To those who have been following my less than technical travails and offering me advice in purchasing a new Dell PC strong enough to run MS Flight Simulator here is an update:

I finally got the Inspiron 530s PC, printer, and graphics card off to Dell. It will take a few weeks for them to credit my account.

They have an Inspiron 518 on sale but with the things I think I want, (not yet the XFX GeForcese9500, 1g graphics card ($100.00), I got the price up to about $1200 with the graphics card.. That is too much for me and I have to try to shave 3/4 hundred off the price. I figured this on their web site, I haven't yet talked to anyone.

I opted for the 500g hard drive, but would 350 be enough?
I opted for the 4g RAM.
Of course the 64bit.
I do want the XFX GeForce 9500, 1g graphics card, add $100.
Vistas Home Premium.
Office 2007. (Does this include Works or Word?) I need to be able to write letters and make labels.
Floppy Drive as I have about 600 floppies I would like to burn to disc. (Or, would it be cheaper to buy an external floppie drive at a PC store?)
What kind of cd-dvd player & burner do I need?
I am not into other game, other than Flight Simulator which is a long slow d/l which uses beaucoup space.
I am also not into much photography or home movies and I am bot interested in seeing movies on the PC or connected to the TV.

Any ideas as to how to bring the price down using only the things I need and no superfluous stuff?

I will probable call them next week to see what they can up with

Thanks again for all your help.

Firstly I wouldn't buy a dell if you held a gun to my head. It would take me a year to explain what all I have against them but trust me no dell!

Now onto your system specs your looking at id say for the average user a 120 gig hard drive would be fine but it would actually be easier to find a 200gig for cheaper than a 120 gig with the way prices have fallen. I doubt you will ever use all of a 200 gig hard drive but even if you did, by the time you needed a new one you could probably get a 500 gig for 60$, and that is a very easy installation even for someone with 0 experience. So yes a 350 gig is fine. As far as space goes. Now another concern for hard drives is not just what how much they hold but how fast they run. But considering your main goal for this PC I wouldn't worry about that too much either.

Also before buying a Vista PC ensure that the main software you are running on it is vista compatible. Their have been a lot of headaches over that, so just Google search "bla software vista compatibility" to ensure you don't get screwed.

Also in all honesty you should really try to find a local tech to just build you a PC or on the flip side search eBay, there are several big sellers that build custom performance PC's at a good price. The reason I recommend this is that you will get a better PC cheaper than by buying a dell or any other pre-made system.

Any of your thoughts or questions are welcomed :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by darkvision

firstly i wouldnt buy a dell if you held a gun to my head. it would take me a year to explain what all i have against them but trust me no dell!

now onto your system specs your looking at id say for the average user a 120 gig hard drive would be fine but it would actually be easier to find a 200gig for cheaper than a 120 gig with the way prices have fallen. i doubt you will ever use all of a 200 gig hard drive but even if you did, by the time you needed a new one you could probably get a 500 gig for 60$, and that is a very easy installation even for someone with 0 experience. so yes a 350 gig is fine. as far as space goes. now another concern for hard drives is not just what how much they hold but how fast they run. but considering your main goal for this PC i wouldnt worry about that to much either.

Also before buying a Vista PC ensure that the main software you are running on it is vista compatible. their have been a lot of headaches over that, so just google search "bla software vista compatibility" to ensure you dont get screwed.

also in all honesty you should really try to find a local tech to just build you a PC or on the flip side search eBay, their are several big sellers that build custom performance PC's at a good price. the reason i recommend this is that you will get a better PC cheaper than by buying a dell or any other pre-made system.

any of your thoughts or questions are welcomed :)

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I have to buy a Dell because they are the only ones to extend me credit. Plus, I sent the Inspiron 530s back to them after 3 weeks because it didn't meet my needs and they will
Credit me for that. So I am stuck with ell.

Ouch. Well I would advise smallest hard drive available(again easy and cheap to upgrade) and 2 gigs of ram instead of 4(should still run fine, and can be easily upgraded).

I have been supporting about 1,000 Dells in the workplace and have good reviews. We have certainly had our fair share of certain models that were busts but that was just a few particular models and if someone's entire experience with Dell was one of the bad apples, I can certainly understand their misery and the bad taste they have for them.

All-in-all, they are pretty good units, both their servers and their PC's. I would not purchase their switching gear or printers over Cisco, HP, etc. but PC's and servers, OK.

As far as where you want to put your money, I would save the amount of memory as the LAST thing to save money on. Especially with Vista. Memory is more important than the next faster CPU or bigger hard drive, etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chuckhole

I have been supporting about 1,000 Dells in the workplace and have good reviews. We have certainly had our fair share of certain models that were busts but that was just a few particular models and if someones entire experience with Dell was one of the bad apples, I can certainly understand their misery and the bad taste they have for them.

All-in-all, they are pretty good units, both their servers and their PC's. I would not purchase their switching gear or printers over Cisco, HP, etc. but PC's and servers, OK.

As far as where you want to put your money, I would save the amount of memory as the LAST thing to save money on. Especially with Vista. Memory is more important than the next faster CPU or bigger hard drive, etc.

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My problems with dell(in small detail) is not just their "bad" models(GX270 anyone?). But that they use even on their high end products consistently 3rd rate products and manufactures. Their case design is consistently cheap and flimsy, and they over charge more than most other stock PC companys(ive done multiple studies on this and could easily do it again if the site would like an in depth review). Also my work space was on board a US naval ship with over 1000 pcs, about 100 thin clients as well as several other systems I won't get into detail on. On top of that, server wise design/upgradability is poor. Up time is horrible, and again generally are over priced. Obviously this user is stuck getting one, and he may never have a major hardware issue(hopefully, but its more of a fools hope).

As to the ram, yes it is important, but vista can easily be ramped down, and for his limited financial budget, its something easy to pick up later and install himself at a better price than dell will ever give him. Heck if he really wants 4 gigs or even needs it, its still by far cheaper to still get 2 with the system, and buy an additional 2 gigs from a place like newegg, even with the additional shipping. More importantly than even that, again dell uses consistently bad/not optimal products in their equipment. He could get an additional 2 gigs of corsair ram with heat spreaders cheaper than he could with stock 3rd rate ram from dell. If he was willing to wait a month or 2 he could probably find a even better deal and get 4 gigs of similar high end ram for the price of the 2 additional gigs from dell and replace the 2 already in it for even superior performance.


Oh decided since some on this site like "confirming information" to add 2 more gigs to that system it costs 75$(no heat spreader and who knows what kind of cas lat)

The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

For that price from dell itself.

Now for the newegg price.
Newegg.com - CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
44.99 with free shiping(to most states) AND a 25$ mail in rebate so end cost is 20$ for 4 gigs of superior ram. AND if his bored has 4 slots(most towers do) and it supports 8 gigs of ram(most newer mobo's do) he could get 8 gigs of ram and STILL be cheaper than 4 gigs from dell(after the mail in rebates which tend to take a few months)