Buying Question

[David]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

I am thinking about buying a new Dimension 8400. I am using the customizing
section but am confused abut a couple of items and thought someone in the
newsgroup could help. I will be using the computer for downloading music,
and downloading videos and editing from my video camera to a CD. I won't be
using it for any games. The Items I am having a problem deciding on are in
the CD ROM/DVD ROM and Video sections. I just don't know which ones I need
to choose.

1) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 48x CD-RW Drive
2) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 8x DVD+RW Drive
3) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+RW/+R w/ dbl layer write
capable
4) Dual Drives: 48x CD-RW Drive + 8x DVD+RW Drive
5) Dual Drives: 48x CD-RW Drive + 16x DVD+RW/+R w/ double layer write

and Video Cards:

1) 128MB PCI ExpressT x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI RadeonT X300 SE
2) 128MB PCI ExpressT x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI RadeonT X800 SE

I would like to buy what I need but not more than I need because of the
cost.
Thanks for any help.
david

 

[Molly]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

I would go with these options: I would go with a single drive DVD-ROM , and
purchase an after market DVD+- R burner. I just purchased a Plextor 12X DVD
burner, model 712A from Dell on sale for $126, with a $30 rebate from
Plextor. These drives usually will accept all media, and with an 8MB buffer
the drive will be fast. I would stay away from the double layer drivers,
because it will be a year before the media prices come down. This week
Newegg has the Plextor drive for $129.00, in a retail box.
If you are going to d/l video etc you need a large HD, at least 160 GB, and
I would suggest a 300SE video card,and
the new 1704FP monitor.

"david" <chevie40no-spam@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:zEYVc.234537$OB3.59615@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>I am thinking about buying a new Dimension 8400. I am using the customizing
> section but am confused abut a couple of items and thought someone in the
> newsgroup could help. I will be using the computer for downloading music,
> and downloading videos and editing from my video camera to a CD. I won't
> be
> using it for any games. The Items I am having a problem deciding on are in
> the CD ROM/DVD ROM and Video sections. I just don't know which ones I
> need
> to choose.
>
> 1) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 48x CD-RW Drive
> 2) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 8x DVD+RW Drive
> 3) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+RW/+R w/ dbl layer write
> capable
> 4) Dual Drives: 48x CD-RW Drive + 8x DVD+RW Drive
> 5) Dual Drives: 48x CD-RW Drive + 16x DVD+RW/+R w/ double layer
> write
>
> and Video Cards:
>
> 1) 128MB PCI ExpressT x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI RadeonT X300 SE
> 2) 128MB PCI ExpressT x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI RadeonT X800 SE
>
> I would like to buy what I need but not more than I need because of the
> cost.
> Thanks for any help.
> david
>
>
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"david" <chevie40no-spam@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:zEYVc.234537$OB3.59615@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I am thinking about buying a new Dimension 8400. I am using the
customizing
> section but am confused abut a couple of items and thought someone in the
> newsgroup could help. I will be using the computer for downloading music,
> and downloading videos and editing from my video camera to a CD. I won't
be
> using it for any games. The Items I am having a problem deciding on are in
> the CD ROM/DVD ROM and Video sections. I just don't know which ones I
need
> to choose.
>
> 1) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 48x CD-RW Drive
> 2) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 8x DVD+RW Drive
> 3) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+RW/+R w/ dbl layer
write
> capable
> 4) Dual Drives: 48x CD-RW Drive + 8x DVD+RW Drive
> 5) Dual Drives: 48x CD-RW Drive + 16x DVD+RW/+R w/ double layer
write
>
> and Video Cards:
>
> 1) 128MB PCI ExpressT x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI RadeonT X300 SE
> 2) 128MB PCI ExpressT x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI RadeonT X800 SE
>
> I would like to buy what I need but not more than I need because of the
> cost.
> Thanks for any help.
> david
Hi David,

I have an 8400, very impressive machine, mine has option 2 on your drive
list, I would suggest either option 2 or 3, that is the most versatile
option, remember, most if not all CD read, read/write functions will be
included as well.

Video I think option 2 is 256Mb, I plumped for Option 1, and am well
pleased, note card has Firewire port on it.

Hope that helps,

73 de John

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Video editing does not require much video card horsepowe. The X300 is fine.
For drives, I'd go the absolute cheapest route and purchase a +/- DVD burner
seperately -- preferably one capable of dual layer. Dell only offers +R.

For Firewire, I'd go with the Audigy2 sound card, as it has a firewire port.

Tom
"Mr John C McCulloch" <john@jcmcc1srp.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:cg9rgq$hrp$1@news5.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> "david" <chevie40no-spam@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:zEYVc.234537$OB3.59615@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>> I am thinking about buying a new Dimension 8400. I am using the
> customizing
>> section but am confused abut a couple of items and thought someone in the
>> newsgroup could help. I will be using the computer for downloading
>> music,
>> and downloading videos and editing from my video camera to a CD. I won't

 

[David]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"david" <chevie40no-spam@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:zEYVc.234537$OB3.59615@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I am thinking about buying a new Dimension 8400. I am using the
customizing
> section but am confused abut a couple of items and thought someone in the
> newsgroup could help. I will be using the computer for downloading music,
> and downloading videos and editing from my video camera to a CD. I won't
be
> using it for any games. The Items I am having a problem deciding on are in
> the CD ROM/DVD ROM and Video sections. I just don't know which ones I
need
> to choose.
>
> 1) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 48x CD-RW Drive
> 2) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 8x DVD+RW Drive
> 3) Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+RW/+R w/ dbl layer
write
> capable
> 4) Dual Drives: 48x CD-RW Drive + 8x DVD+RW Drive
> 5) Dual Drives: 48x CD-RW Drive + 16x DVD+RW/+R w/ double layer
write
>
> and Video Cards:
>
> 1) 128MB PCI ExpressT x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI RadeonT X300 SE
> 2) 128MB PCI ExpressT x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI RadeonT X800 SE
>
> I would like to buy what I need but not more than I need because of the
> cost.
> Thanks for any help.
> david

Thank you Mr. John C McCulloch, Tom Scales & Molly for you quick and helpful
subjections. They will help me in my selection.
Thanks david

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

When did the 1704FPT monitor come out? This weekend? I can see it is now
listed as an option, but it is currently not mentionned on the Dell
'Monitors - LCD Monitors' page, ie:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productlisting.aspx?Page=productlisting.aspx&spagenum=1&items_per_page=50&orderby=&sortdirection=&image_flag=True&show_summary=True&category_id=4058&brandid=&sku=&mnfsku=&SearchType=&Pageb4Search=&ModelSelection=&iCompatid=&selectiontypeids=&l=en&c=us&cs=19&SubmitSearch=&servicetag=&reset=True&k=&mnf=694&prst=&prEnd=&InStock=&refurbished=&fe=

Spec looks good!



"Molly" <ctalia4000@comcast.net> wrote in message
news😱Iidnf2N0-g7CLXcRVn-pQ@comcast.com...
> I would go with these options: I would go with a single drive DVD-ROM ,
and
> purchase an after market DVD+- R burner. I just purchased a Plextor 12X
DVD
> burner, model 712A from Dell on sale for $126, with a $30 rebate from
> Plextor. These drives usually will accept all media, and with an 8MB
buffer
> the drive will be fast. I would stay away from the double layer drivers,
> because it will be a year before the media prices come down. This week
> Newegg has the Plextor drive for $129.00, in a retail box.
> If you are going to d/l video etc you need a large HD, at least 160 GB,
and
> I would suggest a 300SE video card,and
> the new 1704FP monitor.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

The organic entity known as Tom Scales communicated the following:

> Video editing does not require much video card horsepowe. The X300 is
> fine. For drives, I'd go the absolute cheapest route and purchase a
> +/- DVD burner seperately -- preferably one capable of dual layer.
> Dell only offers +R.

Sound advice. For the price Dell wants for a DVD burner, you could even get
an external USB2 drive if you don't know how to install one inside the
cabinet.

What may be a good idea is to go for a striped RAID system. This improves
the disk access quite a bit, which is a huge bonus when handling large
videos.

Hans