Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 50

Thread: Dell and thier 8800GTX...are they taking me for a ride?

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    56
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Dell and thier 8800GTX...are they taking me for a ride?

    Hello, i am thinking of purchasing a new machine with the following specs:

    Intel® Core™ 2 E6420 Duo Processor(4MB L2 cache,2.13GHZ,1066FSB)
    OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium
    MEMORY 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs
    HARD DRIVE 320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
    OPTICAL DRIVE Dual Drives: 48x Combo + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable
    VIDEO CARD 768MB nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX
    SOUND CARD Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio

    I got online with one of thier service reps and asked him what kind of power supply it has in it. He told me a 375 watt, which kind of made me laugh. He assured me though, that he sells thousands of systems per day, that many people choose that configuration, and that no one is unsatisfied. He also said that Dell would loose millions by falsely marketting a configuration that wouldn't work in real life. He also said that Dell's nvidia rep only recommended a big power supply to "compensate for low-quality PSUs" that are prevailent throughout this market today. He claimed that Dell has contractor companies that build thier own custom PSUs and are of the highest quality.

    I can't say I buy all of this. What do you guys have to say?

  2. #2
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    11,498
    Thanks
    197
    Thanked
    794 times in 741 posts
    • staffsMike's system
      • Motherboard:
      • evga 680i
      • CPU:
      • e6600
      • Memory:
      • geil ultra pc6400
      • Storage:
      • WD 320gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • leadtek 8800 GTS 640mb
      • PSU:
      • ocz gameXstream 700w
      • Case:
      • akasa eclipse
      • Monitor(s):
      • dell 2007wfp and Lg L194WT
      • Internet:
      • pipex homecall
    We had a thread like this a while back with an 8800GTS being run on a 250w PSU. If they say it does the job then i'm inclined to believe them...i wouldn't do it personally but if they can get away with it then fair play.

    If cosair can run SLi GTX's on 620w then I don't see why it wouldn't be ok on a decent 375w psu

  3. #3
    Moderator chuckskull's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    The Frozen North
    Posts
    7,713
    Thanks
    951
    Thanked
    690 times in 463 posts
    • chuckskull's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z77-D3H
      • CPU:
      • 3570k @ 4.7 - H100i
      • Memory:
      • 32GB XMS3 1600mhz
      • Storage:
      • 256GB Samsung 850 Pro + 3TB Seagate
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 980Ti Classified
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic M12 700W
      • Case:
      • Corsair 500R
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus VG278HE
      • Internet:
      • FTTC
    Unfortunately. The DELL guy is right, a 375W PSU with good rails will be enough, though it will be the bare minimum that the system needs, you will have very little room for overclocking or expansion.

    For a company like DELL it is often easier to contract a company to make a bare basic PSU capable of powering the systems they need, and not include any head room or bells and whistles, than to include an off the shelf model.

    I'd swap it out if you ever expand the system or skip dell altogether and build yourself.

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    56
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Here's where I'm getting into the grey with this. I've had nightmare upon nightmare with power supplies. I currently have a ****ty 400watt Norwood Micro power supply that i think might be giving me problems...and i only have a 3500+ processor, a gig of ram, and an X800XL.

    If its the "bare minimum" and i'm going to be gaming (aka pushing it to the "maximum") then maybe this isnt a good idea. i don't want to be stuck with an inert PC within a year.

  5. #5
    Senior Member sawyen's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Sheffield University
    Posts
    3,658
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    22 times in 21 posts
    • sawyen's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Laptop motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 740QM
      • Memory:
      • 8192MB DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 256GB SSD, 1TB WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • AMD Mobility HD 5870
      • PSU:
      • MSI stuff
      • Case:
      • N/A
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 64bit
      • Internet:
      • Virgin ADSL rubbish
    I recall you can actually request for a higher wattage PSU.. I remember they actually specifying only one piss poor Dell branded 500W PSU for our workstation with 2 socket quad core with 1GB workstation class graphics, and 2TB of HDD..

    Just ask to speak to a rep and talk them into a bigger wattage PSU and throw in various games for free as well..
    Me want Ultrabook


  6. #6
    JagerBomber Mossy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    0.0
    Posts
    2,618
    Thanks
    191
    Thanked
    173 times in 144 posts
    Quote Originally Posted by staffsMike View Post
    We had a thread like this a while back with an 8800GTS being run on a 250w PSU. If they say it does the job then i'm inclined to believe them...i wouldn't do it personally but if they can get away with it then fair play.

    If cosair can run SLi GTX's on 620w then I don't see why it wouldn't be ok on a decent 375w psu
    As above if they are using a good PSU like the Corsair then you could get away with it, it is whether you want to get away with it thats the question. Surely it would leave you with not much option to add extra at a later date I personally like to leave some leway for expansion when I build my computers. Sometimes is hard to upgrade some machines with parts not specifically for that computer if you see what I mean. Costs now can save money later I would opt for a higher rating
    __________________
    Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.

    Error exists between Keyboard & Chair replace User and press Any Key!

    .... Where's the Any Key???


  7. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    56
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    so you wouldn't settle with the 375 watt?

    edit: i'll try to talk to that guy and see if I can have them put in a large PSU.

  8. #8
    MrP
    MrP is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    596
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts
    • MrP's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Abit IP35
      • CPU:
      • Q6600 @ stock (for now!)
      • Memory:
      • Kingston HyperX 4GB 8500C5
      • Storage:
      • WD 640gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ATI 4870
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX620
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Wavemaster
      • Operating System:
      • W7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Apple 20" Cinema display
      • Internet:
      • Virgin 10MB
    dont shuttle ship low wattage psu's and saay they can power fairly beefy systems

  9. #9
    Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    56
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Quote Originally Posted by MrP View Post
    dont shuttle ship low wattage psu's and saay they can power fairly beefy systems
    ...what?

  10. #10
    Senior Member sawyen's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Sheffield University
    Posts
    3,658
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    22 times in 21 posts
    • sawyen's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Laptop motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 740QM
      • Memory:
      • 8192MB DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 256GB SSD, 1TB WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • AMD Mobility HD 5870
      • PSU:
      • MSI stuff
      • Case:
      • N/A
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 64bit
      • Internet:
      • Virgin ADSL rubbish
    shuttle usually ships pretty decent PSU, but having said that, Shuttle limits your expansion within possibly the leeway given by the load of the PSU..

    Dell on contrary do not have the best reputation for decent PSU, 15/20 of the Optiplex we got had blown PSU within 1 year, and we didnt even add anything to it..

    Imagine shipping a Pentium 4 3.6Ghz, 1GB memory, 2x250GB drives with a 200W PSU.. You know thats just asking for it.. and we had all of them shipped with the same PSU, be it a P4 or a Celeron then..
    Last edited by sawyen; 04-07-2007 at 03:43 PM.
    Me want Ultrabook


  11. #11
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    11,498
    Thanks
    197
    Thanked
    794 times in 741 posts
    • staffsMike's system
      • Motherboard:
      • evga 680i
      • CPU:
      • e6600
      • Memory:
      • geil ultra pc6400
      • Storage:
      • WD 320gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • leadtek 8800 GTS 640mb
      • PSU:
      • ocz gameXstream 700w
      • Case:
      • akasa eclipse
      • Monitor(s):
      • dell 2007wfp and Lg L194WT
      • Internet:
      • pipex homecall
    Quote Originally Posted by crusader4192 View Post
    so you wouldn't settle with the 375 watt?

    edit: i'll try to talk to that guy and see if I can have them put in a large PSU.
    I'd rather have a higher wattage PSU but of the same quality that one would have to be.

    No point getting a 500w pile of mess though.

  12. #12
    Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    56
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    okay. the only reason i was looking at Dell was because they're really cheap...but i guess that doesn't count for everything.

    i've already looked at Velocity Micro, Falcon NW, ABS, and Dell. any other suggestions?

  13. #13
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    11,498
    Thanks
    197
    Thanked
    794 times in 741 posts
    • staffsMike's system
      • Motherboard:
      • evga 680i
      • CPU:
      • e6600
      • Memory:
      • geil ultra pc6400
      • Storage:
      • WD 320gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • leadtek 8800 GTS 640mb
      • PSU:
      • ocz gameXstream 700w
      • Case:
      • akasa eclipse
      • Monitor(s):
      • dell 2007wfp and Lg L194WT
      • Internet:
      • pipex homecall
    I've never heard of any of them

    Mesh and Evesham are worth checking out.

  14. #14
    Senior Member sawyen's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Sheffield University
    Posts
    3,658
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    22 times in 21 posts
    • sawyen's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Laptop motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 740QM
      • Memory:
      • 8192MB DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 256GB SSD, 1TB WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • AMD Mobility HD 5870
      • PSU:
      • MSI stuff
      • Case:
      • N/A
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 64bit
      • Internet:
      • Virgin ADSL rubbish
    Dell is fine if you can talk them into giving you things you actually want..

    Usually you can do that by spending a couple of moments with the reps.. do carry some tone of frustration when they offer you silly components. i.e. they can keep their floppy drives, their DVD-ROMs and just drop you a DVDRW with a decent PSU.

    Also, you can also hagger off the add on softwares they stuck in there, upgrade ur monitor and maybe chuck in a X-Fi
    Me want Ultrabook


  15. #15
    Senior Member Pob255's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    The land of Brum
    Posts
    10,128
    Thanks
    605
    Thanked
    1,220 times in 1,121 posts
    • Pob255's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus M5A99X EVO
      • CPU:
      • FX8350 & CM Hyper 212+
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2gb Corsair Vengence 1600mhz cas9
      • Storage:
      • 512gb samsung SSD +1tb Samsung HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EGVA GTX970
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic GX 650W
      • Case:
      • HAF 912+
      • Operating System:
      • W7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • iiyama XB3270QS-B1 32" IPS 1440p
    Well you'll be very limited on upgrades and forget overclocking it. (but that'd invalidate the warranty which is one of the few reasons for getting a dell)

    I must admit I do quite like the dimention 9000 case (as backward assed as it is) and there basic quiet key keyboard (I don't like keyboards with giant surounds and that's as small a suround as you can get)

    If your open to other sugestions for built pc's, then
    http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/
    http://3xs.scan.co.uk/
    http://www.novatech.co.uk (novatech also do some nice barebones systems, good for biginer pc builders )

    EDIT: And remember that many places will do you custom options not on internet lists if you ask them.
    And remember to haggle
    Last edited by Pob255; 04-07-2007 at 11:38 PM.

  16. #16
    Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    56
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    i appreciate those suggestions, but i am from the US. im sure they ship overseas, but jeez, that'd be worth the computer itself.

Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 24-12-2006, 04:59 PM
  2. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-06-2005, 10:25 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •