The wait is over: Dell launches AMD desktops

Dell sure dragged it out long enough, but they've finally gone official on four new desktops, two of which hold those elusive -- at least for Dell -- AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core chips. Privy to the Athlon action are two new Dimension models, the E521 and C521 (pictured), while the new XPS 210 and Dimension E520 fight for truth, justice and the American way, Intel Core 2 Duo style. The E520 and E521 sport all the usual options, including ATI and NVIDIA graphics, dual TV tuners and dual HDDs. As for processors, the E521 can handle anything from AMD Sempron to Athlon 64 X2, while the E520 covers Pentium D and Core 2 Duo processors. Oddly, the E521 only sports one PCI slot, compared to the E520's two, but matches its Intel brother for slots otherwise, with room for a x16 PCIe and a x1 PCIe card. The C521 slims things down to about half the size of the E521, and lacks multiple disc drive and HDD bays, but still manages to match the E521 for PCIe/PCI action. Similarly, the XPS 210 keeps things small, with even less expandability, but measures a mere 1 foot tall. In other news, Dell is moving ahead with their retail strategy, and has plans for opening a New York store in early 2007.

Read - Dell launches AMD desktops
Read - Dell plans NYC store

[Silver @ Sep 12th 2006 6:21PM]

AMD on the inside - Still Ugly on the outside.

[D2 @ Sep 12th 2006 6:26PM]

The wait is over? when did it start?

[Andir2.0 @ Sep 12th 2006 6:27PM]

Lol, I think it looks just fine. Then again, if money were no option for me, I'd want to get like 20 of these and line them up. Of course, I build my own PCs, so Buying one from Dell isn't an option. They just look like something you'd stack or set next to each other in some sort of "computer food line" then set up a Linux cluster with them all.

[Jiggsaw @ Sep 12th 2006 6:41PM]

ZZZzzzzzzzz.... One word: Kentsfield. Thanks for playing, AMD.

[Dallas @ Sep 12th 2006 6:42PM]

Oh goodie, the wait for AMD in a Dell is finally over. Now Dell can go after the real bottom feeders with AMD chips and make AMD stop belly-aching. Sheesh, the latter is worth the effort right there.

How much for a Core 2 Duo system?

[Mat @ Sep 12th 2006 6:51PM]

I for one am happy.

I've tired of building my own machines and have always like dell and amd!

Yay!

[John Doe. @ Sep 12th 2006 7:18PM]

"The wait is over? when did it start?"

When the P4 came out. Shit doesn't begin to desc. that CPU.

[John Doe. @ Sep 12th 2006 7:18PM]

This would have been news 2 years ago. Now? *yawns*

Intel finally comes out with something that can spank most if not ALL of AMD's stuff and Dell switches. Its like building the first atomic bomb 4 years after the war is over. I should care why?

[Christian Martin @ Sep 12th 2006 7:36PM]

Do they explode? If not I don't want one.

[Hello Moto @ Sep 12th 2006 7:41PM]

I have to agree with the general group... The wait wasn't of much importance, either way a Dell is a Dell.

But... I think Dell will be sorry, the Core 2 Duo is much better performance/price and Intel has plans to beat AMD for the next genertaion as well (More Speed, more cores). So Dell is probably getting charged huge amounts more from Intel for losing is exscusivity, and they gain chips no one wants anymore in a new computer, nice job Dell!

[Ben @ Sep 12th 2006 8:19PM]

@John Doe
I agree. If Dell had done this while AMD had the performance advantage it would have been something to talk about. Now it doesn't really matter because if you want speed you'll go Core2 or Kentsfield when it gets here.

[RyanTV @ Sep 12th 2006 9:09PM]

the wait may have stated when P4 came out, but it sure as hell ended when the core duo and core 2 duo chips went to market. AMD cant touch them. Bad move Dell, as usual.

[johnp@dell @ Sep 12th 2006 10:01PM]

Will be interesting to revisit this scene after the marketplace begins to have its say.

[Parnassus @ Sep 12th 2006 10:13PM]

It was a business decision taken with the long term in mind - although the Athlon's are nothing to write home about these days in comparison to the Core 2s, AMD is a company on the rise. It might also have something to do with Intel's new relationship with Apple - maybe I'm just being cynical.

[Capacitor @ Sep 12th 2006 11:04PM]

You most of you not know anything. Do you really think AMD is on there way out. AMD held the performance lead for how long yet Intel wasn't finished. Intel may have the chp lead now but I bet it won't take that long for AMD to take the top spot back in performance. I would never buy a Dell before but now if I did atleast I will be able to get an AMD chip.
And "Hello Moto" I would take AMD over Intel anyday like many people. I guess by your reasoning no one wanted Intel chips for the past 2 years.

[foobar @ Sep 12th 2006 11:21PM]

Nice Job Dell..finally!!! Intel is much like the Republican Party and its constituents (Intel Cronies)...they just keep on hyping their failures...go AMD!

[Bruce @ Sep 13th 2006 12:20AM]

I think Intel, right now, is producing about 5% of its output as Core chips. It might be 10. It might be less.

That means 90 - 95% of its output is crappy Netburst based Celerons, 8xx, 9xx and P4's.

Given a choice between an AMD X2 3800+ and 95% of Intels output, only the moron would choose Intel.

Sure, the Core stuff is great. But they don't make much of it. Have you seen the premium Dell puts on a jume from a Conrose E6300 or E6400 to an E6600/6700? Its more expensive than the retail price of the E6600!

Next year, when 25% or more of Intels output is Core, AMD might be in trouble. Except the 65nm output is only 2 months away. Cheaper chips (or more chips per wafer) are on the way.

No wonder Intel is selling off every division it can and laying off 10,000 employees. They are in trouble.

[Ken @ Sep 13th 2006 10:07AM]

No!!! I just ordered a Dell E515 two days ago for my parents, Intel Pentium D 2.66GHz. Had I known that the AMD ones were coming out this week... sigh The other rigs around the house are AMD machines.

[glacia00 @ Sep 13th 2006 11:31AM]

Amazing to see how biases evolve. It wasn't so long ago that half the people here would have been spinning out of control and foaming at the mouth bashing Intel and claiming IBM was the only chip to have. Now the same hyperbolic rants are coming from the same people only now it's Intel vs. AMD.

And the funniest thing is that the people ranting the loudest have never and likely will never own a machine with an AMD processor or Dell machine for that matter.

[Michael Chastain @ Sep 13th 2006 11:54AM]

Yes, Intel now owns the performance crown and that gets our geek underoos all in a bunch. Nobody else cares--it's far more about the price/performance ratio of budget chips. As far as I know, AMD still maintains a lead there.

There are far more machines sold at $500 than $2,000.

[dellsucks @ Sep 13th 2006 1:04PM]

Who cares about FUGLY dell and their crappy AMD processors? Give me Kentsfield and a GOOD overclocking motherboard like Asus. All in a Thermaltake Mozart TX case.

[GrimWulf @ Sep 15th 2006 4:25AM]

@"John Doe"
Where do you get your information from? Certainly not the article posted above. Not from Dell.com. And I can assure you not from any inside Dell source. There is no switch. Dell is offering AMD system's alongside Intel systems. They aren't replacing them. As for your analogy about the atomic bomb? That has got to be the worst I've ever heard.

@Dallas
about 15 seconds @ dell.com shows that a Core 2 Duo system, (the XPS 410 for example) costs $990

@Anyone else
I don't understand the need to bash a company that is expanding its offerings, thus creating more competition in the market and lowering costs of all systems.