At least you got 'some' closure and satisfaction out of the whole deal

The X-Fis work great on XP, jst problems on Vista, from what I have read.

you think x-fi is a problem on vista? try linux. those cards have been out for about three years now and still no linux drivers. wtf with that.

I've heard that too, Merc, but was able to get my X-fi card to work without any grief on Vista using Creative's Vista driver. I think if CK uses the Vista driver he should be fine.

actually the cd that came with it has drivers for winxp 64 so that's np

the new dell will be here monday which has a "special" version of the card and like i said, i am not touching a thing on the replacement dell.

i have my tinker rig to play around with.

Specs on the Dell coming.

1 222-9550 Intel Core2 Extreme processor QX6700 (3.46GHz,,Overclocked) w/Quad Core Technology and 8MBcache
1 310-0173 Airborne Documentation, System Exchanges,Factory Install
1 310-3798 No Keyboard Requested
1 310-7966 Dell Optical USB Mouse
1 310-8626 You have chosen a Windows Vista Premium System
1 311-7251 4GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz OC 1066MHZ
1 313-3607 No modem requested for Dell Dimension
1 313-4514 No Speaker Requested
1 313-5446 48X Combo and 16X DVD+/-RW
1 313-5450 X-Fi PCI Sound Card
1 320-4849 Video ready option w/o monitor
1 320-5186 Dual 768MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX
1 341-4401 3.5in Floppy Drive
1 341-4838 SATA RAID 0 With Dual 160GB 10000 RPM Hard Drives and 16MB DataBurst Cache
1 412-0914 Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0
1 412-1397 No Productivity Software requested
1 420-5769 Internet Search and Portal
1 420-5924 Icon Consolidation Application
1 420-6436 Vista, PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
1 420-6464 Roxio Creator Basic
1 420-6541 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, English
1 420-6914 Network Associates McAfee 8.0 English, 15-Month Subscription
1 420-6995 DELL SUPPORT 3.4,DIM/INSP
1 420-7091 DataSafe Online Dim/Ins/XPS
1 420-7094 DataSafe Online 10GB for Dim/Ins/XPS
1 420-7142 Resource DVD, XPS 720
1 420-7244 Dell Support Center 1.0
1 461-3063 No ISP Requested
1 463-2282 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
1 464-8871 Special Offer - $125 off
1 464-9572 No Preinstalled Software
1 465-3640 Dozer Chassis
1 465-3641 Motherboard 7-slot BTX
1 465-3643 1 kilowatt Power Supply
1 465-3645 Two 120mm x 38mm front fans
1 466-1960 Dell H2C Cooling Unit

I've never tried it, I only know what I read at various places like Anandtech. I'm strictly a headphones guy so onboard is fine for me.

i have tinnitus in my right ear (ringing, hissing) all the time, sometimes very very loud so headphones are not an option for me.

the X-fi version that ships with the dell and vista works fine as all the drivers are setup for the system.

Capn' needs to keep his hands off this one and all will be fine.

they do want the old dell returned, but as i told them it's in pieces because i thought i was stuck with it per what dell customer care told me.

will wait until they really bother me for it.
the 8800gtx cards that came with the last dell were nothing special, but even at 575mhz core clocks in Sli with the CPU, ram, it will suffice for my gaming needs.
i want dx10 graphics badly so it's all good at this point.

tempting to put in the msi ultras, but the way the dell comes is how it stays as per Mercs (my second brain) advice.

the MSI's will go in the tinker rig as I'm shooting for the 20,000+ score elite list on future marks website for 3dmark06.

still can't believe dell sent me a replacement e-mail out of the blue, but 50+ spams to customer care must have got someones attention.

i hope i least bring some laughs and giggles to this forum with my crazy life style and personality.

well, more to come i'm sure as this situation continues.

I have a tinnitus in my left from surgery a few years back. They basically replaced the the inner ear bones (genetic disease that calcifies them) that transmit sound and twanged a nerve while in there. Better than being deaf I guess. In my case speakers bother it more than earphones because of the deeper bass with speakers.

hmmm i thought dells ran BTX boards...maybe that's before tehy dropped the Clamshell carp. As for cases it's always easier to build a nice case that runs like a dream and has all the features you want when you've got a full fledged machine shop that can stamp out the little pieces you need to make the perfect case for the products you are putting in it. That as opposed to riding your dremel for a couple hours to get the "pretty close."

I always like looking inside major brands to see what they have going on in there. For one Dells never retain dust even after being unopened for years and years. I've surplussed dozens of those things while they may be covered in dust but inside they are bunny free.

mass production does have it's advantages but not enough for me to go back.

they do, and big ones at that.

http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3437.JPG

looks like everyone is gunna jump on this bus..
dell, then HP and now another $6000 by err.... VooDoo.
http://www.voodoopc.com/sellpage/sellpage.aspx?spid=61

Got my new dell today and dell e-mailed me to see how everything was.


Grab a beer...


I appreciate Dell replacing my defective system.
Let me make some obvious suggestions.
First, either use more tape, stronger tape or better yet, staple the box AND tape it.
I made the DHL carrier add a notation that the box was very damaged and I wasn't going to sign where it says "received in good condition."
His name was Derek and he said that the notation would show up on the DHL tracking site, but it hasn't updated yet.
He also said he never had a box this damaged.
The bottom of the box was hanging by a little bit of tape, a little more and the computer would have fallen out the bottom.
The entire box was coming apart.

Look at these pictures.
http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3469.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3470.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3471.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3472.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3473.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3477.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3478.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3479.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3480.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3481.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~seven333/DSCF3482.JPG

Who packs for Dell? Stevie Wonder?

Aside from lots of road dust and dirt all over everything and some got into the front of the computer where the grill for air is.
I went through 5 cans of air to blow out the system. It seems to be running okay, but I just can't win with your quality control. Common sense, tape wears out because they slide the box all over the place.
I thought UPS was bad, DHL must have been dragging it along the highway for crying out loud!

As far as returning the defective system, it's in pieces.

I was told multiple times that the system would not be replaced if it was damaged. Yeah that didn't make sense to me
either. Then I was told 21 days has past so Dell can't replace it. I have a year warrantee so i was told.
I swear, your Customer Care had me pulling my hair out!

Then September 9th on a Sunday, some guy from Dell Customer Care calls and had no idea what was going on.
Don't these people read the File? I asked if he was going to resolve this nightmare, but he was just not making any sense and finally old me, it's past 21 days Mr. OShea, we cannot replace it.
That's when I lost it and cursed him out and he hung up.
So Dell had just confirmed I was stuck with it.
I had no choice but to try and salvage what i could since Customer Care had made it clear I was stuck with it.

One of the screws that holds the H2C water unit to the CPU was completely loose, the hole was stripped so the H2C unit never made full flat contact with the CPU. That's why I got the number 3 diagnostic code.
Point being, it's Dell's lack of quality support and mishandling a simple replacement of a defective system that has cause the computer to now be in it's current condition.

I sold off the video cards and chucked the CPU since it was fried.
So what exactly do you want back?
I have a case full of parts, you are welcomed to them, but this is Dell's doing, so don't even think about taking even more money from me, because it's not going to happen.
If anything, between the first system and the condition the replacement arrived, the stress all this has caused for me and my Wife, Dell should adjust the price for all the crap they put me through.

Sorry I sound bitter, but the replacement should have been perfect. I spent 3 hours cleaning it.
Not what I was expecting.
Let me know if you want the other pile of junk back.

Mike OShea

Sorry but I couldnt grab a beer as I'm on a Diet/Exercise regime, but I looked at all the pictures regardless... If anything comes to us in that sort of condition I usually dont sign for it and send it right back from whenst it came. Absolutely shocking to think that a 'precision enngineered' product such as your Dell XPS is left open for nature to go to work on its delicate innards... defies logic.

Hope they let you keep the 'assorted parts' lol... Did the CPU fry did it?

Wow, that is pretty bad. 6 grand and my boy's sandbox came in better condition. Looks like it got wet somewhere and then bounced around a bit. Does it work OK?

yeah works fine so far, and this one was put together really nice and clean.