Dell Desktop Systems

[PR.]

I know Jas has a Dell machine but I was wondering if anyone has been using one as a Games machine?

My current system (hand built) is increasingly unreliable and is too noisy and too hot

After buying this luvly 8100 Inspiron Laptop (which has far exceeded my expectations in reliability and performance) I am thinking about replacing the desktop with a Dell.

Only problem I see with this is that the spec payoff. You either have a High Spec Workstation that lacks important gaming stuff like GF4 and a decent Creative Sound Card. Or you can have a Desktop system that has the GF4 and Creative sound card but only comes with standard HDDs no SCSIs or options for multiple drives

Thanks for any advice

 

[Embattle]

Dell has recently added good components to there options list for home users including GFX cards like the GF4 Ti4600 although no creative sound card.

My only slight problem with them would be the use of Intel mobos which while normally being very good stability wise tend to lack the overall performance of rivals like Asus and Abit and also lack the OCing options, should you be interested in OCing.

With a top of the line workstation from Dell you can spec a nVidia Quadro4 900XGL although the price of the system goes up fast.

You could call them and see if they would add the parts you want.

 

[old.Jas]

The main reason I brought a Dell machine is the reliability. Dell makes the most stable systems I have seen around, and should it bite the dust the support is superb.

I wouldn't touch any other brand of laptop or desktop ever again. Compaq still has my favor in the server arena though

 

[Summo]

Yush, I agree. We use Dell at work - have thousands of Dell OptiPlexes (like many other companies) and they are fecking olid.

Dell for desktops, Compaq for servers. Guns for show, knives for a pro.

 

[bids]

We are a Dell desktop outfit too, but this is the first organisation I've worked in that don't use Compaq servers - they use Dell servers, and after sx months, they seem just as solid as Compaq.
We also have two Acer servers - up and down like a strippers knickers

 

[Embattle]

Dell have improved their server end a lot.

 

[Summo]

They have. We use exclusively Dell servers and they're great. Soild as a rock. We'll be moving to Compaq though as they have far superior remote management capabilities, mainly.

 

[bids]

We use OpenView, which is just as good as any Compaq Management Software, imho. Is this the only reason you're moving to Compaq ?

 

[Summo]

We're looking mainly at remote management cards. The ability to power on and off a server from a remote location, ability to manage it no matter what state the operating system is in. We'll also be using a OpenView-type application but we've yet to decide on one.

 

[bids]

What type of remote management cards you been looking at ?
(and surely they'll go into the Dell servers ?)

 

[Wilier]

My old mans got a Dell desktop at home which he specced with a GF3 last year sometime. Its a nice machine, although like Embeh says, your OCing capabilities are very limited. One thing, dont spec and extra 256 of ram on top of what is listed in the spec, they rip you right off.

At work we have over 700 optiplex gx150s (the black ones) and they seem to be good (not that Im in the IT dept) and I believe all our servers are Compaq or Honeywell.

 

[Xavier]

Originally posted by bids
What type of remote management cards you been looking at ?
(and surely they'll go into the Dell servers ?)

I believe summo is talking about the compaq remote insight boards (lights out edition) in which case they only work in compaq servers...

there is a card called the peppercon which does similar things for all server brands but I wouldn't touch them personally...

I deployed six compaq boxes with RIB cards about two years ago and there has only been one issue, which I was able to resolve in less than 10 minutes thanks to the board in the machine.

 

[Summo]

Ooh! I missed this! Yush, Xav is right. Those babies sell themselves!

It's part of a massive organisation-wide rationalisation of hardware, network config and generally the way we all work. Exciting times lay ahead...

 

[bids]

Thought you were ignoring me Summo

Those cards sound good though - pity they're Comaq specific - are there any 'generic' ones ?

 

[bodhi]

Ah servers.


IBM pour hommes.

Compaq pour femmes.

 

[Summo]

Man, IBMs are like, so 1982.

Or something.

 

[Testin da Cable]

Originally posted by bodhi
Ah servers.


IBM pour hommes.

Compaq pour femmes.

thank you Bodhi. compaq pc-servers suck arse. end of.

 

[bodhi]

Didn't say that. Just said (in a strange way) I want an IBM i-series server (the deeply deeply expensive one).