Dell Xps 720 - Opinions please

meathman 007

Ok, i started a thread on here looking for advice in building my own pc - basically ive abandoned that idea due to lack of time, knowledge and the absence of an all in one warranty.

So the Dell XPS 720 has caught my eye - ive bought pcs off dell a few times before and im quite happy to use them again tbh.

Ok heres the spec:

Components:

PROCESSOR: Intel® Core™ 2 Quad-Core Processor Q6600 (2.40GHz, 1066MHz, 8MB cache)

OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium OR Xp Media Center 2005

HARDWARE SUPPORT: Base Warranty - 1 Year XPS Premium Hardware Support (incl. Gaming and On-Site Support)

MEMORY: 2048MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024

HARD DRIVE:1TB Serial ATA RAID 0 Stripe 2x500GB 7200rpm drives with DataBurst cache

OPTICAL DRIVE:16X DVD+/-RW Drive

GRAPHICS CARD: Dual 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT cards OR 768mb 8800 gtx for 83 euro more

Accessories

SOUND CARD: Integrated HDA 7.1 Dolby Digital Audio

KEYBOARD: Dell™ Enhanced USB Multimedia Keyboard -

MOUSE: Dell Optical Scroll Premium Mouse

FLOPPY/MEDIA DRIVES: 19-in-1 Media Card reader with Bluetooth


Total price using Dell Epp - 1462 euro - now i would be using a 10% code (id wait if there is none available at the minute) to bring the grand total to 1316 euro

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?cs=ieepp1&kc=305&oc=D027206&x=0&y=0


In terms of spec, there are 2 main dilemas:

1. Whether to go with Vista for the first time or stick with XP which i love - the only reason im half considering vista, is that i think all new Dell Pcs will be shipping Vista Service Pack 1 from this week onwards - maybe that has sorted a lot of its problems?

2. Go for the Dual 8800gt cards or pay 83 euro extra and get a single 8800 gtx card

Added to the above spec would be:

Dell 2407 monitor with soundbar
External 500gb hardrive


Any input appreciated...

Sqaull20

System spec is class,all the xps 700 series can be overclocked too

The 8800 GT is a phenominal card! It runs much cooler and uses less power than the GTX, but it's not quite as powerful...

A single 8800GT is only about 10-15% slower than a 8800GTX, two of them should be a nice bit faster in games that scale well, plus 2 8800gt's = €440, 1 8800gtx = €330....

Vista is great, if you have the right hardware like you do, you will find it much better than Xp imo, especially with the service pack coming out......

The dell machine works out good value imo

meathman 007

good advice as usual Sqaull20 thanks:

Ah im still very undecided about the os - ive read microsoft will be releasing a new os next year so i was thinking of just sticking with xp and passing vista by - tbh i have no problem with xp at all

So you reckon getting the dual 8800gt are the way to go?

I like the idea of getting a dell because i have found there support excellent and if i can find a 10% discount code, i think the price is excellent.....

Sqaull20

Dual 8800gt are definitely the way to go....

Microsoft might release a new os in the next year or two, but it wont be to replace Vista imo, Vista is only a year old and once support for Xp finishes next year and all the major software companies get nudged to go Vista exclusives by microsoft people will be have no choice but to go Vista....

You should have a look at Komplett pc builder too, they have began to get competitive again and offer a 3 year warranty....

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ci.aspx?sku=10206

Komplett Intel Gamer

PC box
Gigabyte Triton 180 Black
OCZ GameXStream Powersupply ATX/EPS,
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P, P35, Socket-775,
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
Corsair TWIN2X 6400C5DHX DDR2, 2048MB
Gigabyte GeForce 8400GS 256MB DDR2,
Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB SATA2
Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB SATA2
NEC DVD±RW burner AD-7200A, IDE,
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Eng

Total: 991.05

Then add a graphics card or 2