Dell Dimension 8400 - good deal?

[Gojira]

Not a bad deal, but not great either.
For ~$1070USD you can have an Athlon 2800XP, 160Gb hard drive, Antec
case/PSU, Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard, ATI X800 Pro graphics, 512MB of
PC3200 and an Audigy2 sound card.
Downgrade to a lesser video card and save a few hundred.

DDR2 and PCI-X exist to offer performance benefits in the future, much like
S-ATA. Currently, they offer very little over the technologies they replace.
DDR2 is about twice the cost of PC3200.

I've considered AMD,but have gotten conflicting opinions from many
sources.It's not so much in speed or performance,but realiability,two of the
local shops won't even deal in AMD because they said they had to replace so
many bad processors from them.I've never had one,so I don't know how durable
they are,but I've never had problems with any of the Intels I've used.If I
did go with AMD,it would probably be one of the 64's,I do a lot of gaming,so
I'm looking
for a processor(and video card)that can handle games like Doom 3 ans Half
Life 2.

 

[kony]

I've considered AMD,but have gotten conflicting opinions from many
sources.It's not so much in speed or performance,but realiability,two of the
local shops won't even deal in AMD because they said they had to replace so
many bad processors from them.I've never had one,so I don't know how durable
they are,but I've never had problems with any of the Intels I've used.If I
did go with AMD,it would probably be one of the 64's,I do a lot of gaming,so
I'm looking
for a processor(and video card)that can handle games like Doom 3 ans Half
Life 2.

Avoid those shops like the plague, if they're KILLING CPUs that
often they have some serious flaws in either their assembly or
parts selection processes, and at the very least are incompetent
and any pseudo-knowledge they have is subject to scrutiny.

There ARE reasons to choose an Intel platform over an AMD, or
vice-versa, but the chances of getting a dead CPU from either
manufacturer, isn't one of them.

 

[S.Heenan]

I've considered AMD,but have gotten conflicting opinions from many
sources.It's not so much in speed or performance,but realiability,two
of the local shops won't even deal in AMD because they said they had
to replace so many bad processors from them.I've never had one,so I
don't know how durable they are,but I've never had problems with any
of the Intels I've used.If I did go with AMD,it would probably be one
of the 64's,I do a lot of gaming,so I'm looking
for a processor(and video card)that can handle games like Doom 3 ans
Half Life 2.

Providing proper cooling is maintained, a CPU is one of the most reliable
solid state devices out there. If these shops were having trouble with AMD
or Brand X processor, it suggests to me they do not know what they are
doing. One local shop told me something similar. Oddly enough, they aren't
in business any longer.

To keep cost down, you'd want the Socket754 Athlon64 3000+(retail) at $175US
and a motherboard like an Asus K8V SE Deluxe, $115US.

With a little more homework, I see no reason why you could not build your
own machine, which will handily outperform a brand name PC.

 

[JK]

I've considered AMD,but have gotten conflicting opinions from many
sources.It's not so much in speed or performance,but realiability

Do a Google search on Intel recalls.

,two of the
local shops won't even deal in AMD because they said they had to replace so
many bad processors from them.

Perhaps it might be more likely that they can't get AMD products on liberal
credit terms, and can get plenty of Intel products on very attractive credit
terms?
You are being naive if you think stores emphasize selling what is best for the
consumer. They sell what is best for them to sell. They look for higher profit
margins, or items that can get on much more liberal credit terms. Many stores
try to avoid products in great demand that they can't get on liberal credit
terms.

I've never had one,so I don't know how durable
they are,but I've never had problems with any of the Intels I've used.If I
did go with AMD,it would probably be one of the 64's,I do a lot of gaming,so
I'm looking
for a processor(and video card)that can handle games like Doom 3 ans Half
Life 2.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2149&p=7

 

[Jeff Gibbons]

And you do of course realize that those Dells ... use substandard low
grade parts
cite?

(especially on the memory which is a big no-no).
Heck I'd even upgrade the memory to a gig of Infineon 3200 memory

Infineon is one of the brands that Dell uses, dumbass.

There now, do you comprehend how much of an idiot you are? Or do I
need to actually go and look up the specific component list in that
Dell and look up those precise components on Price Watch so you can
REALLY feel stupid.

yeah, show us how stupid you are

 

[Mac Cool]

Next time read the WHOLE thread before you start typing...you'll look
less stupid. Free cl00, I already proved it in Message-ID:
<pq3cj0ppvr90euin2gkpa35jmud2rivne5@farfoos>

You failed. You forgot the software, dvd burner and cd burner. If you want
to try again, provide links, brands, actual prices and include shipping. I
don't take your word for anything.

Also, Dell is giving a free upgrade to 1GB DDR2, so include that; shipping
is $50, since you didn't know that; yes, Dell includes a monitor.

Also, some of your prices were way off anything I could find at reputable
websites (newegg, mwave, zipzoomfly). I would expect middle of the road
quality components.

 

[Onideus Mad Hatter]

cite?

Cite what? Tell me what brand of memory they use in Dells. Free cl00, it's non branded generic
memory with a Dell sticker on it. Another free cl00, Dell, doesn't actually make memory and someone
would probably be pretty ticked off if they took a stick of Kingston or Infineon and started calling
it their own (namely the peeps who make Kingston, Infineon, etc).

Infineon is one of the brands that Dell uses, dumbass.

No retard, it's not actually.

http://www.google.com/search?q="Dell uses infineon"&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&sa=N&tab=gw

ZERO hits, but hey, do try again, Halfass.

yeah, show us how stupid you are

Any piece of equipment with either no label or a Dell sticker is generic, non branded shit grade
equipment, often put together using factory seconds from higher grade manufacturers. The only thing
"name brand" that Dell really uses is with it's motherboards and processors, most everything else is
el cheapo crap.

 

[Onideus Mad Hatter]

You failed.

You want *SO* desperately to believe that.

You forgot the software,

Really, and what kind of software does the Dell come with? You know besides a shit rate OEM copy of
Windows and some basically free/trialware versions of various other asstastic software titles.

Oh and uh, free cl00, only MORONS pay money for software.

dvd burner and cd burner.

You can get a decent all in one CD/DVD burner for under $65, shipping included:
http://us-depot.com/todvdrsdoemb.html

If you want to try again, provide links, brands, actual prices and include shipping. I
don't take your word for anything.

What part of www.pricewatch.com did your DUMBASS miss the first time around? Free cl00, MORON, the
prices they list INCLUDE THE SHIPPING COST. You ****in retard.

Also, Dell is giving a free upgrade to 1GB DDR2, so include that; shipping
is $50, since you didn't know that; yes, Dell includes a monitor.

Wow, they don't have free shipping? *snicker*

Also, some of your prices were way off anything I could find at reputable
websites (newegg, mwave, zipzoomfly). I would expect middle of the road
quality components.

Again, you dribbling deficient, what part of WWW.PRICEWATCH.COM flew over your pointy lil head?

 

[Mac Cool]

You want *SO* desperately to believe that.

Belief is irrelevant. You tossed out random prices, you forgot
components, no brands, no links, no accessories (heat sinks, cables,
software).

Oh and uh, free cl00, only MORONS pay money for software.

Excuses, excuses...

You can get a decent all in one CD/DVD burner for under $65, shipping
included: http://us-depot.com/todvdrsdoemb.html

Price doesn't include software, cables or shipping don't forget to
include those if you want to try again. Price with cables, software &
shipping is $84.

What part of www.pricewatch.com did your DUMBASS miss

I didn't think so. Pricewatch is not a store, they do not sell products,
they list prices and their listing service is easily manipulated.

Wow, they don't have free shipping? *snicker*

Not this month, this month they are offering 10% off, a free upgrade to
a 160GB HD and free upgrade to 1GB RAM. Closer to Christmas they will
offer all that, probably more, and free shipping.

Again, you dribbling deficient, what part of WWW.PRICEWATCH.COM flew
over your pointy lil head?

I knew you couldn't do it. Failure.

FYI, you can't take pricewatch prices at face value, there are many
companies who lowball a category with keywords but are actually selling
a lower value product; or as often happens with video cards, a company
will list an SE version under the wrong category. (e.g. Radeon 9200)

I'll give you one more chance to fail before killfiling you and moving
on. You can spout off and fail (again), or you can take your best shot.
Either way, it amuses me.

 

[Boba & Ilinka]

If you will never upgrade your computer and you do not like to repair
computer your self, go with Dell, IBM or HP. OK they come with OS but you
will not get OS on CD. Instead you will get image file of HD to recover hd
in case of "disaster". So if you try to change OS you will have night mere
to find drivers, because you have only image file on CD. The case is almost
always so small that there is no room to put much more inside. Very often,
if you wood like to add memory stick you have to pool out PSU or so.
Software, that come with Dell, you will newer use except OS. Most likely it
will be trial version (Norton) as somebody already mentioned. Good lack with
Dell.

Boba Vancouver

 

[Mark Ingram]

(e-mail address removed):

: If you will never upgrade your computer
The only Dell that has upgrade problems is the 2400 series, the el cheapo
line. The rest are perfectly upgradable, some of the new vid cards require
a PS over 300W.