Dell PC's - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

pacaveli · 03-19-2005, 09:01 AM

I've had a dell for about 2 years and i've had 2 major problems with it annually. The first time something went bad was about this time last year the computer refused to start, dell sent sone one out and gave my tower a complete all new insides and it worked for about another year. No monitor i have in my house works with the PC when u plug it in it goes into hibernation mode, but when u unplug the dell one, the default message pops up and says no signal input, so it's not the moniotr it's the computer, other test with other moniotors make this a fact. The question i have now is should i bother to call up dell and ask them for a new tower or just cut my losses with the whole dell company and go by a new tower.

If the answer is to cut my losses what kinda of tower should i buy, nothing to expensive, but not a dell. I want a good reliable computer that i can do work on and play games on as well. Any suggestions?

Wyodiver33 · 03-19-2005, 11:19 AM

I don't think Dell is all that bad, but I would never buy from Dell or any other company. I build my own. That way I'm in control of all the hardware choices.

MahlerIsGod · 03-19-2005, 11:21 AM

I feel your pain! My Dell was one of the worst/most infuriating things I ever bought. The only upside to it is that I had to fix it so many times myself I became quite knowledgeable and could build my own. The problem here is that Dell uses there own style of motherboard. If you buy an normal ATX compatible tower from say Newegg it wont fit properly. Plus there is the whole PSU connector issue. My suggestion (depending on how much longer you have on your warranty) is this: cut your losses with Dell and either buy from a Ma & Pa local store next time (someplace you can actually take your computer for repair) or spend $500 on new setup. Take all of your existing hardware and just plug it into a new tower, mobo and cpu. Thats what I did with my old Dell and I haven't regretted it once.

P.S. I know there are people on this forum who adore Dell and I am not trying to start any drama but I was just relating my experiences.

Wyodiver33 · 03-19-2005, 03:09 PM

Dell, in fact, does make their computers a bit too proprietary. Case in point, a friends' Dell box had a SB Audigy card die. Dell sent him a new one, but for whatever reason, he had to reinstall the driver. The Audigy driver found on Creative's web site didn't work. He had to get the driver from Dell. I don't like that. Also, the gForce 4200 ti card in his Dell was a "special" Dell model, Not good. Dell having their own version of standard equipment scares me. What have they done to the cards? To save money, maybe the cards are a bit crippled? Who knows. When you build your own system, you pick what you want, and you still have warranties on each individual part.

pacaveli · 03-23-2005, 04:53 PM

the video card poped out, and we put it back in. But the video card poped out...? how does that happen. it was in it's place the entire time. No Eaarth quakes or bombs dropped, so why would this happen?

pattycakes · 03-23-2005, 06:35 PM

it wasnt screwed into place

Wyodiver33 · 03-23-2005, 07:09 PM

You have to screw them cards down.

GreenHell · 03-27-2005, 04:44 PM

Ive had my Dell for a couple of years and it was fine for awhile, and then it went screwy, I fixed it, it goes screwy again, so Im getting my friend to build me a new computer for cheap as balls, building a computer ground up is cheap

liquidlight · 03-27-2005, 04:50 PM

Dell as a company has always been less than desireable in my eyes, through various friends that have worked for them I've learned things that make me cringe every time I hear the name. They use recycled parts from returned damaged systems without thoroughly testing them, and even from systems that are trade-in's and don't tell you that the components are refurbed. Though the worst thing about the entire situation is the way that they treat their employees. They hire through temp agencies and abuse their employees until the point that they should hire them full time, then they fire them so that they don't have to cover their benefits or give them raises. Not to mention the fact that from what I've heard about 50% of all units that they ship have SERIOUS problems either right out of the box, or within 12 months of them being used. Not very good statistics if you ask me.

thatoneguy · 03-27-2005, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyodiver33

Dell, in fact, does make their computers a bit too proprietary. Case in point, a friends' Dell box had a SB Audigy card die. Dell sent him a new one, but for whatever reason, he had to reinstall the driver. The Audigy driver found on Creative's web site didn't work. He had to get the driver from Dell. I don't like that. Also, the gForce 4200 ti card in his Dell was a "special" Dell model, Not good. Dell having their own version of standard equipment scares me. What have they done to the cards? To save money, maybe the cards are a bit crippled? Who knows. When you build your own system, you pick what you want, and you still have warranties on each individual part.

Exactly, I've heard that about Dell before too, and I don't like that at all. I mean, I'm sure the Dell-specific parts aren't BETTER than normal ones, so why/how are they different? That just bothers me.

All the computers in my CAD lab at school are Dell, unfortnately, and we have nothing but problems with them. Not a big fan of Dell at all.

03-19-2005, 09:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
pacaveli Psycho Location: MD	Dell PC's I've had a dell for about 2 years and i've had 2 major problems with it annually. The first time something went bad was about this time last year the computer refused to start, dell sent sone one out and gave my tower a complete all new insides and it worked for about another year. No monitor i have in my house works with the PC when u plug it in it goes into hibernation mode, but when u unplug the dell one, the default message pops up and says no signal input, so it's not the moniotr it's the computer, other test with other moniotors make this a fact. The question i have now is should i bother to call up dell and ask them for a new tower or just cut my losses with the whole dell company and go by a new tower. If the answer is to cut my losses what kinda of tower should i buy, nothing to expensive, but not a dell. I want a good reliable computer that i can do work on and play games on as well. Any suggestions? __________________ Check my blog out. Basically me talking about video games http://gginsights.blogspot.com/

03-19-2005, 11:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Wyodiver33 Just here for the beer. Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Floriduh	I don't think Dell is all that bad, but I would never buy from Dell or any other company. I build my own. That way I'm in control of all the hardware choices. __________________ I like stuff.

03-19-2005, 11:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
MahlerIsGod At The Globe Showing Will How Its Done Location: London/Elysium	I feel your pain! My Dell was one of the worst/most infuriating things I ever bought. The only upside to it is that I had to fix it so many times myself I became quite knowledgeable and could build my own. The problem here is that Dell uses there own style of motherboard. If you buy an normal ATX compatible tower from say Newegg it wont fit properly. Plus there is the whole PSU connector issue. My suggestion (depending on how much longer you have on your warranty) is this: cut your losses with Dell and either buy from a Ma & Pa local store next time (someplace you can actually take your computer for repair) or spend $500 on new setup. Take all of your existing hardware and just plug it into a new tower, mobo and cpu. Thats what I did with my old Dell and I haven't regretted it once. P.S. I know there are people on this forum who adore Dell and I am not trying to start any drama but I was just relating my experiences. __________________ "But a work of art is a conscious human effort that has to do with communication. It is that or its nothing. When an accident is applauded as a work of art, when a cult grows up around the deliciousness of inadvertent beauty, we are in the presence of the greatest decadence the West has known in its history." Last edited by MahlerIsGod; 03-19-2005 at 11:26 AM..

03-19-2005, 03:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wyodiver33 Just here for the beer. Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Floriduh	Dell, in fact, does make their computers a bit too proprietary. Case in point, a friends' Dell box had a SB Audigy card die. Dell sent him a new one, but for whatever reason, he had to reinstall the driver. The Audigy driver found on Creative's web site didn't work. He had to get the driver from Dell. I don't like that. Also, the gForce 4200 ti card in his Dell was a "special" Dell model, Not good. Dell having their own version of standard equipment scares me. What have they done to the cards? To save money, maybe the cards are a bit crippled? Who knows. When you build your own system, you pick what you want, and you still have warranties on each individual part. __________________ I like stuff.

03-23-2005, 04:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
pacaveli Psycho Location: MD	the video card poped out, and we put it back in. But the video card poped out...? how does that happen. it was in it's place the entire time. No Eaarth quakes or bombs dropped, so why would this happen? __________________ Check my blog out. Basically me talking about video games http://gginsights.blogspot.com/

03-23-2005, 07:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
Wyodiver33 Just here for the beer. Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Floriduh	You have to screw them cards down. __________________ I like stuff.

03-27-2005, 04:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
GreenHell Banned	Ive had my Dell for a couple of years and it was fine for awhile, and then it went screwy, I fixed it, it goes screwy again, so Im getting my friend to build me a new computer for cheap as balls, building a computer ground up is cheap

03-27-2005, 04:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
liquidlight AHH! Custom Title!! Location: The twisted warpings of my brain.	Dell as a company has always been less than desireable in my eyes, through various friends that have worked for them I've learned things that make me cringe every time I hear the name. They use recycled parts from returned damaged systems without thoroughly testing them, and even from systems that are trade-in's and don't tell you that the components are refurbed. Though the worst thing about the entire situation is the way that they treat their employees. They hire through temp agencies and abuse their employees until the point that they should hire them full time, then they fire them so that they don't have to cover their benefits or give them raises. Not to mention the fact that from what I've heard about 50% of all units that they ship have SERIOUS problems either right out of the box, or within 12 months of them being used. Not very good statistics if you ask me. __________________ Halfway to hell and picking up speed.