I like it.

You're going to love it, for it's speed and responsiveness

Dell XPS (Xtreme Performance System) is a line of gaming and performance computers manufactured by Dell.

Nice processor an fast. Value alone for that is $300.00. After all that is basically the computer.
4th Generation Intelî Core⢠i7-4770 Processor (8M Cache, up to 3.9 GHz)

Lots of Ram.
12GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz - 4 DIMMs

This would be a very responsive computer, I'd think you would be happy with it.

It depends on what you do and how you use a PC.

If (like many in this forum) you use a PC mostly for web surfing, word processing, etc., I'd suggest this model is over-equipped for your needs. Both the onboard memory and the processor are intended for more demanding uses. Scaling down to more moderate components would mean you could get something less expensive, if that matters to you. If not, go for it.

Yup, a lot of machine there. With an i7 and 12 gigs of Ram you'll need a strong piece of rope to hold it down.

It appears to have a separate video card meaning all 12 gigs of Ram are available as the video card has 1 gig of it's own.

Not a complaint but I wonder why all 4 USB3 sockets are on the rear instead of perhaps a pair on the front or side instead of the USB2, my motherboard is the same.

Thanks for all your responses. Deciding if I want to go with Win 7 or Win 8? How long will MS support Win 7 and will it be a hassle to have to get all the Win 7 updates? (I think Win 8 will cost about $200 more)

The hard drive died on my XPS 9000 or I wouldn't be looking for a new machine. I do quite a bit with graphics and run dual monitors.

Thanks,
Jean in snowy windy Mid Michigan....

Windows 7 support
"Through January 12, 2015, Microsoft will provide the same complete support you have today. You'll receive both security and non-security updates. Your warranty claims will be considered and possibly honored. If your license came with no-charge incident support (yes, it exists), you'll continue to receive it. Microsoft may even add features and change the design (but not, I hope, removing the Start menu)."

"But in 2015, Windows 7 will go onto extended support, which just covers the basics. You'll still receive free security updates, but non-security-related hotfixes will only be available on a paid subscription--and you'll have to start the subscription before April 15, 2015 (if you live in the USA, that's a date with unpleasant associations in any year). There will be no free support, Microsoft won't honor warranty claims, and the company will not add new features."

"By the way, XP's mainstream support ended on April 14, 2009; Vista's ended on April 12 of this year. So if you're satisfied with the support you're getting on this operating systems, you probably won't have much to worry about with Windows 7 for another seven years."

For what it's worth, XP's extended support ends on April 8, 2014. Vista's will end on on April 11, 2017.

Information
From here http://www.pcworld.com/article/2010820/how-long-will-microsoft-support-windows-7.html

Personally I'd go with windows 7, and wait to see what's in the works for Windows 9.

Can't you replace the hard drive ?

I suppose I could replace the hard drive but some of the other elements are starting to go. Some of the USB ports don't work..my display drivers keep messing up....I'm also looking for more speed.

I figured, so get the one you had us look at. That comes with windows 7 right ?

Yes, that one comes with Win 7. I'm sure my Paint Shop Pro X5 won't work with Win 8. If I did decide to put a new hard drive in the 9000, what would be the steps?

Just thought... maybe give the 9000 to my husband.?..hmmm...He has Vista on his "Tin Lizzy".

" "If I did decide to put a new hard drive in the 9000, what would be the steps?

That's an area I am unfamiliar with. The exact steps. But

See here,

Many of you will know that when you buy a desktop PC or laptop from a manufacturer such as Dell, HP, Asus etc, as well as getting the pre-installed operating system, your system will also come with a sticker on the bottom or side with a Windows product key. This key can be used if you ever need to reinstall a clean Windows from an installation media instead of a pre-installed recovery image or disk. The problem arises that when you want to do this, most purchased systems rarely come bundled with a clean Windows 7 DVD from where you can perform a nice, shiny, bloat free install. Phone up tech support and they will almost certainly charge a fee to send you a disk.

So, you want to put a clean Windows 7 on your machine, you have a legal Windows 7 product key and no way of installing it, which is a bit of an inconvenience to say the least.

Read more: http://www.raymond.cc/blog/links-for-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-microsofts-official-distributer/#ixzz2rXqcjbc3

Thanks Zep..I will give it a good read....

Zep, you're recommending the hard drive be replaced. Except, that's something you're unfamiliar with. Why not limit your suggestions to what you ARE familiar with?

Jean, make it easy on yourself, you have a PC that's not functioning as it should. Buy a new one, buy whatever you think will best fit your needs.

YouâÂÂre like a bad penny that keeps showing up after almost every post I make. Did I know you in a past life?

If you donâÂÂt agree or like my posts just skip over them and donâÂÂt bother reading or responding to them.

Sorry if you didn't find my comments helpful.

I think the user did, lets ask the user...

Yes Zep...I did find your comments very helpful. I like to learn new things, even if I may never put that knowledge to use.

Snidely, I usually give you the benefit of the doubt with some of your statements, but I find your last comment to Zep about not being familiar with how to replace a hard drive uncalled for. At least he offered help. Besides, he didn't recommend replacing the hard drive, just simply asked, Can't you replace the hard drive ?

Manners are the basis of a civilized society and make everyone's lives just a little happier. They cost nothing but they are worth so much.

I always recommend buying the best you can afford. it never hurts to have too much.

Jean I notice you run 2 monitors (isn't it a great feature?) so you really need to know the outputs on the card in the new computer.

I Goggled the computer then selected images before but there seems to be no set video card shown on what few back views I found. If you are running one DVI and one VGA monitor it may not matter but if both are DVI you need to know there are 2 DVI connectors on the video card.

---------------------------
Regarding the old computer. From what I see you have a computer with an i7 processor already and 6 gigs of RAM. I would definitely be replacing the hard drive in a hurry. A 1 gig hard drive can cost just over $50 (see Tigerdirect). Zep provided a link to down load an .iso of Windows 7. You will need to get drivers from Dell, you can visit Dell, enter the tag number on the rear of your computer and a list of needed drivers appears. Download those needed, I like to do this beforehand so they are there when needed.

Replacing the hard drive is not a hard task by any stretch of the imagination. Note how you remove the old one and then do the process in reverse. The 25 digit activation key found on the rear will allow you to activate with no problems. Even a first timer can do this in under 30 minutes, just be cool, calm and collected.

Absolutely replacing a hard drive is not very difficult. I have done it twice in the past 8 years, and I am in my 80's agewise. The hardest part was being able to reach into the "innards" and get hold of the right connectors. Just take your time and be sure you have the tower up on something so that you're working at eye level.

Zep, I think you try to be helpful. Where I come from, when a question is asked that one has no experience or expertise to answer, the best thing to do is listen, not talk.

This is a "help" forum of sorts, I don't think people who ask questions expect to receive responses from others who simply speculate or get their knowledge from a Google search. It's anonymous and people are trusting. You might be a PC tech and maybe I'm a Golden Retriever. It could be the other way around. A good answer is one that's useful to the asker.

I limit comments to what I'm reasonably comfy with, and when guessing, I say so. To keep the record clear, I've replaced hard drives. Jean seems to be uncomfortable with keeping XP. Her PC is having driver problems and has non-functioning USB plugs, I suggested that buying a new one was the best approach for her. Feel free to disagree or suggest alternatives you're familiar with.

YouâÂÂre like a bad penny that keeps showing up after almost every post I make. Did I know you in a past life?

If you donâÂÂt agree or like my posts just skip over them and donâÂÂt bother reading or responding to them.

"Jean I notice you run 2 monitors (isn't it a great feature?)"
I love my dual monitors.

I have one VGA and the other is Dual link DVI-I on the old computer. I will most certainly check on that. I will be calling in my order, so I will have a lot of questions. Trying to gather as much info before hand. And I do appreciate all that has been offered.

Regarding the new hard drive, it isn't a matter of not knowing how to install a hard drive. I have installed a second hard drive on my old XP (my favorite OS) computer.

I checked Zep's link and the ISO file is over 3 gigs and I'm afraid my internet connection won't handle that. I will have to figure out how to get that done. But I'm still considering replacing the hard drive and giving to my husband.

SNIDELY, would you please kindly just give it a rest? Nothing you have added to this conversation as been helpful to me. You're just adding confusion.

I'm sorry you didn't like my comments, Jean. Before the distraction arose, I was trying to offer thoughts that I hoped would be helpful to you. I think that's what most "helpers' here do but of course, opinions and knowledge do vary.

Googling a concern and posting it under an appearance of personal knowledge does not prove experience/ability/know-how. All it does is prove an ability to Google, and cut in paste. I find it approaching deception. However, it often may provide the remedy required. I don't like it, but who am I to decide in totality.

Though I think I might be guilty of interchanging the words inadvertently, Suggesting options are fine when presented as such. Opinions when presented properly are fine too. When they are not they should be kept to one's self as like noses we all have one.

DA

This post was edited by damccoy on Mon, Jan 27, 14 at 17:05

Snidely, if you will read my op, I asked for input on a particular pc, not your opinion of another poster's offerings. You have successfully hijacked my thread. I'm out of here.

Yes you did and my first post responded to your request.

I said nothing further until the conversation went off in another direction with what seemed to be sketchy advice. I responded to that new direction, just as you did.

Have a nice day.

Computer finally arrived today after a 3 day delay due to weather. In the setup pamphlet, it has space to record a password. I don't believe I had a password on the one I am replacing. Do you feel it is necessary?

Jean
~whose husband is more excited over the new computer than I am :)

It is now password protected and written down in several places....thanks...

Computer came with McAfee installed. Haven't activated it yet. Have Avast ready to install. Just double checking. I have a tendency to err on the side of caution.

Regarding McAfee. After activating, it says to go to add/remove and follow steps to remove. Then run the MCPR.exe. Restart computer if you receive message 'Cleanup Successful". Anything else I should be aware of?

Jean

My father just got the same computer in January Dell XPS 8700 - it's 24 gbs - maybe more than needed; but he'll never run out of memory. ha I set it up for him. And, I did uninstall McAfee from the Programs and Features. I left it at that, but later found out that I should have run the McAfee removal tool afterwards (I believe the MCPR.exe); so I just ran that a couple of days ago, and it did find some leftover files that it deleted. So, it's clean of anything McAfee.

Windows Defender came on after removing it (edit: 'it' being, McAfee) from Programs and Features. It looks like the same program, essentially, as MSE. I also installed Superantispyware and Malwarebytes.

Not to take away from your questions, but I'm wondering if you uninstalled any 'bloatware', not that I'm sure what the bloatware would be. But since you have the same computer, basically, I'm just wondering if you left everything that came installed (other than the McAfee, that is).

btw, he got Windows 8, so it's been a learning experience. And he did have an old XP as well, the USB ports were slowly dying off, and things just weren't working well anymore. (Editing again: I also see you have Windows 7, so disregard 'Windows Defender' coming on...)

This post was edited by dee_can on Wed, Feb 12, 14 at 9:18

Thanks Dee. I have a few errands to run and then on to removing McAfee. I haven't looked at many of the programs that came with it yet. Probably find a lot that I won't or don't want to use.

Jean

From the Free Dictionary: "snide snidey
adjective nasty, sneering, malicious, mean, cynical, unkind, hurtful, sarcastic, disparaging, spiteful, insinuating, scornful, shrewish, ill-natured He made a snide comment about her weight."

Sorry fruitjar, wrong source for the name and an unfortunate association.

From early internet days, a common (and recommended) technique was to use a nom de guerre. My favorite cartoon as a kid was Dudley Do-Right, a segment of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. Alas, "Dudley Do-Right" seemed unattractive to use in its various configurations (Dudley, or Do-Right), but the name of his arch enemy, Snidely Whiplash, seemed more suitable. It's also my email address.

You're welcome to offer views that differ from mine, explain why and everyone will learn.

I sure like the re-recommendation of the use of a manufacturer's dedicated AV removal tool rather than the usage of a plain old removal.

DA

Here is a link that might be useful: Google

For future reference, unless you are doing video editing (heavy) you really do not need an i7. Most people don't need more than 4GB of RAM either. 1TB hard drive is nice, but it's also slow and I would rather use external drives for storing photos, etc.

Want FAST loading programs? Get an SSD and put the things you use the most on it (operating system, etc.)

You can build a PC really cheap these days (60% for the same computer when you do it yourself) and it really is easy as pie. Watch some youtube videos and you can do it an hour while listening to music and relaxing.

It may only take an hour to put it together, but...

My dh enjoys doing that and has built many computers for our family. He spends many hours researching components, finding the best price, and waiting for them to arrive. Then some part won't work and must be returned. The troubleshooting alone can take some time.

Since he enjoys it, it's all ok. But I would never call it easy.

(And I always think Snidely Whiplash when I see snidely's posts.)