 
My concern with you adding this and swapping that... at the end of it all you may as well have just built one from scratch and ended up with a nice system.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for your advice. I was hoping to buy most of it from Dell just for the safety and simplicity, but I see your point. At your advice I have pieced together a possible build. I am unsure about how to select parts for a compatible system though, and I'm really hoping to make this be as painless as possible since it will be my first time to build a system.

I started a new thread for it if you'd like to take a look. Thanks again for the time and experience you've shared with me.
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=2124593&STARTPAGE=1
 
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