XPS 730x General Hardware Discussion thread

ok so I will expect the XFI Titanium.

Thank you.

Hi everyone,

Sorry if I’m posting in the wrong place, but I’m considering a XPS 730x, and this seemed like the best place to ask about them.  I have searched the Dell website for answers, I have tried the “Live Chat” thing, (which didn’t work) I even emailed Dell, thinking that they would answer questions about a $2000+ system I wished to buy-HA to me!  They sent back an automated response saying they didn’t answer pre sales questions.  I almost wanted to say I’d take my money elsewhere, but I already fell in love with the 730x, and it would be my 3rd Dell.

Jsimon, I read in a review of the 730X that yes, the cool stuff-turtle headphones, hat so on so on only come with the H2C models.  That bums me out, I hope to at least get that mouse pad!  For the system I’m picking, I’m going with the cheaper i7-920, I can always upgrade the processor later, but I also thought those headphones looked neat.

I have a few questions if anyone could help-please don’t laugh, they seem very blonde.

The Tri-Channel DDR3 memory.  I just don’t get it, I understand this is new and better than dual channel-duh, but what if any are the future upgrade options?  For the system I am buying, I am going with the 6GB option, is this the most the system will ever support?  I know Chris tried to explain this very early in the thread, but I still didn’t get it.  Is 6GB of Tri-Channel DDR3 memory like equal to more than dual channel memory?  Is it like 18 GB of memory?  I know I know, but I just don’t get it.  Can more memory ever be added to this system?

My other question is even blonder.

I am going to order the Hauppauge HVR 1250 hybrid TV Tuner with the system, I know this part is analog/digital, but what will happen to it after Feb. 2009 when the TV signal switches to digital, will this part be halfway useless?  Will it need/is it possible to hook up a converter box to a computer?  Is this the most stupid idea in history?     I do not watch TV much, so I don’t have digital cable, so it seems a big headache to even mess with this, but the concept seems perfect for me.

Go ahead laugh at me, LOL.

Thanks in advance,

Kendra

Hey Kendra,

Dont worry about the questions and how good they are :)

I can answer the first question for you

1. The system comes with a motherboard that has 3 memory slots  and if you pick the 6gb option it means it comes with 3 sticks of memory that are 2gb each. It does not mean you cannot upgrade BUT you would have to find sticks that are more than 2GB each. I.E. you would have to get 3 sticks that are 4gb each to get a total of 12gb ram. I think that is the limitation some are concerned about with the motherboard since 4gb sticks are WAY more expensive than any 2gb sticks. I am also getting the 6gb option and if I really need more I will upgrade the motherboard it comes with.

Triple channel refers to the effective bandwidth of the memory. You can get more performance when running a triple channel system as compared to dual.

I am not too sure on your second question as I watch tv like a normal person with DVR :p

Cheers

sorry my post was sooooooooo big, I tried typing it in the forum three times, and the forum kept losing it, so I wrote it and copied and pasted from somewhere else.

Kendra

Ahhh! thanks!  I was hoping the memory was something like that, I'd hate to think a low end system (like I picked) would be maxed out on memory before I even got it out of the box!

With a new computer that has 6GB memory, which is double what I have now, I will be happy for a few years with it.  Then hopefully the 4GB sticks will come down in price and I can upgrade later.  I plan to update the processor, add another video card also in the years to come.  Your brave, I've never attempted a motherboard upgrade, that seems scary.  I'm also hopefull that what I read about the whole 730x series coming with a standart 1kW power supply is accurate, I have upgraded a power supply before in a Dell Dimension, and it was no walk in the park, and for the upgrades I hope to do on this computer, I would think it would need lots of power.

LOL I used to be a normal person with a DVR, but now I'm just an analog person  :)

Thanks for your answers, hope your system arrives soon.

Kendra

Btw, there are a few upgrades that will be available. Yes you could buy 4GB sticks in the future but the best point is that you'll be able to buy better faster DDR3 ram with lower latency! The ram that is being sold (1066) is actually the slowest available for DDR3. When prices godown you can buy faster DDR3 ram (at 1800 or more) with lower latency at a good price that will blow the ram you have away. Also, the westmere processor is in the making to be released in 2010 I believe which is a 6 core processor with 24MB cache memory that will be available in the same socket size as the current core i7. I doubt that you'l need a newer motherboard. Really, from what I know this motherboard can handle Overclocking pretty well so you should be good to go for a while.

yeah, I thought of the upgrades I could do. With 1KW power supply youu aren't short of anything. You can add Western Velociraptor Hard drives which are blazing fast but too expensive right now. you can upgrade the memory not just in terms of amount 6gb or 12 gb but also get faster memory (one that runs at 1800 or more vs 1066). DDR3 is very very expensive right now so I guess that's why dell chose the 1066 as it allows them to keep prices decent on the lower end models though they should have the option for those that want to max it out. And no, 6GB DDR3 is not like more DDR2 memory, it just works better in some instances (though right now DDR2 is a way better bang for your buck!).  When the prices go down for high speed low latency DDR3 then yes it will kick DDR2. 

I think you will be fine for a while, only certain users really need more than the ram you are getting.

 Motherboard install is not that bad its more about doing the right research to make sure all your components are compatble.

I think the power supply should be fine for you as well.

Gluck to you :)

Alberto

I am sorry to hear your experience.

I hope I dont have the same issues. I am fairly techy so I should be able to fix them but I am not sure why that would be teh case as I am paying them money and can definilitely understand your frustration. One of the reasons I went with Dell on this is so that I did not have to worry about the troubleshooting and fixing. Otherwise I would have built my own.

Thanks everyone for the answers, I feel better about the memory, I was confused.  I techie friend of mine talked me into going back down to 3GB of memory, and go to the middle processor instead of the low end one, this should be a pretty sweet system!  Especially with 25% off.

Have a great New Years everyone!

Kendra

As I have had my share of problems that I have outlined within this forum in previous posts, I will report that the final XPS 730X I have received works very well.  I is very stable and very very fast, and I now am now really enjoying having this computer.  I am still trying to get my warranty extended as I burnt months of warranty waiting on a computer that would work, but to say that Dell is not too keen on this idea would be an understatement.

Intel® Core™ i7-940
6GB Tri-Channel DDR3 at 1066MHZ
ATI Radeon HD4870X2 2048MB
300GB Western Digital Velociraptor
2 - 24 inch 2408WFP Ultrasharp

I am glad to hear your problems did get resolved and I certainly hope that when my machine arrives I get a working setup.

This is the first time I splurge on a prebuilt box from any company and I dont want my experience to be jaded by not proper testing.

That brings up a question I have. Do they do any type of testing prior to shipping to make sure it works? I mean in my opinion for gaming machines like these I would imagine they would do somet type of testing. Run a game, run applications. let it run for at least 24 hours type thing. I am not sure Dell does this but I know a lot of niche computer companies do a gammut of testing to their enthusiast boxes.

Wouldn't that be a great job to have? Play PC games to check out computer systems?

 Kinda like a quality control agent/taste tester for Krispy Kreme Doughnuts!

Wouldn't that be a great job to have? Play PC games to check out computer systems?

 Kinda like a quality control agent/taste tester for Krispy Kreme Doughnuts!

Kendra