> -----Original Message-----
> From: S.Lewis [mailto:NVRambo@techie.com]
> Posted At: Saturday, January 05, 2008 10:06 AM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: 8300 - 8400
> Subject: Re: 8300 - 8400
>
>
> "Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:5992B1B0E18B457792B9379D30A902D1@M2010...
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: S.Lewis [mailto:NVRambo@techie.com]
> >>
> >> Regarding performance between the two models, I'd like to see
> >> benchmarks
> >> between similarly configured 8300 and 8400's. I've been told
> casually
> >> that
> >> there is/was no remarkable increase(s) in performance.
> >>
> >> If it's unstable, which to me it is, then I'm not going to touch it
> as
> >> a
> >> personal system.
> >>
> >> BTW, your Dim4550 is a rock-solid machine. I've owned at least (3)
> of
> >> them
> >> and worked with countless others. Since you don't game, you might
> want
> >> to
> >> consider riding with that machine a while longer if it does what
you
> >> need.
> >> Upgrade RAM if necessary, but that's about it.
> >>
> >> Again, YMMV........
> >>
> >>
> >> Stew
> >>
> >
> > I do agree the difference between a similarly configured 8300 and
> 8400
> > would be minor. I'm just surprised by your opinion of the 8400. I
> > don't recall any threads about unreliability here during the time it
> was
> > the 'top of the line'.
> >
> > The 4550 may have been the best machine Dell's ever built. The
> 9200/410
> > is great but has some subtle flaws in hard drive performance when
> paired
> > with the nVidia 7300LE. Wouldn't be a big deal if such a huge
> > percentage of them didn't ship with that video card.
> >
> >
>
>
> Tom -
>
> I certainly respect your opinion, and my comments on the 8400 are in
no
> way
> aimed at you or anyone else in the group. You're absolutely correct
> that
> there have been minimal threads here about any problems with that
> model.
>
> And your experiences with that model in "real world" usage are
> meaningful to
> me.
>
> I'm biased against the machine in that I was exposed to several of
them
> in a
> (not real-world) lab environment over a fairly long period of time -
> primarily on a base hardware level and with diags. I don't recall such
> an
> unpredictable HW configuration since the Dimension 8100 systems
> (another
> desktop which I know you owned and had good service from). Although
the
> 8400's I saw had several unpredictable failures, one that stands out
in
> my
> memory was the "runaway fan" syndrome. I literally saw one of these
> blow an
> empty styrofoam cup off of a workbench in that state. The noise was
> ......
> impressive.
>
> So, again, my limited perspective is completely blinded and biased
only
> by
> what I've experienced from those first-hand opportunities. It's only
a
> comparative opinion to, say, the Dimension 4400/45XX machines which
> were
> outstanding as you've pointed out - or the 8200 or 8300 and plenty of
> other
> newer models.
>
> I had forgotten about the 91XX/92XX/XPS4XX video card - hard disk
> performance issue you'd posted about. That was informative and fun in
> its
> quirkiness.
>
>
> You swapped the video card to cure that right? Did Dell ever post a
> BIOS
> fix for that? If they did not, I suspect it's because you're one of
> the few
> who actually identified the issue. :-)
>
>
>
> Stew
>
>
>
>
Maybe we just got a good 8400
My wife wouldn't have tolerated less. She was the toughest user of a
computer I've ever seen. She supported a blind computer users group and
installed and uninstalled at least 50 programs a week!
As for the 9200/410, nope, Dell never fixed it. I suspect no user ever
even noticed it. The data was always fine and the performance for
'normal' apps wasn't affected enough to notice. I was recording TV and
performance dropouts were pretty darn noticeable.
Either upgrading to 2GB or swapping the card fixed it. Dell sent me 2GB
(1 for each machine) at no charge.
I eventually swapped out the 7300 cards too, but only because I wanted
more card.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: S.Lewis [mailto:NVRambo@techie.com]
> Posted At: Saturday, January 05, 2008 10:11 AM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: 8300 - 8400
> Subject: Re: 8300 - 8400
>
>
> "Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:CC301EB803EA40CB937C9678D18D7DE5@M2010...
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: S.Lewis [mailto:NVRambo@techie.com]
> >> 1) Depending on the HW configuration and condition, that's a decent
> to
> >> good
> >> price for an 8300
> >>
> >> 2) I wouldn't touch an 8400 with a 10-foot pole.
> >>
> >> 3) I personally wouldn't buy nor recommend a new Vostro or Inspiron
> >> desktop
> >> as they are the equivalent of a similarly configured EMachines
> system
> >> component quality-wise.
> >>
> >> No flame to anyone, jmo.
> >
> > I agree the 8400 is overpriced, but is there another reason you
don't
> > like the 8400? Ours was my wife's machine and since then has been a
> > very reliable family server.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> You've got my e-mail. If you want my various (though fading)
> recollections
> of some of the issues I experienced, I'd be glad to pass them along to
> you.
>
> But the truth is, as you've pointed out, there have been very few
posts
> in
> this group about problems with it.
>
> I don't want to appear to be a contrarion who is just stirring up
crap.
> ;-)
>
>
> Stew
I think we all know you're full of it
Your recollections are meaningful. I'll likely steer people away from
used 8400s now. Realistically, they're already 'slow' and expensive
compared to newer models.
On Jan 5, 8:36*am, "Tom Scales" <tjsca...@gmail.com> wrote:
>*I'm just surprised by your opinion of the 8400. *I
> don't recall any threads about unreliability here during the time it was
> the 'top of the line'.
>
Agreed.
Rock solid running 24/7 for three years before I replaced it with my
9200.
"WaIIy" <WaIIy@(nft).invalid> wrote in message
news:1edtn39bl4hdksmof84a2k7io8oesti63p@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 4 Jan 2008 17:11:14 -0500, "Christopher Muto"
> <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
>>i would say the 8400 is better than a 8300, but i don't think it is 75%
>>better ($200 * 1.75 = $350).
>>the problem with low cost comptuers is the dollar difference is not great
>>but the percentage difference is huge.
>>and you really should look at new machines. things are really cheap now
>>and
>>a new computer comes with a minimum one year warranty and a place to call
>>and ask for help which you don't get with used.
>>for $399 you can get a vostros 200 with e2120 processor, 1gb ram, 160gb
>>hard
>>disk, dvd recorder, 19" wide lcd, windows xp home, and a one year
>>warranty.
>>kind of puts the pricing of the used computers into perspective huh?
>>http://www.dell.com/content/products...=04&l=en&s=bsd
>>and in my opinion, the largest cost to getting a new computer is your time
>>in transfering all your stuff to the new machine. this time can be
>>amrtized
>>over a longer period if you get a machine that is going to last you a
>>longer
>>amount of time.
>>so i think the above deal is the way to go, but if money is really tight
>>and
>>you basically find that your 4550 is ok then the 8300 is probably all you
>>need and it is going to be a noticable improvement.
>>that's my 2¢ anyway.
>>dimension 8300 specs
>>http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...0/sm/specs.htm
>>dimension 8400 specs
>>http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1052308
>>
>>
>>"WaIIy" <WaIIy@(nft).invalid> wrote in message
>>news:2datn3tnv5dgk6ul81afk1f1mf12999ga5@4ax.com. ..
>>>
>>> Another question -
>>>
>>> I can get an 8300 for about $200.00 and an 8400 for about $350.00.
>>>
>>> All things being equal, is the 8400 that much better?
>>> Thanks
>>
>
> Thanks a lot for the info and suggestions.
> Hmmm, I'm going to have to think this one over.
a new $299 deal to consider, which i think is pretty good if you are willing
to install windows xp yourself... dell dosen't have the xp drivers listed
on their site but i can tell you where to get them. the $399 deal above is
better, but it is rare for dell to offer anything without a monitor so i
thought i would mention this. http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...=en&oc=ddpsej1
On Sun, 6 Jan 2008 22:24:40 -0500, "Christopher Muto"
<muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>a new $299 deal to consider, which i think is pretty good if you are willing
>to install windows xp yourself... dell dosen't have the xp drivers listed
>on their site but i can tell you where to get them. the $399 deal above is
>better, but it is rare for dell to offer anything without a monitor so i
>thought i would mention this.
>http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...=en&oc=ddpsej1
>
Thanks very much for the link.
I took the plunge and am getting a fairly new XPS 410
RE: 8300 - 8400 
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