Dell XPS Studio Desktop 8GB Tri-channel DDR3 Question

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Please don't make the same mistake these reviewers are making, which is confusing the 435MT with the 435T. EVERY single review that complains of the terrible noise issues is reviewing their 435MT in the wrong place. There are almost no complaints on the new 435T's noise levels.

- kh

The picture at the top of that page clearly shows the Studio 435T, so surely the folks that are posting these comments can see this.
 
The picture at the top of that page clearly shows the Studio 435T, so surely the folks that are posting these comments can see this.
Nope, they apparently don't, sadly enough. Of course, it's an easy mistake if not using your eyes as the new 435T is now the "Studio XPS 435", the exact same name our option was for a long while.

Basically, most people aren't exactly critical readers, noticing details. And I have to say the average forum member/reviewer within the Dell domain is really guilty of this, although this is a disease far and wide, extending past forums and the net.

Not too many people even own the new 435T yet and those that I've talked to say noise is not an issue. Then again, even the 435MT brigade is overplaying this a bit, especially after the leaf blower issue was addressed via the 1.0.12 update.
 
Reading the reviews, the positive ones are definately refering to the 435T since they mention 24GB of ram, expansion slots etc.

The few negative ones are complaining about the fans which is a 435MT problem, and lack of expansion, again a 435MT problem.

There is even a guy who doesnt own it yet just saying that he had a 410 and that was good, therefore get off Dell's back.

I would pay very little attention to this reviews right now. On a side note my scyth fan has yet to arrive as it is waiting stock.

I wouldnt worry about whether Dell are going to continue making the 435MT - for my money I am happy with the horsepower I have for the money I paid. You already have one. Why worry?
 
There is even a guy who doesnt own it yet just saying that he had a 410 and that was good, therefore get off Dell's back.
I saw that....amazing; I had to laugh. As H.L Mencken once said, "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." It's a classic quote and one could probably remove the word "American" with it still holding true.

Anyway, I agree on the deal aspect of the original, lowly 435MT, little case and all. It's just amazingly fast for the ducats. I do believe we have the exact same setup, give or take a few minor details. I'm running mine into a 24" HP panel at 1920x1200 and it's been such a welcome upgrade, and a major one at that, from my last system.

- kh
 
I wouldnt worry about whether Dell are going to continue making the 435MT - for my money I am happy with the horsepower I have for the money I paid. You already have one. Why worry?

Yeah, you're probably right yukka, but I just hope that Dell continue to stock all of the spare parts for the duration of my 3 years warranty.
 
yep mine is running a 22inch LG Panel at 1680*1050. Very happy with this machine - the level of detail is brilliant. the panel is a W2252 - one of the few panels I could find that can shrink the screen to 4:3 so I can play all my older games at the proper aspect ratio as well :)

Yeah, you're probably right yukka, but I just hope that Dell continue to stock all of the spare parts for the duration of my 3 years warranty.

I expect that you do not have to worry. In the unlikely scenario that no parts are in stock (probably take a massive failure of all the motherboards due to some unforseen issue) you might even get an entire new current XPS as replacement. Hopefully that doesnt happen and I cant see them running out of hard drives, fans, graphics cards or memory sticks any time soon.
 
9GB DDR3 1067Mhz
btw, after talking to several about the move from 6GB to 12, actually slowing down system bootup/shutdown and really not ever being used, I wondered if you ever tried your system with just 6GB? I've heard of a few that HAD 12 in their DIY systems actually moving back to 6GB (heh, just noticed you had copied that 1067Mhz from Dell's ad....)

I cant remember if I posted it here, but one guy that got the 12GB from Dell actually built a whole other system and was able to easily run his second 6GB of Dell "Samsung" ram up to 1333Mhz no problem. He actually made a big point in saying how great he thought that ole Dell stock ram was. Interesting. It does have good timings at 7-7-7-20.

- kh
 
If owning this system, the first thing I would do from the onset is download CPU-Z, GPU-Z, and Real Temp/Core Temp. Between these three/four programs, you can really get an idea what your system is doing, especially regarding cooling which is extremely important with the i7 and 4850 card, a very hot card.

He could easily check his CPU core temps to see if he's having issues. Some have reported improperly set CPU heatsinks, which can become a problem in shipping if not mounted exactly right with the proper thermal compound application.

Some are guessing PSU though not sure on that one. He could also have video driver issues, not hard to achieve with a faulty upgrade, a sometimes finicky process, depending.

I've not had a single blip of an issue with my 435MT, running 24 hours a day. Besides the case fan debates, it's been amazingly problem-free, though it's the hottest running stock system I've ever owned. At the least, everyone that owns one should download those monitoring programs, a great aid in diagnosing and maintaining system health/performance. That's the first I've seen of lockup issues in a system that I've really found to be without performance issues considering.

EDIT: Seems they are assuming it's memory, MB, or cpu.

- kh
 
can you guys please answer my question...i seen one of the 435mt at bestbuy...and i looked and have read this thread...the dell site says it is a dual channel in 4g version....

4GB5 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 4 DIMMs


bestbuy our local has a great deal on this....can i purchase extra matching ram and make this a tri channel...or chould i just order form del and get the 6g set up????

really dont want to wait 6 weeks....when i can purchase now...

what do you guys think...
 
the dell site says it is a dual channel 4GB version.... 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 4 DIMMs. bestbuy has a great deal on this....can i purchase extra matching ram and make this a tri channel...or chould i just order form del and get the 6g set up? ( I ) really don't want to wait 6 weeks...
If the rest of the setup with the vid card, hard drive(s), and build is good, by all means, get the machine at Best Buy as there is a huge wait on these beasts via Dell online. Yes, you can do a number of things. You can buy two more matching 1GB sticks of DDR3 ram to fill the six dimms, making for 6GB in Tri Channel. Or better yet, hit Newegg for one of the great deals they have on matching 6GB DDR3 1333Mhz kits, for as low as $76 with rebate for the entire kit. I'd be surprised if that beast is still there from the sound of the deal. Another option, visit the Dell Outlet site where more great deals come in, sometimes with fully loaded builds for hundreds less than you might have via the Dell shopping cart avenue.

If you get the Best Buy machine, you will need to update all the drivers and the bios, a very easy task and one that will make a tremendous difference in performance and usability.

Lastly, there are now a number of other companies coming out with comparable i7 solutions. Dont shut them out as a few have more expandability if that's important.

- kh
 
The fan in my Studio XPS 435MT is not particularly noisey, but it does drone a little, so do you think it would be worth my while fitting the rubber gromits shown within THIS PAGE?
You'll get some relief, the amount depending on how much of your offending drone is coming from fan/case vibration vs actual fan drone.

In my case, you get a bit of relief from some of the noise, though some of the drone does still exist. One way to test your application before ordering the new soft mounts is to install some felt or rubber washers you have around the house between the fan and the case. This will not be as effective as the the linked soft mounts because the SCREW will still be interacting with the fan body. But if you hear any relief, you can bet the soft mounts will add just a bit more.

On another point, if you do any fan subs, be sure to download Real Temp to track your core temps to make sure you're not getting a rise in temps. Also, some owners have tried SPEEDFAN, which does allow you to control your fan RPMs while watching your temps, making this another useful download. Of course, CPU-Z is almost a must to see what your 435MT and 435T are doing.

- kh
 
heres the link to puter i am asking bout...just dotn want to purchase this and find out i can upgrade the ram....


Processor Brand
Intel®
#
Processor
Intel® Core™ i7
#
Processor Speed
2.66GHz
#
Cache Memory
8MB on die Level 2
#
System Memory (RAM)
4GB
#
System Memory (RAM) Expandable To
12GB
#
Type of Memory (RAM)
DDR3 SDRAM
#
Hard Drive Type
SATA (7200 rpm)
#
Hard Drive Size
640GB
#
Graphics
ATI RADEON HD 4850
#
Video Memory
512MB
#
Personal Video Recorder (PVR)
No
#
TV Tuner
No
#
MPEG
Yes
#
Audio
7.1-channel support
#
Built-in Webcam
No
#
Modem
None
#
Network Card
Built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
#
Wireless Networking
None
#
Recordable DVD Drive
Yes, DVD±RW/CD-RW
#
Recordable DVD Drive Speeds
16x8x16 DVD+RW; 16x6x16 DVD-RW; 48x4x48 CD-RW
#
Direct-Disc Labeling
No
#
Digital Media Reader or Slots
Yes, digital media card reader
#
Diskette Drive
No
#
Total Expansion Bays
4
#
Available Expansion Bays
3
#
Total Expansion Slots
3 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16
#
USB 2.0 Ports
8 USB 2.0 (4 front, 4 rear)
#
IEEE 1394 Ports
2 (1 front, 1 rear)
#
S-Video Outputs
None
#
Serial Ports
None
#
Parallel Ports
None
#
Game Ports
None
#
Keyboard Description
USB multimedia
#
Other Control Devices (mouse, etc.)
Premium optical USB mouse
#
Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
#
Software Included
Adobe Reader 9; Roxio Creator 10 Dell Edition; Microsoft Works 9.0; Trend Micro AntiVirus (15 months)


it says it is expandleble all the wway to 12gb.......i do know i am gonna want the tri channel ability.....

the vid card is awesome...ATI 4850...



getting ready to jump in the car now...just want to make sure......i love dells...all i have.....
 
Good lord.... You didnt need to post all that, but ok.

Not sure what you are asking at this stage as it's pretty clear you can purchase RAM that will work fine in Tri-Channel mode, this for a deal probably far better than Dell can supply. The one caveat is the 1333Mhz ram will only operate at 1066Mhz in the Dell 435MT with the current BIOS as of 3/28/09. It WILL work, but not at the advertised spec until Dell provides an upgrade in the bios that will allow it.

The following two 6GB DDR3 1333Mhz ram kits from OCZ have been reported as working fine within the 435MT. They are a great deal right now via newegg. The 1.5v option is the one I would go for as it's got great timings and the Foxconn Dell MB is running the ram at 1.5v.

On the 435MT, I would not think that deal a great one unless you get it below $950usd without a monitor. I'd actually want it even cheaper, to be honest. Deals via the outlet have been amazing at times.

OCZ 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Model#: OCZ3X1333LV6GK | 1.5v ~ 7-7-7-20
2sacq43.jpg





OCZ Gold 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Model#: OCZ3G1333LV6GK | 1.65v ~ 9-9-9-20
scum9e.jpg


- kh
 
this thing is absolutely AWESOME!!!!!!!!! it is like th emore you do the faster this puppy gets......5 1080i videos running at the same time along with my broadcaster software and while cruzing the net...no stutter no hiccups...plain smooth and fast...CPU usage a whopping 25 percent!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO glad i purchased one...now i have to upgrade to tri channel and i am sure it will get better...took me a few hours to upgrade with driver updates and bois updates....

got mine at Best Buy with a 24 inch Samsung HD monitor with all the bells and whistles... for $1198.00 simply awsome!


can i purchase 2 of the newegg 6gb packs and make this a 12gb system????

I want to thank everyone that helped me decide on what to purchase...
 
this thing is absolutely AWESOME! Can I purchase 2 of the newegg 6gb packs and make this a 12gb system?
Sounds like it's a smashing success. Glad it worked out for you. while the new 435T and some other options from Gateway and HP (among others) might offer more for the future with better upgrade potential, the original Dell 435MT, perhaps the first of the Core i7 options to hit the streets, still is an amazing bank for the buck, and the perfect wolf in sheep's clothing option around. When heavily discounted, it's a winner with the knowledge of its limitations for upgrade.

To answer your question, YES, it can run 12GB. But to be honest, unless you are doing work that REALLY needs 12GB, I see the single 6GB DDR 1333Mhz kit below as the best option. 12GB is rarely used and will actually slow bootup and shutdown times. Personally, I think 6GB is fine for most. While you might even be totally fine with your 4GB, the below kit at only $75 is a cant lose option. And you'll have 9GB if you use your other 3x1GB sticks in the other three slots. Make sure you configure it as stated in the manual.

Also, the kit below has a $20 rebate that will only be applicable if ordered by tomorrow.

OCZ 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Model#: OCZ3X1333LV6GK | 1.5v ~ 7-7-7-20
2sacq43.jpg
 
I have been running the XPS Studio 435MT since Feb 1st and it has been running great. The new bios update has completely eliminated the "leaf-blower" fan revvup, and I rather enjoy the quiet drone this machine puts out (it sounds powerful!).

I have decided to get my hands dirty and do some upgrading to this PC. First up will be our forum champion abstriat's suggestion of the OCZ 6GB of memory, giving me a total of 9 GB. When (or if) Dell updates the bios to allow full use of the 1333 memory; the pack-in Dell memory will go. As with our new poster, I picked this computer off the shelf at Best Buy the day they shipped. Dell was claiming a 3-4 week wait at that time, no way was I sitting on my tax refund that long. Purchasing from my local Best Buy with my credit card was one reason why I didn't build one from scratch.

Next will be the power supply. Rocketfish makes a 550 watt ATX PSU that has perfect dimensions and compatibility with this Dell. That will allow me to pick up either the ATI 4870 or the new 4890. Maybe even a GTX 280 or 285. Or I may just wait for the next line of video cards from ATI 5000 or GTX 300. Every game I have loaded up on this computer runs very nice at max detail, 4xAA at 1680x1050. Love it.
 
Next will be the power supply.
Good post! Nice to see someone else enjoying the Dell 435MT, too. Although I think one of the greatest attributes of the 435MT is the great cost to performance ratio, perhaps compromised a bit when moving to more upgrades, I totally get your desire to keep on moving with this beast.

Still, I dont think you need to touch the PSU unless you REALLY move up in the vid card category. I dont think this PC even taxes this pedestrian PSU.

That being said, if I were you, I would really consider moving to a really quality PSU. If going to the trouble, why not go one step up? I would personally go with the Corsair HX520W Modular PSU. This PSU, made by Seasonic, has gotten nothing but great reviews and is one of the most silent and efficient out there. It's also able to handle anything including voltage fluctuations. It's got a really nice 120mm fan this is super quiet but does the job.

I love the modular cables which means you only have to use the cables you NEED, removing the cables you dont, for a much cleaner interior with less clutter in an already small case.

CORSAIR HX520W PSU
1r2f4n.jpg
 
Hi Guys,

I have been using my Dell Studio XPS 435MT since the beginning of March and I am loving it more and more.

It came with 6GB of Dell RAM and despite using the PC for some fairly intensive tasks (e.g compiling large Dot Net projects, SQL Server databases and graphics work etc), the little Windows Vista gadget never shows the RAM exceeding 30% usage.

My PC never had the original "leaf blower" problem, but I still installed the latest BIOS update. The 92mm fan does emit a slight drone and I even purchased an Acousti Silicone Fan Gasket and Acousti Fan Mounts which I was going to install over the weekend just to try to reduce the fan noise by a dB or so. I'm getting so used to the PC now that I'm noticing the fan noise less and less and may not even bother to install the Acousti products at all.

I particularly love the small form factor, piano black tower case, which I know has it's limitations, but I find very pleasing to look at.

On the whole, I'm very pleased with my purchase, especially as I used a 10% voucher code at the time of purchase, and have no regrets or desire to have the Studio 435T instead.

By the way, I would also like to thank Abstrait very much for all the help that you have given to all of the contributors of all of the various forms about this PC. You really have helped me a lot and thanks again for sharing your knoweledge.
 
No Problem, EnigmaMan. Glad I could help and thank you for the appreciation.

I have to admit, I share you excitement with this system although sometimes wish the board had a few more slots and the case could handle some more drives. But what a deal for the ducats and with the external drive capability it's not really any liability. It's the fastest, most capable system I've seen for the money even if some of the reviews tended to miss the point on its goal.

Unfortunately, Dell is suffering through some huge delays for people ordering the Studio XPS 435MT (now Studio XPS) and 435T. Some have had to wait quite a bit and the typical customer today is not the most patient, nor particularly understanding beast. It does not help when Dell's sales and tech have troubles getting on the same page. But this has been a great system so far.
 
Thanks KH for all the info

Greetings All,

I ordered the Studio XPS 435MT two days ago during Dell's spring sale. Unfortunately, I hadn't read any of the forum posts regarding memory so I ordered it with the full 12GB of RAM. Still, it was half off for the upgrade so I can't complain too much even though it doesn't seem like 12GB will be utilized that much, if at all.

My current rig is a Dell Dimension 8250 (vintage 2002) with a whopping 768MB of PC1066 RDRAM. It's not worth upgrading and though it still works fine with XP, newer apps like CS4 have been a different story. I feel like I got a great deal on the 435MT and fortunately there are 64 bit drivers for all the old peripherals I'm still using.

I'd like to ask those of you who ordered your 435MT's from Dell if they came with the Vista OS discs? I sent an email to Dell Support and spoke to someone on the phone who assured me that the OS discs and driver discs would ship with the system. I have to take that with a grain of salt since the Dell folks never seem to really know what's up for real.

I'm relieved to hear that the fan issue seems to have been resolved somewhat with the BIOS update. Since my system is coming with the ATI 4670 instead of the 4850 then perhaps heat will be less of an issue.

I've read before that memory frequency doesn't seem to make much difference in actual usage and this review seems to confirm that philosophy:

article/131-intel-corei7-memory-performance/page15 (can't post links yet?)

Quote:
" While Core i7 processors will logically perform its best when using triple-channel memory, we were amazed by how little the performance was affected when using two or even just one memory module. The same remained true for memory frequency, generally the difference between DDR3-1066 and DDR3-1600 memory was kept to a minimum."

"At this point those looking to build a Core i7 system should consider buying low-latency DDR3-1066 memory, or at most 1333MHz memory.

The only other choice you need to make is whether you want to buy a 3GB of 6GB kit, and honestly, if you are a gamer buying the latter is probably a waste of money, especially with current DDR3 prices that will only drop in time. But if you are thinking fancy for your new Core i7 setup, 6GB definitely sounds way better on paper."

I wish I had read that before I upgraded to 12GB of memory. Might have made more sense to put that $150 bucks into a better video card or monitor.

BTW, those Swart amps look sweet.
 
I ordered the Studio XPS 435MT two days ago during Dell's spring sale. Unfortunately, I hadn't read any of the forum posts regarding memory so I ordered it with the full 12GB of RAM...... My current rig is a Dell Dimension 8250 (vintage 2002) ..... I'd like to ask those of you who ordered your 435MT's from Dell if they came with the Vista OS discs?.... "At this point those looking to build a Core i7 system should consider buying low-latency DDR3-1066 memory, or at most 1333MHz memory" I wish I had read that before I upgraded to 12GB of memory. Might have made more sense to put that $150 bucks into a better video card or monitor. BTW, those Swart amps look sweet.
Hi Hoku and welcome to the long and meandering, yet informative, Dell 435MT thread. Always great to have some additional perspective. And thank you for the appreciation as well. It's worth the effort if anyone finds the info useful.

You made some good points above, too. I will say, I do believe you can change your order at Dell since it's so early. They had been running behind on 435MT build and shipping. Still, I think the 2GB modules that will come with your Dell have a chance of being 1333Mhz as I've heard this reported by a few owners. On the other hand, their aftermarket 2GB 1333Mhz option was out of stock. If you could save at least $200, it makes some sound sense to opt for only 3GB of Dell ram and move to the OCZ 1333Mhz DDR3 7-7-7-20 RAM. Or you could just leave as is.

Unlike the quoted article, I really do think 1333Mhz should be emphasized a bit more for your ultimate choice considering future upgrades via Dell's bios on to the potential to move the components to another system if interested in more room and upgrade upside. Looking at various tests of RAM in X58 boards, this is the perfect cost vs performance ledge.

As for what comes with the Dell Studio XPS 435MT, besides the software you ordered and the typical warranty pamphlet etc, you'll get the three items below which include the small "setup" manual, the Drivers and Utilities disk, and the Dell burn of your OS, in my case, the Vista 64 SP1 disk. As usual with Dell these days, it's a "re installation DVD" and not the official MS Vista 64 disk. See all below.

2q9atqr.jpg


2h4i69y.jpg


I think your ATI 4670 will be perfectly fine for your uses and might even bring the benefit of a bit less heat. I actually got to try a few of Dell's ATI cards before buying and even the lowly 3450 was fine for my 24" at 1920x1200. If not into gaming, the 4670 should produce a very nice image depending on your monitor.

Bottom line is your will notice a staggering upgrade over your Dell Dimension 8250. You'll be amazed how fast programs snap open as well as the amount of multi-tasking you can achieve with this amount of RAM. Vista 64 runs like the proverbial top when partnered with a great system with plenty of ram. Yes, it's a resource hog but when GIVEN these resources, it makes XP a distant memory. Once optimized, it has allowed me to increase production, get more done, and all with better aesthetics, this coming from an XP diehard.

Lastly, you'll want to update to all the latest drivers and bios. Hopefully, they will have moved to 1.0.12 by now.

Here is a page you should bookmark as it's the drivers, full manual, upgrades, downloads page for the Dell Studio XPS.

Have fun with your new machine and drop back in with your impressions. Thanks for the Swart Amps props, too. They are even more amazing to play. Vintage and Rare Guitars in London just signed on as a dealer several months back. IF a player, check them out although ole Joe has trouble keeping the beasts in stock.

- kh
 
Thanks for the reply KH

Wow, even photos!

I'd like to say a big "Thank You" for taking the time and effort to post all the info not only on this thread, but on the Dell forums as well. You have been much more informative than both Dell Support and Dell's online resources concerning the Studio XPS. I truly appreciate all the research you've done.

I agree with you about the 1333MHz memory. Everything I've read shows that memory frequency to be the sweet spot regarding price vs performance. OCZ has a good rep and DDR3 is finally coming down in price. Hopefully the DDR3 prices will continue to decline as the Core i7 becomes more widely adopted. However, I think quite a few folks are waiting for Win 7 to release before upgrading their systems so I imagine there will be a spike in purchasing when that occurs. It's also possible that DDR3 prices will spike then as well, at least for awhile, due to demand outstripping supply until the memory makers catch up. It's hard to predict what will happen in this economic climate and from what I've read memory manufacturers are cutting output while struggling to stay afloat.

I was considering waiting until Win 7 released before upgrading my system but with the release of Vista SP2 coming soon, and with more 64 bit drivers available, I decided to take the plunge now. My current rig can't handle having Ps4, Ai4, and Bridge open simultaneously. Also, I am in my last semester at the local community college and I've been sitting on a bunch of free software from MS that I'm unable to use so it made sense for me to upgrade before the semester ends. I just hope Dell ships my 435MT in the timeline they've given me. I think I'll stick with the 12GB of memory I ordered just to play it safe. Supposedly my system is already in production.

Microsoft has some incredible deals for students now with both the DreamSpark program and their Ultimate Steal discounts. Check out dreamspark dot com to see the list of free (full version) software available for higher ed and high school students. I was able to get MS Office 2007 Ultimate for $60 through the Ultimate Steal program. (Sorry, can't do links until I make 5 posts)

The reason I asked about the OS disc shipped with Dell systems is because I can get the Vista Ultimate upgrade through the MS Ultimate Steal discount for $65. I think it's worth it at that price. In the past some MS upgrade discs wouldn't work without an official MS OS disc. Not sure if that's the case with Vista. I might be able to get the real Vista Home Premium 64 bit disc from MS but I'll have to investigate that further. (Wish they'd drop all the "Ultimate" marketing stuff)

Like most things in life, ordering the Studio XPS involved a whole slew of compromises. I really wanted to build my own system but couldn't swing it financially. I was able to put the 435MT on my Dell account with zero interest, if I pay it off within a year. My customization options were limited by my credit cap so I chose what made the most sense. At the time I ordered I was able to get $150 off the upgrade from 6GB to 12GB of memory. That may not make much difference for the Vista Home Premium x64 (16GB max) but it may be beneficial with Vista Ultimate (128GB +). The only other option I selected was to go with the ATI HD4670 since it was discounted $30. With free shipping, and my student discount, the total came in barely under my available credit cap. Now I just have to wait 4 weeks and hope my shipping date isn't delayed. In the meantime I'm taking notes on Vista optimization etc.

I am certainly glad I waited for the Core i7 processor. I'm amazed it outperforms Intel's previous Duo and Quad Extreme series while costing over a grand less. The i7 is a big leap and is certain to be a game changer in the PC arena.

Once again, thanks for all your efforts KH. At the moment I'm not a player but I do like the Swart Amps retro look. I'll pass the link on to my musically inclined friends. hh
 
Oh to be a student again. You lucky swine! I'd recommend staying for as long as you can. heh... I grew up in a town centered around a University (UNC-Chapel Hill ~ Go Heels, we're in the NCAA Championship game tomorrow night) and loved it. You can get some insanely great deals through the school system, too. I know the UNC system still runs excellent discounts on Apple and PC. Great idea to take advantage of that.

Yeah, you sound as if you're making all the right moves on every front. I agree with your decisions and it's probably wise to just let the ram thing go since you got a bit of deal on that as well. And you can always try it with 6GB vs 12 to see what you think. It's nice to know you have that ram if you need it. And the real issue only comes with slower boot-up and shutdown times as it accounts for the ram.

Yeah, I considered loading Ultimate, too. I have the disk, actually. I also considered messing around with Windows 7 but decided I would not move to it till SP1 as that seems to always be when they get everything straightened out on the first run of any major Windows upgrade. I have been really surprised how well Vista 64 has done on this system.

btw, I updated that faulty link above to the actual page. Be sure to trace back through the thread to download CPU-Z, GPU-Z, Real Temp, and also Speedfan, another help with your fan. You're fan is still going to have slightly more drone than some of the modern alternatives. But it's not that bad and soft mounts do help. You can always move to a aftermarket 50CFM option as linked earlier.

I have really considered moving the entire mess over to a Lian Li case just because. But as I got this beast for a whopping $900, I'm going to make the money count for more. Really, you don't need to upgrade anything to be honest. The whole PSU thing is overblown as this thing usually loafs along in the 140w range. With a great monitor, you'll be extremely happy.

- kh
 
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