Tom's Hardware > Forum > Systems > Dell > Dell UK Options (XPS 720) - ideas needed

Dell UK Options (XPS 720) - ideas needed

Forum Systems : Dell - Dell UK Options (XPS 720) - ideas needed

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I have been asked to purchase, from the Dell site, the best non H2C configuration on offer.

That makes the choice quite simple - the XPS 720 (dell.co.uk)

It would be used for gaming and for video editing.

To that end, I have a few questions:

  • Does 4096MB of 800MHz RAM perform much better than the same amount of 667MHz RAM?


  • Would it be better to have the standard 500GB HDD setup (16MB Databurst Cache) or the 250GB HDD, with SecureData Backup (2 x 250GB)? I am inclined towards the larger, single drive - for the editing - but is the security of another HDD necessary (as I almost never use that amount, for non video material)?


  • Dual 512 MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT or Single 768 MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX? Why? I looked at cards, rated on this site, and (based on overall fps on a number of games), the 8800 GT is not far behind the GTX. Surely two GTs must be better, yet the more expensive setups have the single GTX. What am I missing?


  • Blu-Ray drives (considering it is now the dominant HD format)?


One key reason that I am being asked to purchase from Dell is because of the customer service. Take this out of the equation and is there another major manufacturer, that can offer the same or a better specced (versus Dell XPS 720) pc, for the same or a cheaper price.

If you have the time, I'd appreciate a reason for each response. Thanks a lot :pt1cable:

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1) shouldn't be a huge difference between the RAM unless you plan on overclocking (may not even be possible on that system)

2) In my experience HDD don't have a very high failure rate, so the single drive would be my choice for the capacity.

3) Dual 8800GT's will give you better performance, but not by a huge amount. The GTX is still a more expensive card (about as much or more than 2 8800GT's) so that's why those systems cost more.

4) depends on how important HD content is to you. Also depends on if your monitor can handle HD resolutions.

------------------------------ LAPTOP: Sager NP5760|T7200|2gb DDR2-667| 100gb 7200rpm HDD| 512mb 7950GTX|17'' WUXGA

Desktop: Core2 E7200 | Corsair 2gb DDR2-800 | Gigabyte EP35-DS3L | 250gb Seagate Barracuda | MSI GTX260 (192 SP) | Corsair VX550 | Antec 300 case
Reply to lostandwandering
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I suppose the dual versus single was the most important question, but I did want to read answers to the others. Thanks for being thorough.

Reply to jlrm365
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Systems > Dell > Dell UK Options (XPS 720) - ideas needed
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