Computer Buying: To Dell or Not To Dell

  • Thread starter Thread starter Hex
  • Start date Start date
H

Hex

When I bought my last computer, I picked out the components and had a
store build it for me. I installed the software myself, etc. This time,
I don't have the time or inclination to do it again, so I'd decided to
buy off the shelf. Research showed that the Dell is the most reliable,
which is more important to me than getting the zippiest and latest. I
was ready to buy, then...

I read that a lot of their components are proprietory. Does this mean
that after the 1 year warranty, I won't be able to take the machine
into a local store for repair? Or that I won't be able to add memory or
other peripherals.

Thanks for opinions.

H
 
Hex said:
When I bought my last computer, I picked out the components and had a
store build it for me. I installed the software myself, etc. This time,
I don't have the time or inclination to do it again, so I'd decided to
buy off the shelf. Research showed that the Dell is the most reliable,
which is more important to me than getting the zippiest and latest. I
was ready to buy, then...

I read that a lot of their components are proprietory. Does this mean
that after the 1 year warranty, I won't be able to take the machine
into a local store for repair? Or that I won't be able to add memory or
other peripherals.

Thanks for opinions.

H
Click to expand...
Several years ago Dell used proprietary power supplies, but that is no
longer true for the Dimension line. It has never been the case for
memory or drives. Just be sure to buy a model with expansion
potential, such as the E510/5150 or XPS/9100.
 
Dell, and many other PC makers, have used power supply plugs that are not standard ATA. If you want to install a generic power supply or motherboard on such PCs the plugs will not match.
 
When I bought my last computer, I picked out the components and had a
store build it for me. I installed the software myself, etc. This time,
I don't have the time or inclination to do it again, so I'd decided to
buy off the shelf. Research showed that the Dell is the most reliable,
which is more important to me than getting the zippiest and latest. I
was ready to buy, then...

I read that a lot of their components are proprietory. Does this mean
that after the 1 year warranty, I won't be able to take the machine
into a local store for repair? Or that I won't be able to add memory or
other peripherals.
Click to expand...

As long as you have standard memory slots and card slots I dont think
its that big of a deal. Frankly I dont like prebuilt systems cause Ive
had problems with the case being too cramped, PS being too wimpy or
cheap etc. When I wanted to upgraded anything I usually ended up
dumping the case and replacing the PS and even the motheboard which I
did to a system I bought 6-7 months ago an HP/compaq 3200 AMD 64.
DId that in the past with neighbors systems with emachines and a
Packard bell in the old days.

However thats for people who really want to build systems. I know a
lot of people just dont like the hassles and nowadays there havebeen
so many sales on DELLs and Compaqs and other makes so low sometimes
you really have to want to get your hands dirty and really not mind
the hassles of building and often the higher cost to want to DIY over
a prebuilt.
 
My experience w. Dells is a bit old; the power supplies were
non-standard as were the floppy drives (mechanically, not
electronically). Perhaps, CD-DVD drives are similarly odd-shaped in
order to fit in stylized cases. I don't know whether MB's were/are
odd-shaped. HDs, memory, video, sound and enet cards, when not built
into the MB, were all generally standard and replaceable.
 
When I bought my last computer, I picked out the components and had a
store build it for me. I installed the software myself, etc. This time,
I don't have the time or inclination to do it again, so I'd decided to
buy off the shelf. Research showed that the Dell is the most reliable,
which is more important to me than getting the zippiest and latest. I
was ready to buy, then...

I read that a lot of their components are proprietory. Does this mean
that after the 1 year warranty, I won't be able to take the machine
into a local store for repair? Or that I won't be able to add memory or
other peripherals.

Thanks for opinions.

H
Click to expand...


It depends on which model you buy. The small form factor
units are the worst, but the midtower and larger are
reasonably standard... though if possible you should
determine what the inside looks like, compare the case
itself to a standard ATX.

On the midtower units the power supply is standard, but
supposing the motherboard went out, you either have to buy
another of similar/same from Dell at high cost or you lose
your software, maybe... depends on whether it is an
all-inclusive factor software restoration image or the
better alternative, separate discs for OEM Windows and other
installable software. The latter is a MUCH better option,
would be a basic requirement I would recommend to anyone I
knew who considered an OEM system.

Adding memory is no problem, but significant addition of
other peripherals can be. They use reasonable quality power
supplies but not much wattage margin, adding a new gaming
video card for example may be a problem. The cooling is
also tailored for only what ships in the system, a moderate
video card addition/upgrade or adding a 2nd/3rd hard drive
may result in those parts or system as a whole running a
little hotter... sometimes too much so, but too many
variables involved to easily predict if it is enough to be
problematic.

If you are content with the initial configuration of the
Dell OEM system and don't plan on any upgrades except
possibly a PCI card or upgrading memory, they can be a
reasonable option for some people. If you plan to
extensively upgrade the system at any time, even 3 years
later to upgrade motherboard/CPU/video/etc, it would be
better to avoid OEM systems.
 
Back
Top