Pre-Buy RFC

There's the brand new XPS 8900 with the latest generation Intel CPUs too...

You might get a better response if you re-post this in What Do I Buy.

If I were buying a pre-built, I'd go for the cheapest 8900 with the Core i7 6700 that I could find.

This would likely have 8GB RAM, and a 1TB HDD

I would: ( price in parens first number is a recent "on-sale" price, second is typical not-on-sale price
add a 500GB Samsung Evo 850 ( $150 / $170 )
upgrade the graphics card to a GTX 970 ( $320 / $350 )
upgrade the power supply to a seasonic X-650 ( $89 / $129 )
upgrade RAM to 16GB or maybe 32GB  ( $95 to $250 )

If you can find an xps 8900 for $700, this adds another $650 to $700+ and results in a pretty dang nice system.

You can trim the cost by about $200 by going with less of a graphics card like a GTX 960.

I would put the graphics card and PSU in a box until the warranty expired and then sell them on eBay.

If I were buying a pre-built, I'd go for the cheapest 8900 with the Core i7 6700 that I could find. This would likely have 8GB RAM, and a 1TB HDD I would: ( price in parens first number is a recent "on-sale" price, second is typical not-on-sale price add a 500GB Samsung Evo 850 ( $150 / $170 ) upgrade the graphics card to a GTX 970 ( $320 / $350 ) upgrade the power supply to a seasonic X-650 ( $89 / $129 ) upgrade RAM to 16GB or maybe 32GB  ( $95 to $250 ) If you can find an xps 8900 for $700, this adds another $650 to $700+ and results in a pretty dang nice system. You can trim the cost by about $200 by going with less of a graphics card like a GTX 960. I would put the graphics card and PSU in a box until the warranty expired and then sell them on eBay.

That's really some good ideas. Unfortunately, I'm not personally inclined to hardware changes.

I just don't have the patience with hardware. Probably 'cause I just haven't done enough of it.

But, I do have a guy who could sure stir up the recipe you described, in short order. Thank you

very much for your suggestions.

Gary

Thanks, I didn't know there was a "What Do I buy". I'm kinda; new here.

And, I'll also check out the 8900. Thanks again....

Gary

Anyone have any “pre-buy” comments/criticisms/recommendations/warnings etc. on a DELL Model “X87009376BLK” as seen here:http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-xps-desktop-intel-core-i7-32gb-memory-2tb-hard-drive-256gb-solid-state-drive-black/4240100.p?id=1219712208482&skuId=4240100 I want a high end quality unit that will last me several years, and I'm seeking RFC's.. Thank you, Gary

As requested, I have replicated this question to "What Do I Buy". But, that forum

requires a moderator's consent. I will post the URL here once I've been granted

acceptance.

Gary

Don't know why you should need moderator's consent to post in What Do I Buy. That's odd...!

Dan-H gave you some interesting recommendations to trick out the XPS 8900 that probably work out to less $$ than the Special Edition, but you have to decide what's best for you.

Either way, the 8900 has a 6th generation processor and the 8700 has 5th generation. So the 8900 is newer Intel technology.

Good luck purchasing your new toy! :emotion-2:

Here are basic specs for the XPS 8900. Dell did not remove the Ethernet (RJ45) port and it has a "10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet controller integrated on system board".

There are several configurations including the "Special Edition", and they  come with either Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n or Wi-Fi 802.11ac.

Yes, the XPS 8900 has the 6th generation Intel Core CPU and the 8500 has an older version.

Go to Dell's shopping page to compare different configurations of both systems.

Dell sells PCs at Costco, so if you're a member, maybe you can see the XPS 8900 on display there. 

Don't know why you should need moderator's consent to post in What Do I Buy. That's odd...! Dan-H gave you some interesting recommendations to trick out the XPS 8900 that probably work out to less $$ than the Special Edition, but you have to decide what's best for you. Either way, the 8900 has a 6th generation processor and the 8700 has 5th generation. So the 8900 is newer Intel technology. Good luck purchasing your new toy! :emotion-2:

Sorry I've been absent. I was awaiting moderator's OK email over on "What To Buy". That was never received, but I do see that the post has now appeared. Here's the link there:

http://en.community.dell.com/what-do-i-buy/f/3510/t/19659632

Obviously, there been no other activity since my post. But, in the mean time, I've noticed that the model

X87009376BLK mentioned earlier, has been augmented with a model X89008756BLK.

This addresses the dated problem of the #8700 unit by offering the #8900 unit. Similarly to what another response described. Unfortunately, the #8900 unit does provide the updating, but has had some other items(that are in the #8700) removed. The removal is not a necessarily a death blow, but I can see some components missing. I don't recall everything, but I think the #8900 is wireless(including ac) only, with the #8700 is RJ45 and wireless(excluding ac). That's all I remember, but there are other discrepancies. Unfortunately, I've been arguing with BB regarding whether I can buy any higher end model in store, or only via online order. Most customers are happy to online buy, but I prefer to look over the unit in the store. Also, online orders carry more restrictive rules on how they must be paid for, than do in store units. I was inside my local BB today, and they just have not display units that would satisfy my need. All those category computers appear on the BB site, and mostly only available online. I'm still working on it though.One clarification though, the #8900 does have the 6th generation processor, but the #8700 unit has the 4th generation. According to BB's spec sheet.

Thanks.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-xps-desktop-intel-core-i7-32gb-memory-2tb-hard-drive-256gb-solid-state-drive-black/4240100.p?id=1219712208482&skuId=4240100

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-xps-desktop-intel-core-i7-32gb-memory-2tb-hard-drive-256gb-solid-state-drive-black/4240100.p?id=1219712208482&skuId=4240100

Here are basic specs for the XPS 8900. Dell did not remove the Ethernet (RJ45) port and it has a "10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet controller integrated on system board". There are several configurations including the "Special Edition", and they  come with either Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n or Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Yes, the XPS 8900 has the 6th generation Intel Core CPU and the 8500 has an older version. Go to Dell's shopping page to compare different configurations of both systems. Dell sells PCs at Costco, so if you're a member, maybe you can see the XPS 8900 on display there.

Thanks, I'll take a look there. I'm not a Costco member. And, I thought it odd that an RJ45 port would have been removed. Here is the BB comparison presented

http://tinyurl.com/paysrp5

I hope that link appeared correctly, I looked overlaid as this is being typed. I think the BB comparison mechanism may be a little faulty. Notice that it shows the #8700 processor @ 4mhz, and the [tag:8900] @ 3.4. They're both 3.4 without modification. You can see lots of little things in the BB comparison that's either error, or actual difference. Thank you again for all your assistance and suggestions. And a thanks you also to the other members that took time to make their contributions.

I'll again, add the BB comparison link here, just to be sure. Originally, it was over 450 characters, so I ran it through tinyurl.

http://tinyurl.com/paysrp5

Thanks again,

Gary

Here are basic specs for the XPS 8900. Dell did not remove the Ethernet (RJ45) port and it has a "10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet controller integrated on system board". There are several configurations including the "Special Edition", and they  come with either Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n or Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Yes, the XPS 8900 has the 6th generation Intel Core CPU and the 8500 has an older version. Go to Dell's shopping page to compare different configurations of both systems. Dell sells PCs at Costco, so if you're a member, maybe you can see the XPS 8900 on display there.

I just completed a reply to this quoted response. Upon posting that reply, I was presented with a warning notification that the post will require moderator approval before appearing. As I stated earlier, I received the same notification earlier when I moved my original question to the "What To Buy" category.

Just FYI, I think this notification may be related to the presence of various URL's in my post text. It seems that I'd supplied URL's without a moderator warning. But, without retracing the thread, I can't really say. So, I'm just saying that the moderator warnings may indicate necessity when URL references are included in text.

Thanks - Gary

It appears your account is on moderation. I'll ping my Dell contacts to see what's happened and ask them to fix it.

The BB comparison lists "Number Of Ethernet Ports", and both are marked "1". So even though they didn't specify RJ45 higher up in that table, it's there.

Maybe you'll luck out and find a Black Friday deal on the model you want.

Post back and let us know what you buy. Happy shopping!