New pc

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Dan1502

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Dan
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I'm about to press the button and order a new Dell pc for my business but it would be a bonus if it will cope well with photoshop editing too. I would probably install another hard drive for personal stuff or use an external one connected by an expresscard.

Anyway the pc is a Dell Vostro 430 with Intel i7 processor (2.8Ghz 8Mb), 4Gb (2x2Gb) 1333 single channel DDR3 RAM, 500Gb hard drive, 512Mb ATI Raedon TM HD4350 (DVI, VGA, HDMI) ...

I have a Canon 50D so RAW files can be pretty large. Will this spec be good?

I also wonder whether to go for Windows 7 32 bit or 64 bit as I am worried about compatibility, future networking etc. Any thoughts?

Is single channel RAM an issue? There's no upgrade option to dual channel.

Thanks

Dan
 
But will this cause software compatibility issues or issues if it is networked at some stage in future?
 
im yet to see any compatibility issues with 64bit to be honest.. if it doesnt work in 64bit mode then windows will run it as a 32bit app.

no issues with networking either, im remote desktop'd to 4 servers as we speak lol
 
neil_g said:
im yet to see any compatibility issues with 64bit to be honest.. if it doesnt work in 64bit mode then windows will run it as a 32bit app.

no issues with networking either, im remote desktop'd to 4 servers as we speak lol
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Ok, I've checked 64 bit driver availability for my printer and that should be fine so I guess there's no reason not to go for 64 bit then?

The other weird thing is that there's no internal wireless network card option coming up. I can always buy one separately but it seems strange.

Is the single vs dual channel memory an issue?
 
I am running W7 64 bit and have found no problems at all with compatability, everything fast and smooth, double check the ram issue, all I can find regarding Dell Vostro refer to Dual channel?
get hold of a decent screen too, not a bundled Dell.
 
Taztastic said:
I am running W7 64 bit and have found no problems at all with compatability, everything fast and smooth, double check the ram issue, all I can find regarding Dell Vostro refer to Dual channel?
get hold of a decent screen too, not a bundled Dell.
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It's strange as Dell have an offer of £90 off through the small business site on the vostro plus free postage and hardrive upgrade to 500 Gb. All the RAM options are single channel but it could be a typo. Maybe I'll give them a ring.

I was thinking of the Philips 230 C1HSB monitor but the price has gone up and I have just read a review that rates the Samsung Syncmaster F2380M better so will probably hunt for a bargain for one of those.
 
Just realised my error. Correct me if I'm wrong but 2 single channel memory modules works as dual channel. Single channel would just be one?
 
Dan,

If you are going with and i7 go for 3* 2GB of RAM to make use of the Core i7 Triple Channel Memory.

Go with 64 Bit Windows 7 too.

Check out Cyberpowersystem.co.uk and look at the i7 systems on there.

Perosonally, Iwould not buy another Dell system myself since they use naff internals and they are not vey upgradable/expandable.

John.
 
JohnD76 said:
Dan,

If you are going with and i7 go for 3* 2GB of RAM to make use of the Core i7 Triple Channel Memory.

Go with 64 Bit Windows 7 too.

Check out Cyberpowersystem.co.uk and look at the i7 systems on there.

Perosonally, Iwould not buy another Dell system myself since they use naff internals and they are not vey upgradable/expandable.

John.
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I'll take a look. I'm not sure if I can justify the 6Gb to my partner but I'll see!

If I do go with Dell, I need to decide whether to go with the 22209WA 22" E-IPS monitor (with a 20% discount code) or the Samsung Syncmaster F2380M (23").

Any thoughts?
 
Dan1502 said:
If I do go with Dell, I need to decide whether to go with the 22209WA 22" E-IPS monitor (with a 20% discount code) or the Samsung Syncmaster F2380M (23").

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Just bought a spotless 2209WA refurb off eBay for the grand sum of £175. Don't pay Dell prices for it when you can get it cheaper elsewhere!

As for the monitor - it is very good. Just calibrated it with a Spyder3Pro and it required very little adjustment to get it right - and the calibrated colours aren't far off the uncalibrated (which annoys me as I just spent £90 on the Spyder :lol:). Very nice indeed!
 
Nick T said:
Just bought a spotless 2209WA refurb off eBay for the grand sum of £175. Don't pay Dell prices for it when you can get it cheaper elsewhere!

As for the monitor - it is very good. Just calibrated it with a Spyder3Pro and it required very little adjustment to get it right - and the calibrated colours aren't far off the uncalibrated (which annoys me as I just spent £90 on the Spyder :lol:). Very nice indeed!
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Ok, I might go for that then. If I get it from Dell it's just under £200 with the discount code so not much in it and I might go for it from them for peace of mind.
 
JohnD76 said:
Perosonally, Iwould not buy another Dell system myself since they use naff internals and they are not vey upgradable/expandable.

John.
Click to expand...

aye "naff" internals that we never have an issue with (200+ dell optiplex) ;)

to be honest we've had more hardware issues with the macs than the dells. (and we have a 1:3 mac to dell ratio)
 
All well and good in an enterprise environment Neil, but not for the enthusiast at home who may want to upgrade parts over time to discover that the PSU won't cope and the motherboard won't necessarily accept everything you might want to put in it.

Selling a Core i7 systems with Single Channel Ram speaks volumes too. :cuckoo: See "Naff" in my original post.

We run tens of thousands of HP/Compaq machines at work, they are fine for our highly managed environment, I wouldn't want to use one at home though since most of ultra small form factor. There is a HUGE difference between Enterprise and Enthusiast requirements and usage.
 
JohnD76 said:
All well and good in an enterprise environment Neil, but not for the enthusiast at home who may want to upgrade parts over time to discover that the PSU won't cope and the motherboard won't necessarily accept everything you might want to put in it.

Selling a Core i7 systems with Single Channel Ram speaks volumes too. :cuckoo: See "Naff" in my original post.

We run tens of thousands of HP/Compaq machines at work, they are fine for our highly managed environment, I wouldn't want to use one at home though since most of ultea small form factor. There is a HUGE difference between Enterprise and Enthusiast requirements and usage.
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thats fair enough about upgrading over time, but then that depends what the OP wants.

in my opinion the dell is fine for someone that just wants to buy something and not touch it until it dies X years down the line.

i stand by the fact that dual over single channel would not be noticable in this instance though.
 
neil_g said:
thats fair enough about upgrading over time, but then that depends what the OP wants.

in my opinion the dell is fine for someone that just wants to buy something and not touch it until it dies X years down the line.

i stand by the fact that dual over single channel would not be noticable in this instance though.
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Indeed, once being a compulsive overclocker I could always see the "advantage" of dual over single, or increasing a voltage here or there whenever I benchmarked my system.
When I was actually using it for anything "normal" I saw little difference except in the amount of heat the machine would generate.
The Vostro machines are a good spec and the only real problem I have encountered with them is with the power supplies. Seen too many glowing orange lights on the front!
 
I'm not sure if I understand what single/dual channel are. I went for 3 2Gb modules in the end - is this what is meant by multiple channels or is it the RAM itself that is dual channel?

I've ordered one now as I looked at alternatives and couldn't get close on spec for the price. I have been known to tinker with my home laptop (and previous desktops) but not to any great degree - just additional RAM, replacing the laptop keyboard and upgrading the hard drive, building an external hardrive in enclosure etc but other than perhaps adding a second hard drive to the Vostro for personal use (as the computer is for my business) and inserting a wireless card and possibly future minor upgrades it probably won't be touched.

The spec I got was Dell Vostro 430 with Intel i7 processor (2.8Ghz 8Mb), 6Gb (3x2Gb) 1333 single channel DDR3 RAM, 500Gb hard drive, 512Mb ATI Raedon TM HD4350 (DVI, VGA, HDMI) Windows 7 Business 64bit

There's a £90 off plus free delivery and free upgrade of the Hard drive from 320Gb to 500Gb plus 5% quidco so not a bad deal all in all. Including an upgraded keyboard it was £499 plus VAT.

I am still thinking about which screen to get. It turned out I couldn't use the code I have when buying with a system so am still trying to decide between the Dell and the Samsung.

Another question that springs to mind is whether anyone knows of anyone who will calibrate monitors and printers rather than having to buy equipment and doing it myself.
 
Hi Dan,

I am sure you are going to be very happy with the PC. Dell are normally good on price and I have owned several Dell Workstations and Servers in the past, but I tend to tinker quite a bit....

As for Calibration, it will work out cheaper in the long term to buy the kit and do the calibrations yourself. You could get away with not calibrating the printer if you use the proper ink Cartridges and use the manufactueres paper since the printer drivers are normally setup fir these inks and papers.

You are supposed to recalibrate the screen evern month or two as well.

Enjoy the PC.

John.
 
JohnD76 said:
Hi Dan,

I am sure you are going to be very happy with the PC. Dell are normally good on price and I have owned several Dell Workstations and Servers in the past, but I tend to tinker quite a bit....

As for Calibration, it will work out cheaper in the long term to buy the kit and do the calibrations yourself. You could get away with not calibrating the printer if you use the proper ink Cartridges and use the manufactueres paper since the printer drivers are normally setup fir these inks and papers.

You are supposed to recalibrate the screen evern month or two as well.

Enjoy the PC.

John.
Click to expand...

The reason for calibrating the printer is not for photos but for work. It's a Xerox wax printer and our logo, which is grey, comes out with a greenish tinge despite setting the RGB levels in word. I realise you can adjust things but it's beyond my knowledge and experience as there are so many settings that mean very little to me!
 
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