Dell/? desktop - best value for mid spec...

[declanh]

My dad is after a new pc... I think he would like something (with 19 inch tft) that would run Vista without too much strain but not necessarily a high end gaming machine...

A quick scout around the dell site leads me to believe that this might cost him 700+ ukp (by the time he adds an extra gig of memory and northern ireland delivery :-( )

q1: is this average price for this type of setup or am i overspecing ?
q2: should i persuade him to spend less and save his money

D



Dimension E520
£663.00
Includes VAT & Shipping
From £663.00
Now From
£603.00
Includes VAT & Shipping
Nothing to Pay Until December 2007!*
Conditions of Finance*


Discount Details
Preliminary Ship Date: Unavailable1

My Selections All Options
# Dimension E520


Date 03/12/2006 22:44:31 GMT Mean Time
Catalog Number 202 Retail ukdhs1
Catalog Number / Description Product Code SKU Id
Base:
Intel® Pentium® D 820 Dual Core Processor (2.80GHz, 800MHz, 2x1MB) 82456 [210-17315] 1
Microsoft Operating System:
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Incl Operating System Re-installation CD) 77161 [619-10833] 11
Upgrade to Windows Vista:
MCE to Vista Premium Upgrade on: www.dellvistaupgrade.productorder.com before 03/31/07 77628 [616-10088] 139
Cover It with Dell Support Services:
Basic Package, 2 Year At-Home Service 73740 [680-16964][706-10779] 30
Monitor:
Dell™ 19" Value Flat Panel (E197FP) 71419 [480-14031] 5
Memory:
1024MB Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz [2x512] Memory 38003 [370-12005] 3
Hard Drive:
250GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache 72989 [400-12915] 8
CD/DVD Drives:
16x DVD ± RW Drive 67500 [429-11154][429-11368][429-12285] 16
Video Card:
256MB nVidia® GeForce® 7300 Turbocache graphics card 72997 [490-10582] 6
Gedis Bundle Reference:
List D12E06 Dimension E520 78110 [200-42536] 22
Shipping Documents:
E520 Documentation with UK Power Cord 72976 [340-13514][340-13964][640-10401] 21
Adobe Reader:
Adobe Reader 7.0.8 - English 20764 [640-10399] 601
Order Information:
Dimension Order - UK 11744 [800-10122] 111
Standard Warranty:
Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only 73723 [680-16962][680-16963] 29
Dell Internet Order:
Dell Internet Order. 21417 [815-10000] 650
Promotions Hidden Option Class:
Memory - Upgrade to 1024MB 28289 [236-10168] 605
Promotions Hidden Option Class:
Free Upgrade to Microsoft Media Center from XP Home 78624 [235-13021] 605
SecureData Software.:
No Secure Data Software 66636 [640-10512] 330
Sound Cards:
Integrated Audio with Dolby Digital 7.1 capability 73333 [510-10163] 17
Speakers:
Dell™ A225 Stereo Speakers 63857 [520-10536] 18
Keyboard:
Dell™ Black Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Ire (QWERTY) 69692 [580-12325] 4
Mouse:
Dell 2 Button USB Scroll Optical Mouse - Black 63103 [570-10088][570-10278] 12
Floppy Drives:

[Clunk]

thats quite expensive for the basic specs. Im sure you could get core 2 duo cpu and 2gb ram and some decent graphics card for that much, even from dell?

[javalord]

www.hotukdeals.com <-- keep an eye here

[uk_sam]

I don't think they allow upgrades to Core 2 Duo on the E520 - at least not when I ordered from the website a couple of weeks ago. I would not purchase a Dell PC for myself but if I'm buying it for a friend, I think Dell prices aren't too bad and delivery is fairly quick.

[HyeongSeong]

Have a look at this website as well
http://www.dmxdimension.com/

[Fabula]

At that sort of price you should be able to get a core2duo system.

Vista will want 2 gig of ram if possible.

I came up with this:

&#163;659.99 Includes VAT & Shipping

Components
PROCESSOR Intel&#174; Viiv™ Core™ 2 Duo E6300 Processor (1.86GHz, 1066MHz, 2MB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows&#174; XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Incl Operating System Re-installation CD) edit
VISTA UPGRADE MCE to Vista Premium Upgrade on: www.dellvistaupgrade.productorder.com before 03/31/07 edit
SUPPORT SERVICES Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only edit
MONITOR Dell™ 19" Value Flat Panel (E197FP) edit
MEMORY 2048MB Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz [2x1024] Memory edit
HARD DRIVE 320GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 16x DVD +/- RW Drive edit
GRAPHICS CARD 256MB nVidia&#174; GeForce&#174; 7300 Turbocache graphics card edit
Accessories
SOUND CARDS Integrated Audio with Dolby Digital 7.1 capability edit
SPEAKERS No Speakers edit
KEYBOARD Dell™ Black Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Ire (QWERTY) edit
MOUSE Dell 2 Button USB Wheel Mouse - Black edit
FLOPPY/MEDIA DRIVES No Floppy Drive edit
MODEMS No Modem edit
Services & Software
SECURITY SOFTWARE McAfee&#174; Security Centre™ 15-month Protection edit
MICROSOFT SOFTWARE Microsoft&#174; Works 8 - English edit
PHOTOGRAPHY SOFTWARE No Photo Organising & Sharing Software/No Photo Editing Software edit
Also included with your system
Gedis Bundle Reference List D12E07b Dimension E520
Shipping Documents E520 Documentation with UK Power Cord
Adobe Reader Adobe Reader 7.0.8 - English
Order Information Dimension Order - UK
Standard Warranty Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only
Dell Internet Order Dell Internet Order.
Promotions Hidden Option Class Memory - Upgrade to 1024MB
Promotions Hidden Option Class Free Upgrade to Microsoft Media Center from XP Home
SecureData Software. No Secure Data Software
NETWORK ASSISTANT Network Assist 1.2 - 90day
SYSTEM MEDIA Resource CD - contains Diagnostics and Drivers



Not sure what would happen with NI delivery, but should be reasonable.

What does your dad want his system for?