Is Dell insane?

[KLC]

I think I need a new computer. The one I built in Dec 06 has been nothing but trouble. It constantly freezes, requiring a hard boot. It's a socket 939 with AMD X2 3800+.

I have started doing a lot of video editing and the video sites recommend getting a work station for heavy video work. I went to the Dell site and looked up their workstations. One model came with an Intel E4300 processor, I think. When you go to customize it you can choose different Core 2 Duo CPUs. If you want an E6750 it is a $415 dollar upgrade! For a CPU you can buy at Newegg for a little more than $200.

Anyway, after looking at HP and Dell workstations I'm pretty unimpressed. Unless you spend $3000+ you get things like 375W power supplies and overpriced CPU options.

Building my own really looks like the best option but I'm pretty gunshy after struggling with my last home built system.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

What type of movies are you editing? Are you a pro? Instead of spending ANYTHING at all, I would just try re-formatting the hard drive and then re-install the OS. I wouldn't think the CPU would have anything to do with the freezes. Just my opinion.

 

[KLC]

CDC, I'm hardly a pro, but I'm in the middle of tranferring about 15,000 feet of 8mm home movies to video.

The video sites suggest workstations because of the "better quality" components. Which is why 375W aren't very impressive.

As for my current system. I've re formatted twice, I also bought a new power supply to replace the old one that started dying. Nothing I've done has solved the freezing problem. I've run night long memory tests, I've cleaned the registry, nothing helps. And when you built the system yourself you get the runaround from the component mfgs, "Oh, that problem doesn't have anything to do with our product, it's got to be x, y or z."

Any suggestions are welcome. The Microsoft error report tells me it's a hardware problem. CPU problem is doubtful I would think, RAM less so, I'm thinking it's the motherboard but socket 939 is almost non-existent now. ebay 939 mb's are used, I've already got one hardware problem, I'm leery of buying another one from someone else.

Here is the system:
Antec Sonata II case
Thermaltake Pure Power 430W PS
Abit AN8 Ultra motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+
2 GB Corsair value select PC3200 RAM
2 250 GB Western Digital SATA HD
NEC CD/DVD optical drive
Mitsumi floppy with integrated card reader
Dell 19" LCD
EVGA NVIDIA 6800 GS 256 MB
Windows XP Home SP2

 

[accguy9009]

If the 375 watt power supply is one of good quality it is more than enough.

 

[Stealth3R]

Antec baby

 

[jackschmittusa]

You could get a quality mb, cpu, and ram for $415.

 

[cubby1223]

That's how Dell makes money. Their base systems are very low priced, then every component upgrade they charge you an arm and a leg.

I was looking at adds for laptops for someone, a memory upgrade, $20 through Newegg, was $100 through Dell.

 

[chinaman1472]

You think Dell is bad, you should see what Apple charges..........

 

[mageslayer]

their 375 watter has dual 19v rails!!!!!!!!!!!!