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Started by Anas_sg | | 26 answers
Nvidia's GTX 970/980 does not work on Dell's XPS 8700
I am trying to publicize this in hopes to get a soultion for that. XPS 8700 users have not recieved any proper response to this problem from either Dell or nVidia other than saying they are investigating the problem.

link on dell forums:
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3...
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October 20, 2014 9:36:07 PM

This doesn't go into the OPs mention of the problems with GTX 980 which better get fixed soon, but instead it puts some details into the *I can build it better for less*.

I think I can build it better. Yup.
I think I can build it for less. Yup.

I don't see how to build it better for less. There were / are frequent deals for xps 8700s for around $600 (core i7 ). I've not seen a parts list to do it cheaper.

So, for all those claiming to build it cheaper, here's your chance. Omit the PSU and graphics card since those are throw-away for anyone upgrading to a high end graphics card. Your budget is $600. Now please, build it better for less.

System must include windows 64 (7 or 8) and should include a keyboard and a mouse to be fair price wise.
the "crappy" Dell Mobo is Z87 chipset so it should be at least that with four DIMM slots.

core i7 4770 or 4790 / Z87 MoBo / 8 GB DDR3 1600 / 1TB 7200 RPM HDD / windows 7 or 8 / DVDRW / 2x USB 3 on the front (or top) 2x USB 2 on top (or front) with SD memory card slots, wifi (B-G-N)

here's my failed attempt to beat the price (along with my comments on why I picked that part)

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ Newegg) // cheaper today than a 4770
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg) // cheapest Z87 or Z97
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($70.99 @ Newegg) // cheapest DDR3-1600 1.5V
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($42.99 @ Amazon) // cheapest 1TB 7200
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($51.99 @ Amazon) // just a cheap case that will work. hard to find much cheaper
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon) // cheapest DVDRW
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC) // cheapest listed
Total: $639.92 <------------------ but what? its more than $600

Adding Wifi, keyboard, mouse and an SD card reader.

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($70.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($42.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($51.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N150HG 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($10.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Rosewill RK-101 Wired Standard Keyboard ($5.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Gear Head MP1600RU Wired Optical Mouse ($4.19 @ Mwave)
Total: $661.09

And, if the buyer isn't upgrading the GPU, then add a (crummy) GT 630 and a similar 460W PSU
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($70.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($42.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GT 630 2GB Video Card ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill Challenger-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($51.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Cooler Master Elite Power 460W ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N150HG 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($10.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Rosewill RK-101 Wired Standard Keyboard ($5.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Gear Head MP1600RU Wired Optical Mouse ($4.19 @ Mwave)
Other: Rosewill RCR-IC002 74-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader ($6.99)
Total: $738.06


October 19, 2014 7:30:35 PM

sam80jr said:
first of all the dell xps 8700 is 829.99 so i dunno where youre getting 550 from. I could def build a great PC for 830 bucks.

with a 30% coupon from the dell outlet, you can replicate every now and then. You can get the new also in the $6XX price range.

October 19, 2014 6:32:59 PM

first of all the dell xps 8700 is 829.99 so i dunno where youre getting 550 from. I could def build a great PC for 830 bucks.
October 19, 2014 6:16:38 PM

Anas_sg said:
smackers_12 said:
Anas_sg said:
junkeymonkey said:
if prebuilts were easy to upgrade we would not need all these custom parts to build our own if it was a matter of going to walmart and getting a 300$dell and slaping a card in it I sure would not bother with all this custom stuff .. them cats like dell got it all figured out and they want to seel you there new computer not have you upgrade the old one cause they got that higher end compleat computer sitting at walmart for you to buy .. that's how they make there money


I don't think Dell locks Bios to make harder for owners to upgrade, and people buy pre-built because its cheaper than buying separate parts and those who don't enjoy building a rig.


Its not cheaper.


Get me an i7 with the same specs for $550 and I will believe you.


I can get you an i7, with a shit mobo, shit psu, shit ram, and a shit case for less.

Dell/HP etc etc have mostly crap components.

Don't be fooled.
October 19, 2014 5:59:02 PM

smackers_12 said:
Anas_sg said:
junkeymonkey said:
if prebuilts were easy to upgrade we would not need all these custom parts to build our own if it was a matter of going to walmart and getting a 300$dell and slaping a card in it I sure would not bother with all this custom stuff .. them cats like dell got it all figured out and they want to seel you there new computer not have you upgrade the old one cause they got that higher end compleat computer sitting at walmart for you to buy .. that's how they make there money


I don't think Dell locks Bios to make harder for owners to upgrade, and people buy pre-built because its cheaper than buying separate parts and those who don't enjoy building a rig.


Its not cheaper.


Get me an i7 with the same specs for $550 and I will believe you.
October 19, 2014 1:30:16 PM

Hi Junkeymonkey,
Great idea take your computer to a computer shop and try it with different cards.
I don't know where you live, but there are no computer shops within 300 miles of where I live that have even seen a 970 or 980 GTX card.
And fewer still that want to let you try their cards.
Best Regards,
Gary
October 19, 2014 7:54:25 AM

one more thing

''I don't think Dell locks Bios to make harder for owners to upgrade''

wonder why you go to dell or whoever the prebuilt came from to get these from and not msi asus or what ever ?? it a dell bios for dell not like what we get for our boards from the manufacture these are closed written by dell for there products as they see fit for there use as they want under there guide lines for that computer as they configured it to be used .

October 19, 2014 6:21:24 AM

well its like this -- buy the card stick it in it will work or it will not then you know where your at with it ..

or just do like the guys I told this with and took theres to a computer shop and tried out cards there to find they don't work and saved them money by not ordering one and get stuck with a card they cant use

just that easy

October 18, 2014 6:35:14 PM

Anas_sg said:
junkeymonkey said:
if prebuilts were easy to upgrade we would not need all these custom parts to build our own if it was a matter of going to walmart and getting a 300$dell and slaping a card in it I sure would not bother with all this custom stuff .. them cats like dell got it all figured out and they want to seel you there new computer not have you upgrade the old one cause they got that higher end compleat computer sitting at walmart for you to buy .. that's how they make there money


I don't think Dell locks Bios to make harder for owners to upgrade, and people buy pre-built because its cheaper than buying separate parts and those who don't enjoy building a rig.


Its not cheaper.
October 18, 2014 4:38:41 PM

The solution is to return your GTX 970 board and not buy Dell computers.
I have exactly the same problem.
Dell XPS 8700 (true for other models too) Black screen on boot up no matter how many video drivers you remove or disable.
Has absolutely nothing to do with the Power supply, the 12 volts on the 8700 is actually well above spec for the 980 let alone the 970 and when you are running anything normal with these thaey ony take 10 or 20 watts.
The games are the ones that take the juice.
As a matter of fact, the board powers up fine and turns the fans completely off after 30 seconds or so, so PSU is NOT the problem.
The Big Problem is that Nvidia, Dell, EVGA and every 970/980 manufacturer know that the Dell won't work with this card, they just don't bother to mention it.
It has been an ongoing problem since day one with this board and from everything I can tell, while they are both claiming to be working on it, the reality is their engineers are playing the finger pointing game each telling the other it's their responsibility and in fact nothing has been getting done.
It does not take a month to solve this problem if you have some one other than the bathroom clean out guy working on it.
The Dells actually come with Nvidia multi GPU boards these days and to release this board without even a note of warning that it absolutely positively won't work with a Dell XPS is irresponsible in the extreme on the part of both Nvidia and Dell.
Dell should have at the very least sent an Email to all it's XPS customers telling them this board currently doesn't work in your computer.
There is also no guarantee at all that brand X motherboard in your home made computer is going to work with it either.
I have done this sort of upgrade to my previous dozen or so Dells with other Nvidia video cards and had no issue at all.
Suddenly having it not compatible with the premier manufacturers premier video card and not bothering to mention it is Completely unacceptable.
And leaving it to the purchasers to "guess" what might be compatible (at their expense) is beyond contemptible.
Not working together is one thing, knowing about it and not telling you about it is entirely another and is completely unacceptable.
My solution: tell everybody you can about this, maybe loss of sales will force a more responsible approach in the future.
Best Regards.

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