Intend to buy new desktop, looking for 2.66 or up to 3.?GHz processor speed. Am not a gamer, just need a better pc. Building from components is more than I need to do. iMac - MB419LL/a - 24" display, 2.93 GHz Core 2 duo, 4GB memory, 640 gig drive, Parallel Desktop 4.0 and Windows XP pro, super drive. Approx $2,053. Dell XPS 730x, Intel i70-920 2.66GHz processor, 6gb memory, 640gb hard drive, Windows vista premium, optical drive cd-r/w, dvd-r/w Double layer, 20" monitor, don't have a modem included. Approx $1,978. Questions - have many programs that run on Windows XP Pro, 32-bit. What problems may occur wth instsalling these on Windows Vista 64-bit. Overall, which of these is likely to run faster/less problems, more reliable, good dealer service? The Dell hardware selection does not show a 'modem' in the lists for the 730, so I don't know what the pc may have. Already have a D-link wireless setup. The pc will need a cat cable socket for my hi-speed internet connection. Dell does have a usb to cat5 external modem, which may be needed. All help will be appreciated. BillG
No laptop has a modem pre-installed, you presumably mean network card. The XPS will eat the mac alive - unless you have to use a program that needs MacOS, the Dell is a far better choice.
Perhaps it's more a US thing? to my knowledge neither of the laptops my parents own have them. What I'm curious about, however, is 'USB to CAT5'. That's not a standard modem.
Well. Tush!. The 1st reply with all the descriptions I wrote was saved, not posted, and I don't know where it went. BillG
One more try. Researched these pc's. Dell XPS 630: Intel Core 2 Q9650 3.0GHz processor;Memory 8GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 1.5TB hard drive; optical drive DVD-CD R/W +/- double layer; 20" Dell monitor; Windows Vista Home Premium, 64 bit, MS Office/Student 2007, haupage HVR1250 TV tuner $2,077. May add speakers -$50, keyboard - $30. $2,157 Dell XPS 730x: Intel Core 2 i7-920 2.66GHz; memory 6GB Tri-channel DDR3 at 1066 MHz, 750GB hard drive,Blu-ray disc combo (reads BD, writes cd/dvd), 20" flat panel monitor, Killer K1 network interface card; Vista Home Premiium 64 bit and MS Home Office and Student 2007;Haupage HVR 1250 TV tuner. $2,274 Add keyboard - $30, speakers - $50. $2,354 Dell Studio XPS: Intel Core 2 i7-950 3.05GHz processor; memory 8GB dusl-channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz, 1 TB 7200rpm hard drive; optical dual drives 16x DVD-ROM + 16xDVD+/- RW dual layer; 21.5" Dell flat panel monitor; DellA525 speakers, keyboard, mouse; ethernet network card; no Office software. $1,863. Add MS Office/Student 2007 - $79. $1,942. A good package. Looks like the Studio XPS is best deal if it performs near the XPS 630. The 730x is likely more than I need. Opinions are requested. Thanks, BillG Sam - the CAT5 is an 8-wire 'fat' phone cable used to connect to inter routers and/or switches.
I know what CAT5 is, but I have never seen a modem that converts it to USB. I have seen a modem with both USB and Ethernet outputs, if that's what you mean. Of those PCs, the Studio is the most powerful, the 730X is the least powerful in essentially all respects, bar the fact it has a Bluray drive and a Killer NIC, the latter of which is a glorified scam.
Thanks, Sam Morris - I intend to buy the Studio XPS as described earlier. I've been using pc's for 20+ years, have not tried to build one from components, doubt that will happen. Am now playing with pc connections to ham radios - packet word tranmitting and echolink voice transmission. Amazing what pc's and ham radio can do. For whatever reason, Dell has a accessory cable with a USB plug on one end, and a cat5 plastic plug on the other, and it is named an 'external modem'. Seems of limited value. What area of UK are you? I'm in Trinidad, CO, USA. BillG
