'Build Quality' - What Does It Mean Exactly?
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From: Daddy on 22 Jan 2010 11:46 Every now and then there is a discussion here about the 'build quality' of different Dell model lines. For example, I've read people saying that Vostro has inferior build quality while Studio has superior build quality. What exactly is meant by the term 'build quality' as it applies to desktop computers? Does it mean a sturdy case? Or does it mean that it's easier to work inside the computer, e.g., to replace/upgrade parts? Maybe it refers to the quality of the generic parts, like the power supply? Daddy
From: William R. Walsh on 22 Jan 2010 15:18 Hi! > What exactly is meant by the term 'build quality' as it applies to > desktop computers? The definition I use takes into account a few factors: 1. Fit and Finish of the system 2. Presence of *real* operating system reinstallation discs 3. Quality of the case 4. Quality of the parts used inside--PSU, internal structures, motherboard layout, other internal devices, etc. 5. To a very minor extent, how the system is marketed plays into it. For example: an OptiPlex is marketed to a business customer. Businesses sometimes do expect to get many years out of their equipment before replacing it. 6. Quality of the support--Dell's business class systems get better support. Having seen the systems plays into it. The Inspiron desktops seem to be built around very generic parts that have nothing more than a Dell name slapped on them, if that much. I've even seen some that use cheap Bestec power supplies. The way they are put together seems to suggest economy was the most important point. An OptiPlex system on the other hand has a thicker, better quality case, better quality power supply (most appear to be made by Lite-On IT), and what I'd call a better motherboard. William
From: Ben Myers on 22 Jan 2010 17:52 William R. Walsh wrote: > Hi! > >> What exactly is meant by the term 'build quality' as it applies to >> desktop computers? > > The definition I use takes into account a few factors: > > 1. Fit and Finish of the system > 2. Presence of *real* operating system reinstallation discs > 3. Quality of the case > 4. Quality of the parts used inside--PSU, internal structures, > motherboard layout, other internal devices, etc. > 5. To a very minor extent, how the system is marketed plays into it. > For example: an OptiPlex is marketed to a business customer. > Businesses sometimes do expect to get many years out of their > equipment before replacing it. > 6. Quality of the support--Dell's business class systems get better > support. > > Having seen the systems plays into it. The Inspiron desktops seem to > be built around very generic parts that have nothing more than a Dell > name slapped on them, if that much. I've even seen some that use cheap > Bestec power supplies. The way they are put together seems to suggest > economy was the most important point. > > An OptiPlex system on the other hand has a thicker, better quality > case, better quality power supply (most appear to be made by Lite-On > IT), and what I'd call a better motherboard. > > William William, I think you've nailed it. In the spirit of the on-going ice skating championships: 10.0. Can't think of much to add. Knowledge of the brand names of what is inside helps a lot in assessing build quality, as in your example of Bestec. Ugh! Now go wash out your mouth for writing such a dirty word. I need to also! ... Ben Myers
From: pacca on 23 Jan 2010 09:00 how would rate a dell xps 420 ? "William R. Walsh" <wm_walsh(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message news:27487405-6657-4345-9088-428554f39a56(a)y12g2000yqh.googlegroups.com... > Hi! > >> What exactly is meant by the term 'build quality' as it applies to >> desktop computers? > > The definition I use takes into account a few factors: > > 1. Fit and Finish of the system > 2. Presence of *real* operating system reinstallation discs > 3. Quality of the case > 4. Quality of the parts used inside--PSU, internal structures, > motherboard layout, other internal devices, etc. > 5. To a very minor extent, how the system is marketed plays into it. > For example: an OptiPlex is marketed to a business customer. > Businesses sometimes do expect to get many years out of their > equipment before replacing it. > 6. Quality of the support--Dell's business class systems get better > support. > > Having seen the systems plays into it. The Inspiron desktops seem to > be built around very generic parts that have nothing more than a Dell > name slapped on them, if that much. I've even seen some that use cheap > Bestec power supplies. The way they are put together seems to suggest > economy was the most important point. > > An OptiPlex system on the other hand has a thicker, better quality > case, better quality power supply (most appear to be made by Lite-On > IT), and what I'd call a better motherboard. > > William --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news(a)netfront.net ---
From: William R. Walsh on 23 Jan 2010 10:17
Hi! > how would rate a dell xps 420 ? Honestly...not very highly. I haven't been hugely impressed by the Dimension/XPS BTX systems built around Intel processors. There's just something about them. I can't quite put my finger on it. I think they feel cheaply made and the engineering of the interior seems a bit...muddled. Cables are routed strangely, and some of them are difficult to remove because they've been zip tied into place. Of course, they are zip tied into place in difficult locations. Someone *gave* me an XPS 400 after it had been nothing but a pain for them. It had a rumbling PSU fan. I've never seen that in any other Dell system--in fact, the only Dell fan I've had trouble with was the CPU fan in my Dim8300. But that's not a fault of the fan. The P4 Prescott CPU in that Dim8300 always ran so hot that the fan pretty much ran wide open all the time. The various OptiPlex models from roughly the same time frame (both Intel and AMD), as well as the Dimension E521, are much better systems in my view. William |