Does DELL still make the most upgradable OEM systems?

[Deleted member 4644]

A while ago (year+) Dell was known as making good, solid OEM systems that used industry standard cases and mobos which could easily take a new Vid card or IDE controller...

Compared to Compaq or HP Dell was lightyears ahead.

Is this still true>?

 

[nick1985]

i had a dell and it upgraded fine.i upgraded the RAM purchased a gefroce 4 and added a second HD. no problems

 

[nanyangview]

Well compaq are good at upgrading too. They use standard size MB. For mine, i upgraded the CPU, RAM, add extra HD, new DVD-ROM, Adaptec USB 2.0 card all w/o a hitch. Mine compaq is also very stable, never crashes. The entire system is ultra quiet and I am totally happy with it.

 

[Gunbuster]

Everyone uses standard stuff, it costs too much and tech changes too fast to make odd ball designs like compaq did in 1998

 

[John]

Originally posted by: Gunbuster
Everyone uses standard stuff, it costs too much and tech changes too fast to make odd ball designs like compaq did in 1998

I disagree. You will fine proprietary parts in almost all of the major OEM PC mfg's.

 

[chansen]

Did they ever?

I recall oddball power connectors, single fans for PS and CPU complete with shroud, and other anomalies, though I've only poked around a few Dells.

 

[Gibson486]

Most manufactures , with the exception of the shelf brands (Compaq, HP, emachines) are upgradable in most ways. Infact, lots of the OEMs use the same parts. To answer your question, Dell was never light years ahead. Gateway, micron, Alienware, and lots of others were doing the same thing Dell was doing. Even 4 years ago. If anything, dell would not be the most upgradable b/c they use a different connecter from the motherboard to the powers supply that is not an industry standard. Dell has been doing this for years.

 

[Gibson486]

I disagree. You will fine proprietary parts in almost all of the major OEM PC mfg's.

which brands are you talking about?

 

[Kevin]

HPs are the worst. I remember I had to install RAM and a Video Card for my friend. Took me over an hour since I couldn't get at the damn slots. Had to remove the power supply, DVD, CD-RW and some kinda exaust system. What a pain in the ass for an upgrade that should've been 5 mins...

 

[zephyrprime]

Doesn't dell have both proprietary motherboards and proprietary power supplies in their current machines?

 

[amdskip]

Originally posted by: kevin000
HPs are the worst. I remember I had to install RAM and a Video Card for my friend. Took me over an hour since I couldn't get at the damn slots. Had to remove the power supply, DVD, CD-RW and some kinda exaust system. What a pain in the ass for an upgrade that should've been 5 mins...

I know exactly what you mean. I had to remove the power supply, video card, remove cdrom/burner fowareds, a junk 5.5" clamping system, then the 5.5/3.5" cage moved foward like a whole 1/2" and there was the memory, what a pita!

Doesn't dell have both proprietary motherboards and proprietary power supplies in their current machines?

I believe so.

It depends on the model too as many are not shipping with AGP slots to save money. Actually Alienware would be up there for upgrading but their prices are not a hot deal.

 

[Kowan]

Micron at least didn't have a ATX power plug that looked standard but would fry a new motherboard unlike Dell.
I think Micron was the last hold out shipping an OEM version CD of your OS, (that all buyers pay for and should get) when all the other OEM's were shipping recovery disks only.

 

[wetcat007]

when it comes to upgrading HP's are the WORST! i would tell anyone to NEVER buy a hp NO matter what! They tend to be exsesivly slow and unstable, very poorly put together etc. I've had a good experience with compaq, but they are owned by HP now so they might ruin the good name...

-Mark

 

[Slogun]

Upgrading certain parts of a Dell can be a path to disaster, details here.

and here.

 

[mrman3k]

I have upgraded systems for people who have Dell, HP, Compaq, Sony, etc. and all of them even new systems use proprietary parts to a point. Most of them do not use standard mobos, but have their own made. It also can get very annoying with the upgrades for optical drives as they are simply not made to be upgraded. It is almost like buying a Mac

 

[Sunner]

Regarding Compaq's, they use standard parts for their Deskpro/Evo series, don't know about their consumer lines though.

One of my workstations at work has had a few upgrades from me, a Voodoo3 2000(enough to play Quake1), Adaptec SCSI card and a Plextor 40X reader, and a Plexwriter 12/10/32/S, as well as a Soundblaster Live.
The mobo is a regular ATX mobo, with a regular power connector, in fact I considdered replacing the PSU as well, seeing as it's only a 145W unit, and I had some doubts if it would suffice for all the extra's I put in there, but it's been performing admirably, a very stable box

 

[Derango]

My old micron was the most upgradeble OEM system ever. EVERYTHING was standard. It even had a Tyan motherboard in it.

 

[RanDum72]

Dell uses a power connector that looks like a regular ATX but actually isn't. You either have the pull and rearrange the wires or buy an adapter for $10.

 

[ericboo]

I was aware of the proprietary power supply in my new Dell 8250. I just want room to go from a P4 2.4 to the latest 3 once they become cheap enough.

Would like to keep the case too.

 

[Slogun]

Originally posted by: RanDum72
Dell uses a power connector that looks like a regular ATX but actually isn't. You either have the pull and rearrange the wires or buy an adapter for $10.

Is such an adaptor really available? Can you provide more info on that.

 

[RanDum72]

Is such an adaptor really available? Can you provide more info on that.

Go here.

Click on 'OEM replacement' and go all the way to the bottom.

 

[tigerwannabe]

i've got a dell precision 210 on my desk at work--good machine. it was a little difficult the 1st time i opened it up, but made perfect sense once i thought about it i like the fact that the hard drives are in a removable enclosure--very handy. dell wins for best oem, imho

 

[arcenite]

HPs are the worst. I remember I had to install RAM and a Video Card for my friend. Took me over an hour since I couldn't get at the damn slots. Had to remove the power supply, DVD, CD-RW and some kinda exaust system. What a pain in the ass for an upgrade that should've been 5 mins...

I have that kind of HP. All of the drives are in a removable rack that just slides out with the removal of a screw, the PSU and the intake system move quite easily with the removal of two screws (they just kinda flip backwards. The biggest pain is having to unplug the power to some drives cause the cord isn't long enough when the base the PSU and intake system sit on is flipped over. That whole process (when you're used to it) takes 2 minutes, if that. But yes, it is a pain in the ass. I just don't have the money to upgrade :-(.

Bill

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: John

Originally posted by: Gunbuster
Everyone uses standard stuff, it costs too much and tech changes too fast to make odd ball designs like compaq did in 1998

I disagree. You will fine proprietary parts in almost all of the major OEM PC mfg's.

Exactly! You're biggest restraint will be the mobo itself. The rest of the propriety equipment flows off of the mobo.

Chiz

 

[nanyangview]

Yeah i know now HP owns compaq but all the Desktop are still under compaq so there is no HP influence yet. I have seen HP's cases and it look just weird with that vent system, i think it is just an overkill and geesh all the wires. If you buy the HP microtower case(smallest with 3PCI) ur gonna have a hard time even reaching the slots. For compaq it is much better. I can upgrade the CDROMS and HDs w/o even needing a screwdriver cos they all rest on drive rails. Did I mention that Compaq also uses high quality HS for their AMD systems, not those cheesy ones as most would think. Compaq use the Taisol CGK760172 which is some of the best performing and quiet HS around. It is basically inaudible. About Compaq's MB, they are standard size, i could fit a ASUS A7N266 VM in my Presario 6000 series case. The cpq MB is not properietary in anyway from what i can tell.