To start out the new year, I decided to upgrade 3 of my existing PCs to new ones. My goals were:<\/p>\n
The reason for the 3rd item is that I use a specialty keyboard (in particular, the DEC\/Compaq\/HP LK450 family) which is very hard to find in USB form and which my applications don’t support in USB mode. So I needed PS\/2 support. Many vendors are moving to so-called “legacy-free” systems that don’t have these ports.<\/p>\n
I usually purchase Dell PCs as they do a good job of integrating quality components (at least in the business-class systems) at a good price. I could probably build a similar system for\u00a0a comparable price, but in my opinion it isn’t worth the hassle. What is best for anyone else probably depends on how they value their time.<\/p>\n
I had recommended the Optiplex 740 (AMD-based) for a friend, and he was quite happy with them (I think his systems came in at under $400 each, complete). But I was looking for higher performance, and Dell wasn’t offering quad-core AMD systems. [Apparently there are L3 cache issues with the new AMD quad-core units that are severely limiting availability of parts.]<\/p>\n
So I selected the Optiplex 755. I chose the Optiplex for a number of reasons. First, it is possible to order these with a PS\/2 adapter that gives you PS\/2 keyboard and mouse ports as well as a second serial port. Next, it comes with US-based tech support – not that I call for software help, but I’d like to be able to convince the tech to “just send me the part” to fix the unit, without needing to do the whole song-and-dance of running tests I already did, seeing if a software update will fix it, etc. – and that seems to be a lot easier with domestic tech support.<\/p>\n
I spec’d a high-end (but not top-of-the-line) model as follows:<\/p>\n
| 1<\/td>\n | 223-1202<\/td>\n | OptiPlex 755 Minitower,Core 2 Quad Q6600\/2.40GHz,8M 1066FSB<\/td>\n | $1164.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 420-3699<\/td>\n | NTFS File System,Factory Install<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 311-7375<\/td>\n | 4.0GB,Non-ECC,800MHz DDR2 4x1GB,OptiPlex 755<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 310-8010<\/td>\n | Dell USB Keyboard,No Hot Keys English,Black,Optiplex<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 320-3704<\/td>\n | No Monitor Selected, OptiPlex<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 320-5743<\/td>\n | 256MB ATI RADEON HD 2400 XT Graphics dual DVI or VGA (TV-out),Full Height,Dell OptiPlex<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 341-5474<\/td>\n | 250GB SATA 3.0Gb\/s and 8MB Data Burst Cache,Dell OptiPlex755<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 341-4005<\/td>\n | 3.5 inch,1.44MB,Floppy Drive Dell OptiPlex 740,755 and 330<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 466-9948<\/td>\n | Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2,with Media,DellOptiPlex 320, 740 and 745 English,Factory Install<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 310-8008<\/td>\n | Dell USB 2-Button Entry Mouse with Scroll,Black,OptiPlex<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 310-9494<\/td>\n | iAMT Advanced Hardware EnabledSystems Management, Dell OptiPlex<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 313-5427<\/td>\n | 16X DVD+\/-RW SATA,Roxio Creator,Cyberlink Power DVD Dell OptiPlex 755 Desktop or Minitower,Black<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 313-4825<\/td>\n | No Speaker, OptiPlex<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 310-9380<\/td>\n | Resource CD contains Diagnostics and Drivers for Dell OptiPlex 755<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 341-5470<\/td>\n | 1394 Controller Card,Full Height,Dell OptiPlex 755 Minitower<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 310-9504<\/td>\n | Energy Smart,Energy Star,EIST for OptiPlex (if applicable)<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 310-6618<\/td>\n | PS2 Serial Port Adapter,Full Height,Dell OptiPlex 330,740 745 and 755 Desktop or Minitower<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 310-9384<\/td>\n | Quick Reference Guide,Dell OptiPlex 755,Factory Install<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 310-9330<\/td>\n | Shipping Material for System Smith Minitower,Dell OptiPlex<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 985-6030<\/td>\n | Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response Initial Year<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 989-1587<\/td>\n | Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Initial Year<\/td>\n | $50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 989-1588<\/td>\n | Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Extended Year(s)<\/td>\n | $183<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 985-0582<\/td>\n | Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response 2 Year Extended<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 900-9987<\/td>\n | Standard On-Site Installation Declined<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 466-9045<\/td>\n | Thank you for buying Intel\/Dell<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1<\/td>\n | 466-2909<\/td>\n | WINDOWS XP STICKER, OPTI\/PWS\/LAT\/INSP\/DIM<\/td>\n | $0.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n That was my system for my digital darkroom. The other two systems were the same except that I didn’t order the 1394 card. This system priced out at $1397.00 after discounts, but before tax. Shipping was free.<\/p>\n I ordered the next-to-the-top CPU. Choosing a Q6700 would have been $320 more for only 260MHz more speed. I can always swap the CPU later on.<\/p>\n Some readers may question my choice of 4GB RAM in a 32-bit XP system. While it is true that Windows won’t use all of it, it does use 3.25GB. Dell doesn’t offer this system with a 3GB memory size. 4GB was only $139 more than 2GB.<\/p>\n I also ordered a 30″ widescreen monitor to go with that system:<\/p>\n
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