Dell makes Core 2 Quad Q9300, Q9450 available in XPS 420

So, we hear you're edging ever closer to pulling the trigger on a shiny new XPS 420, huh? Lucky you, as it looks like Dell just opened up your options. While the only processor choices on the XPS 630 are the E8500 and the absurdly expensive QX6850 (it's an $850 addition), the XPS 420 now has a half dozen CPUs to pick from. Most notably, users can now get their rig equipped with a Core 2 Quad Q9300 / Q9450, both of which provide much more oomph than the baseline chips while not forcing you to refinance your home and pick the QX9650. So, when can the aforesaid 630 expect similar selections?

[Thanks, Evan]

[Mark Stock @ May 9th 2008 1:46PM]

Just last night, I mentioned the recall of older Dell laptops because of the intel processors running too hot. And Dell is not the only laptop that suffers from using this type of processor.

Let me know when we really get to choose:
[ ] noisy, over-priced, high power consumption, slow, legacy intel chip
[x] AMD
[x] Arm
[x] low cost commodity, low power consumption, massively parallel chips

[UKNigel @ May 9th 2008 2:47PM]

Yeah, those darn CPUs sure make a lot of noise, what with those electrons flowing through and all.

[Jake @ May 9th 2008 4:56PM]

Mark, are you talking about an actual recall, or you think Dell should do a recall? If the former, where's the link? I have an Inspiron 8500 that runs at 65-70C since Day 1 though I've complained plenty.

-jp

[Greg @ May 9th 2008 2:00PM]

XPS 420?
How many stoners will be interested in this?

[James Tusick @ May 9th 2008 2:01PM]

Woo XPS 420, The PC of stoners!

[Abuzar @ May 9th 2008 4:25PM]

Original...

[SirWalksAlot @ May 9th 2008 2:07PM]

I'm no stoner but I ordered one today (Q6600). I simply do not have time in my life to build a computer and research parts the way it would be done justice. And I desperately needed a new machine (motherboard failure). Seems like a good deal to me.

[Rob @ May 9th 2008 4:01PM]

I was playing around a 420 at BestBuy the other day. It's a nice machine, really quiet, easy access etc... reasonably priced too.

It's just too bad one cannot order it with Vista 64 as Dell, I was told, only supports 32bit Vista. HP and Acer seem to be pushing 64 bit Vista; why not Dell?

[alwaysru @ May 9th 2008 8:30PM]

Still a lot of issues with compatibility with programs under 64 bit is the main reason. Still, if you're looking for 64 bit... check out http://blogs.technet.com/keithcombs/archive/2007/12/15/dell-xps-420-first-impressions.aspx

That guy got it working just fine.

[Rob @ May 9th 2008 11:34PM]

Thanks for the link alwaysru. Interesting read.

I was under the impression that, 3rd party driver availability issues aside, all 32bit applications run fine under Vista 64. Also with RAM being so cheap these days, it seems 64bit is the way to go to use 4+ GB of ram.

I just found it interesting that out of all the major OEMs Dell is the only one that doesn't support Vista 64. Why is that when HP, Acer et al are supporting Vista 64?

[Bored@Home @ May 10th 2008 11:06AM]

http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/precn_64bit?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&~ck=anavml

[Rob @ May 10th 2008 3:33PM]

Thanks for the link bored@home.

The Dell Precision workstations do support Vista 64 but they're very pricey and the configurations are not really consumer friendly. I may be wrong but I read somewhere that Quadro video cards are not optimized for gaming and are generally more expensive than their mainstream counterparts.

Plus these boxes are ugly. The XPS420 in comparison is quite easy on the eyes, especially with that side-show LCD on the top-front part of the case. The 420 case also has a one-handed (super easy) case opening mechanism which is quite impressive.

I still find it strange that Dell's whole consumer line including XPS doesn't offer/support Vista 64, while the competition has Vista 64 pretty well covered.

[Chris @ May 9th 2008 7:32PM]

I hope they make these new CPUs make it to the XPS 630 soon, that's the only thing keeping me from getting one.

[Kip HT @ May 9th 2008 10:57PM]

Can someone explain to me how this is the "PC for stoners?" My friends mum just bought one the other day.

Damn

[UKNigel @ May 9th 2008 11:41PM]

Because it's the "420". See the wikipedia article entitled "420 (cannabis culture)"

[Richard @ May 10th 2008 1:57AM]

I just want the next XPS 17** laptop to have a quad core option then I will bite, got the cash just give me the product.

[Matt @ May 18th 2008 8:16AM]

I just ordered an XPS 420 with the Q9450 and a Geforce 8800GT as it was the best option for gaming. I also got the entry 24" monitor, 4GB 800mhz RAM, 750GB HDD and Xcellerator huapage tv tuner. I've only got 4 days left till it gets here so I will post my first impressions on it. Haven't found too much about overclocking the 420's yet but I'd like to see if I can get it to around 3.0 - 3.2 ghz safely and without voiding the warranty. If anyone has any info on how to OC this rig without voiding the warranty please post asap.

[88-ie @ May 23rd 2008 2:43AM]

NEW INTEL CPU'S ARE INNEFICIENT

simple, they drain you $100's more on your yearly
electric bill, and theyre horrible for global warming.
The lowest TDP intel cpu is 65 watts, via can make desktop
cpus that consume as little as 1 watt@ 500mhz wich
is fast enough for any moNster graphics game given you have a fast
drive, since the HDD and pagefile determines
SMOOTHNESS OF PLAY .

via kicks intels ass on most fronts especially in Efficiency and quality.heat is what burns cpu clocks and cooks people, a room heater. high frequency and high wattage is a total waste of Efficiency perfomance and a waste of your money on your power bill and plus, when your cpus is over 40 watts you need a loud fan that squeals,like a hairdryer, this isnt crafty cpu construction, its powerwasting and microwave central room heating! and, its an environmental enemy, no computer processor should should have a higher TDP than 12 to 15 watts under full load and should all be small form factor or else its an inneficient
power and money waster.

right now intel crystal processors are
microwave room heaters that drain your
power bill over $100s of dollars yearly.

intel chips and asus boards's really need to lower
their useless money wasting power over-consumption
and should really look to via for creative inspiration
on efficiency and performance.