New System Recomendations
in [Dell]
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From: RnR on 2 Jun 2010 07:14 On Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:48:17 -0400, Nick <tanstaafl(a)pobox.com> wrote: > >On Tue, 1 Jun 2010 14:30:21 -0400, in alt.sys.pc-clone.dell, "Pat Conover" ><public(a)comcast.net> wrote: > >>It does come with Win 7 64-bit, and I wonder about >>compatibility with other printers, software, etc he already owns. Nothing >>worse than buying a new machine, then having to buy all new peripherals and >>software because you also bought the latest OS. > >Have your friend download and run Microsoft's "Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor" >from this page: > ><http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/upgrade-advisor>. > >The upgrade advisor checks to see if the system it's run on will support >Windows 7, and (what your friend needs) it also checks the installed >software and hardware for compatibility issues. > >As noted on the above page, make sure your friend plugs in and turns on any >peripherals (printers, etc.) that he wants to check for compatibility. > >And this page, > ><http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/default.aspx> > >allows browsing or searching for compatibility information for various types >of software and hardware by name/model and publisher/manufacturer. Nick, while I agree it can't hurt to do this (better than nothing), this Advisor is not 100% accurate.
From: RnR on 2 Jun 2010 07:17 On Tue, 1 Jun 2010 16:12:43 -0400, "Pat Conover" <public(a)comcast.net> wrote: >"Daddy" <daddy(a)invalid.invalid> wrote in message >news:hu3ovc$fn3$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >> Pat Conover wrote: >>> Hi, >>> >>> Looking for a new system for a friend, and I have not ordered a new Dell >>> in some time. I am not up to date on all the latest and greatest... He >>> said he wants a good machine, with some gaming capabilities, so far looks >>> like a good system for that is the XPS 8100. Not the fastest, but the >>> cheapest of the faster machines. It does come with Win 7 64-bit, and I >>> wonder about compatibility with other printers, software, etc he already >>> owns. Nothing worse than buying a new machine, then having to buy all >>> new peripherals and software because you also bought the latest OS. >>> >>> Specs on the "on sale" XPS 8100 shown below, about $1,143 delivered as >>> shown. This is from the Dell Home site, which I hear does not include >>> the OS and driver disks anymore, but the Small Business site does. The >>> OS and driver disks was one reason I always bought Dells... >>> >>> Any suggestions or alternatives greatly appreciated. >>> >>> Thanks, Pat >>> >>> Studio XPS 8100 >>> >>> Date 6/1/2010 1:10:17 PM Central Standard Time >>> >>> Catalog Number 29 Retail 19 >>> >>> Catalog Number / Description Product Code Qty SKU Id >>> >>> Processors: Intel� CoreT i7-860 processor (8MB Cache, 2.80GHz) >>> >>> Operating System: Genuine Windows� 7 Home Premium, 64 Bit, English >>> >>> Hardware Support Services: >>> >>> 2 Year Basic Service Plan >>> >>> Memory: 6GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz - 4 DIMMs >>> >>> Monitor: 21.5" Dell ST2210 Full HD Monitor with VGA cable >>> >>> Video Card: nVIDIA GeForce G310 512MB DDR3 >>> >>> Hard Drive: 750GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache >>> >>> Optical Drive: 16X DVD+/-RW Drive >>> >>> Speakers: Dell AY511 Attached Speaker w/ 5.1 Surround for Dell Monitors >>> >>> Wireless: Dell 1525 WLAN PCIe card with11n mini-Card & external antenna >>> >>> Keyboard: Dell Studio Consumer Multimedia Keyboard >>> >>> Mouse: Dell Studio Optical Mouse >>> >>> Sound: THX� TruStudio PCT THX >>> >>> Studio XPS 8100: >>> >>> Studio XPS 8100 >>> >>> Adobe Software: Adobe� Acrobat� Reader 9.0 Multi-Language >>> >>> Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed): Microsoft� Office Starter >>> 2010 >>> >>> Security Software: McAfee SecurityCenter, 15-Months >>> >>> Datasafe: Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> "...a good machine, with some gaming capabilities..." >> >> That describes 90% of the computers available from Dell. It's like asking >> for: >> >> "...a good car, with some performance capabilities..." >> >> Nobody can offer a recommendation that will make your friend happy based >> on that information. You need to understand much more about how your >> friend plans to use their computer. Comparing specifications in a vacuum >> is silly. >> >> Daddy > >Any suggestions on the above configuration? Pat > Pat, I think Daddy won't comment until he knows what / how your friend wants to use it. I agree with Daddy too. What you're asking is like saying, "I'm buying this Honda coupe, what do you guys think of it?" . Now how would we know if the coupe or sedan would be better for you? See now where Daddy's going in his reply to you?
From: Joe M on 5 Jun 2010 23:17 > Daddy, thanks for weighing in on the thread. Yep, your right about any > $500 computer working for him, but he is a young guy, and I guess needs to > tell his friends about the Core i7 processor, etc., as he emails them... > > Anyway, since shopping for His computer, I am now thinking about the XPS > 8100, so maybe you or the other regulars can comment from my prior post > shown below. > > I use my computer for work mostly, lots of open programs running (Office > XP 2002) Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, QB Pro, many IE windows open, PDF > files galore, photo storage and retrieval, and some proprietary apps. > (Have to check on Win7 64-bit compatibility with vendors) > > In the past, I have also done DV video rendering, video file (TiVo to > mpeg) conversions, DVD video burning, and some gaming. (On that note, I > haven't seen any recent posts by Joan Gravitz, spelling by memory, still > around I hope!) But the old Dim 4550 seemed to get slower and slower at > those tasks over the years. Although I need a Production machine for > work, I still like to play now and then... > > Based on the XPS 8100 system specs above, I was thinking about a 1GB video > card either the ATI Radeon HD 5450 1GB DDR3 or nVidia GeForce GT220 DDR3, > which would be better, (I know Ben says nVidia cards overheat and die > prematurely), and 8MB of Ram, 2MB for each of the 4 slots. Also thought > about adding the Hauppauge HVR1250 hybrid TV tuner for $60 for TV video > capture. I haven't kept up on the TV cards, maybe Tom Scales can comment. > About $50 extra each for the Video and RAM upgrades. Is $1,143 a good > price for that system? Any other suggestions? Thanks again, Pat I bought a Studio XPS 8000 about 5 months ago with about the exact specs you have proposed but added a Bluray burner. (Service Tag 86LXHK1)... Wanting to render HD video and burn Bluray discs is the only reason I needed a new computer. I did standard video and DVDs with a Dim 4550 and later a Dim 5150... I have a Sony HD camera and am using Pinnacle Studio v14 software. I started to spec a Core 2 duo machine based on the software's hardware requirements until I read a forum suggesting the Core i7 would work smoother. I also learned lots of video ram is helpful with rendering, so I went with 1G... I added my own 1T second hard drive to capture video. Anyway, this i7 machine works great. No problem crunching the data and burning the Bluray discs in a reasonable amount of time. It does all of this without the cooling fan screaming so it's not straining too much either. Good luck - Joe
From: Pat Conover on 6 Jun 2010 12:33
"Joe M" <txjoe59(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message news:huf417$j0d$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >> Daddy, thanks for weighing in on the thread. Yep, your right about any >> $500 computer working for him, but he is a young guy, and I guess needs >> to tell his friends about the Core i7 processor, etc., as he emails >> them... >> >> Anyway, since shopping for His computer, I am now thinking about the XPS >> 8100, so maybe you or the other regulars can comment from my prior post >> shown below. >> >> I use my computer for work mostly, lots of open programs running (Office >> XP 2002) Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, QB Pro, many IE windows open, PDF >> files galore, photo storage and retrieval, and some proprietary apps. >> (Have to check on Win7 64-bit compatibility with vendors) >> >> In the past, I have also done DV video rendering, video file (TiVo to >> mpeg) conversions, DVD video burning, and some gaming. (On that note, I >> haven't seen any recent posts by Joan Gravitz, spelling by memory, still >> around I hope!) But the old Dim 4550 seemed to get slower and slower at >> those tasks over the years. Although I need a Production machine for >> work, I still like to play now and then... >> >> Based on the XPS 8100 system specs above, I was thinking about a 1GB >> video card either the ATI Radeon HD 5450 1GB DDR3 or nVidia GeForce GT220 >> DDR3, which would be better, (I know Ben says nVidia cards overheat and >> die prematurely), and 8MB of Ram, 2MB for each of the 4 slots. Also >> thought about adding the Hauppauge HVR1250 hybrid TV tuner for $60 for TV >> video capture. I haven't kept up on the TV cards, maybe Tom Scales can >> comment. About $50 extra each for the Video and RAM upgrades. Is $1,143 >> a good price for that system? Any other suggestions? Thanks again, Pat > > > I bought a Studio XPS 8000 about 5 months ago with about the exact specs > you have proposed but added a Bluray burner. (Service Tag 86LXHK1)... > Wanting to render HD video and burn Bluray discs is the only reason I > needed a new computer. > I did standard video and DVDs with a Dim 4550 and later a Dim 5150... > > I have a Sony HD camera and am using Pinnacle Studio v14 software. I > started to spec a Core 2 duo machine based on the software's hardware > requirements until I read a forum suggesting the Core i7 would work > smoother. I also learned lots of video ram is helpful with rendering, so I > went with 1G... I added my own 1T second hard drive to capture video. > Anyway, this i7 machine works great. No problem crunching the data and > burning the Bluray discs in a reasonable amount of time. It does all of > this without the cooling fan screaming so it's not straining too much > either. > > Good luck - Joe > Thanks for the input Joe. But, unfortunately like my friend, I may have to wait a while more before upgrading to a fast machine like this :( Thanks, Pat |