Expired: Dell Dimension 4550 2.4GHz 128MB System for $466 + FREE Shipping! Plus, 15" LCD Monitor just $80 more!

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iwearnosox

Lifer
Oct 26, 2000
16,018
5
0
Originally posted by: Mloot
Ok, update on power supplies. Yes, it is true that Dell uses proprietary power supplies and I have seen on several other forums that swapping with a standard OEM power supply WILL fry your system.


Um, quit talking out of your arse. I swapped out power supplies on a 4400 and 4500 and they're industry standard, nothing unique about them.
 

wyattboyuz

Junior Member
Jun 23, 2001
15
0
0
Just wanted to say that I jumped on this one. Biggie Sized to the GF4MX and the 40 GB drive. After having 3 people mention today that they were looking for new computers and me telling them about this deal, I believed my own hype. =) D*mn you AT, d*mn you... (2nd deal I've bit on.)

Wyatt
 

Mloot

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2002
3,038
25
91
Um, iwearnosox, do some research. You may have had good luck replacing power supplies on a Dell, and that's just peachy, but the average person trying to upgrade a Dell psu with a standard one is asking for trouble. Do a web search on it. Since '98, Dell has been using non-industry standard psu's. Even Dell reps admit it, but you have to ask them directly. They don't volunteer this information to everyone.
 

Showtime

Platinum Member
Jun 16, 2002
2,016
0
76
Originally posted by: aliu79
Originally posted by: Yacko75

On the question of do they send an XP cd with their systems, I seriously doubt they do, more likely a restore disk with all the cr@p that was originally installed on it.

I don't believe this is true, although my experience is only going through Dell's Educational purchases. They give you a copy of Windows XP with the Dell imprint on it. The copy will ONLY work on dell machines.

If you look on the cd itself, it says "Only use this CD to reinstall the operating system on a DellTM computer. This CD is not for reinstallation of programs or drivers."

I have confirmed this myself by using the cd and it will only install a fresh copy of windows.

All the machines ive ordered recently came with a full windows xp shrink wrapped with large cardboard backing. I'm sure i could install it on any hd and ms/dell couldnt tell.
Once you reformat there is no dell sw anyways.
-show

 

JumpOnDeals

Platinum Member
Dec 20, 2000
2,200
0
0
Originally posted by: jjsole
Am I tripping or did the deal just disappear out of thin air? I can only find a 4550 with an option for a 2ghz p4........I was just looking at it too.

jjsole, look in my original post of this thread with updated step by step details.

Steve
 

Wirelix

Junior Member
Oct 8, 2002
1
0
0

Seems adding the p992 monitor is a much better choice ----- only less than 200 in addition!!!!
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,405
8,585
126
Originally posted by: DevilsAdvocate
For Texans, it can't. :) We get hit on Dell sales tax no matter what :D

its texas sales tax (specifically round rock sales tax), not dell sales tax.
 

JFang888

Member
Sep 20, 2002
61
0
0
Even hotter: Free 15" LCD upgrade from 15" monitor now!

Ripped from techbargains

New Dell P4 Desktop - Dimension 4550, Oct 8

New Free upgrade from 15" monitor to a 15" Flat panel! $200 value for free!

Dell Small Business has free double memory or $100 mail in rebate with most systems. Free ground shipping too. Up to $300 off systems, $400 off servers. Free ground shipping too, but sales tax is charged. Individuals can put their name down as company name when ordering.

New 10% off coupon code: From your favorite site

Super desktop Dimension 4550 P4-2.4Ghz 128MB DDR333!/20GB CD XP Home MS Works $629 - 10% coupon - $100 rebate = $466 shipped free.

15" LCD Flat Panel only costs about $70 more!

2Ghz version is $36 less, probably not worth the savings as it doesn't run 533Mhz FSB and 333Mhz ram.

Select Desktops, Choose Dimension, Customize It 4550, 2.4Ghz/XP Home/Basic Audio - Continue, 128MB (Not special offer)/1yr warranty/Works/48x CD/No monitor/No Speaker (Select Free upgrade 15" Flat Panel if you want it), Continue, Add to cart, add coupon: B9549BF60B01. Consider the Geforce4MX upgrade at $20.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,082
456
136
If only I hadn't jumped on a $500 4500 back in July and this were a free 17" LCD (going from my current 19" CRT to a 15'" LCD would suck) then I'd be all over this.
 

iwearnosox

Lifer
Oct 26, 2000
16,018
5
0
Originally posted by: Mloot
Um, iwearnosox, do some research. You may have had good luck replacing power supplies on a Dell, and that's just peachy, but the average person trying to upgrade a Dell psu with a standard one is asking for trouble. Do a web search on it. Since '98, Dell has been using non-industry standard psu's. Even Dell reps admit it, but you have to ask them directly. They don't volunteer this information to everyone.

Regardless your post seems to indicate this is the case for current systems, when it is not. Dell is indistry standard now, buy whatever ps you want and put it in there.

 

jimmyhaha

Platinum Member
Jan 7, 2001
2,851
0
0
d@mn..

dell is dumping its PC cheap ?
bad economy ?
no one buying new pc ?

- don't forget tax in dell business
- upgrade to GF4 MX for god sake unless u are cheap @ss
- upgrade to 40G HD, 20G.. ?

good deal, no $$$, alreayd have 3 pc..



 

GreenGhost

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,272
1
81
Is upgrading RAM to 256MB at Dell a bad deal? I'm seeing people ordering systems w/ only 128MB. With XP I think it cripples such powerful processor. Can I get cheaper memory somewhere else?

Similarly, upgrading to Ti4200 for about $90 seems good to me. Am I wrong??
 
Jul 1, 2000
10,274
2
0
I have some 2700 laying around, so I can pop that in :) Otherwise, the Dell memory prices (for the 256 upgrade is not that bad :))
 

tazmania99

Golden Member
Mar 19, 2001
1,644
0
0
Originally posted by: Mloot
Um, iwearnosox, do some research. You may have had good luck replacing power supplies on a Dell, and that's just peachy, but the average person trying to upgrade a Dell psu with a standard one is asking for trouble. Do a web search on it. Since '98, Dell has been using non-industry standard psu's. Even Dell reps admit it, but you have to ask them directly. They don't volunteer this information to everyone.
Correct! If you think there will be room for your system upgrade, you are wrong. Dell will only ship the system with a non-industry standard 250W PSU.

I bought a Dell 4500 2.4G system last month. I was able to add more RAMs, change the 48X CD-Rom to a 16X DVD. I was not able to upgrade my video card to Geforce4 Ti200 since the card requires at lease 350W PSU. I didn't dare add an additional 48X burner to the system coz the system may crash. Wanna put another HDD? Good luck!
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,082
456
136
Originally posted by: GreenGhost
Is upgrading RAM to 256MB at Dell a bad deal? I'm seeing people ordering systems w/ only 128MB. With XP I think it cripples such powerful processor. Can I get cheaper memory somewhere else?

Similarly, upgrading to Ti4200 for about $90 seems good to me. Am I wrong??

Good points, I would recommend at least 3 upgrades which aren't that bad priced:
1) Upgrade to either the FREE 256MB or better yet 512MB RAM, this RAM is not cheap like PC2100 is. Plus you won't have to hassle with waiting/installing your own RAM and there's no wait/hassle/risk of a $100 rebate (Dell usually takes 3 months from what I hear to pay rebates).
2) Upgrade to the 40GB Hard Drive.
3) Upgrade the video card.
 

iwearnosox

Lifer
Oct 26, 2000
16,018
5
0
Originally posted by: tazmania99
Originally posted by: Mloot
Um, iwearnosox, do some research. You may have had good luck replacing power supplies on a Dell, and that's just peachy, but the average person trying to upgrade a Dell psu with a standard one is asking for trouble. Do a web search on it. Since '98, Dell has been using non-industry standard psu's. Even Dell reps admit it, but you have to ask them directly. They don't volunteer this information to everyone.
Correct! If you think there will be room for your system upgrade, you are wrong. Dell will only ship the system with a non-industry standard 250W PSU.

I bought a Dell 4500 2.4G system last month. I was able to add more RAMs, change the 48X CD-Rom to a 16X DVD. I was not able to upgrade my video card to Geforce4 Ti200 since the card requires at lease 350W PSU. I didn't dare add an additional 48X burner to the system coz the system may crash. Wanna put another HDD? Good luck!

I'll add you to the pile of knuckleheads that are spreading the wrong information then.

Dell 44xx and 45xx series are pin for pin compatible with industry standard power supplies.

I'm speaking from experience, not speculation.
 

Deskstar

Golden Member
Mar 26, 2001
1,254
0
0
How about the Dell motherboard to case wiring? Could I swap out the Dell motherboard and replace it with a more powerful one?
I ask because the last Dell that I bought in 1998 had case wires (ie, power, reset, leds, speaker, etc) bundled together rather than separate as in Antec and generic cases. Thus, I could not replace the motherboard in that unit when I wanted to upgrade; its power supply (again in 1998) was also unique at that time. OK, so the power supplies are now uniform. But what about the case wiring?
Thanks.
 

PsychoAndy

Lifer
Dec 31, 2000
10,735
0
0
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: GreenGhost
Is upgrading RAM to 256MB at Dell a bad deal? I'm seeing people ordering systems w/ only 128MB. With XP I think it cripples such powerful processor. Can I get cheaper memory somewhere else?

Similarly, upgrading to Ti4200 for about $90 seems good to me. Am I wrong??

Good points, I would recommend at least 3 upgrades which aren't that bad priced:
1) Upgrade to either the FREE 256MB or better yet 512MB RAM, this RAM is not cheap like PC2100 is. Plus you won't have to hassle with waiting/installing your own RAM and there's no wait/hassle/risk of a $100 rebate (Dell usually takes 3 months from what I hear to pay rebates).
2) Upgrade to the 40GB Hard Drive.
3) Upgrade the video card.

Rossmeister, the price difference in a 512 of PC2100 and 2700 is less than $10. Its not that much different.

-PAB
 

frequentflyer

Member
Jul 8, 2002
37
0
0
To answer the question of whether Dell includes XP on CD, Yes they do! It's labeled as Operating System Reinstallation CD
Microsoft Windows Home Edition. It doesn't contain any other crap, Just XP home. And yes it will work on PC's other than Dell ( It did for me anyway )