New PC required - any recommendations?

[d000hg]

On the low end desktop systems Dell use a lot of laptop parts, basically to streamline manufacturing so they just make laptop not laptop AND desktop components. These systems are generally sold in huge numbers to large companies who just swap out any which die and send them back to Dell

If you are buying Dell, don't go consumer level, make sure you get the decent support package and haggle over the price.
Pro support with Dell is actually very good and parts are replaced with zero fuss and almost no contact with the indian call center.

Interesting. I also have had great support when I bought through a business account - personalised emails and everything! Worth creating a business account for contractors, I'd say... totally different range of machines too.

[biondani]

There are some great deals on refurbished Dells on mcscom. MCS Technology Ltd

Ian

[minestrone]

Support is highest on my issues on buying machines. If you are on 400 quid a day and they take more than 1.5 days to turn around a 600 quid PC issue it is not cost effective and dell will fight tooth and nail on this trying to convince you the PC is OK when it will not boot up.

[VectraMan]

On the low end desktop systems Dell use a lot of laptop parts,

What laptop parts specifically? Obviously they're not using a laptop case, or any part thereof. Nor a laptop hard disk, a laptop graphics card, a laptop screen and keyboard, a laptop touchpad etc. etc.

I guess they could use the same motherboard as a laptop, with the same processor, but I thought the power-saving'ness of laptop processors made them more expensive. The budget solution would surely be to not use laptop parts.

[Dark Black]

Great response!

Thanks guys, I always used to build my own PCs but I thought for a company one it would look better buying a pre-built system, plus I have to admit that these days there is so much choice for the components that I'd probably be researching for weeks and then still not make my mind up

So I'll go for off the shelf (with a bit of customisation - SSD drive, more memory etc).

Currently looking a ChillBlast, Overclockers, Ebuyer and Scan - let you know how I get on

[d000hg]

Support is highest on my issues on buying machines. If you are on 400 quid a day and they take more than 1.5 days to turn around a 600 quid PC issue it is not cost effective and dell will fight tooth and nail on this trying to convince you the PC is OK when it will not boot up.

Most of the people here aren't buying their day-to-day work PC, they work on the client site. What you say is totally correct though - probably the only useful blog entry I ever wrote: Just Spend the Damn Money! « d000hg

[Spacecadet]

Support is highest on my issues on buying machines. If you are on 400 quid a day and they take more than 1.5 days to turn around a 600 quid PC issue it is not cost effective and dell will fight tooth and nail on this trying to convince you the PC is OK when it will not boot up.

If you're talking to Dell-Bob to get your support then support cannot be highest on your priority list as you've clearly stuck with the lowest level of support and/or not purchased though Dell business.

I've never had to convince Dell of anything, I phone them, get put straight though to the UK or Irish call centre , explain the problem and they send an engineer round (or just the parts) within 24 hours as the support SLA specifies. They even phone up later to make sure everything is working OK again.

[Spacecadet]

What laptop parts specifically? Obviously they're not using a laptop case, or any part thereof. Nor a laptop hard disk, a laptop graphics card, a laptop screen and keyboard, a laptop touchpad etc. etc.

I guess they could use the same motherboard as a laptop, with the same processor, but I thought the power-saving'ness of laptop processors made them more expensive. The budget solution would surely be to not use laptop parts.

Something I read sometime ago:
DVD drive
motherboard with integrated graphics
power supply

These are/were none upgradable PC's, no adding second hard drives or upgrading the graphics card on them!

[Scrag Meister]

Support is highest on my issues on buying machines. If you are on 400 quid a day and they take more than 1.5 days to turn around a 600 quid PC issue it is not cost effective and dell will fight tooth and nail on this trying to convince you the PC is OK when it will not boot up.

I've always found Dell support to be great. Bought 2 laptops back in 2007 and had a few things go, a screen, blu ray drive, motherboard and they were always there next day to replace the faulty part.

[d000hg]

Something I read sometime ago:
DVD drive
motherboard with integrated graphics
power supply

These are/were none upgradable PC's, no adding second hard drives or upgrading the graphics card on them!

I've had a few low-end dell desktops and though there isn't much space inside - they used a fancy folding chassis - you could fit a low-profile GPU and so on. Those were not very modern though so maybe it changed. Normally though laptop parts are more expensive so it seems a slightly odd decision.