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Buy help: X800 SE good enough?
Hello Everyone.
I am on the verge of buying a Dimension 8400, 1 GB Ram 533, 2x160 GB Fixed disk,FP2001 Monitor etc in germany replacing my current very old (from 1998) Optiplex Gxa ( P2 266MHz, 384 MB Ram, 19" CRT).
The problem is that Dell Germany won't deliver the x800xt for the 8400 anymore. This videocard was available for the 8400 until just two weeks ago. As of now, the only choises are the X300SE 128MB(minimum choice) and the X800SE 128MB. Tried to get the X800XT by ordering the dam-n thing over the telephone hotline, but the imbesil salesman "wouldn't or couldn't log the X800XT into the system", whatever that's supposed to mean. And that's after I explained that the X800XT was available for the Dim 8400 in both Norway and Switzerland ( I am norwegian and used to live in Switzerland before moving to Germany). This is a 2500,- euro system, doesn't Dell want to sell me the 380,-euro extra video card???
My options now would be:
1. Get the X300SE and live with it.
2. Get the X800Se and live with it.
3. Get the X300SE, throw it out and buy a different/better graphics card.( I have a friend in Japan who could buy a card for me, are the cards cheaper over there??) -This is the option I am now leaning towards. The question is, is it worth it over the X800SE? -It's about 500 euros over here.
Of course, with the 3rd option I could go for an nvidia card as well... ( How many PCI-e cards are available?) As you see from the specs of my current PC, I haven't been able to play much games since I was a big fan of Descent 1,2 and 3 ( D3 doesn't run smooth on my old box, but with the new PC I'd wan't to play newer games like Doom 3, MS Flightsimulator 2004 and so on...
What do you think I should do?
Henrik
Stuttgart, Germany
Message Edited by snekker on 08-22-2004 07:47 AM
Message Edited by snekker on 08-22-2004 07:50 AM
Message Edited by snekker on 08-22-2004 07:51 AM
Message Edited by snekker on 08-22-2004 07:52 AM
thats the problem..they are only selling the x300 and x800 SE cards with the Dell 8400.
It's either take one or don't buy a 8400.
It's really bad policy from Dell i could have ordered mine some time ago, but now i'm at the very least going to postpone it.
Also had a call with them and the salesperson said that the X800 XT 256mb is NOT going to come back. Go figure ..no idea what there thinking over there.
Also there are absolutely no benchmarks for the X800 SE card it's like they want to keep it hidden or something
I will probably still end up buying a 8400, but i will just have a card i don't actually want in my system.
Well, seems Dell Germany doesn't want to sell much computers to gamers anymore. Today I noticed that they have cancelled the possibility of ordering the X800XT for two of the three XPS systems as well.... So now you'll have to buy the XPS "Ultimativ" to get the X800XT, starting at 2849,- €.
Go figure....
Also seems to me that there aren't very many places to buy the X800XT or GT6800 cards for the PCI-express bus yet. -Did a little searching on different web stores etc. And prices are in the 5-600 € for the AGP models available.
I think I'm gonna go for the 8400 with the X800SE though, and then wait a couple of months to get me a new PCI-x card. By then I guess the availability of PCI-x cards has gone up and the prices down accordingly... I've been holding out with the P2 for 6 years now, I guess I can stand it a little while longer...
Henrik
Indeed the sales guy told me that i could get a XPS system with the X800XT with the same system specs as the 8400 but it would cost me €4600.
More then €1100 difference compared to the 8400.
A bit to much to pay for just a better videocard and case.
The XPS stands for eXPenSive. Consider this: The 8400 and XPS has the same motherboard ( look at the available downloadables/drivers from Dell they are the same for 8400 and XPS). Only difference is the case. Is that worth putting out an extra 1100€? -I don't think so. You can get a better case and a better video card for less than that.
Anyway, I went ahead and ordered the following:
Dim 8400, 1024MB at 533MHz(4x256MB), 2xSATA 160 GB in mirror RAID 1, X800SE 128MB, Ultrasharp 2001FP, SB Aud2, Dell 5650 speakers, US quietkey keyboard+optical mouse, XP Home, on year on-site service and insurance, floppy and a Logitech extreme 3d pro joystick etc.
All at a price of 2630,- € including tax and delivery. I figure that's a lot of money, but of course the display costs about 900,- € alone.
Delivery in 8 to10 days, after that, I'll give you a personal review of the X800SE, with Doom 3 fps... If it ain't good enough, I'll buy a better graphics card somewhere when available. Sure I can get some bucks off of ebay for the X800SE card as well if that happens...
Henrik
Message Edited by snekker on 08-24-2004 02:23 PM
Dark_Rain
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Posted August 23rd, 2004 01:00