Dell rolls out Studio Desktop, Studio Slim

It looks like those thrown off by Dell's curvy Studio Hybrid desktop now have some more familiar boxy options to consider, as the company has just rounded out its Studio line with its new Studio Desktop (MT) and Studio Slim (ST) models. From the looks of it, the two boast many of the same specs, including your choice of Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad processors, up to 8GB of RAM, integrated 7.1 audio, optional Blu-ray drives, and optional discrete ATI graphics if the usual integrated fare isn't enough for you. The big advantage of the Studio Desktop, as you might have guessed, is greater expandability, including an extra 5.25-inch drive bay and a beefier 350W power supply (compared to just 250W on the Studio Slim). Prices start at $549 for each and both are available to order right now.

[Via DesktopReview.com, thanks Mark]

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:46PM]

Studio Slim = Vostro 200s + Shiny

[Chris Anderson @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:07PM]

Exactly what i was gonna say! these are just friggin' shiny Vostros!
Nice job, Dell...what slacker was hired to do this amazing new design?

[MadMike @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:46PM]

May make a decent linux box.

[Lax G @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:52PM]

thats exactly what i use one for :D

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:34PM]

Why in the world would this make a "decent Linux box" as opposed to any of the other trillion similarly spec'ed PCs out there? Or do you just say that on every article involving any sort of low end / midrange PC?

[MadMike @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:36PM]

I was commenting more on the $550 price tag. And mainly because I am contemplating picking up a cheapo box for a little debian action.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:01PM]

@MadMike

In that case, there's a ton of brand new PCs retailing at under $300 that would make even better Linux boxes.

[Mike @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:50PM]

Studio Desktop = Inspiron 530 + Black

[atbnet @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:02PM]

The only difference I see between them is the color and 8GB of RAM capacity for about double the price? There must be something different?

[atbnet @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:14PM]

Nevermind, once you start configuring them similarly the Studio Slim is cheaper. The 530s is better if you just want the base specs.

[jorvay @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:45PM]

Specs and lack of HDMI or digital audio output on Inspiron.

[jorvay @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:56PM]

I was just thinking the other day: I wonder if dell could make a cheaper alternative to the studio hybrid with the same functionality, but more affordable desktop components...
Turns out they can...except that it's not actually more affordable.

[atbnet @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:07PM]

As far as I can tell, the Inspiron 530s is the exact same machine except for $279, it is just silver instead of black.

[jorvay @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:22PM]

Only one catch: no HDMI or digital audio outputs. I want something cheap to use as a HTPC, but the inspirons are lacking in key areas.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:36PM]

@Balls

I've tried HDMI on my Dell Vostro. It lacks the motherboard necessary to connect HDMI properly. So, the Inspiron is probably no different.

[inno8sky @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:14PM]

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Quad processor Q9550 (12MB L2, 2.83GHz, 1333FSB)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium ion SP1, 64-Bit
MONITOR 24 inch E248WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel
MEMORY 8GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4DIMMs
HARD DRIVE 1TB -7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 36MB Cache
OPTICAL DRIVE Blu-ray Disc (BD) Burner (Writes to DVD/CD/BD)
VIDEO CARD ATI Radeon HD 3450 256MB supporting HDMI
SOUND Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
KEYBOARD & MOUSE Dell Consumer Multimedia Keyboard
MODEM No Modem Option

My Software & Accessories
SPEAKERS No Speaker Option
ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 30-Days
OFFICE SOFTWARE Microsoft Works 9.0
My Service
WARRANTY & SERVICE 1Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis


ALSO INCLUDED WITH YOUR SYSTEM
MEDIA READER Integrated 16-in-1 Media Card Reader
Mouse Dell Premium Optical USB Mouse
Adobe Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0 Multi-Language
Network Card Integrated 10/1000 Ethernet
Labels Windows Vista™ Premium
DATASAFE ONLINE BACKUP No DataSafe

for just under 2K how is this expensive.. Apple users would give their left nut for a machine this equipped for this little dough..

[phanbouy @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:31PM]

dude, you're faded

[iofthestorm @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:36PM]

Radeon 3450=fail for gaming.

[Jay Evans @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:54PM]

That's about all they have left after paying an arm and a leg for their present Mac.

[Joseph @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:13PM]

I wasn't into it, but then you posted:
Adobe Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0 Multi-Language

[Samboini @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:35PM]

Wank-worthy.

[phanbouy @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:20PM]

ergo you're a wanker?

[Samboini @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:32PM]

Aren't we all? 99% of readers on here would agree in thinking you're a wanker!

Zing!

[disciple83 @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:35PM]

I just got out of a chat with a sales rep, if you wish to save cash on the machine and leave the integrated video onboard to use your own video card later, that's not an option, the integrated motherboards ship without a video card slot. That was genuinely a deal breaker for me too.

[L.Rawlins @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:42PM]

Useful insight. Thank you.

[JR @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:15PM]

Wow, no pci-e slot on a new desktop? That's a dick move, if ever there was one. I thought desktops almost always had a dedicated graphics card port.

[disciple83 @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:25PM]

well, when I asked, I asked if I could but a higher-end video card than what they were selling on it, (I have a Radeon 4850 HD PCI-E 16X card, the max they offer is a 3450HD), and she said there wouldn't be a slot for that card. There may be a 1x slot, but what can you do with that these days? You can't put a video card in it and expect it to be an upgrade anyway, I wouldn't even trust that slot for a sound card or even a tuner. I find them to be completely useless.

[k2001 @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:11PM]

there is definitely a pci-e 16, but there is no 6-pin for power connector.(no sure about the power connector)

[soulsaber @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:10PM]

Studio XPS 13 please!

[pizzaman @ Sep 24th 2008 1:39AM]

+1 man
i am waiting for this little one too.
supposed to ship in november.
we ll just have to wait

[Conrad @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:55PM]

At least it's a nice case even if it's just a shiny vostro one. I've never been a fan of Dell's cases, but these and the vostros are ok

[Cory W. @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:15PM]

This is a nice update from the current Inspiron 530/530s systems, which use the G33 chipset (which does support 8gb of ram, and is not a bad chipset, especially if you intend to pop in discrete graphics anyway.) These new systems use the G45 chipset, and of course, are shiny.

[barney mc fly @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:28PM]

Wow...no DVI.

[Jk @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:37PM]

Spoke to a rep and he said that they will be able to add graphics cards aftermarket. Don't know what previous poster was on about.

I highly doubt dell would ship 2 different motherboards with their units, there'd be significant cost differences in doing so.

[richardg @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:10PM]

it has a pcie16 and is more than capable of the 4850

[richardg @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:12PM]

oh ya im a dell rep

[Ponderer @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:12PM]

The 350W power supply has a 6 pin power adapter. It will take up to a 150W graphics card. (of course it has a PCIe x16 slot).

Both the MT and ST have native HDMI = DVI if you want it via HDMI to DVI dongle. Though you can also get DVI through a discrete graphics upsell.

Over the 530 you also get native 1394 (not an add in card), and the G45 chipset supports HDCP so you have native Blu-ray support. But wait, there's more. It also has a built in media card reader.

[Ponderer @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:43PM]

But wait... eSATA too!

Read the review guys. A lot of this stuff is in there.

[Andrew @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:12PM]

it looks like the inspiron and the vostro... Wow dell where's the creativity

[Dave @ Sep 25th 2008 7:01AM]

Although it looks like a Vostro or an Inspiron the inside, for the price, is different.
Your base is an Core 2 E7200 processor, 3gigs of RAM, 360gig hdd, vista home premium, an onboard video chip that supports DX10, hdmi support and a 350watt power supply. That my friends is the base model. Vostro and Inspiron does not offer this at all.

I don't know about the US, but in Canada, 549$ for this is a decent price. CPU and powersupply wise, most computers at that price only offer half the cpu power or a 250watts power supply.

[Dave @ Sep 25th 2008 7:07AM]

There is a PCI-E x16 slot inside. Don't get mixed with the 518 model!

[Ponderer @ Sep 25th 2008 3:49PM]

Uh Dave... The Inspiron 518 has a PCIe x16 slot too. All of the current "standard" Dell desktops have a PCIe x16 slot.

[Dave @ Sep 25th 2008 7:16PM]

Not according to the specs on Dell's site...

PCI: 1 Slot
PCIe x1: 2 Slots
Back: line-in, line-out, microphone, rear surround, side surround

[drpenicilin @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:32PM]

I want to know if I can plug a new Intel WiFi Draft-N Link 5300 PCIe card to a Desktop Studio Slim 540s and it its 250W PSU has a 6-pin power connector so I can use a Galaxy 9600GT low profile.

[Jameos @ Nov 25th 2008 11:29AM]

I bought the Studio MT on 11/21/2008 and have so far been extremely pleased.

I did swap out the 350w PSU with an Antec 650w (YES Dell, you CAN do this.)

Will be upgrading the video card soon too. Otherwise, the thing is a workhorse...highly recommended!

[Joe @ Jan 8th 2009 11:14PM]

Any chance the 250w PSU on the Slim can be swapped out for a 350w?

I have a Slim on the way and a 3rd-party low-profile graphics card that calls for a 350w, even though some reviews have said that it will run with 250w. If I can get it to run on just 250w, fine, but if I have the option, I'd rather boost the power.

(A Dell rep claims that there "might" be some available PSUs out there, but he seemed to go out of his way to discourage me.)