Dell 5150 Dual Core 2.8GHz inc 19" LCD Monitor & Free Printer £429 (merged)

biglugs

There are some silent graphics cards out there - I installed a Gigabyte 6600GT which is passively cooled (with a fan option if you want it) and that means you can still run this as a "near" silent PC. Works pretty well even with passive cooling, although the card does heat up to around 95C according to Coolbits, but that's not a big problem particularly.
The card costs about £100 and I got mine from Dabs, but I have seen them on Ebay for £60-£70 if you want them.

scottgreenwood

Guys!!

You can purchase a 7900gt from lowest on the web and max out all settings on the game AND output to TV!!

I did! My 5150 runs fine, no problems with power supply anf 3d mark 2006 of 4986!! (thats about the same as a £1200+ PC!!)

If you have a monitor sell the dell one - gets you about £170 (I did this but checked to see if it was ok first - ok to sell as new on ebay aslong as you tell people you have checked it)

Purchase a 7900GT for £199

Enjoy games like you have never seen them before

Scott

JIT_3

As this offer is on until the 3rd i think i'll hold off over the weekend just in case it gets better.

fox2319

Anybody tried to install an X800 GTO in the machine? I saw someone had installed another flavour of the X800 but I'm interested in the specific model which can be modded to 16 pipes and X850 speeds.

I ordered the Dell on Weds, was sick when I saw the new offer today but managed to phone up and get another 512MB RAM sent out to follow the PC and an engineer install for the RAM too! I could do that myself but warranty etc...

Now looking at the Saphire X800 GTO2 from overclockers.co.uk (£125 + del) but I'm a little wary about PSU.

Thanks for any hints.

Jeff

biglugs

and an engineer install for the RAM too

How environmentally unfriendly! Sending a bloke in a van to fit a memory chip which will take him almost 20 seconds!
You'd think they'd let you do it yourself and still keep the warranty wouldn't you, since it only goes in one hole and it only goes in one way in that hole? Pretty difficult NOT to install memory properly.
BTW according to CustomPC the street price for an X800GTO2 is about £110 including VAT so £125+del seems a little high? Savastore.com have a Sapphire one for £111.45+delivery.
As for the X800GTO2 the latest issue of Custom PC did some analysis and this uses about 25W more than a 6600GT so you might get problems with power. Then again their test rig running the GTO2 drew about 213W while running 3DMark06 so the Dell supply SHOULD be OK for this card. Only one way to find out unfortunately

fox2319

biglugs wrote:

How environmentally unfriendly! Sending a bloke in a van to fit a memory chip which will take him almost 20 seconds!
You'd think they'd let you do it yourself and still keep the warranty wouldn't you, since it only goes in one hole and it only goes in one way in that hole? Pretty difficult NOT to install memory properly.
BTW according to CustomPC the street price for an X800GTO2 is about £110 including VAT so £125+del seems a little high? Savastore.com have a Sapphire one for £111.45+delivery.
As for the X800GTO2 the latest issue of Custom PC did some analysis and this uses about 25W more than a 6600GT so you might get problems with power. Then again their test rig running the GTO2 drew about 213W while running 3DMark06 so the Dell supply SHOULD be OK for this card. Only one way to find out unfortunately

I agree, still, hoping to pick the guys brains when he gets here on upgrading the machine

I had a look at Savastore and it seems to be the basic GTO, not the GTO2. As far as I understand it, only the GTO2 has got the R480 chip which is capable of the 16 pipelines etc. etc.

I think I may try to be patient but it's just so tempting!

Jeff

biglugs

The savastore card is clearly marked as a Sapphire X800GTO2 - item number 10287040 if you want to search for it.

fox2319

biglugs wrote:

The savastore card is clearly marked as a Sapphire X800GTO2 - item number 10287040 if you want to search for it.

It is indeed, my mistake last night appears to be searching using GTO rather than GTO2. Will probably be giving them a call.

Cheers

Jeff

JIT_3

Are the onboard graphics capable of 1400x900 resolution for use with a widescreen monitor?

mpazza

JIT wrote:

Are the onboard graphics capable of 1400x900 resolution for use with a widescreen monitor?

I bought the Dell 20.1" widescreen monitor on the £399 512MB 80G deal and its running fine at 1600 x something resolution.