Dell Precision Workstations

TraderGary · Mar 29, 2022

Haydon said:
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!

badrobot · Mar 29, 2022

bobkn said:
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.

WXC · Mar 29, 2022

TraderGary said:
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!

Haydon · Mar 29, 2022

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.

TraderGary · Mar 29, 2022

Haydon said:
Hey, I thought that Gary posted in good faith.

He did!

WXC · Mar 29, 2022

Haydon said:
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.

WXC · Mar 29, 2022

TraderGary said:
He did!

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.

TraderGary · Mar 29, 2022

WXC, what you typed was funny! I'm from that era and I enjoyed reading it!

No harm!

jvickers · Mar 29, 2022

Haydon said:
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.

jvickers · Mar 29, 2022

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.

fireberd · Mar 29, 2022

badrobot said:
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.

badrobot · Mar 29, 2022

fireberd said:
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?

TraderGary · Mar 29, 2022

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.

fireberd · Mar 29, 2022

badrobot said:
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).

badrobot · Mar 29, 2022

fireberd said:
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.

Haydon · Mar 29, 2022

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!

badrobot · Mar 29, 2022

Haydon said:
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.

Haydon · Mar 29, 2022

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.

BunnyJ · Mar 29, 2022

badrobot said:
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.

bobkn · Mar 29, 2022

Haydon said:
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.

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