New Dell PC ordered

[SuperFudd]

Hi all,

I ordered a new computer from Dell last night, a "Studio XPS 8000". It is
without any extra cost options. Win7 Home 64 bit, Intel Core i5-750 (8meg cache 2.66GHz), 6GB RAM, 1G GeForce GT220 video card, 640G hard drive, 16X DVD+/-RW drive, Integrated 7.1 audio, Trend Micro anti virus for 15 months, 350 watt power supply.
The weak points are the power supply and the video card. I would be happier with 500 watts but there was no option. still 350 watts is more than enough for this configuration but if I add a few things, particularly a better/power hungry video card there could be problems. The video card is minimal by today's standards. About $50-60 off the shelf. The GT220 came out in October and has probably average performance for a year ago. The
good points are low power consumption (40nm technology) and 1G of video RAM. Still I am primarily concerned with Trainz and it should be more than needed. Later, in perhaps 2 years, I can get a much better card with about the same power consumption.
20% off and free shipping came to $917. I should have it in 2 to 3 weeks.
:udrool:
You may recall my 7 year old 2GHz PC died. While waiting I have installed TRS2004 on this 10 year old PC (see below) and with Paint Shed I have skinned me some Western Pacific F7As and Bs as well as GP35s (actually 38s but WP had none and I can't tell the difference) in both the dark green used most recently and in the solid orange from earlier years. I have not got the shade just right yet.
TRS2004 works quite well with this old PC on "simple" layouts like Robe River and most of my layouts ( on the DLS). I look forward to getting back to TS2009 and my current project, WP and SP Stockton to Milpitas California circa 1963.

Don

 

[FootplatePhil]

Congrats

Hi Don,

Congratulations, good to hear you were able to get such a good outcome for your hardware problems. It sounds like a pretty reasonable setup for Trainz, and should be a huge step up from your recently expired rig. If memory servers me (which it often doesn't), you had a 6200 graphics card before? According to the "Toms' Hardware Graphics Card Heirarchy" the GT220 is light years ahead of the 6200, so hopefully your upgrade will keep you happy for at least as long as the old one did.

Phil

 

[SuperFudd]

Thanks Phil,

You are right. a 6200. By my calculation the GT220 is 13 levels higher. Of coarse the rest of the PC is faster still so the GT220 will be the bottle neck which means when I DO upgrade the card it should make a noticable difference, in TS2012.

 

[Zorronov]

I'm happy to hear about your new upgraded computer. The only problem with buying a Dell, HP, etc, is that you're very restricted from doing things, like upgrading your power supply, which eventually becomes the Catch 22. When your power supply can't handle the vid card upgrades you're stuck. PC companies, like many others, are quite proprietary. That's why I stopped buying Dells and started building my own. It's really not that difficult. You can do it on a Saturday afternoon.

Cheers,
Fred

P.S. Before anyone starts slamming me for being negative...I own stock in Dell.

 

[SuperFudd]

Hi Fred,

I built my own once, well, actually a total rebuild. New main board, etc. Kept the case, floppy drive and power supply. Even after I decided what to get, how to get it and get it, it took me more than one afternoon. Still, it is a good way to go. If I had done it this time I doubt I would have saved money but at least I would have a better case and power supply.
This is the first time I have bought a brand name PC. Before I have had them made buy a local shop to my spec. Ordering from Dell is easier if not quicker.
The companies I have worked at for the last 25 years have all used Dells. I have had no problems with my work computers, on 24/7. So I figured I would not go too far wrong with a Dell at home. I checked reviews on the internet and it all looked good except for expandability. But then with external USB stuff, that is not as much an issue as it otherwise would be.

I will still be using my 13 year old 20 inch Sun Microsystems CRT monitor. I supose if the GT220 does not have the good old conector, I can easily get an adapter.

 

[Zorronov]

Sounds great Fuddy. I'm not putting down Dell's per see...like I said...I own Dell stock. The problem I came across, however, was after about three years and a couple of vid card upgrades, I wanted to upgrade again. The new vid cards required more power. Dell didn't have a bigger PS unit and they are built so you can't put in a non-Dell power supply. Anyway, it should be awesome for a few years...so enjoy!

Cheers,
Fred

 

[SuperFudd]

Thanks Fred,

Yeah, I had heard that about Dell power supplies also. I don't know if that is still the case. It may not matter though. I just read that there is an external supply that can be used to help the built in supply power a video card.

Don

 

[srr89]

That's great SuperFudd. I am also getting a similar computer for Christmas, its got an Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 Processor and 8 gb DDR2 SDRAM (1024 MB), along with the same video card you have. I too have no concerns for Trainz except for maybe the video card when I get TS2010.

Robby :wave:

 

[Ferngren]

Thanks Fred,

Yeah, I had heard that about Dell power supplies also. I don't know if that is still the case. It may not matter though. I just read that there is an external supply that can be used to help the built in supply power a video card.

Don

You may not need to get an external. I replaced the 305w PSU in my old Dimension 5000 with an Antec TPT 430w, after asking Dell. Only difference was the fastening holes (easy enough to alter) and one lead on the main 24pin connector (pin nr. 20) that the Dell motherboard isn't using.

I love the Antec TruePowerTrio PSU's. Got one 430w and a 650w. They are infact Seasonic OEM's with a single 12v rail although Antec claims three rails. Runs very cool and draws alot less juice off the wall than many other PSU's.

Five years down the road this old 5000 still runs a-ok. (touch wood!) Dell is good quality and their support and warranties are among the best. Now lets see if it's going to outlive the ones I've built myself...

 

[UP5521]

well,have on your new computer,the railroad you started creating looks great!

 

[SuperFudd]

Big time EXCITING news, at least for me.
At first it looked like my Dell would not be here until the 27th but it has shiped and now looks like it will arrive no latter than Christmas Eve. :udrool:

About the Western Pacific paint sheded F-7s and GP35s I have done. I have sent an orange GP35 to the DLS. I will wait to se how that goes before I send the rest. I only upload once or twice a year and it always seems to be a bit of a strugle. At least the orange GP35 (3003) should be ready for you by Christmas, my present to you.
Enjoy!

Merry Christmas to us all!:wave:

 

[JCitron]

Congratulations, Don on your new machine. I hope it serves you well. I'm looking to upgrade when I get some money. I'm on a very tight budget now as an unemployed worker and full time college student.

I forgot what it was like back in college with no money after being in the working world for 30 years.

John

 

[SuperFudd]

Hi John,

I know how you, and now millions of others feel these days. I was layed off after 10 years with the company last February. I was certain I would have another job in no more than 3 or 4 months. I spend at least an hour a day looking. 4 interviews so far. None in the last 4 months. Welcome to the brave new world. And I do mean world, not just the U.S.A.
We, the wife and I are fortunate to have no fear of losing our home. Unemployment payments should be good for another year and since becoming unemployed the wife and I have started on Social Security retirement benifits. We have cut way back on our life stile but we will get by. If I can get some micky mouse job we will do well enough. Yes we may have gone a little bit overboard on the computer but we can't let Auran down.
What can I say to you and everyone else? We are scared too.
Hang in there.
Don

 

[SuperFudd]

How to transfer files to new PC?

The computer got here today about 9am. I got up at 7, incredibly early, and checked Fed Ex tracking. It had left the local Fed Ex facility at 6:35. I was allowed by my wife to do a quick inventory and then let her wrap it up. I did hang on to the documentation though. I will unwrap it tomorrow morning but it is not clear if I will have time to set it up before Saturday. I have moved all I want off this old OLD computer onto my external HD. Then I will have to figure out how to get the stuff off the broken PC's HDs. Most importantly the Trainz layout I was working on. I do have a ~ one week out of date backup on flash drive. Perhaps more important are the photos. I have perhaps a 6 month old backup to DVD.
The old HDs are good. They use the interface that was standard 7 years ago. The new computer uses a SATA interface. How can I tempoarily attach the old drives so I can transfer files?

 

[Rusty1955]

The computer got here today about 9am. I got up at 7, incredibly early, and checked Fed Ex tracking. It had left the local Fed Ex facility at 6:35. I was allowed by my wife to do a quick inventory and then let her wrap it up. I did hang on to the documentation though. I will unwrap it tomorrow morning but it is not clear if I will have time to set it up before Saturday. I have moved all I want off this old OLD computer onto my external HD. Then I will have to figure out how to get the stuff off the broken PC's HDs. Most importantly the Trainz layout I was working on. I do have a ~ one week out of date backup on flash drive. Perhaps more important are the photos. I have perhaps a 6 month old backup to DVD.
The old HDs are good. They use the interface that was standard 7 years ago. The new computer uses a SATA interface. How can I tempoarily attach the old drives so I can transfer files?

Get a cable that will attach to the IDE port that connects to a USB port, they make one. You'll also have to hook up power to the old hard drive. I got mine at CompUSA. Most any larger computer parts store would have them. I am not sure what is in your area so I wouldn't know which direction to send you.

 

[Gandalf0444]

The computer got here today about 9am. I got up at 7, incredibly early, and checked Fed Ex tracking. It had left the local Fed Ex facility at 6:35. I was allowed by my wife to do a quick inventory and then let her wrap it up. I did hang on to the documentation though. I will unwrap it tomorrow morning but it is not clear if I will have time to set it up before Saturday. I have moved all I want off this old OLD computer onto my external HD. Then I will have to figure out how to get the stuff off the broken PC's HDs. Most importantly the Trainz layout I was working on. I do have a ~ one week out of date backup on flash drive. Perhaps more important are the photos. I have perhaps a 6 month old backup to DVD.
The old HDs are good. They use the interface that was standard 7 years ago. The new computer uses a SATA interface. How can I tempoarily attach the old drives so I can transfer files?

It is also possible that your mobo in the new computer still has a PATA connection on it(assuming your old computer is the correct age for PATA) All you would need to do is pull the HD out, and take the PATA wire it is also connected to. Stick the mobo end in, then just stick a power cord in it, then there you go.

 

[SuperFudd]

Thanks folks. A friend emailed me that he has some sort of adapter andI will get it from him, probably at the next computer club meeting.
This is my first post from the new computer. See the improvement? Much better, right?
Now to install a half a dozen different Trainzs on it. That should be easy enough.

 

[SuperFudd]

This new PC (see below) sure is FAST!:udrool:
Beats the bleep out of my late great 7 year old 2GHz PC.
I have installed TRS2004 and TS2009, oh yes and FSX and patched all. No problems. FSX with detail maxed out works flawlessly. Same with TRS2004 on all built in and my own layouts. With TS2009 I saw the slightest hint of hesitation a couple of times. Other than that, perfect.
How sweet it is.

Yeah, I know some of you are saying something like "don't rub it in" to be polite. I know because I have been there. Just know there is hope so hang in there.