New System Specs

fixler wrote on 1/18/2007, 9:27 PM

Hi all, I realize there are a swell of post just like this one but I was hoping you would consider mine nonetheless...please.

I am about to purchase a new workstation, and have decided to go with DELL as I have in the past. I certainly realize that they are not popular on this forum, but I have been thrilled with the products and service they have provided in the past.

I have configured a DELL XPS 710 as follows:

Intel Core2 Duo E6700
2GB DDR2 667Mhz Memory
256MB PCIe x16 NVIDIA GeForce 7900GS Dual DVI
Dell 2407 UltraSharp
320GB SATA (System + Docs etc)
500GB SATA (Media Files)
Windows VISTA Home Premium
16X Max DVD-ROM
16X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic

I hope to edit a large HD project in the coming months, and am wondering if this system will cope well with it. My other thoughts are whether to go for a 4GB RAM and/or a 750GB Media hard drive over the 500GB. The system has 4 drive trays so I could always add another...

I managed all this for $4480.00AUS ($3535.81US).

Any advice/ideas would be so greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Comments

Nobody wrote on 1/18/2007, 9:37 PM

Here's a thought on one aspect or your config. That MOBO probably has four memory slots. If you're going with 2GB, you might consider using two 1GB sticks. That's what I did. (I've got a Core Duo 6600 and I run WinXP Pro. I haven't done any HD work yet, and things are running fine.) Doing it this way, you could always order two more 1GB sticks of memory from a less expensive source and put it in yourself if things seem sluggish as is.

Does that make sense?

fixler wrote on 1/18/2007, 9:39 PM

Yes, that makes perfect sense! It is probably the best idea.

Thanks

UlfLaursen wrote on 1/18/2007, 11:08 PM

Not sure if Vegas runs on vista yet?

/Ulf

fixler wrote on 1/18/2007, 11:36 PM

I am actually getting the express upgrade so I will receive XP and the Vista disc, giving me the option to upgrade when I want...

busterkeaton wrote on 1/19/2007, 12:04 AM

If you are able to get xp pro with a free or cheap upgrade to vista, I would choose that. Wait for Vista to get its kinks out and wait for SMS to release a Vista certified Vegas. You don't need the highest end graphic card for Vegas, but you might for other apps. Rather than a bigger hard drive you may want to get another hard drive and do a RAID for greater security or higher throughput.

Your machine however should be powerful enough to slice through HDV pretty easily

TLF wrote on 4/28/2007, 7:35 AM

What do you think of the sound card? I've just bought one (to be delivered next week) and would like to know ow it performs with Vegas.

Worley

dat5150 wrote on 4/28/2007, 7:55 AM

Have you looked at the depot section on the Dell site? I'm typing this on a Dell 1705 laptop with very close specs(sans the HDs) and paid much less....bought it almost 6 months ago. I'd check out before pulling the trigger.

vicmilt wrote on 4/28/2007, 8:55 AM

Check out this one first - the specs are nearly the same, it's got 4GB of RAM and it's only $2,500.00 - from Tiger Direct.
I've had excellent experience with both Systemax and Tiger Direct.
But cross check the specs - on the surface it looks better to me than the Dell.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2864321&CatId=2639