Dell Precision Workstations


No, I don't build my own computers, I'm not good at it. I'm much better at building Egyptian pyramids.

What's the general feeling in the group about 10th generation Intel Core? Those are the least expensive items in the present semi-annual sale at Dell. I think that at the next semi-annual sale, 11th generation Intel Core will be at the bottom of the price range. Also, W11 may then come pre-installed (instead of W10 with the free upgrade to W11) for these items. Buy or wait?
You might consider buying from the Dell Outlet (a menu item on dell.com). These are refurb returns and when they are listed as "like new", they will be indistinguishable from brand new. If it doesn't fully meet your expectations, it's fully returnable within 30 days. Dell pays the shipping both ways! I've bought only from the Dell Outlet for many years and have never been disappointed. Look at my System One below. This is a fully loaded current model XPS 15 9510, Windows 11 Pro, 11th Gen i9, 32GB, 1TB, with a stunning OLED screen. The original price was $3,099. I paid $1,764 a month ago. That's almost half the original price for a gorgeous current model high-end laptop. And it comes with a new Dell Premium Warranty!
 
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My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9510 OLED
    CPU
    11th Gen i9 -11900H
    Memory
    32 GB 3200 MHz DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3050Ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" OLED Infinity Edge Touch
    Screen Resolution
    16:10 Aspect Ratio (3456 x 2160)
    Hard Drives
    1 Terabyte M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
    2 Thunderbolt™ 4 (USB Type-C™)
    1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB Type-C™)
    SD Card Reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC)
    Internet Speed
    900 Mbps Netgear Orbi + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium) + Bing
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Outlook
    Microsoft OneNote
    Microsoft PowerToys
    Microsoft Visual Studio
    Microsoft Visual Studio Code
    Macrium Reflect
    Dell Support Assist
    Dell Command | Update
    LastPass Password Manager
    Amazon Kindle
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Tablet
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 7
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD
    Internet Speed
    900 Mbps Netgear Orbi + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium) + Bing
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription (Office)
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Outlook
    Microsoft OneNote
    Microsoft Visual Studio
    Amazon Kindle
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
Always wait. You'll be able to get something better and/or cheaper.

Of course, that means that you'll never buy a new machine.
Yeah, by the time there's a good deal, there's a newly released system that you would like to get instead and wait for a better deal. Wait. Think. Repeat.
 
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My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG Gaming Edge Wifi (X570)
    Memory
    32GB Adata XPG DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GTX 1070 8GB ROG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Main Boot Drive : 512GB Adata XPG RGB Gen3x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 600 Watts Gold
    Case
    Deepcool Genome II
    Cooling
    Deepcool Fryzen
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    "Moderna"
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-4790K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Xtreme6 Z97
    Memory
    16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI R9 290
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung M.2
    PSU
    Thermaltake 475 Watts 80 Bronze
    Case
    Thermaltake Commander I Snow Edition
    Cooling
    Deep Cool Archer Air Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Armageddon MKA-5R RGB-Hornet
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Moderna :)
You might consider buying from the Dell Outlet (a menu item on dell.com). These are refurb returns and when they are listed as "like new", they will be indistinguishable from brand new. If it doesn't fully meet your expectations, it's fully returnable within 30 days. Dell pays the shipping both ways! I've bought only from the Dell Outlet for many years and have never been disappointed. Look at my System One below. This is a fully loaded current model XPS 15 9510, 11th Gen i9, 32GB, 1TB, with a stunning OLED screen. The original price was $3,099. I paid $1,764 a month ago. That's almost half the original price for a gorgeous high-end laptop. And it comes with a new Dell Premium Warranty!


Yeah Gary,

But does it have purple lights, that make your blacklight posters come to life (you know what I mean), when you turn it on? Huh?

How about a cooling system off a '69 Buick duce and a quarter? (Electra 225)


Is the case made of hexane, where all your girlfriends can snap selfies, with pouty faces and sideways peace signs, to post on TickTok?


That, makes all the difference!


:look: ... What the heck?!


Have a little laugh, people. it's good for the soul! :wink:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 22H2 19045.4046
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/Vostro 470 (Year 2012)
    CPU
    Intel i7-3770 @ 3.40GHz
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD 7500 Radeon HD Series
    Sound Card
    Realtek Hi-Def Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Hard Drives
    1 TB 7200 HDD
    Keyboard
    Dell/USB
    Mouse
    Dell/USB
    Internet Speed
    100/10
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Security/MalwareBytes Premium
Hey, I thought that Gary posted in good faith.

But back to regular programming, there is something else in the buy vs wait issue. I have W11 on my laptop, I generally like the new OS, but I also notice the little quirks that the new OS still has. It doesn't bug me much on a laptop, but it would bug me more on a desktop. In other words, I can wait meaningfully.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9510 OLED
    CPU
    11th Gen i9 -11900H
    Memory
    32 GB 3200 MHz DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3050Ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" OLED Infinity Edge Touch
    Screen Resolution
    16:10 Aspect Ratio (3456 x 2160)
    Hard Drives
    1 Terabyte M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
    2 Thunderbolt™ 4 (USB Type-C™)
    1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB Type-C™)
    SD Card Reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC)
    Internet Speed
    900 Mbps Netgear Orbi + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium) + Bing
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Outlook
    Microsoft OneNote
    Microsoft PowerToys
    Microsoft Visual Studio
    Microsoft Visual Studio Code
    Macrium Reflect
    Dell Support Assist
    Dell Command | Update
    LastPass Password Manager
    Amazon Kindle
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Tablet
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 7
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD
    Internet Speed
    900 Mbps Netgear Orbi + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium) + Bing
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription (Office)
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Outlook
    Microsoft OneNote
    Microsoft Visual Studio
    Amazon Kindle
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
Hey, I thought that Gary posted in good faith.


He did @Haydon.


Only trying to bring a little levity (humor), to the thread. I guess that was lost in delivery. My bad.


No offense meant toward anyone! :-)


Read any of my post, anywhere, I have nothing but respect for all you guys.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 22H2 19045.4046
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/Vostro 470 (Year 2012)
    CPU
    Intel i7-3770 @ 3.40GHz
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD 7500 Radeon HD Series
    Sound Card
    Realtek Hi-Def Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Hard Drives
    1 TB 7200 HDD
    Keyboard
    Dell/USB
    Mouse
    Dell/USB
    Internet Speed
    100/10
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Security/MalwareBytes Premium


I apologize Gary, if I offended you, sir.

It's late, I'm in pain, can't sleep... the best I can do is try to laugh.


Absolutely no offense intended. :-)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 22H2 19045.4046
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/Vostro 470 (Year 2012)
    CPU
    Intel i7-3770 @ 3.40GHz
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD 7500 Radeon HD Series
    Sound Card
    Realtek Hi-Def Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Hard Drives
    1 TB 7200 HDD
    Keyboard
    Dell/USB
    Mouse
    Dell/USB
    Internet Speed
    100/10
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Security/MalwareBytes Premium
WXC, what you typed was funny! I'm from that era and I enjoyed reading it!

No harm! :geek:
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9510 OLED
    CPU
    11th Gen i9 -11900H
    Memory
    32 GB 3200 MHz DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3050Ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" OLED Infinity Edge Touch
    Screen Resolution
    16:10 Aspect Ratio (3456 x 2160)
    Hard Drives
    1 Terabyte M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
    2 Thunderbolt™ 4 (USB Type-C™)
    1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB Type-C™)
    SD Card Reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC)
    Internet Speed
    900 Mbps Netgear Orbi + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium) + Bing
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Outlook
    Microsoft OneNote
    Microsoft PowerToys
    Microsoft Visual Studio
    Microsoft Visual Studio Code
    Macrium Reflect
    Dell Support Assist
    Dell Command | Update
    LastPass Password Manager
    Amazon Kindle
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Tablet
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 7
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD
    Internet Speed
    900 Mbps Netgear Orbi + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium) + Bing
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription (Office)
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Outlook
    Microsoft OneNote
    Microsoft Visual Studio
    Amazon Kindle
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
No, I don't build my own computers, I'm not good at it. I'm much better at building Egyptian pyramids.

What's the general feeling in the group about 10th generation Intel Core? Those are the least expensive items in the present semi-annual sale at Dell. I think that at the next semi-annual sale, 11th generation Intel Core will be at the bottom of the price range. Also, W11 may then come pre-installed (instead of W10 with the free upgrade to W11) for these items. Buy or wait?
I like Dell. The systems are reliable, and they seem to run sales a lot. If you can afford to wait, it might pay off and you get a system with a more recent CPU. Or you might just find yourself in the same boat. Personally, I'd want a more recent CPU due. It's not like a 10th-gen CPU will be obsolete tomorrow, but with MS, you never know...

I assume you want a workstation because the laptop is portable as well? If not, look at the Dell XPS systems (both laptop and desktop). You can customize those for the most part.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro Beta
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900X
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG X570S Edge Max WiFi
    Memory
    Patriot Viper Gaming DDR4 Extreme Performance (2 x32MB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ZOTAC RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC 12GB GDDR6/ ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB GDDR6 192-bit Gaming Graphics Card
    Sound Card
    Proprietary
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic XG2530 25"/Benq XL2411P 24"/ ASUS VA24DQSB) 23.8"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 240Hz/144Hz/60Hz (based on monitor setup above)
    Hard Drives
    SK hynix Gold P31 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen3 M.2 2280 Internal SSD
    ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart 700W 80+ White Certified PSU
    Case
    Rosewill ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case, Gaming Case with Blue LED for Desktop
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H60i RGB PRO XT Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    ~950Mb/s upload/ ~700Mb/s download
    Browser
    Edge (Chromium)
    Antivirus
    Norton 360
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    MSI B550 Gaming GEN3 Gaming Motherboard
    Memory
    32MB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    I forget, but it's old. I can't see the need to upgrade it.
    Sound Card
    Propietary
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ACER LED 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung SSD 3.5"
    Case
    Corsair
    Cooling
    Stock
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    ~750Mb/s download / ~750Mb/s upload
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender and Malware Bytes
Also, check out @TraderGary's post in #21 on buying from the Dell Outlet. That might be a good solution if you're looking to save some cash.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro Beta
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900X
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG X570S Edge Max WiFi
    Memory
    Patriot Viper Gaming DDR4 Extreme Performance (2 x32MB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ZOTAC RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC 12GB GDDR6/ ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB GDDR6 192-bit Gaming Graphics Card
    Sound Card
    Proprietary
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic XG2530 25"/Benq XL2411P 24"/ ASUS VA24DQSB) 23.8"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 240Hz/144Hz/60Hz (based on monitor setup above)
    Hard Drives
    SK hynix Gold P31 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen3 M.2 2280 Internal SSD
    ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart 700W 80+ White Certified PSU
    Case
    Rosewill ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case, Gaming Case with Blue LED for Desktop
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H60i RGB PRO XT Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    ~950Mb/s upload/ ~700Mb/s download
    Browser
    Edge (Chromium)
    Antivirus
    Norton 360
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    MSI B550 Gaming GEN3 Gaming Motherboard
    Memory
    32MB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    I forget, but it's old. I can't see the need to upgrade it.
    Sound Card
    Propietary
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ACER LED 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung SSD 3.5"
    Case
    Corsair
    Cooling
    Stock
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    ~750Mb/s download / ~750Mb/s upload
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender and Malware Bytes
It's easier than you think. You can never mess up the wiring. Each connector is unique.
The easiest way to learn is to transfer an off the shelf PC to a new case. That is how I started. I just wanted a nice case from the start. Then started upgrading components from there... PSU, GPU, hdd to SSD, and so on. And decided to build one from scratch after that. It is a very rewarding and fun experience.
We'll help you along the way. Just do it!
Dell's with all the proprietary components and proprietary and undocumented connectors makes it a task to move to an ATX case. Not impossible but the user is on their own to try and figure out the connections wiring.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 16 5630
    CPU
    i7 1360P
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel CPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    16" Touch Screen
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung NVME SSD
    PSU
    65 Watt Dell
    Case
    Dell
    Cooling
    Dell
    Keyboard
    Dell
    Mouse
    Trackpad
    Internet Speed
    Google Fiber
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender and Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    Cakewalk by Bandlab and Presonus Studio One 4.6 Pro recording programs. MOTU recording interface
Dell's with all the proprietary components and proprietary and undocumented connectors makes it a task to move to an ATX case. Not impossible but the user is on their own to try and figure out the connections wiring.
Proprietary connections? I doubt it. Like what?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG Gaming Edge Wifi (X570)
    Memory
    32GB Adata XPG DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GTX 1070 8GB ROG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Main Boot Drive : 512GB Adata XPG RGB Gen3x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 600 Watts Gold
    Case
    Deepcool Genome II
    Cooling
    Deepcool Fryzen
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    "Moderna"
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-4790K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Xtreme6 Z97
    Memory
    16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI R9 290
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung M.2
    PSU
    Thermaltake 475 Watts 80 Bronze
    Case
    Thermaltake Commander I Snow Edition
    Cooling
    Deep Cool Archer Air Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Armageddon MKA-5R RGB-Hornet
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Moderna :)
I've had Dell desktops in past years. They used off-the-shelf components just like you would assemble yourself, but they have an advantage in pricing of their sales volume. I too doubt if they have gone to the expense of having components custom built.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9510 OLED
    CPU
    11th Gen i9 -11900H
    Memory
    32 GB 3200 MHz DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3050Ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" OLED Infinity Edge Touch
    Screen Resolution
    16:10 Aspect Ratio (3456 x 2160)
    Hard Drives
    1 Terabyte M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
    2 Thunderbolt™ 4 (USB Type-C™)
    1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB Type-C™)
    SD Card Reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC)
    Internet Speed
    900 Mbps Netgear Orbi + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium) + Bing
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Outlook
    Microsoft OneNote
    Microsoft PowerToys
    Microsoft Visual Studio
    Microsoft Visual Studio Code
    Macrium Reflect
    Dell Support Assist
    Dell Command | Update
    LastPass Password Manager
    Amazon Kindle
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Tablet
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro 7
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    8 GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD
    Internet Speed
    900 Mbps Netgear Orbi + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium) + Bing
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription (Office)
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Outlook
    Microsoft OneNote
    Microsoft Visual Studio
    Amazon Kindle
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
Proprietary connections? I doubt it. Like what?
On the Dell forums we deal with proprietary all the time and probably most often issue in the 20 years I've been on the forum. Front panel connections on most are proprietary and Dell does not document what pins on a connector are what. Dell uses proprietary fans with usually a 5 pin connector and interface with BIOS - ATX fans can be used but the POST will issue a notice of "fan failure" at boot (an F key must be tapped to continue). New XPS towers use a proprietary TFX style power supply with 6 pin motherboard power connection instead of 24 pin. CPU power connector is not wired standard.

We are seeing Laptop battery issues lately, too. If the system detects a non Dell battery it won't charge on many models. A big problem for older Laptops that Dell does not stock parts for (generally 5 years).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 16 5630
    CPU
    i7 1360P
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel CPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    16" Touch Screen
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung NVME SSD
    PSU
    65 Watt Dell
    Case
    Dell
    Cooling
    Dell
    Keyboard
    Dell
    Mouse
    Trackpad
    Internet Speed
    Google Fiber
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender and Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    Cakewalk by Bandlab and Presonus Studio One 4.6 Pro recording programs. MOTU recording interface
On the Dell forums we deal with proprietary all the time and probably most often issue in the 20 years I've been on the forum. Front panel connections on most are proprietary and Dell does not document what pins on a connector are what. Dell uses proprietary fans with usually a 5 pin connector and interface with BIOS - ATX fans can be used but the POST will issue a notice of "fan failure" at boot (an F key must be tapped to continue). New XPS towers use a proprietary TFX style power supply with 6 pin motherboard power connection instead of 24 pin. CPU power connector is not wired standard.

We are seeing Laptop battery issues lately, too. If the system detects a non Dell battery it won't charge on many models. A big problem for older Laptops that Dell does not stock parts for (generally 5 years).
Well, that's why building a PC I think is the way to go. You can build a better specs for the same price as the pricey Dells.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG Gaming Edge Wifi (X570)
    Memory
    32GB Adata XPG DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GTX 1070 8GB ROG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Main Boot Drive : 512GB Adata XPG RGB Gen3x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 600 Watts Gold
    Case
    Deepcool Genome II
    Cooling
    Deepcool Fryzen
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    "Moderna"
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-4790K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Xtreme6 Z97
    Memory
    16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI R9 290
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung M.2
    PSU
    Thermaltake 475 Watts 80 Bronze
    Case
    Thermaltake Commander I Snow Edition
    Cooling
    Deep Cool Archer Air Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Armageddon MKA-5R RGB-Hornet
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Moderna :)
Dell also uses proprietary meanings for the words 'Compact', 'Small', etc. They can mean different sizes for the same word and you have to look at the specs!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
Dell also uses proprietary meanings for the words 'Compact', 'Small', etc. They can mean different sizes for the same word and you have to look at the specs!
I don't think it ha bearing anyway. If you are going to transfer it to another case, most PC cases can accommodate 2 or 3 mobo sizes.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG Gaming Edge Wifi (X570)
    Memory
    32GB Adata XPG DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GTX 1070 8GB ROG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Main Boot Drive : 512GB Adata XPG RGB Gen3x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 600 Watts Gold
    Case
    Deepcool Genome II
    Cooling
    Deepcool Fryzen
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    "Moderna"
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-4790K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Xtreme6 Z97
    Memory
    16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI R9 290
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung M.2
    PSU
    Thermaltake 475 Watts 80 Bronze
    Case
    Thermaltake Commander I Snow Edition
    Cooling
    Deep Cool Archer Air Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Armageddon MKA-5R RGB-Hornet
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Moderna :)
I am going to buy. In the past, I put the tower under my work desk, lots of room there, and I bought the kind of medium sized towers like the ones that you most commonly see in brick-and-mortar computer stores.

This time around, my plans are different. My side desk (I have an L-shaped configuration) has always been a conventional office desk with drawers on the sides and leg room in between. I built (top and bottom) shelf space in the leg room and the new desktop will go on the top shelf. A medium sized tower can barely fit on the top shelf and I don't want want to cram it in. A so called Small Form Factor (SFF, about 1 foot square and about 4 inches thick) fits in comfortably lying on its side and that would be my first choice at the moment. But I am still looking at somewhat bigger and somewhat smaller and much smaller form factors, the smallest one being the so called 1 Liter (1 quart) case, about 7.5 inches square and 1.5 inches thick. Dell Optiplex Micro competes in this 1 Liter computer market space, as does Lenovo 'Tiny', and others.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
I don't think it ha bearing anyway. If you are going to transfer it to another case, most PC cases can accommodate 2 or 3 mobo sizes.
What I've found in the past companies like Dell don't use standard motherboard sizes. Making it hard to transfer the parts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home(Beta) - 23H2 - 22635.3350
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Banana Junior 5600- G Series
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Strix B550-F
    Memory
    G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 64GB 4x16
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viotek 32", 28" ASUS VP28U
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    Primary SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus
    PSU
    EVGA BQ 700w 80+ Bronze
    Case
    Zalman i3 NEO
    Cooling
    ARCTIC Freezer 7 X
    Keyboard
    Corsair
    Mouse
    Amazon Generic with Cord
    Internet Speed
    Download: 295.11 mbps Upload: 65.35 mbps T-Mobile Internet
    Browser
    Firefox and Edge
    Antivirus
    MS - Defender
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 2.1
I am going to buy. In the past, I put the tower under my work desk, lots of room there, and I bought the kind of medium sized towers like the ones that you most commonly see in brick-and-mortar computer stores.

This time around, my plans are different. My side desk (I have an L-shaped configuration) has always been a conventional office desk with drawers on the sides and leg room in between. I built (top and bottom) shelf space in the leg room and the new desktop will go on the top shelf. A medium sized tower can barely fit on the top shelf and I don't want want to cram it in. A so called Small Form Factor (SFF, about 1 foot square and about 4 inches thick) fits in comfortably lying on its side and that would be my first choice at the moment. But I am still looking at somewhat bigger and somewhat smaller and much smaller form factors, the smallest one being the so called 1 Liter (1 quart) case, about 7.5 inches square and 1.5 inches thick. Dell Optiplex Micro competes in this 1 Liter computer market space, as does Lenovo 'Tiny', and others.
How about a compromise: a mini PC? Newegg Those are "bare bones". You'd have to add RAM and drive(s), but other than that, the units are pre-built.

There are even a couple of choices with AMD APUs, which usually have better integrated graphics than Intel.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Amd Threadripper 7970X
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D
    Memory
    128GB (4 X 32) Kingston DDR5 5200 (RDIMM)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
    Sound Card
    none (USB to speakers), Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27E1N8900 OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @ 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T700 2TB M.2 NVME SSD
    WD 4TB Blue SATA SSD
    Seagate 18TB IronWolf Pro
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1600 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo XL
    Cooling
    Alphacool Eisbaer Pro Aurora 360, with 3 Phanteks T30 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Internet Speed
    1200 Mbps
  • Operating System
    windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I9-13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus RoG Strix Z690-E
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Sound Card
    built in Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA329C
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB
    8 TB Seagate Ironwolf
    4TB Seagate Ironwolf
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1300 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)

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