What is the speed difference?

[Curious]

I am still looking at purchasing a inexpensive replacement to my desktop. For the price difference of about $150 ($1050 vs $1200), the differences I would have between my configuration of a Dell Dimension 4600 and 8300 is the motherboard (i865 vs i875), RAM speed (333MHz vs 400MHz, both at 1GB), and processor speed (3.06GHz with 533MHz FSB vs 3.0GHz with 800MHz FSB with HT). Each of these devices will have 120GB SATA HD, an NVidia GeoForce 128MB graphics card, Sound Audigy 2 with IEEE, and the same software. For my purposes (websurfing, home video editing, word processor, low graphics gaming), what is the speed differences between these two machines? Would the speed difference warrant spending the extra $150 or is that a waste of time? I recall last month that I was able to configure the Dimension 8300 with the exact same specs for $1100 (I realize in this business that there is never a deal too good it will never come around again). What is the better deal or should I be looking elsewhere for the price range I have? Thanks for your input.

[bachviet]

I don't know the speed difference is but the 3.0Ghz/800Mhz is faster than the 3.06Ghz/533Mhz. I suggest you to get the lowest model and do the upgrade yourself except upgrade the video card to R9800Pro ($140 only). The R9800Pro is much better for video editing than the FX5200 (POS). I bought my Dimension 8300 (3.0Ghz/256MB RAM/40GB HD/R9800Pro video card) two weeks ago for $710 after MIR and 15% off coupon.

[Curious]

I thought about upgrading a few of the components myself (such as the RAM, but they use both slots). If I do upgrade the components, wouldn't that void the warranty? Further, I wanted both a DVD +/- RW drive and a DVD ROM drive too. With all the configuration, the price I arrived at was the stated prices above.

I wanted to get the ATI video card, but the cost kept creeping up. Aside from speed, what other features does the ATI card have that are better than the GeoForce card? In what respects does the ATI card fair better for video editing?

Thanks for the help. I'm a bit clueless when it comes to hardware comparison.

[Curious]

In terms of speed, it sounds like it would be worth waiting for the price to hover around $1100 again. It's too bad that Dell is charging tax in California. It would probably spark me to get that ATI video card. As far as I can tell, the video editing of home movies would probably be the major function that would benefit most from getting the 8300 vs the 4600. I'm figuring that the other functions that I listed above would not be significantly affected by the boost in speed since they are not CPU intensive (I think).

By the way, with the RAM running at 400MHz vs 333MHz, how does that compare to the PC 3200 vs PC 2700? Are they the same with different names?

[Curious]

In an effort to save some money, how much RAM is sufficient (as opposed what one would want) to run XP and a few programs? For instance, I'm on Win 98SE running only 256MB PC100 RAM. My system resources are at 30% when I start my computer. Given this, I wanted to get 1024MB of RAM. I have often read that the more, the better. Is 512MB sufficient? How many slots does the Intel 875 and 865 boards have for RAM? If Dell uses all the slots, it would seem that it would be more cost effective to get more RAM now rather than later.

Sorry for so many questions. But thanks. Answers to these basic question would help me form a plan for purchase.

[Jeffbx]

Couple of points -

You'll get more of a speed boost by switching to an NT based OS (W2K or XP Pro) when you add RAM. Like Chosen said, you won't notice much of a difference above 384MB with 98, and if I recall correctly, there's a 768MB physical limitation in that OS. W2K & XP Pro will support up to 4GB.

Another route you may want to consider is purchasing a stripped down machine from Dell & adding parts to it. For example, you can pick up the PowerEdge 400SC for next to nothing, and that's the same 800MHz FSB as the 8300. Add you own OS, RAM, FC HD and video card & you may save a bit of cash over buying the pre configured 8300.

[bachviet]

1G of RAM is good but 512MB (2x256MB) is sufficient enough to run Win2K or WinXP. Upgrading parts yourself will not void any warranty except the part you replace.

[Curious]

I remember that my sister's Gateway and my dad's no name brand computers coming with a sticker on the casing that, if broken, would have voided the warranty. I guess some companies don't trust users to modify the computer correctly. Still, putting in a video card, a sound card and RAM should not be hard as long as the motherboard accepts it, right? I don't intend to flash the BIOS (which I figure is a sure fire warranty buster). I didn't realize that Dell's warranty could work in such a manner as to only void parts replaced by the owner.

An extra 512MB of RAM (PC3200) from Dell costs $130. They use two 512MB RAM for 1024MB of RAM vs two 256MB for the 512MB of RAM. Given that, it seems that one could purchase a PC3200 512MB for less (I think) and place it into one of the two remaining DIMM slots.

Waiting for Dell specials is like catching a wave. During the month, they have various specials and coupons. This month, the 15% coupon came earlier than I thought. I was hoping that the 15% coupon would come with the free quadrupling of the RAM and rebate like last month.

Incidently, I have to thank all the participants to this thread. I really appreciate all the advice given here. You are all really great.

[Curious]

Oh, by the way, I had asked a question on the performance of the ATI graphics card and the Nvidia graphics card. Besides speed, is there a difference in the quality of home video editing with these two cards? Thanks again and again.

[bachviet]

Originally posted by Curious
Oh, by the way, I had asked a question on the performance of the ATI graphics card and the Nvidia graphics card. Besides speed, is there a difference in the quality of home video editing with these two cards? Thanks again and again.
The FX5200 is at the bottom of the food chain while the R9800Pro is at the top (not top of the line though).

[Jeffbx]

Originally posted by Curious
I didn't realize that Dell's warranty could work in such a manner as to only void parts replaced by the owner.

Yeah, they're pretty progressive thay way. They support the parts they sell you, and that's it. Flashing BIOS or adding other parts won't void the warranty. The only thing that would give you a hard time is physical damage (like if you dropped yoru system down the stairs). But they even cover that if you buy the Complete Care coverage (which is essential for laptops).

Another nice thing they do is if you buy a component from them (a video card, for example), when you install it in a machine still under Dell's warranty, that card will now be covered under the machine's warranty as well.




An extra 512MB of RAM (PC3200) from Dell costs $130.

A stick of 512MB PC3200 from Crucial is $89. You can usually find it even cheaper than that elsewhere if you don't mind farking around with rebates.