Home Forums Dell Vostro vs. Optiplex

Hello all,

We're implementing AC soon and are looking at purchasing a new computer house the AC db while keeping our current computers as the client computers. I've been reading the forum a lot and there are lots of mention of the Dell Optiplex. I noticed the Dell Vostros have almost identical technical specs (CPU, RAM, harddisk) and are less expensive. Dell advertises Optiplex as "good for networks" or something like that. Does anyone have experience with a recently purchased Vostro as the main AC computer? The info below are taken from the dell website - we're deciding between these 2.

Vostro 460 mini tower, $649
Processor Intel? CoreTM i5 2400 (3.1GHz/6MB cache)
Operating System Genuine Windows? 7 Professional 64-Bit
Memory2 4GB2 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz
Hard Drive 320GB3 SATA hard drive (7200RPM)
Video Card Intel HD Graphics 2000 (VGA, HDMI)
Warranty 1 Year ProSupport and 1 Year NBD On-site Service

Optiplex 990 mini tower, $959
Processor Intel? CoreTM i5 2400 (3.1GHz/6MB cache)
Operating System Genuine Windows? 7 Professional 64-Bit
Memory2 4GB2 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz
Hard Drive 500GB3 SATA hard drive (7200RPM)
Video Card Integrated Video, Intel? HD Graphics 2000 (1DP & 1 VGA)
Warranty 3 Year ProSupport with 3 Year NBD Limited Onsite Service After Remote Diagnosis

Serene

We have a small office--one dr and couple of staff. So we only have 3 or 4 pcs. 2 desktops and 2 laptops,sometimes a 3rd laptop.

I just installed a Vostro last week as the main pc. 64 bit OS Win 7 pro,4 gb ram. Works just fine. I can give u the model number later when I get to the office.

My only complaint is that I thought it was a small tower, and it turned out to be a "desktop", literally. I didn't know PC's oriented like that were still made. I am really not a Dell Or HP fan, but choices recently became more limited and they are pretty much who is left. Well, e-machines. see?

You should consider getting a dedicated server using server grade components instead of desktop grade. Also, a server OS is more stable. That second system is way overpriced, probably due to the 3 year Onsite service. It appears the only difference is the hard drive space and the warranty. Terabyte drives are only $50-80 (should you need the space) so I would say go for the first one if you don't require the extended warranty.

I have a similar position. I'm finding it much cheaper and better to build your own computer. Dell often uses cheap parts instead of the brand name like Asus, Corsair, etc. Building a computer takes less than two hours and installing windows maybe one extra hour. Another benefit is that there is no bloatware (unnecessary software) that is often packaged with Dell, Acer etc. Another benefit it the warranties of the individual parts in a custom built computer. Often lifetime warranties on RAM, 3-5 years on hard drives, etc. You pick and choose quality components.

@serene, here is my little cheap system.

Dell Vostro 230
intel core 2 duo 2.93 ghz
4 gb ram
450 GB hard drive
probably some type of intel integrated graphics.
20 inch monitor

dont remember what it cost. not too much though, but probably still overpriced.

Serene,
Sounds like we do it much like Wayne. We are happy with a simple peer-to-peer network with one Vostro acting as the "server". The network is all Vostro's. It is not that we set out to do it that way, but we started with a couple and have been happy with them, so as we upgraded, that is what we used. Each time I would go to Dell and think "maybe I should upgrade a little and get an Optiplex", I would compare specs and reach the same conclusion as you. The Vostro's are basically the same machine in a different box with a higher price tag.

So we have 5 Vostro's,
The "server" a 2205
intel core 2 duo 2.93 ghz
300 GB hard drive
running Win 7 Pro

One 230, exactly the same as Wayne's above, also Win 7 Pro.

Two 200's both with core 32 duo's 2.40ghz
Both upgraded to 3.24 of RAM
running Win XP

One older Vostro (would have to look up the info)
Pentium 4 @ 3 ghz
2MB RAM
Win XP this one runs a bit slower but gets less use.

LOL. Jon, the funny thing is that my "server" is the V230. But when I went out to look at the cheaper front desk machine and went to the "system info" screen, it said vostro 230 also, but only 2GB ram. But its in a mini-tower and didnt come with a monitor. The "server" mistakenly a "desktop". I tend to use the terms desktop and tower interchangably, since I thought they had stopped making machings to actually sit on your desktop (since no one wants them). I was tricked by the picture on-screen, which looked like a small thin tower. yes, I have it on its side and now need to buy a little still so that it doesn't tip over.

We started out with just the pc we had, and tried to just get a little better one as we went along. But we haven't had any difficulties.

Thanks for the replies! I'm glad to hear the Vostros work out well. All our current computers are over 4 years old. They still work fine now, but they might need upgrading once we start using AC full time and find out if they're too slow or not. At that point, we might get a real server OS and use the Vostro to replace one of the workstations.

Hi Serene:

Your prices are excellent, BTW. The Vostro line is very good and tend to work well. Their weaknesses:

* The 350W power supply will go on you in less than a year most likely. Easy to swap out with a 500W or greater power supply- I did that 2 months ago with one of my Vostros between patients. Cost: $20 usually, but I simply got a 600W power brick from my computer graveyard in my office.
* The HD is only 7200RPM, which is a typical cheap vanilla HD. I would make that a secondary (data) drive and place as a primary drive a Western Digital 10000RPM Raptor- you will notice the speed immediately. Cost is about not too much, usually less than $100 (although the memory amount is relatively lower- max being 160GB). Check out ebay- http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m570&_nkw=western+digital+raptor+drive

I love Dells- they are predictable and reliable.

Al

Two Dell Vostros running Win 7 (one for the front
desk with AC database & the other in consult room) with
4-6 GB memory and 1 TB HD are mated
with five "off lease" Dell Optiplex
workhorses (for $139 each from Tiger Direct)
which run XP professional and all works just
fine for me. The Vostros are an excellent
buy.

As an aside, my old Linksys office router died
this week, panicville for one afternoon ergo a
dead network and, gasp,had to use pen and paper.
Then a quick replacement with a new Linksys e2000
was quite easy. The bundled Network Magic software
helped bring all the computers, printers,
and a fax together in no time.

SERVER ALERT SERVER ALERT! I would use a dedicated server and you can use whatever you want for the terminals! I use two laptops and a refurbished gateway...

Wow, $139? Off lease sounds like a great deal.

The off lease Tiger Direct Optiplex comes with 512 MB RAM.
This may have been enough but I pumped them up to 1 GB
each as memory modules are relatively cheap and, of course,
easy to install.

Most of my computers are 4 years old, Pentium 4 (2.4-3.0) with 1.2-2 G of memory. All are Win XP. They have worked fine and there should be no reason to replace them for version 5.

HOWEVER, I have upgraded one office to V6. It seems much more processor hungry. I had 2 dual core 1.6 with 2 Gig XP machines that I had to replace front desk and another, I will need to replace the others, prescriptions especially are slow. I may wait and see if I get money from the feds. If so, then new vostro's are in the works. I priced up one at only about $570 but I will need 10 machines. I have run peer to peer. I may upgrade to a server (actually 2) if I have fed money. If not... well more refurb dual cores may be in the works (139 + memory).

Maybe a future release of V6 will be less of a processor hog.