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Kill my dell order on the 4400?

Y

YayYay

Senior member
Originally posted in off topic but no one cared, I thought Id try my luck here.


Im having a hard time deciding whether to keep my order on this dell system or not. Normally buying a prebuilt computer would be out of the question but dell has offered a pretty nice deal. Here are the specs.

Dimension® 4400 Series,Pentium® 4 Processor at 1.8 GHz Qty: 1 Unit Price: $754.00


Memory: 256MB DDR SDRAM
Keyboard: Logitech Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Desktop Solution
Monitors: Please Select if Choosing Flat Panel Monitor Below
Video Cards: 64MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 4X AGP Graphics Card with TV-Out
Hard Drive: FREE Upgrade! 80GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive
Floppy Drive: 3.5 in Floppy Drive
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Mouse: Mouse already included in Logitech Wireless Package
Network Card: 10/100 PCI Fast Ethernet NIC
Modem: 56K Telephony Modem for Windows
CD or DVD Drive: FREE UPGRADE! 16x/10x/40x CD-RW Drive with Roxio's Easy CD Creator®
Sound Card: Integrated Audio
Speakers: Select Monsoon Speakers Below
Software Bundles: Microsoft® Works Suite 2002 with Money 2002 Standard
Virus Protection: Norton Antivirus® 2002, 90-day introductory offer
Digital Music: Dell Jukebox powered by MusicMatch
Digital Photography: Dell Picture Studio Image Expert® 2000
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options: 1Yr Ltd. Warranty- 1Yr At-Home Service + 1Yr Phone Support
Internet Access Services: 6 Months of America Online Membership Included
Free Quicken 2002 Suite: Free Quicken 2002 Suite (includes Turbo Tax Deluxe)





Sub-Total $754.00

Discount -$125.00

Shipping $99.00

Shipping Discount -$99.00

Estimated Tax $9.41

Total Price $638.41




640 shipped, I think, is a very nice deal. But theres something inside my head telling me to cancel this order. Its hard to explain, but theres a feeling you get when you build your own computer piece by piece. And by doing this, it feels sort of cheap. Another reason would be teh video card it comes with, the geforce 2mx might be able to hang because of the processor but a year later im pretty sure would not. I already have an ati radeon Le sitting around which is similar to the geforce 2 mx in benchmarks. What do you guys think?
 
My brother is getting one of those, damn good deal as he doesnt build his own system's.

Im going to build my own and on checking prices I could barely get a mb/processor and ram for that price.

Go to mwave or newegg and put together a system see what it costs 🙂


Ive been buying a piece at a time as I can afford it, waiting till april/may to get mb/rdram when the 850e 533 fsb 1066 rdram motherboards come out, I have 3 computers networked now and I think I can hang till then for a new system. I figure It's going to end up costing me aprox $2500 or so if I get a 21 in monitor.
 
Bah! Even if you ARE a power user, 1.8 GHz P4 with DDR is great!
You're getting an awesome system - you'll love it. Maybe bump up the video card to the Ti200 right off the bat though, you'll be more impressed than with the GF2MX.

I have the 4300 with SDR, and I'm quite happy with it. 🙂 Sure it's held back by the SDR, but man - it's more than fast enough for anything I run. Wish I had your 80GB hard drive vs. my 20! 😀
That'll be my next upgrade.....
 
Dell makes really nice cases that you can't put a normal motherboard in, and nice motherboards that you can't put in another case. Anytime you get the urge to add something chances are gonna be that you can't. I'm sure you can build, or have someone build a comparable AMD system that would be much less disposable for around the same price.
 
Looks like the 1.8 chip is the 256 l2 cache version. Other then overclockability, is there a big advantage from the northwood chips?
 
Even if this system was completely dispoasable and was programmed to completely self distruct in a years time, I think it's still a prety dang nice deal. I mean in 12 months time there will certainly be newer cheaper stuff on the market but unless there's some quantum leap in the "gotta have it" category then you just might find that you'll still be pretty happy with it. I've been treating myself to some nap time off of the upgrade treadmill and just peacefully sitting with the way my system has been built as of recently. What a relief! Treat yourself to a nice system like this one and enjoy all the nuance that comes with a brand name system, a warranty, licensed software and a little time to sit back, relax and enjoy your new bargain system!
 
Seems a little expensive for what you get. Basic video card, integrated sound, no monitor, hard drive is probably 5400rpm, Works instead of Office, etc.
 


<< Tax $9.41 on a $640 System?

Where do the smeg do you live and do you need a roomate ? 🙂 >>




California and no. The drive is 7.2k RPM. No way, not even Dell, is dumb enough to stick a 5.4K RPM drive on that computer. I don't know whats up with the tax though.
 
the case on those things is pretty awesome. if only you could get something like it without paying an arm and a leg.


EDIT: its hard to build your own if you actually pay for software licenses for less than what dell has.
 
Since you "cut and pasted" from Dell's website (I am familiar with their "configure your own system" web pages) you neglected to tell us which monitor (probably one of the entry-level 15" or 17" Dell monitors) or speakers you will be getting.

Please let me know by private message.

I think that system is one heck of a good deal, particularly if you have a GF2 or GF3 lying around and a good 19" monitor and some
speakers. (I have more than one of ALL of those "lying around", some not even opened..... long story.....)

Good luck,

Greg🙂
 
😱 OOPS, I didn't see that they're using INTEGRATED AUDIO!!!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! HHHHHIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

If I were you I would MAKE SURE (by calling DELL support; they're pretty good, I've owned a Dell system for over 3 years) that the
integrated audio can be DISABLED in BIOS.

That way you can add a Creative Labs "Audigy" Series (or whatever you prefer) later.

Also, find out how many AVAILABLE PCI slots you will have and MAKE SURE the board has an AGP 2.0 (or better) slot.

Dell uses proprietary motherboards (built FOR THEM by INTEL) so it is wise to find out EXACTLY what you are getting. Sometimes you get short-changed when it comes to expandibility possibilities.

Also Dell often uses a proprietary Power Supply CONNECTION scheme. If you have to replace or upgrade your P/S for more AMPS and/or WATTS you will often have to purchase from them.

Still a pretty nice system.

Good luck again,

Greg
 
If this sucker even came with some 15 inch monitors it would be hell of a steal but it doesn't. What I posted is what is in my confirmation mail I tried to cancel the order today but it was already too far into production. So they told me if I still wanted to cancel to just do a refusal. Oh, and another thing, is it possible to legally sell all the software that comes with the system? Im not planning on using any of the software or the XP home edition.
 
🙂 🙂 Yay Yay, to answer one of your earlier questions, the "A" version of the P4, or the "Northwood" has 512KB of L2 cache, not 256.
And YES, the difference in performance is well worth the extra cost, particulary in a RDRAM system.

The "Northwood" currently is ONLY available in Socket 478 form factor and is built on a similar 0.13 micron die as the PIII Tualatin introduced last year (as opposed to the original Non-A "Willamette"s 0.18 micron die). The "A"s die size is 72 square millimeters SMALLER than "Willamette" (146 square millimeters vs. 218 square millimeters) yet packs 55 million transistors vs. 42 million for the "Willamette".

MaximumPC magazine did a comparison of the P4 2.0GHz "Willamette" to the 2.2 GHz "A" "Northwood" on identical well-configured platforms and found a MUCH, MUCH larger performance boost than they would have expected by just a 200MHz clock speed jump (with ALL other things being equal).

I doubt the system you quoted has the "Northwood" 1.8. My guess is that it is the Socket 473 version of the "Willamette" P4 1.8 GHz.

In terms of your software legality questions... consult an attorney if you think it's necessary.... I don't think it's a really big deal to sell the software if you sell also sell the system, but to JUST sell the software.... I don't know.... check the EULA's..... 😉
 


<< If I were you I would MAKE SURE (by calling DELL support; they're pretty good, I've owned a Dell system for over 3 years) that the
integrated audio can be DISABLED in BIOS. >>



#1, the onboard sound is actually surprisingly good - provided you only have a 2 or 2.1 speaker setup.
#2, the onboard audio is indeed able to be disabled in BIOS.



<< Also, find out how many AVAILABLE PCI slots you will have and MAKE SURE the board has an AGP 2.0 (or better) slot. >>


There's 4 PCI slots, one AGP and it's definately above AGP 2.0 "pro". 😉
What can I say? It's a very nice machine. Sure you could build one for the same price, but Dell has a purchase plan if you're broke 🙂 and comes with a lot of good software for "free" over the price you'd have paid for your own builder.

The only downside I can come up with is that it only has two 5.25" drive bays for a CDRW and DVD. No Live Drives here. It also has ZERO options for overclocking. [shrug]
So it's not a "tweaker" system. Instead, it's just rock-solid reliable and "fast enough" for just about anyone except power-crazed yahoos. 😉

Just remember - that GF2MX is the bottleneck in your rig if you want to play some 3D games- really consider the GF3 Ti200 upgrade which is very reasonably priced.
 
A coworker ordered a Dell. He wants a turn-key system that comes with technical support. I do not blame him computers are not his hobby. They are just a tool for him.

I made sure he did not order a SDRAM based configuration which was I only concern for him getting a Dell.
 
1) Dell tech support is a joke. Anyone who has access to mssg boards like these has better tech support already.

2) The pack in software issue isn't an issue at all. Just like the case/ mobo and all the other proprietary stuff; it's not transferable! Plenty of free software is better than what you pay for, and most people out there have at least one piece of illegal software.

3) Dell's aren't worth repairing if they break. Normally you could just upgrade parts, but chances are you will have to pay as much for old crap you already had as you could have upgraded for.

You can always save money in the long run by building a PC to last. I've been able to upgrade at times without it costing anything. You cannot do that with a Dell.
 


<< I doubt the system you quoted has the "Northwood" 1.8. My guess is that it is the Socket 473 version of the "Willamette" P4 1.8 GHz. >>


I'm not sure what Socket 473 is... Dell only sells the Socket 478 versions. They cancelled all 423 pin versions the very week Intel released the 473 pin chip (Contrary to popular belief they don't want to sell things that are obviously obsolete when there isn't a major price difference). Too keep their costs down and to aid in technical support (to avoid confustion with two 1.8GHz parts) they don't sell the 1.8A version. So you would be getting a Williamette.


<< Other then overclockability, is there a big advantage from the northwood chips? >>


Basically the Northwood gives you a 10% speed boost. So a 1.8A Northwood is about the speed of a 2.0 GHz Williamette. You can't overclock a Dell system, so the Northwood overclock advantage is nothing to consider.


<< Tax $9.41 on a $640 System? >>


Dell doesn't have a local store in YayYay's state. Thus legally Dell cannot charge state sales tax (However legally YayYay must pay this tax on his state's income tax form - although I bet only 0.1% of people on Anandtech actually do this). That tax charged is 1.5% which is very typical of a local city tax. YayYay am I correct that your city charges 1.5% sales tax?

I think that is a good deal. It would cost about $600 to build it yourself when you include shipping and legal software.
 


<< I think that is a good deal. It would cost about $600 to build it yourself when you include shipping and legal software. >>



Hey if nots not too much trouble, can you do a brief listing with a few links to show me how I can build it for 600? If its feasible I much rather do that.

Thanks a bunch guys, although, I still can't decide.
 
Dullard: Please forgive my typo; I was referring to the Socket 423 "Willamette"; when I said I think he's getting a socket 473, that was a typo intended to be "423" 😱
 
The Dell would be hard to match building your own. However, building your own would allow you use components better suited to future upgrades. Dell boxes you in with too much proprietery stuff and their tech support isn't of much use.

Super6
 
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