Dell XPS600

[poorquality]

EDIT: Thankies :P


Well i'm ordering a new computer tomorrow, planning on getting the XPS, but what I was wondering is, would it be worth getting it with these specs:

Pentium 3.4Ghz
2GB RAM
250GB Harddrive
Single 256 NVidia 6800 Graphics card

then once I get more cash upgrading say, the graphics card, since the XPS is capable of dual SLI graphics cards, I could invest in another 256mb 6800, or would it be better to invest in a better one such as a 7800GT or whatever it's called. This is more expensive.

Also the processor can be dual-core, is dual-core really worth it at the minute? Is it possible to upgrade a single processor to dual-core in the future?

One last thing, the RAM, i've talked to my mates about upgrading to 4gig as soon as possible, they say it's a complete waste of time, is it? Would there be any point in upgrading the 2gb?

Thanks for any pointers and assistance :) Can't wait till I get it really.

[Mexican Bandito]

It'd be better if you asked in the Media Center :)

[rage f*****g rule]

media centre?!

[tumples]

yeah that^^ was gunna say that

[Foehammer]

Fancy!

[TojesDolan]

One last thing, the RAM, i've talked to my mates about upgrading to 4gig as soon as possible, they say it's a complete waste of time, is it? Would there be any point in upgrading the 2gb?

Unless you are running thee hundred applications at the same time, say two or three super heavy games, three instant messaging services, a lot of internet windows and some photograph/video editing software at the same time, I don't think it's of use upgrading to 4 gigs. At least not by today's standards.

You can still have 512 MB - 1 Gig and your computer will more likely run quite smoothly.

I'm running at 64 MB so there you go.

[Permanent Solution]

Also the processor can be dual-core, is dual-core really worth it at the minute? Is it possible to upgrade a single processor to dual-core in the future?

One last thing, the RAM, i've talked to my mates about upgrading to 4gig as soon as possible, they say it's a complete waste of time, is it? Would there be any point in upgrading the 2gb?

Dual core is the future technology. It might not be worth it right this second but by the time it's the standard it'll be worht the extra money you pay now. And hell, it can be worth it now depending on what you're doing. But it would depend on the motherboard for upgrading. You'd need a compatible socket and a motherboard that supports dual cores. Check out the motherboard specs.

On the RAM, 2GB is plenty right now. Having the ability to upgrade in the future is great, but no need to do so any time soon.

[poorquality]

Dual core is the future technology. It might not be worth it right this second but by the time it's the standard it'll be worht the extra money you pay now. And hell, it can be worth it now depending on what you're doing. But it would depend on the motherboard for upgrading. You'd need a compatible socket and a motherboard that supports dual cores. Check out the motherboard specs.

On the RAM, 2GB is plenty right now. Having the ability to upgrade in the future is great, but no need to do so any time soon.


Well it uses the NVIDIA® nForce4 SLITM X16 MCP chipset, which says it has Dual Core Power so I assume it does have the extra socket :S

Thanks to you and above poster about the RAM :lol: I guess 4 gig is not needed by todays standards, I just want to play F.E.A.R very smoothly, will this setup do that?

[Amit]

I guarantee it that you will not ever use those 2 gigabytes of memory. Save yourself some money, man.

[niobium]

I guarantee it that you will not ever use those 2 gigabytes of memory. Save yourself some money, man.Listen to this. I have 384MB, and I'm getting along just fine. Limewire lags me up every now and again, but I have no problems whatsoever.

[REINER]

Dual core is worth it, Intel on the other hand is not.

[JohnXDoe]

Get the 2 gigs of RAM. 4 is a waste right now, and most likely in the foreseeable future, too. For gaming, 2 gigs is the sweet spot. It's cheap, so why not? And if not cheap enough with the order ($90 is a fair upgrade price) drop some in upon delivery.

Plus there is such a thing as having too much RAM. It can actually have a bottlenecking effect of sorts and hurt your performance. Or so I've read.

[REINER]

Yeah, if you have too much then whatever is being processed has to go through all your RAM so if it is some simple little task it won't need to go through all of it, but it does which would delay it a little bit. Granted you'd almost never notice it, but it can happen.

Also with 4 gigs isn't worth it unless you plan on not upgrading at all in the next like 8 years. Because newer/better RAM will come out over time.

[Rrrrrrr]

How much is this dell going to cost you? Because you'd almost certainly get a better deal off ibuypower.com.

Better still, build your own.

[poorquality]

How much is this dell going to cost you? Because you'd almost certainly get a better deal off ibuypower.com.

Better still, build your own.


It's £1,280 roughly, I checked out ibuypower and it was indeed roughly £200 cheaper, but they only ship to Canada and USA, I'm in the UK :) Thanks anyway

[DJ Ducksauce]

Dell sells AMD CPU's separate. Get one. I think the cheaper dual cores go for around $300US. I got my 3800+ for $295. It's nice.

[poorquality]

Is AMD really better? Especially for gaming? I heard Intel were more stable as far as high ended gaming goes. :S

[REINER]

AMD is currently beating Intel in almost every aspect with the exception of mobile processors (laptops).

[DJ Ducksauce]

Is AMD really better? Especially for gaming? I heard Intel were more stable as far as high ended gaming goes. :S Yes, like REINER said, AMD tops Intel in just about everything.

The only way I think Intel could beat AMD in PCs is with major overclocking. Maximum PC got the Intel Extreme Edition all the way up to 5.04 ghz with phase-change cooling. At 0C too. :amaze: But that probably won't help you or pretty much everyone in here because phase change costs an arm and a leg to get.

But yeah, get AMD. :thumb:

[Rrrrrrr]

AMD is currently beating Intel in almost every aspect with the exception of mobile processors (laptops).
and 3d graphics design applications, from what I remember of an Anandtech review.

[poorquality]

thanks guys, I put forward the AMD argument with my dad, but he wants to stick with intel, so It's not as though I really can force him too, the system is ordered and should arrive in 7-10 working days, Can't wait.

cheers for all your suggestions regarding upgrades, though one thing, no-one touched on the graphics card and harddrive, wether its worth upgrading them or not.

[Who's the Boss?]

Dude, you're getting a dell.

[Who's the Boss?]

thanks guys, I put forward the AMD argument with my dad, but he wants to stick with intel, so It's not as though I really can force him too, the system is ordered and should arrive in 7-10 working days, Can't wait.

cheers for all your suggestions regarding upgrades, though one thing, no-one touched on the graphics card and harddrive, wether its worth upgrading them or not.

AMD = so much better. I'd never go back to intel in a million years.

Either leave it with the 6800 (not a very good card) or get the 2x7800GT. The dual 7800GT's would be pretty sweet, 2x6800 would be stupid.

[Rrrrrrr]

I didn't see that question. You should be fine with the hard drive, but from what I've heard, if you have a 6800 geforce it really isn't worth it unless it's a GS or better.

[poorquality]

AMD = so much better. I'd never go back to intel in a million years.

Either leave it with the 6800 (not a very good card) or get the 2x7800GT. The dual 7800GT's would be pretty sweet, 2x6800 would be stupid.

I didn't see that question. You should be fine with the hard drive, but from what I've heard, if you have a 6800 geforce it really isn't worth it unless it's a GS or better.

alright thanks guys, i'll stick with the 6800 until I have enough to upgrade to the 7800GT or the 7900 series.

[SKiLLeDcs]

AMD owns Intel....

Far better for gaming.

[Eccles]

Everyone is an AMD fanboy these days :( so I'm going to have to stick up for Intel and say that they are really not that far behind AMD, and are cheaper. You also have the advantage of getting your teeth into DDR2 RAM, which is great since you seem to be a memory whore. Listen to the people telling you that you only need 2Gb though. You can use it, especially on a dual-core machine, but you certainly won't need any more than it. And your motherboard probably can't handle 4Gb anyway.

[DJ Ducksauce]

Update on Renegade


/thought this should go in here



You'll pay a hefty $9,930 for the XPS 600 Renegade though, but keep in mind that Dell includes its massive 30-inch 3007WFP in that package. The AGEIA PhysX PPU will also be available in the lower-priced XPS 400 ($1,239 base price) and the XPS 600 ($2,039) systems as well.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1941270,00.asp

That's one expensive PC there.

[Who's the Boss?]

If I had 10,000$ to blow on a PC, I'd probably just rent an amateur porn star to pose for me once a day. I might as well just cut out the middle man is all I'm saying.