Hope I didn't mess up? Bought a computer

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gospel

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Got a great deal on a Dell. I hope I didn't mess up my plans to use the computer for a DAW. Maybe you guys can tell me if I can still go ahead with my plans. I have a Delta 44 that I was going to use with the new computer. I know the Dell has a PCI slot open for it but don't know what kind of mobo it has and if it is compatible. Specs of the dell are as follows:

Dell 4500S
Celeron 1.7ghz
256MB DDR SDRAM
40gb 7200RPM HD
Windows XP home edition

I know the processor, memory, and HD are pretty good. I just don't know what kind of mobo it has? If I can't use it with the Delta 44, maybe I can return the 44 and buy a digital multi-track into the Dell? I just couldn't pass the Dell up for $450. What do you guys think?
 
if you can get it to work with the deta 44 than good

i think it's an alright computer but dell's are very bad to upgrade
beacuse they usually have onbuilt sound and video

you'll want to disable onboard sound if you want to put the delta 44 on

Tukkis
 
Anyone know where I can find out what kind of mobo it has? I've searched the dell site and can't find out. Maybe they don't want me to know.
 
They won't tell you shit. When you call DELL for technical service you are connected to an outsourced customer service department that is located in INDIA!

I shit you NOT!!!!

Amerikans need to boycott these clowns if they ever want to have a future. They are selling Amerika down the toilet.

Only YOU can stop this.

Thank you for caring.
 
I disagree. Dell support has helped me a lot in the past. Their support is rated top in the computer industry.
 
dell customer support

I also must chime in on Dell's behalf. I've had three of their machines require technical assistance and each time they insisted on sending someone out to my place to help within two days. In fact, their rep for service/support satisfaction is so well known I was a little surprised to find anyone trashing them.

Anyway, it sounds like the system is gonna kick ass, Gospel. I'll look for your posts at the mp3 clinic.

miles maxwell
 
once you reach a dell guy, they are amazing i'd say, lol.

wait till you get your comp, included should be a "tech support number"..actually 2 of them i think.

call dell with that, and tell them your numbers, etc. when they ask for it.

you'll be on the line for probably at least a half an hour before talking with them (many cases, it was up to an hour...ha)...so make sure you got some time.

THEN, ask about your board. they'll have all the info on your comp right in front of them with those numbers.
 
If you read the info that comes with the computer there is an express sevice feature. I use that and got on with dell in about 10 minutes max.
 
Gospel, hell if worse comes to worse, go down to your local electronics store and buy yourself a nice motherboard that will take a 1.7mhz, and that takes DDR, and swap in yourself.
As a last option, i guess.
-DAN
 
This link won't tell you which mother baord you have but it does talk about the 4500S chipset (i845G).

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/hardware/desktops/0,39001728,39003487p,00.htm

I bought the Dell 4500 computer a month ago and set up my DAW around it. I have an Aardvark Q10 and SONAR 2.0XL software. Other than the initial trials and tribulations everyone has to work through, it's been a great machine.

Probably the biggest drawback to the 4500S is that you only get one PCI expansion slot. The computer has two slots but I think one of them is taken up by the network card they insist on installing. If they had integrated the network/internet connection into the mother board (like they did the graphics hardware) you would have two PCI slots... but they didn't.

This is an issue because the one remaining PCI slot will be used by whatever audio HW you buy, and then that's it. No room for a firewire card or Soundblaster or whatever. I think the 4500S gives you a USB interface though so you might be able to use that for any additional peripherals you buy.

As far as Celeron versus Pentium, I think the internal architecture of the Pentium makes it more appropriate for some tasks, in any case it's really just a throughout issue. Bottom line, if the Celeron can shovel data to and from RAM and the hard drive as fast as a Pentium, then it will serve you just fine.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I bought the Dell 4500 Pentium 4 machine because of the expandibility and i845e (pentium) chipset.

One more thing, find out whether the 4500S will allow you to add an additional hard drive. This might be important to you down the line.
 
Appreciate the link Phyl. According to it the chipset is i845G?
 
Simple answer - I have two dell PCs open on my desk right now in fact.

You have a Dell motherboard. Not to say that Dell actually made it, because they didn't. Rather Dell outsources to others to produce motherboards just for them. Probably Intel. It's one of my big beefs with Dell, their stuff is propriatary and can't be upgraded. They also don't sell motherboards seperately, so if the board dies after warrenty, you are screwed.

While I would not buy a Dell myself (being the builder type) I do appreciate why others like them. Their customer service is better than most and their prices are reasonable. Just don't expect to do much customizing to them.
 
Send an e-mail to the m-audio technical support folks. If you tell them your system specs, they are extremely helpful about giving compatibility information relating to their soundcards.

The midiman cards are pretty particular about motherboards and processors; I don't recall them recommending Celeron processors when I asked them about setting up my system, but my memory is very bad so I could be wrong.

Good luck.
 
I did that kelby when I was looking into getting a 1.0ghz Celeron and they said it would be too slow. The one I bought is 1.7ghz.
I just don't see how they say a P3 500mhz will work and a Celeron 1.7ghz won't? I'm gonna do it again and be a little more detailed about what I'm doing.
Thanks
 
A 1.7 Celeron can easily do anything a P3 500 can. Period.
 
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