False advertisment, and problems with hardware !?!

Question

Hello

I was interested in buying a dell, but after reading through the forums i have serious doubts. ive seen various posts regarding hardware being incompatible with other hardware and audigy cards not being the same as the ones you purchase in stores.

id really appreciate any help with listing similar complaints or warnings before i decide to purchase a dell.

Id also like to know if the majority of people who have recived audigy 2 cards have identical ones that are sold in stores or if they are speacial dell audigy cards.

The system i am considering perchasing would be a Dimension 4600 Series
Pentium® 4 Processor at 2.80GHz w/800MHz front side bus/ HT
Technology

512MB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 400MHz (2x256M)

New 128MB DDR ATI RADEON™ 9800 Graphics Card with TV-Out and DVI

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 sound card with Dolby Digital 5.1 capability

-Friendlyname- · Answer

You  can get the 4600 with a P4 2.8 with 800FSB http://catalog.us.dell.com/CS1/cs1page2.aspx?CS=04&kc=6W463&br=1&fm=10473 Regards, Jane

volcano11 · Answer

Be very careful about coming to a decision based on the problems reported here on the Dell Forums. Keep in mind that Dell sells millions of computers each year and only those owners that are having problems (many of them created by the users themselves) come here to post a message. The otherseveral million users rarely come and post a message saying that everything is working perfectly or to report on every device that is compatible with their systems. Of course you could go to forums like this for the other computer manufacturers and see if their are reported problems, except that few, if any, of the other manufacturer's have a forum like this. The advanatge for Dell users, in this respect, is that if you look through the forums, most problems eventually get resolved.

Steve

tedh10000 · Answer

My apologies - Jane is correct.  The 4600 can be ordered with the 2.80 GHz with a 800 MHz front size bus.  Sorry, just didn't look far enough!

wsnyder · Answer

If you read Dell's own description of components (on the specifications page), you will not go wrong.  As for the Audigy 2, Creative Labs retails several different versions with different features.  E.g., if it does not say Game Port included, chances are it isn't.  What Dell does do (e.g., with ATI cards, at least my older one) is have the manufacturer so modify the .inf file for drivers, so that you MUST download the driver from Dell, and they post only those which they have 'tested'.  I am one of those who belly-ache a bit around here about the proprietary parts.  But I have found that it is really only necessary to read the info Dell provides carefully, and you will know what you are getting or not getting.  They do have lots of components manufactured to their specifications, but I think that they always say that when that is so.

-Friendlyname- · Answer

Hi,

I've had three Dells and liked them very much. Almost all of the problems I've ever had were due to incompatible software that I chose to install. What has worked well for me with the sound, has been to purchase the machine with the lowest priced sound they offered. Then I purchased the retail sound card of my desire and installed it myself.

Good luck,

Jane

tedh10000 · Answer

I might be naive but I don't think Dell would advertise a specific device and then install something else - can't imagine them risking their good name for something like that - must be more to it. It's for their own good to try to offer, install and test components for compatibility before offering a system for sale. Can't really speak personally for the specific card that you mention though...

As far as the Dell system you are interested in buying: I just checked the specs on the 4600 and I don't believe you can get that with a P4 2.80 GHz with an 800MHz front side bus. I believe the best you can customize it to is a P4 2.80GHz with a 533MHz front size bus.

I think you will need to go with the Dimiension 8300 to get the P4 2.80GHz with the 800MHz front side bus...

Master sneak · Answer

that was one of the things i took into consideration, that only a few of the many dell cutomers complain about problems with thier dells.

my biggest concern was the audigy 2 card. there is a thread in the audio forums titled "dell ripped me off with audigy 2" that talks about how the card is different then the ones sold in stores.

Here is the post by SilentDeath:

"I recently bought a Dimension XPS system and it works great...but today i opened it up to install the gameport adapter that a friend has from his audigy 2 onto my audigy 2 that came from dell (he bought his retail for his home-built comp)....the audigy 2 that i have did not have the pins on the card that are necessary to install this add-on. in addition it did not have the pins for the audigy platinum add-on (although i have no intention of installing that)...so i cant use my old and trusty joystick because dell shipped a stripped down version of the audigy 2...this is ridiculious...u can bet DELL will be getting a call from me...I DIDNT GET WHAT I PAYED FOR (a complete SoundBlaster Audigy 2)...this isnt even mentioning the fact that they SHOULD have shipped my system with the gameport extension as well becasue that is what the audigy 2 comes with...not only did they not ship the piece (and i assume they DONT to anyone)...the soundcard they shipped isnt even the complete version!!!"

here is another post by thmn875:

"I sent my so called, full Audigy 2, back to dell for a complete $123 dolalr credit and bought me a REAL SB Audigy 2 retail. Came with a poop load of software AND my midi connection. I suggest you do the same. I am VERY disappointed at Dell for their false advertisement and shady dealings with their XPS line of computers. I am aware also of a complaint against Dell wtih the BBB. Its about time people start taking action. I was assured, like you that I was receiving a full featured Audigy 2 when in fact, I was UNABLE to access the decoder tab properties in Audio HQ so i could enable S/PDIF passthrough. Shame on Dell "

i checked under details for sound card when configuring the dell i want to purchase, and it says it does not have joystick support, does this mean that i cannot plug in a game pad?

Master sneak · Answer

Ok its clear to me that they are in fact different from the ones sold in stores. I have a new question   what are the differences between the retail version and Dells OEM cards?

Master sneak · Answer

id really appreciate it if anyone can help me with this, ill try to find some answers my self, but if anyone happens to know, feel free to post.

NFFAA · Answer

There are two main areas of audio (and graphic ) card differences; features and support. There are not as many software features on the oem cards and sometimes the input and output possibilities are more limited on the oem cards. I would have to say the biggest difference is support though. The manufacturers of the oem cards won't give any tech support for oem cards. You have to go to Dell for that, and Dell has a tarnished reputation when it comes to tech support. It's worth a couple of extra bucks for the support alone.I have dealt with both types of cards.

My two cents.

Flooby · Answer

Why don't you try reviewing the multitude of posts on the subject in the far more appropriate Dimension - Audio conference?  Anything that can be offered on the subject most certainly has been, over there

-Friendlyname- · Answer

I agree with NFFAA.  Also, to see exactly what are the actual specs of the several retail versions, check out Creative's site. Jane

cyber_surfer · Answer

Order the computer with integrated sound and no premium sound card. Buy your sound card wherever you feel comfortable and install it yourself or pay the store where you brought it to install it.

Better yet get a local computer builder to build you one to your specs and from all retail parts. Nothing will be modified in any way and you can upgrade to your hearts content for years to come.

Even better build your own. I wish I had. It is hard to convince someone you need another computer when there is one everywhere you turn.

NFFAA · Answer

What happens when you need support at 1 a.m. ? Will the local computer builder get out of bed and answer the phone to help you with a hardware problem you can't identify? Right.

Master sneak · Answer

i had concidered building my own, and even went out to look at the prices, i already know what hardware id buy, and i really want to experience building my own computer but getting dell to build it for me without having to worry about mistakes appeals to me, id have to go to different stores to find the parts i want mean while trying to find the best deal, seems alot easir to get dell to build it for me, and you also get technical support. but i dont know about this whole audigy thing, i want the retail audigy 2 for sure simply because of the front panel that dells doesnt have, well looks like its the platinum version that comes with the front pannel, and i still dont know what the missing gameport is for, i dont have a joystick, but i do use a gamepad. im still confused. Message Edited by Master sneak on 08-27-2003 01:13 AM

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False advertisment, and problems with hardware !?!

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