im going to buy xps 630 next month and i was wondering what would be the best graphics choice. it has 6 or seven different options but i want dual cards so i can only choose out of 2 ati radeon hd 3870 in cf or i can have 2 nvidia geforce 9800gt in sli. both cards are 512mb and pci-e. the proccesor that will be in the pc is Core 2 Quad at 2.4ghz and 4gb ram at 4 dimms at 800mhz. so dual hd 3870 or dual 9800gt?

lol! i got a call on this yesterday someone wanted me to quote vs a 630 - i got mad!

first is it custom no
what kind of psu does it have ?

do they still use crappy in house mobos that cost triple the rate of better bandname?

do not forget to reformat the hdd with the crapware they install

if you get loaded then they jack the price up.

call a local builder and see if they can use parts with 3-5 year warranties

pc p cooling psu 5 yr
evga gpu lifetime or ati vistek

ram is lifetime
mobo asus 3 year

how much does dell add for 3 year warranty?

do not ask me to build it, i wont after i post here - so ask around you can do better.

Two 9800GTs are more powerful than two HD3870s. Is this what you are looking for? If the two options are the same or similar in price, then get the 9800GTs in SLI.

are you really sure, they are about $100 more than the dual 3870's. i was leaning towards the 9800gt x2 anyway. but i would just like to know for sure.

you want to go with gtx 280 in sli
or
9800gtx+

the 9800gt has crap cooling and there is only $30-40 difference. double slot cooling is the only way to go with high end gpu;s

they keep the rest of the case cool and the gpu runs 10-15c cooling at lower fan speed due to air flow is out the case pulling air around the card beside in and then out

i bought a set of water cooled hd 3870 2 weeks ago with ek blocks for $210

if your going to use old parts then do not pay a premimu price - if your going to pay dell then use the 4870 for dual slot cooling or the new x2's

The best advice I can give is to recommend you don't buy the Dell system or any pre-made system for that matter. Seriously you should just build a system yourself. It isn't hard at all providing you can read directions and you will get a better system with more reliable, better performing components for much less money. Best of all you will learn something by doing it.

That's my 2 cents at any rate.

XPS 630: Intel® Core™2 Q6600 Quad-Core (8MB L2 cache,2.40GHz,1066FSB)

Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1

System Color: Black Bezel Chassis

Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMs

Keyboard: Dell USB Enhanced Multimedia Keyboard

Monitors: 19 inch SE198WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel Monitor

Video Card: Dual nVidia GeForce 9800 GT 512MB

Hard Drive: 500GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache

that is what im lookin to buy next month. rate if you please, any suggestions welcome.

Here's the system I recommend you build yourself: (all prices from Newegg)

Mobo: DFI Lanparty DK X48-T2RS $220

Memory: 4GB (2x2GB) OCZ Reaper HPC DDR2-800 $100 ($65 after MIR)

CPU: Intel Q6600 OEM $185

Video Card: Visiontek HD4870 $285 ($265 after MIR)

Hard Drive: Seagate 500 GB 7200rpm SATA II $80

PSU: Seasonic 600W $140

Monitor: Acer 19" Widescreen 1680x1050 5ms $160

Keyboard: pick one you like $50

Mouse: pick one you like $50

Case: CM Centurion 5 $50

OS: Vista Home Premium SP1 $110
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total: $1430 ($1375 after MIR)

That's much less than the $1670 for the XPS 630 you specified and the system I specified will absolutely destroy the Dell system in performance due to the better video card.

dell sucks

i rather give you free advice to build you own then let you buy a dell.


why? as i stated the dell mobo. psu and junkware and more!

i second it build your own!

Sorry xxcoop42xx, but you are asking for advice from a forum populated by do it your selfers. My own 2 cents: build it yourself, but you have already heard that from everyone else on here (there is a reason they are saying that). To get to your question: 2x9800 GTs should slightly outperform 2x 3870s overall.

I agree 100%. Ever since Dell got into the budget computer business in the late 90's and started viewing computers as being disposable hardware (i.e. assuming that everyone would want to buy a new computer every 2-3 years) their quality has really gone downhill.

I agree with all the Dell bashing, it's well deserved.

Friend of mine bought a Dell a few years back - 2 ghz pentium 4, 2gb ram, 120 gb hard drive, and I think a 7800GT. Dell gave him a 280W power supply that burned out when he tried to put in a DVD burner (along with the poor drive Dell supplied), and he was left buying a new PSU because he didn't want to fork out the huge lump of cash for the 3 year warranty.

With Dell - if you have a 12 month warranty, something will break in 12.5 months.

i actually build systems, i have to win over people from dell only since they are uniformed in many cases i get mad - it is complex when you do not care to understand and love this stuff like THG people due

i do not solicit biz here - i been advised to pm people for biz by mods here but i do not.

so support another builder and you get a way better system and something custom, you save money in many cases

does dell build stuff like this? by the way 4.2GHz quad with a 3 year warranty and lifetime labor!




try getting green effects or red from dell! today is picture posting day!