Dell's new desktops with AMD processors.

Well let me ask you this; I was playing with Dell's configurator earlier tonight and at present I have 2 Dell computers in the house; a Dell Dimension 3100 and a Dell Inspiron 1300.

Both computers are connected to Bell South's DSL high speed internet service. If I purchase another Dell Dimension desktop PC; seriously looking at one of those new AMD models which if purchased I would set up in another bedroom which has been converted into a home office.

Will the new Dell desktop with the AMD processor have to have a wireless adapter installed to be able to take advantage of the Bell South DSL high speed internet service in my home or not?

Why I ask; I noticed as I was configuring an AMD desktop under the Dell Small Business Division there was an option for a $49.00 wireless adapter but under the home office division I didn't notice such an option available. So you recommend AMD over Intel and also Dual Core over non Dual Core.


Big Steve
Biloxi, Mississippi
09/17/06

The CPU you're running (either Intel or AMD)in no way influences how you connect to the web. Dell is offering wireless only in the office section for their own reasons ... who's to know why? How you connect to the internet is entirely up to you. Either CPU will be wi-fi capable (but do check that this is listed in the spec. Wi-fi 'G' and 'B' compatibility).

The CPU is the brain .. it crunches the digits .. all the other stuff are the applications that you install to work with on your machine. If you want to go wireless, the appropriate wi-fi networking software will most likely be pre-installed on your new machine. If not, you can load it yourself with the CD-ROM that comes with any wireless hardware you purchase.

I remain a bigger fan of AMD than Intel, although I haven't seen the latest bench tests, as mentioned in the other comment. Intel IS catching up with AMD of late, after many years of having been an inferior CPU.

At the end of the day, unless you're running numerous applications at once or are a very serious gamer, it won't really make much of a difference to you which CPU you go with.

The big trouble with AMD is the lack of a uniform chipset. With Intel you normally get an Intel Chipset which is very stable and is fully integrated with the CPU. AMD motherboards come with Via(which is produced all over the orient), Nvidia, and ATI, also low end crap such as SIS. There are multiple models of each, very hard to pin performance down. The Via's are notoriuosly troublesome. This is why AMD just bought ATI, a reliable chipset and integarted video which is a standard on lower priced Intel motherboards. If you want trouble free reliability get an Intel cpu and mount it on an Intel chipset motherboard. There is a reason why corporaate America relies on Intel----reliability.

First off, the intel chipsets are continuosly known to be worse of than the ati and nvidia chipsets. Their only known advantage is that when intel launches a cpu they have a good supply of chipsets, where for amd that was not always true until their aquisition of ATI(which may change things around for their chipset). Amd's until recently were all much faster than intels, but with the core 2 duo, Intel now has the fastest chip of the two competitors. Amd's however have better reliability than intels, with less crashing. Amd is now in a price war, which has made their chips MUCH less expensive than intels comparable chips. Many of Amd's ex-$400 chips are now but $100, which are very good, and extremely reliable chips... INTEL'S CHIPSETS are horrible for graphics of any kind when compared with nvidia or ati.

..............HUH???????????, this is like a joke, right, your kidding.Unified chipset?, then why is evey decent motherboard manufacturer switching to the Nvidia chipsets for BOTH AMD and intel???

So can you address my other question in my last post; will I need to include a wireless adapter on a new desktop if I want to take advantage of my DSL in the house?

I already have a Dell Dimension 3100 desktop and a Dell Inspiron 1300 notebook which I'm using wirelessly throughout the house. I didn't set any of this up; my brother's IT guy came from Texas with both new Dell computers which he purchased earlier this year and set things up.

So if I were to configure a new Dell Dimension PC for myself with one of those AMD's since the price is much lower than an Intel machine would I also need to make sure that a wireless adapter which I think is a $49.00 upgrade is configured into the order so I'll be able to use the DSL service in the house?


Big Steve
Biloxi, Mississippi
09/17/06

Actually these are 2 separate questions in a way. You can have DSL through a router and have either wired or wireless connections I'd think. Thus, if your laptop has an RJ-45 plug it can be plugged into a wired network and wireless stuff can be avoided though I'm thinking this isn't the way you want to go.

I don't know if there is the possibility that the AMD processor systems don't have a built-in wi-fi that may be something to ask Dell.

Regards,
JB

Steve,
At the end of the day when Intel and AMD bigots finish arguing, for most people either will be fine. PCs are commodities which is why all the brands are struggling to be profitable if their businesses are highly dependent on PCs. The mfrs will advertise otherwise which alone is proof that they can't really differentiate, other than in service. You would have to be a rocket scientist or obsessive gamer to want one CPU vs. the other.

Regarding wireless, make sure you have a wireless access point or router connected to DSL modem to broadcast the signal to your other room. $49 is an OK price for a WLAN PCI card from a major mfr like Dell (cheapo generics in the market are <$20) but the problem with PCI adapters is their short antenna which doesn't receive well behind the PC. You would be better off buying a USB 2.0 WLAN adapter that usually includes a 5-6' USB cable. Chat with a helpful salesperson in your lcoal electronics store about how to set it up.

Earlier this year my brother's IT guy came to Mississippi with the 2 new Dell computers and set everything up. In a back bedroom he set up a Dell Dimension 3100 desktop PC; there is a DSL modem in that back room as well.

He also installed a Lynks(sp?) router in that same room as well which I believe is what allows me to use the Dell notebook wirelessly throughout the house. The IT guy also set something up in the network which will prevent a neighbor or someone down the block from being able to tap into my signal.

I have another old desktop PC in another bedroom; old as in still puttering along on WIN 95 which I want to replace with a new desktop PC. All I want to know is this; if I install any new desktop PC in the room where my old PC still is right now will I be able to use the DSL service in that bedroom without having to install any other hardware in that bedroom?

By simply connecting a new computer in that bedroom to the phone jack will I immediately be able to access the internet on the DSL that's now in the house? I think I'm asking the right question. This DSL and wireless internet is all still very new to me. Prior to April 2006 I had been on dial up for 7 years. Thank you for your post.


Big Steve
Biloxi, Mississippi
09/17/06

to connect to the DSL by plugging your new PC into the phone jack.

You need a wireless adapter for the new PC (either Dell or another brand) and you need someone who knows how to configure the security for it so that you will be able to access the wireless signal from the other room. If you can't get the IT guy to assist again, you may have to pay someone to do it. Could be too complicated to dialog on CNet forums.

Well having said that if my brother's IT guy can't come from Texas to Mississippi to see me before Christmas 2006; if I did purchase a new desktop PC and since I'm the only one living in the house could I disconnect the DSL modem and the wireless router presently located in the back bedroom and move all of that hardware to my bedroom and connect that to a new PC in my bedroom? Would that be an option for me to consider?

Here's another question; right now I have 2 cordless phones in my bedroom; a 5.8GHz Panasonic model on my desk and a 2.4GHz RadioShack model which is part of an expandable phone system and is located in a sliding compartment which is part of my bed's headboard. I also have a Panasonic fax machine with a corded phone also on my desk.

If I did move the wireless router and the DSL modem from the back bedroom to my bedroom would both of those cordless phones as well as the fax machine in my bedroom create or cause possible interference problems with the DSL modem and the wireless router if both were moved from the back bedroom to my bedroom?

What frequency do most wireless routers operate on? Is it 2.4GHz? How close or how far away from a desktop's tower should a wireless router be placed? Should the wireless router also be placed or set a certain distance above the floor to get the best reception?

I contacted someone at Links(sp?)a few months ago and asked them that and they told me that the wireless router should be at least 6 feet or more above the floor and at least 6 feet or more away from the computer's tower. Right now the wireless router is sitting on top of the Dell PC's tower which sits no more than 3 feet off the floor. That's the way the IT guy set it up. Did he set that up wrong? By the way thanks for the post.


Big Steve
Biloxi, Mississippi
09/17/06

Your current setup for the router and modem is fine. They give you the ''6' from everything'' specs for ''optimal performance''. Mine is on the floor about 3' from the PC and I have a signal all through the house plus back and front yards.

I did not enable WEP (that's the security feature that keeps folks from using your service) on my router because there aren't any houses near enough to get the signal. If you are 500' from the nearest house, there is really no need for it.

Connecting a new PC to your wireless router is usually really simple. If you choose to have the wireless card included with the new PC, the software and card should be installed at the factory. If you decide to add one yourself, MAKE SURE you read the instruction COMPLETELY before installing ANYTHING. Most wireless cards require you to load the software BEFORE installing the hardware. If you don't, the hardware WILL NOT function properly AND you will have to do a system restore to make it work. I ran into this when installing a D-LINK wireless PCI card. Not a huge hassle, but who needs more hassles.

When you hook up your new PC and turn it on, the wireless card will automatically begin seeking wireless networks. There should be an icon on the taskbar in the bottom right side of your screen that looks like a computer monitor with little waves emitting from the right side of it. That is the wireless icon. Shortly after bootup, a bubble should appear over this icon saying ''Wireless networks are available'', click on the icon / bubble and a window will open showing all available wireless networks. Highlight yours and click the connect button near the bottom right of the window.

NOW, here is where the WEP comes into play. You may be asked to enter a password to access the network. Hopefully, the IT guy let you know what the password was. If not, call him and ask him what it is. They usually use a common password for everything they do, so he should remember it. Once you're connected, that's it.

BTW, I echo the response that any of the PCs you get will suite your needs. All of my PCs at home are AMD and the ones at work are Intel. Just make sure you get a fast enough processor for what you are planning to use the PC for. Gaming and DVD/CD burning / encoding need more power.

BT

the wireless connection techniques recommended by the other helpful folks when you get your new PC. If they don't work, you can move the DSL modem and router into your room as you mentioned. Wi-fi is 2.4GHz and 2.4GHz phones may sometimes interfere but you should try it. Relocate the phone base to another room if necessary.

All computers need to attach to the Linksys wireless router. Look at the router and tell us the router model number. It will be something like ''WRT54G.''


Typical setup:
Internet --- Cable/DSL modem --- wireless router > > > computers

--- wired
> > > wired and/or wireless


Computers connect to the router to form a network in your house. The network allows computers to communicate with one another (share files and printers). The router doesn't care how you connect to it--wired or wireless doesn't matter.

The router, in turn, connects your network to the Internet through a wired connection to your DSL modem.

You do need to be concerned where the wireless router is placed in your house, so that you may have maximum wireless coverage or wireless coverage to the places where it will be used. Think of the wireless broadcast range as a big sphere with the router at its center. To get full coverage in the average home, the router is usually placed in the center of the house and often on the second floor.

To avoid radio interference, don't place the wireless router next to a micrwave oven, 2.4GHz devices (phones), and appliances with powerful motors. Thick walls and multiple walls can decrease wireless range. Large metal objects and large bodies of water (fishtanks, people) can also decrease wireless range.