I gotta hand it to Dell

Love My STi · 11-10-2010, 03:37 PM

I bought an XPS700 a few years ago, it has been an excellent machine until recently when the mainboard failed. I called Dell support and it turned out the computer was a year out of warranty. I decided it would be cheaper to buy a mainboard and install it myself so I declined the 300.00 extension price.

I found out the boards cost alot more than 300.00 so I went ahead and got the warranty extended a year. Called them back today to log a trouble ticket and it turns out they no longer have the mainboard. SO, I get a whole new computer. They are calling me in a few days to discuss the specs on the new machine, but I know it is at least a Studio XPS 9100 series. My XPS700 was pretty maxed out on specs for the time I bought it so I am expecting at least the second teir of 9100 series.

I spent a total of 44 minutes on the phone to make this happen today, time well spent.

Now I am wondering if they will want me to ship the old unit back as it is a HEAVY S.O.B!!! If they let me keep it I am going to be buying a new mainboard for it and turn it into a media server, or stripping it and selling off the parts and case.

WOOT for Dell!!

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Economatic · 11-10-2010, 04:32 PM

Good to hear someone had good experience with Dell. My one and only experience was awful. Tech support blamed me for every problem I had with that pos. To this day I'm still trying to figure out how is it was fault a media center PC didn't have a dvd decoding software.

chazly413 · 11-10-2010, 06:01 PM

I've been building my own since '05.

Love My STi · 11-10-2010, 06:38 PM

Ive built alot of my own machines as well, but got tired of it and just dont have the time any more. Still have the last one, man it SMOKED when it was new..

steverx05 · 11-10-2010, 08:08 PM

Interesting...I don't hear many people use the term "mainboard". Sounds like you got a decent deal though. The only advantage of buying a machine from a company like Dell instead of building one from scratch would be the warranty, which in your case played out well.

bluemax189 · 11-10-2010, 08:13 PM

^and you can justify buying a new one every couple yearss thanks to dell knowingly putting out crap computers. Now the xps series might be the exception but overall dell sucks.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/c...citors-problem

96accord · 11-10-2010, 08:38 PM

Glad you had a great experience with Dell! Not many people can say the same thing!!

+1 to Charlie Murphy (aKa chazly413) about building your PC (if you have the time)

I just upgraded my mobo/processor a few weeks ago. Went from Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 to AMD Quad Core

Matt_H · 11-10-2010, 09:14 PM

Shoulda stayed Intel.

Just sayin.

96accord · 11-10-2010, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt_H

Shoulda stayed Intel.

Just sayin.

Oh.... really?

I'm not bias. I didn't have problems with the Intel processor but the EVGA mobo was the thing having problems....

chazly413 · 11-10-2010, 09:40 PM

When I built my comp in January, the only thing I could tell Intel had over AMD was better workstation power, they were both pretty much the same in games, which is what I do. That was ten months ago, though, and that **** changes quickly. AMD is also a lot cheaper (at least when I looked ten months ago)

steverx05 · 11-10-2010, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt_H

Shoulda stayed Intel.

Just sayin.

So you can pay more for the brand name?

BryanH · 11-11-2010, 07:49 AM

Honestly, with the 6 core AMD chips as cheap as they are it makes for a great workstation...cheap...that is fast enough for anything anyone here will really ever do with it. Unless you guys start compiling code and running vm's on your home PC's.

blackfang · 11-11-2010, 08:41 AM

I have bought 5 pc's from them and in my personal experience, it is hit or miss. I had a bad experience with them regarding my Inspiron E1505 that's 3 years old. I have had to send my laptop back to them twice for the same issue as the part they put in failed a month later. Plus, the second time to fix and another issue they caused from the first repair.

My old Inspiron that is 5 years old, my Mini 10, and my nieces all have been working great. My Wife's laptop is a POS. The mouse pad sucks and doesn't recognize your finger movement and double tap/clicks. I have changed the sensitivity several times. The unit is falling apart and it is only 2 years old.

Annapolis Subaru · 11-11-2010, 09:36 AM

I bought a whole Dell package (computer, 19" CRT, THX Surround, Printer) back in 2001 and it lasted 8 years before self destructing. Even the monitor (usually they blow up at the 3 year, 1 day mark) managed to last that long somehow. Really it wasn't even a self destruct, I came home one day and the hard drive sounded like a helicopter crashing so I threw it in storage. I could fix it but as I have some back up drives laying around but really, who fixes a 9 year old computer? Probably not worth my time and I have a few others that are much newer.

VoodooGTR · 11-13-2010, 01:18 PM

I never buy into Dell comptuers. My wife does and she has bought two, one for herself and one for our sons. Well I am always fixing something on them and they are just POS. I have to use them at work and they are always crapping out. I still have a 9 year old Toshiba Laptop that is still running and never had a major problem. But I build my own computers now. Easier to upgrade and it is a learning experience to troubleshoot your own computer. But then again that is my job in the Army. Make the red light go away.

11-10-2010, 03:37 PM	#1
Love My STi Scooby Specialist Member#: 89540 Join Date: Jun 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Richmond Va Vehicle: 2004 Z06 Black on Black 361 RWHP	I gotta hand it to Dell I bought an XPS700 a few years ago, it has been an excellent machine until recently when the mainboard failed. I called Dell support and it turned out the computer was a year out of warranty. I decided it would be cheaper to buy a mainboard and install it myself so I declined the 300.00 extension price. I found out the boards cost alot more than 300.00 so I went ahead and got the warranty extended a year. Called them back today to log a trouble ticket and it turns out they no longer have the mainboard. SO, I get a whole new computer. They are calling me in a few days to discuss the specs on the new machine, but I know it is at least a Studio XPS 9100 series. My XPS700 was pretty maxed out on specs for the time I bought it so I am expecting at least the second teir of 9100 series. I spent a total of 44 minutes on the phone to make this happen today, time well spent. Now I am wondering if they will want me to ship the old unit back as it is a HEAVY S.O.B!!! If they let me keep it I am going to be buying a new mainboard for it and turn it into a media server, or stripping it and selling off the parts and case. WOOT for Dell!! * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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11-10-2010, 04:32 PM	#2
Economatic Scooby Specialist Member#: 220091 Join Date: Aug 2009 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Portland Vehicle: 2009 WRX Sedan	Good to hear someone had good experience with Dell. My one and only experience was awful. Tech support blamed me for every problem I had with that pos. To this day I'm still trying to figure out how is it was fault a media center PC didn't have a dvd decoding software.

11-10-2010, 06:01 PM	#3
chazly413 Scooby Specialist Member#: 151079 Join Date: Jun 2007 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: College Park, MD Vehicle: 2005 2.5RS RBP s-techs mad tyte yo	I've been building my own since '05.

11-10-2010, 06:38 PM	#4
Love My STi Scooby Specialist Member#: 89540 Join Date: Jun 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Richmond Va Vehicle: 2004 Z06 Black on Black 361 RWHP	Ive built alot of my own machines as well, but got tired of it and just dont have the time any more. Still have the last one, man it SMOKED when it was new..

11-10-2010, 08:08 PM	#5
steverx05 Scooby Specialist Member#: 128269 Join Date: Oct 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Baltimore, MD Vehicle: 2007 STI Limited [ugm] #311	Interesting...I don't hear many people use the term "mainboard". Sounds like you got a decent deal though. The only advantage of buying a machine from a company like Dell instead of building one from scratch would be the warranty, which in your case played out well.

11-10-2010, 08:13 PM	#6
bluemax189 Scooby Specialist Member#: 137405 Join Date: Jan 2007 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Baltimore Vehicle: 2011 WRX WRB	^and you can justify buying a new one every couple yearss thanks to dell knowingly putting out crap computers. Now the xps series might be the exception but overall dell sucks. http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/c...citors-problem

11-10-2010, 08:38 PM	#7
96accord Scooby Guru Member#: 145105 Join Date: Apr 2007 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Maryland Vehicle: 2007 WRB WRX Limited	Glad you had a great experience with Dell! Not many people can say the same thing!! +1 to Charlie Murphy (aKa chazly413) about building your PC (if you have the time) I just upgraded my mobo/processor a few weeks ago. Went from Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 to AMD Quad Core

11-10-2010, 09:14 PM	#8
Matt_H Scooby Guru Member#: 107000 Join Date: Feb 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Bristow, VA Vehicle: 2008 STI <3 TXS and 2011 F150 Andrewtech	Shoulda stayed Intel. Just sayin.

11-10-2010, 09:40 PM	#10
chazly413 Scooby Specialist Member#: 151079 Join Date: Jun 2007 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: College Park, MD Vehicle: 2005 2.5RS RBP s-techs mad tyte yo	When I built my comp in January, the only thing I could tell Intel had over AMD was better workstation power, they were both pretty much the same in games, which is what I do. That was ten months ago, though, and that **** changes quickly. AMD is also a lot cheaper (at least when I looked ten months ago)

11-11-2010, 07:49 AM	#12
BryanH Scooby Guru Member#: 993 Join Date: Feb 2000 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: nova	Honestly, with the 6 core AMD chips as cheap as they are it makes for a great workstation...cheap...that is fast enough for anything anyone here will really ever do with it. Unless you guys start compiling code and running vm's on your home PC's.

11-11-2010, 08:41 AM	#13
blackfang Scooby Specialist Member#: 131347 Join Date: Nov 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Richmond Va Vehicle: 2007 Legacy 2.5i SE 98 Z/28, VN 900 custom	I have bought 5 pc's from them and in my personal experience, it is hit or miss. I had a bad experience with them regarding my Inspiron E1505 that's 3 years old. I have had to send my laptop back to them twice for the same issue as the part they put in failed a month later. Plus, the second time to fix and another issue they caused from the first repair. My old Inspiron that is 5 years old, my Mini 10, and my nieces all have been working great. My Wife's laptop is a POS. The mouse pad sucks and doesn't recognize your finger movement and double tap/clicks. I have changed the sensitivity several times. The unit is falling apart and it is only 2 years old.

11-11-2010, 09:36 AM	#14
Annapolis Subaru NASIOC Vendor Member#: 107051 Join Date: Feb 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Annapolis, MD Vehicle: ** Got parts? Jackie @ 443-837-1422	I bought a whole Dell package (computer, 19" CRT, THX Surround, Printer) back in 2001 and it lasted 8 years before self destructing. Even the monitor (usually they blow up at the 3 year, 1 day mark) managed to last that long somehow. Really it wasn't even a self destruct, I came home one day and the hard drive sounded like a helicopter crashing so I threw it in storage. I could fix it but as I have some back up drives laying around but really, who fixes a 9 year old computer? Probably not worth my time and I have a few others that are much newer.

11-13-2010, 01:18 PM	#15
VoodooGTR Scooby Newbie Member#: 103200 Join Date: Dec 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Waldorf, MD Vehicle: 2008 Legacy GT SpecB Gray	I never buy into Dell comptuers. My wife does and she has bought two, one for herself and one for our sons. Well I am always fixing something on them and they are just POS. I have to use them at work and they are always crapping out. I still have a 9 year old Toshiba Laptop that is still running and never had a major problem. But I build my own computers now. Easier to upgrade and it is a learning experience to troubleshoot your own computer. But then again that is my job in the Army. Make the red light go away.