Has anyone taken delivery of the New Studio XPS 435/8000/9000?

Those of us who ordered Raid 0 configurations must keep in mind that if a drive fails all data is lost!

I personally like Acronis True Image Home for a drive image B/U preference.

Here is a reviewer's blurb from a review of Norton ghost vs True image,

While each program has certain unique features, the core functionality of both programs is essentially equal.  However, True Image’s overall functionality, reliability and UI are more robust and more understandable than Symantec Norton Ghost versions 9 or 10.  Most importantly, in my experience, Symantec’s Ghost versions 9 & 10 have proven to be unreliable and my experience with Ghost (really, all of Symantec) technical support has consistently been dreadful.  I would still choose Acronis True Image over Ghost on functionality and presentation alone; however, on quality of support alone, I cannot and will not recommend any Symantec program. 

Furthermore, Symantec has a long & sordid history of acquiring products or complete companies and then discontinuing the products.  I would not be surprised if Ghost were treated similarly in the not-distant future.  Partition Magic, which they also acquired from PowerQuest a couple of years back in release 8 has yet to be updated by Symantec.  The fact that Symantec tech support/development has been unable to isolate the regular random corruption problems I have been experiencing across two releases of the product does not bode well for the future of the Ghost product, in my mind.

I have removed Symantec Ghost from my system.  My recommendation and personal choice going forward for a disk-imaging program is Acronis True Image.

Any thoughts?

Jjon -

Glad to hear that you found the 1-800 number useful!  That is a number they need to post on their website a little more clearly....the CSR's at that number are so much more helpful than the ones from India.....in that they seem to have more ability at cancelling, and changing or just ordering a new system...

(Just in case anyone's reading this and wants the number we're talking about - its 1-800-247-2076 Option #2)

Crosses fingers that we all receive a 'Shipped' email SOON!!!! 

jjon90:

Those of us who ordered Raid 0 configurations must keep in mind that if a drive fails all data is lost!

I personally like Acronis True Image Home for a drive image B/U preference.

Here is a reviewer's blurb from a review of Norton ghost vs True image,

While each program has certain unique features, the core functionality of both programs is essentially equal.  However, True Image’s overall functionality, reliability and UI are more robust and more understandable than Symantec Norton Ghost versions 9 or 10.  Most importantly, in my experience, Symantec’s Ghost versions 9 & 10 have proven to be unreliable and my experience with Ghost (really, all of Symantec) technical support has consistently been dreadful.  I would still choose Acronis True Image over Ghost on functionality and presentation alone; however, on quality of support alone, I cannot and will not recommend any Symantec program. 

Furthermore, Symantec has a long & sordid history of acquiring products or complete companies and then discontinuing the products.  I would not be surprised if Ghost were treated similarly in the not-distant future.  Partition Magic, which they also acquired from PowerQuest a couple of years back in release 8 has yet to be updated by Symantec.  The fact that Symantec tech support/development has been unable to isolate the regular random corruption problems I have been experiencing across two releases of the product does not bode well for the future of the Ghost product, in my mind.

I have removed Symantec Ghost from my system.  My recommendation and personal choice going forward for a disk-imaging program is Acronis True Image.

Any thoughts?

I was actually leaning towards getting an External Hard Drive (like a Western Digital My Book - 1 TB - currently priced at $120 at Amazon).  My thinking is that if I do have a hard drive go out within my Raid 0 setup --- then wouldn't I lose the info from Ghost and/or True Image?  .....or am I misunderstanding how those software products work?  To be honest I haven't investigated or used them.....but I thought that they created the image and stored it on the computers hard drive....then if the hard drive goes out - you're out of luck.   OR are you thinking of using these software packages in combination with an external hard drive?  The WD 'My Book' series of external hard drives have their own backup system - although they may not be as robust as the software products you mentioned.  I too would be interested in hearing more about them....and how they're used.

You are correct! Once you determine the problem on the raid 0 , you can restore the image exactly as it was the date and time you made the back up. I find Acronis very simple to use. You must store the image on another drive, preferably external.

May I suggest an ESATA external Acomdata puredrive 1TB external model PHD10000USE-72 $108 at Amazon.

You have 1 external ESATA plug on the back of the 435T. Don't forget to order an ESATA cable. I have the WD Mybook and it is sooooooooooooo slow transferring data.

The specs for transfer rates are USB2 = 480 MBps and ESATA = 1.5 GBps

jjon90:

You are correct! Once you determine the problem on the raid 0 , you can restore the image exactly as it was the date and time you made the back up. I find Acronis very simple to use. You must store the image on another drive, preferably external.

May I suggest an ESATA external Acomdata puredrive 1TB external model PHD10000USE-72 $108 at Amazon.

You have 1 external ESATA plug on the back of the 435T. Don't forget to order an ESATA cable. I have the WD Mybook and it is sooooooooooooo slow transferring data.

The specs for transfer rates are USB2 = 480 MBps and ESATA = 1.5 GBps

That's really helpful, thanks for the info -- I'll definately check into the ESATA external drive with the True software package  - Sounds like its a much more effective means of restore then the WD drives using usb.

Thanks!!!

I'm connected now from my 435t.  Got the video drivers updated and windows updates applied.  Set power options to performance, don't know if there is anything in the default config that might slow things down, just went through and made sure there wasn't anything set this way.

The box weighed 52lbs when it got here, so that is correct.  It is a sturdy full tower.  When the fan kicks in you can hear it, don't know how it compares to the other XPS models that people complained about but it isn't something that bothers me all that much.  I also ordered the 24" Monitor separately and it was $90 cheaper, saw someone mention getting the ram separate was cheaper as well.  Anyhow, all working so far, need to get some games installed on here and see how it goes.  I have Company of Heroes and World of Warhammer Online to mess with.  I am coming from a Tosh x205 laptop with an 8700M card, so should be huge improvements all around for me.

Got Warhammer installed.  just ran around Altdorf a bit.  Had max settings turned on at 1920x1080 and frames ran from 60-80 the whole time.  Will drop it down to medium settings mostly for keeps and forts but looked good.  Fan did not kick on at all while I was in game.  The USB port on top of the machine closest to power button didn't fit properly.  I didn't mess around with it too much, might just need to get close and look at it but thats the only problem I've had so far.

3dmark vantage results:

http://service.futuremark.com/home.action?resultId=886357&resultType=19

not 100% sure that link works so:

3dMark score 9804
CPU Score 17158
Graphic 8579

Sawaddi,

Congrats! Can't wait to hear what you think.

I wasn't aware that the orange trim lit up.

Got confirmation that mine will be delivered Wednesday, March 18. My expected delivery date was 03/30/09 prior to confirmation of shipping.

I chose the i7 940 with only 3gb or ram. I have 12GB, 1333mhz Crucial ram waiting to be installed. I also bought a new Auzentech Prelude 7.1 sound card for this unit. I did not purchase a monitor because I already had the Dell Ultrasharp2407WFP. However, last night I had second thoughts and ordered the Dell Ultrasharp 2207WFP and will run dual monitors with the ATI Radeon 4670.

Reese,

Do you mean the port itself is out of line with hole in the case?

Yeah it was out of line just enough that I couldn't reach over and stick a USB plug in there without looking.  I had to actually get down and look at it and its still takes a bit of fiddling, but the USB port works fine.  All the other ones in the back and front are aligned properly and very smooth.

The Red/Orange trim (looks red to me :) ) does not glow, and is not supposed to that I know of.  The Dell Icon on the front does glow however while it is turned on.

Phinbob,

Let us know what you think after you put it through the paces!