Hi:
I was looking at the Dells trying to figure out how to use TG's 20% coupon. I was wondering, the Dimensions 2400 and the Dimensions 4600 seem to be very similar. All the 4600 seems to have stuff that is usually FAR from Officemax is you wait long enough-CDRW's, RAM and a bigger hard drive.
Am I missing something?? Does it pay to buy a 2400 and just soup it up to the level of a 4600??

comparison link

Also I heard Dell's customer service is horrible-is that true??

I just noticed that the 4600 is a p4 and the 2400 is a celeron-exactly how are they different and is it such a big difference?

we'll figure all this out when you'll be buying a computer, not now.

coupon is S&P only

The big difference between the Celeron and P4 is cache size. P4 has a larger L2 cache than the Celeron. This makes the P4 chip perform better than the Celeron.

If you're into gaming, graphics, video editing and other processor intensive applications go for the P4. If you use your computer for word processing, browsing the web, playing solitaire, etc. then the Celeron will be fine.

I like to think of it this way: P4 for heavy use, Celeron for basic use.

Also in the 2400, there is no AGP port. You are stuck with the shared video crap. That makes a big difference

that's not fair.

think of it this way: Celeron is for word processing and web surfing, PIV is for anything else (you mentioned video editing a while ago)
I don't consider video editing heavy use

It's just that with the P4 and the larger L2 cache you get better performance with processor intensive applications.

I found this on the 2400
You mentiond you wanted to "soup" it up?

The size of the tower, the number of the slots determine alot

Study the details of the 2400, and the 4600C and the 4600.

ROOM and slots are needed and remember that not all slots, expansion cards are the same...low profile? And that means less selection and higher prices :-)
Also look at the size and number of BAYS, many people are doing the DVD thing

2400's are great for most text based people, net surfers

A VW Beattle on steroids ......nope :-)

From Dells site about the 2400
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Memory Learn More

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128 MB - 1 GB shared2 Single Channel DDR 266MHz (400MHz front side bus) or 333MHz (requires 533MHz front side bus) SDRAM

Memory expansion is accomplished through two DIMM slots using 128, 256 or 512 MB DDR SDRAM DIMM modules

Drive Bays

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External: Two 5.25-inch and one 3.5-inch

Internal: One bay for 1-inch-high IDE hard drive

I/O Ports

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6 USB 2.0 ports (2 front - 4 back)

1 front miniature headphone jack

1 serial port

1 parallel port with ECP

1 mouse: 6-pin mini-DIN

1 keyboard: 6-pin mini-DIN

Slots

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3 PCI slots

Chassis Learn More

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Microtower with easy internal accessibility

Dimensions: 14.5" x 7.25" x 16.75" (HxWxD) - 36.8 x 18.4 x 42.6 (cm)

Weight: 23 lbs. (10.4 kg)

Power

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Input voltage: 100 to 120V at 60 Hz; or 200 to 240 V at 50 Hz

Output wattage: 250 Watts maximum continuous

Output voltage: 3.3V, 5V, and 12V

Heat dissipation: 853 BTU/hour (fully loaded computer without monitor)

Power management: APM

Backup battery: 3.0 V CR2032 coin cell


Storage
Hard Drives Learn More

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Up to 120 GB (7200 RPM) IDE hard drive

Optical Devices Learn More

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CD-ROM 48x max. Speed CD-ROM


DVD-ROM Optional: 16x max. DVD-ROM with software decoding (DVD speed 6.6x min., CD speed 40x max./20x min.)


CD-RW and DVD+RW/+R with CD-RW Optional: 48x/24x/48x CD-RW

Optional: 48x/24x/40x max. CD-RW / DVD-ROM Combo Drive

Optional: 4x DVD+RW/+R with CD-RW Drive


Removable Media