Topic: Did I get Suckered?

[Lono]

Honest Opinions please...

Well, my last homebrew computer turned out to be a nitemare due to heat issues so I finally broke down and bought a refirbished Dell 8400.

The specs are:

Intel 3.4 HT chip
1 Gig DDR2 SDRAM 533
800 Front Side Bus
6800 GTO Vid Card
250 GB 7200 RPM HD
Dual Layer Phillips 16X DVD R
CD R 48x
Audigy ZS Sound Card

For $1,000 after taxes and shipping.

So honestly did I get hosed?

It seemed like a good deal compared to the retail price but I won't have nearly as much expandability as a homemade comp.

Let me know what you guys think - I was hoping this could hold me over for at leat 1 and 1/2 years till I get my finances in order.


Oh... and to pay for it I am selling some of my collector toys, models, and comics from my youth so let me know if you are interested in what I got before it goes out on Ebay next week.

(selling my childhood memories for some cheap thrills - sheesh!   )

[SkyFlyer]

looks good. But i would go get a DVD drive to replace that CD drive.

[IAF Lyrkiller]

If you want my honest opinion, Dell is not all that bad. and i used to support Dell on phone support. (long time ago).

As i am typing this on my I8000 (Dell(laptop)), and i also have a GX150 Optiplex as a server.

My other system is homegrown.

[Javora]

That system is going to be cheaper than building it yourself.  You already know that the thing won't be very upgradeable so it sounds like you know what you are getting yourself into.  The only thing I would suggest is that you upgrade your warranty as Dell like to throw in the cheapest parts they can find.  I would also buy from the business side and not the home/office side of the Dell site.  That way if you have to call Tech support you can talk from someone here in the U.S instead of someone from India.  That is of course unless Dell has changed policy again and shipped all of their support calls for their business systems back to India again.  Hope this helps.

[IAF Lyrkiller]

Or, you can PM me and i can help you.

I am serious on the helping part.

[Clark Kent]

If you want my honest opinion, Dell is not all that bad. and i used to support Dell on phone support. (long time ago).

As i am typing this on my I8000 (Dell(laptop)), and i also have a GX150 Optiplex as a server.

My other system is homegrown.

Hey cayne, looks like I might be saddled with a dell, what's your opinion there?  I was thinking either inpiron 9300 series or 6000 series.  I ain't paying for it, but thought, since you seem to be a dell man, you might have some useful info to share.

[General_Dark_Guard]

I agree that it would probably be cheaper than building one yourself (possibly, though there are ways) but if you are concerned about upgradeability, then this system is probably not for you.  Dell is making much better quality stuff now a days but it can still be tricky to upgrade... (at least it isn't like the old Hp computers or PACKARD BELL!!! heh)

[E_Look]

Hey, guys, I have an old HP Pavilion 6475Z (PII Celeron, onboard ATI Rage Pro video, and a case with a somewhat cool looking front, but internally has a "drive cage", a slideable section where the drives are mounted; you slide it out to mount or remove a drive unit, and when you're done, you slide it back).  Does anybody know anything about whether the case is truly micro ATX or is it some proprietary geometry?

I mean, if I gut the thing, can I at least save the case and stick in a micro ATX mobo?

It's currently my younger one's computer (he hates it; stinky 15" CRT, integrated graphics, and worst of all, NO INTERNET; I wasn't going to waste a LAN card on that thing!) and because he hates, I'm going to replace it with a more kid-pleasing one (AMD Athlon XP 2500+ Barton, Sapphire Radeon 9600 XT 128 Mb, 80 Gb HD, 250 Mb Zip drive, DVD/CDRW, LCD 17", DFI nForce2 Ultra 400 board, and glowing blue LED fans in blue Raidmax case w/side window).  He'd better like it.

But, hey, maybe I can salvage the old box's case... maybe?

[wulf111]

if i remember correctly there should be a standard IDE cable running from the mobo to the drive cage so it should be salvegable

[Javora]

Hey, guys, I have an old HP Pavilion 6475Z (PII Celeron, onboard ATI Rage Pro video, and a case with a somewhat cool looking front, but internally has a "drive cage", a slideable section where the drives are mounted; you slide it out to mount or remove a drive unit, and when you're done, you slide it back).  Does anybody know anything about whether the case is truly micro ATX or is it some proprietary geometry?

I mean, if I gut the thing, can I at least save the case and stick in a micro ATX mobo?


But, hey, maybe I can salvage the old box's case... maybe?

IMHO the only thing I would use any of that for is to experiment with Linux.  If it is a Micro ATX case you probably not going to want to keep it.  If you do decide to gut the thing then I would pull the hard drives and toss the rest in the trash.  Your milage may very.

[E_Look]

... If it is a Micro ATX case you probably not going to want to keep it...

Okay, my ears are perked!  Why not?  Is it because full sized cases can be had cheaply?  Or is it that they are a pain to work in?

*

LINUX: Nah.  I used to use Unix; I preferred DOS; DR-DOS was better than MS-DOS, but I really liked DOS, especially over Windows (all               incarnations), so I'm not too revved up about checking out a Unix based GUI OS.

           I think I'll just stick to complaining about Bill Gates' buggy product; that's one less thing to complain about!   

[Javora]

Okay, my ears are perked!  Why not?  Is it because full sized cases can be had cheaply?  Or is it that they are a pain to work in?

IMHO, both cost and work environment.

[E_Look]

Hmmm... you may be right.  I already get cuts on my fingers from working in a midtower ATX case!