Sure, it's a bit short on surprises, thanks to a couple of
detailed leaks in
recent months, but the Dell XPS 420 is now prepped for your ordering pleasure on Dell's online store. Prices start at $1,499, which will get you a fairly specced system and a 20-inch LCD. Other perks in the base system include a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, a 13-in-1 card reader,
SideShow and an option for an "Xcelerator" to speed up video encoding, but on the traditional specs it's pretty firmly middle of the road: Vista Home Premium, 2GB of RAM, Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 processor and 256MB Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT for graphics. But hey, who needs muscle when you've got SideShow?
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted Oct 23rd 2007 10:30AM
I kinda dig that integrated LCD on top of the case.
I was eyeballing that myself ... wish they had a cover for all those ports on the front though =/
I wish it was an open standard so other companies could write interfaces for it... (you know, like the G15)
This has got to be one of the ugliest looking PC in this millennium.
Of course, this says nothing of its awesome (hopefully) performance.
Looks pretty sweet, but only offered with Vista installed. Deal breaker.
It would be pretty foolish to try to sell a DX9 gaming rig these days.
X38 Chipset according to Dell.com! Cool! Can it be overclocked tho???
No, They always use custom BIOSes that do not allow overclocking, especially now that they have a PC where one of its main selling points is overclocking, theres no way they are gonna let you do it.
HOWEVER, sometimes it turns out that you can flash the BIOS on the motherboard with a retail BIOS of whatever modified board it originally was. Which gets you overclocking :P I wouldn't count on it though.
What happened to the cablecard Dell desktop computers?
I talked to a Dell sales support guy, and apparently they were having trouble with the guys who do the DRM certification (Cable Labs, or something?). Anyway he said it should be cleared up by the end of the month (October). This wasn't a particularly high-level guy, so I wouldn't bet money on it, but straight from the horse's mouth...
Those front video ports look pretty handy, and that Sideshow LCD will hopefully catch on.
HD2600XT??? They must be rocking a reasonable PSU (for once). My current machine couldn't handle the requirements for the HD2600XT, so I had to trade UP for an XFX GeForce 8600 GTS XXX....which amazingly uses less power than the lower spec'd HD2600XT (but isn't ATI, so sad panda).
Did Dell design this computer is for stoners and burners?
That's what I was wondering too....
Crap, does this mean the "Dude! You're getting a Dell!" guy will be making a comeback?
hehehe, 420, man.
'ere...
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.
You know, I am getting to old for a computer that is not QUIET. Does anyone know if Dell has taken any steps to quiet these things down?
- Roger
Well, they're talking about it:
http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/10/19/31928.aspx
I have an XPS 700 at home and it's pretty quiet because of the enormous case. The 720H2C is even quieter if you can afford to spend the $5k. The Precision Workstation I have at work is also quiet, but I can hear the disks chugging along sometimes.
There are plenty of manufacturers out there that build silent systems. I know Falcon PC offers liquid cooling. To be honest your best bet is probably to build, though :) More bang for your buck.
I work at a Dell Direct Store kiosk in Pittsburgh
@Nick: The PSU is 375 W (standard), 425 W (optional)
@Mobius_1: Shibathedog is right, but Dell does have some systems that are overclocked from the factory
Wonders how that would work then....since a HD2600XT requires AT A MINIMUM a 450 watt PSU. And if you have anything else in the case past the basic single hard disk and optical drive, you definately need more.
P.S. the PSU requirements for that card are from ATI itself...minimum requirements are right on the side of the box along with "recommended" requirements which call for even more.
The HD2600XT only consumes 47W. It'll do just fine with the supplied PSU. See: http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=2&c=7&t=9354&p=0
Now, if you wanted to put a HD 2900 XL in the box, you may have a problem as it consumes 180W!! You could probably even run an 8800GTS (103W) in the box. I mean, the other components really don't consume that much energy.
Mobo (under 50W)
E6750 (~50W)
2Gb Ram (10W)
HDD (25W)
DVD Burner (~30W)
Fans/Controller/USB devices (max 50W)
That leaves an extra 160W in the regular PSU available, enough for even an 8800 Ultra.
Look at me... I'm running a !180W! PSU (HP Slimline) with an E6600, 7600GS OC'd to 525/463(926), 2x1GB PC2-667, DVD Burner, WiFi PCI card, Card reader, 160GB SATA300 HDD. Everything runs perfectly.
Why are they showing off Adobe Soundbooth on the screen?
Hey, I'm only passing what ATI technical support passed on to me. The card may only consume that much wattage, but it still "requires" a 450 watt PSU to boot up. Not completely sure why, but it just does.
That's from ATI, and myself when my 500 watt PSU with a HD tuner card, Audigy 4, 2 HD, 2 optical drive machine wouldn't power up with that card (and the same card when I was concerned I just got a bad card and traded in for the same card), but worked fine with a x1650xt and my current 8600GTS XXX (which have a lower minimum PSU requirement).
The packaging/manual for the 2600xt states a 450 watt minimum, and ATI tech support backed that up.
My comment was on how Dell was getting around this apparent shortcoming with their stock PSU's.
Perhaps your PSU is overrated, as many, if not most, are. Even with all your specs, your computer should be able to run that card just fine. I mean, my low profile MSI 7600gs states a minimum 350W PSU (400W recommended) yet my 180W PSU runs that card perfectly, and then some (OC). It seems that HP provides good PSUs.
Regardless, you're right about ATI cards. Their energy consumption/performance ratio is worse than nVidia cards.
Dude, the HD2600XT does not have an external 6pin connector. It draws all its power from the PCI Express connector and that only supplies a maximum of 75w. Go and check the pictures for yourself if you don't believe me.
@Wilky
Dude, what part of the fact that I installed that card TWICE did you not get??? I know it doesn't use a six pin external power connector. It's supposed to pull all its power draw through the PCI-E bus, but it STILL REQUIRES A 450 watt psu according to the specs. Oh yeah, I do this for a living too.
Honest to god....does anyone actually read comments before responding to them anymore???
Mate, we understand you can read the recommendation on a box. Big Deal. I couldn't care less if you built a million PC's using this card, I am talking about BASIC MATH.
The fact of the matter is that the card can only take a MAX of 75watts through the PCI Express interface. What part of that don't you understand. If you put it in a system that only uses 200watts (peak) then you will STILL have 25watt headroom if you have a 300watt PSU. And that is this card draws the full 75watt available. It does not require a 450 watt PSU in this case. Basic math.
If you are still insisting it REQUIRES a 450watt PSU can you explain exactly how the graphic card knows what PSU you have when it can only draw a max of 75wat through its bus? Hmm? If your system is running 280watt max load with a 350watt PSU, how does the HD2600XT somehow know this, and say "hey, you're not running a 450watt PSU like I said, I know I only need 75watt myself, but this just isn't on old chap. I'm refusing to work in conditions like this, until you install a 450watt PSU, and I will know, it says so on the side of my box..."
Methinks that someone is forgetting the power input directly on the video card. It may be true that you can only pull 75W off the PCI-E bus, but there's plenty of juice in a connection straight to the PSU.
Additionaly, we're assuming Dell buys retail graphics cards - not the case at all. Dell has custom made cards that require less power than OEM solutions.
Can anyone tell me if they are offering a small business clone???
Something like the old 410/9200 offerings?
I got the XPS 420 on my desk right here with a Logitec Z-5400
specs 3.0 guad 8 mb bus and 1.333 thingy
1Tb space
2x blue ray
24 inch monitor
764 mb nvidea x8800 GTX
and some other stuff
Trust me its worth the 4.2k It is the best pc quality and designe from this year and the coming 2 I guess! Its great and about the LCD screen. It isnt really usefull but it looks neet. You can put on some wmp thingies and some mailcheck things but not very usefull if u ask me. But still it looks nice.
Mail me if you would like some pictures!
"himsilf@hotmail.com"
gr Pieter Buisman