[XCSSA] Dell Precision 490 upgrade to Precision T5400

[X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio]

Sounds like the standard workstation replacement. We've gotten two
similar ones to replace our old CAD workstations as they die. The
T5400 prices out around $2k, maybe $3k with that video card. If the
dual quads are 2Ghz, the 2nd proc is under $300. The video card might
well be worth as much as the rest of the machine.

Most of the machines we bough with little RAM, and upgraded later.
When returning them we've pulled the ram and left the slots empty and
Dell didn't complain.

Anton


On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 10:39 PM, X-otic Computer Systems of San
Antonio <xcssa at xcssa.org> wrote:
> I don't no much about corporate IT and workstation systems. Bought the 490
> at the last computer show barebones. No HD, CD Drive, Memory or video card.
> Saw the thing working on the table before I bought it. Then the guy stripped
> out the components  I mentioned already. Bought all the parts I did not have
> on hand. Took a month or so to get everything together. Guess what? The 490
> would not even boot to the BIOS screen. Now hang on this is where it gets
> weird. Checked online with Dell using the service tag and Express Service
> Code. Turns out the system is under warranty until July 09. So I go online
> to tech support and ask some questions. The guy finally says let me send out
> a tech. The tech changes the motherboard out twice in one week and still
> can't get it to boot. At this point the tech suggest I go with Dell exchange
> service. So I said yes. A week later. I pick this Precision T5400 up from
> FedEx. This system is awesome. Dual quad core Xeons, latest Nvidia Quadro
> FX5600 etc etc. I keep thinking my 490's specs don't even come close. What
> kinda warranty is this? I'm kinda scared to use the thing. I don't have the
> 5-8 grand this thing is worth if this is some kind of mistake? Emailed Dell
> tech support and they said to send the 490 in as is so it looks like an even
> exchange? What do you guys think? Either I'm the luckiest guy on the planet
> or this is gonna come back and bite me in the arse. Needless to say I'm
> keeping the EMails from Dell. If I still have the system and I'm not in
> jail....I'll bring it to the meeting.
>
> So what do you all think?
>
> Later Gene
>
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