Dell Inspiron 530s Desktop Computer (Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180, 250GB HDD, 3GB RAM)
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc. Part number: DDCWFA2_2
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CNET Editor rating:
Not yet rated
- Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- Product brief
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Dell's first desktops to carry the Inspiron name look good, inside and out. With a huge range of available components and two equally attractive cases, mainstream consumers ought to be able to find a config that meets their budget, tastes, and computing needs.
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CNET editors' review
Reviewed by
Matthew Elliott
Review date: 06/26/07
Release date: 06/26/07
Dell has dropped its venerable Dimension desktop brand. Now, both its mainstream consumer desktops and laptops will carry the Inspiron name. Along with the name change, Dell's new Inspiron 530 and 530s PCs usher in Intel's latest G33 chipset (aka Bearlake), which features a speedy 1,333MHz frontside bus. The other two models in the lineup, the Inspiron 531 and 531s, feature AMD processors on Nvidia's MCP 61 chipset. The 530s and 531s units feature a slim chassis akin to the Dimension C521's. Each of the four models boasts a wide array of configuration options; prices start at a rock-bottom $349 and can quickly top $1,500 when you start adding upgrades. For complete details, read our full review of the Dell Inspiron 531, which won an Editors' Choice.
The big range in price is due in large part to the wide array of CPU options. The Intel-based models offer both low-end Celeron and dual-core Core 2 Duo processors, while the AMD-based models offer both low-end Sempron and dual-core Athlon 64 X2 processors. Memory ranges from 512MB to 4GB. All four major flavors of Vista are offered as well, and though you have to hunt around on Dell's site to find it, the Inspiron 530 is available with either Windows XP Home or Pro.
Both the midtower and the slim chassis offer two hard drive bays (which you can populate with two 500GB drives for a 1TB of storage) and the option for a PCI Express graphics card (the half-height variety for the 530s and 531s units). Also available in all models but particularly useful in the slim models, which are likely candidates to be shoehorned into home theater racks, is an optional 802.11b/g (but sadly, not 802.11n) Wi-Fi card, which will save you from having to run an Ethernet cable through your living room. Another living-room friendly technology, Bluetooth, is an option, and a Blu-ray drive is offered on a higher-end model. One note about the optical drive: the Intel G33 motherboard features only serial ATA connections, meaning you're out of luck if you want to add in an old parallel ATA optical drive you may have lying around.
Aesthetically, the new Inspiron line extends the silver-and-white color scheme that you can find on late-model Dimensions. The last generation of Dimensions were sleek-looking, but the area around the optical drives was black, which was in stark contrast to the rest of the case. Now, the Inspiron cases feature drive-bay covers, lending a more unified design to the PCs.
The Inspiron line carries Dell's standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty, but the company's DataSafe backup has moved online. Dell offers you 3GB of online storage and won't charge you for the first year.
(Originally posted on CNET Reviews)Product brief
Intro: The Dell Inspiron 530s Desktop Computer (Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180, 250GB HDD, 2GB RAM) is a Pentium dual Core-based, value-oriented desktop PC.Compared to other basic PCs on the market, it is relatively inexpensive at around $540.This PC also comes with a 17 flat panel display that supports 1440 x 900 resolution.This PC comes with 2 GB RAM, and a 250GB hard drive.
Noteworthy Features: Has a DVD? RW disc drive, which is more preferable than some similarly priced PCs.Also, this PC has a 17 screen, which is considerably larger than some similarly priced PCs.In fact, the typical cost of a product with this large a screen is $1,100.
Weaker Features: Shared video memory has a negative impact on system performance which should be fine for users with more modest graphics needs.Users with more demanding needs should look to a graphics solution that brings its own muscle.
Suitability: Suited for homes or businesses where price is a concern.Comes with a DVD writer, allowing you to convert home movies from your digital Handycam onto DVDs.This computer also has a CD writer, allowing you to compile your own audio CDs or video CDs.
Value: Given its relatively inexpensive price, this PC has great features for the money.Also, note that the purchase price also includes a 17 flat panel display.(Click here to see current prices and the latest reviews.)
Suggestions: (1) Check to make sure that an AGP or PCIe slot is available if you plan to upgrade to a stand-alone graphics card.(2) If you plan to be playing the latest 3-D games, you may want to invest in a more powerful video card from NVidia or ATI, which are popular with the gaming community (requires an open AGP or PCIe slot).
User reviews
- Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review
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GREAT low-end PC!
by pchearn on August 31, 2008
Pros: Fast PC and very quiet.
Cons: Some of the drivers were kind of hard to find.
Summary: I bought this PC at Dell for about $240 plus tax and shipping. It came with ubuntu. I reformatted the hard drive and loaded up Windows XP Pro. No problems. ...
Summary: I bought this PC at Dell for about $240 plus tax and shipping. It came with ubuntu. I reformatted the hard drive and loaded up Windows XP Pro. No problems. Then I couldn't access the internet, but finally found the right driver. After that, I found a couple of other drivers I needed and the PC runs great. I loaded up Microsoft Office and I couldn't be happier with the way everything runs.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Dell, Inc.
- Part number: DDCWFA2_2
General
- Type Personal computer
- Product Form Factor Tower
- Width 3.9 in
- Depth 17.1 in
- Height 14.3 in
- Weight 22 lbs
- System type Personal computer
Processor
- Type Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 / 2.00 GHz
- Multi-Core processor technology Dual-Core
- 64-bit processor Yes
- Installed Qty 1
- Max processors supported 1
Cache Memory
- Type L2 cache
- Installed Size 1 MB
- Cache Per Processor 1 MB
Mainboard
- Chipset type Intel G33 Express
- Data bus speed 800 MHz
RAM
- Installed Size 2 GB / 4 GB (max)
- Technology DDR2 SDRAM
- Memory speed 667 MHz
- Memory specification compliance PC2-5300
- RAM form factor DIMM 240-pin
- RAM features Two DDR channels
- RAM configuration features 2 x 1 GB
Environmental Parameters
- Min operating temperature 50 ?F
- Max operating temperature 95 ?F
- Operating humidity range 20 - 80%
Storage Controller
- Type 1 x Serial ATA - Integrated
- Controller interface type Serial ATA-300
- Storage controller interface channel qty 4
- RAID level RAID 1
Storage
- Floppy drive type None
- Hard Drive 1 x 250 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300 - 7200 - DataBurst Cache
- Hard Drive (2nd) None
Optical Storage
- Type DVD?RW - Serial ATA
- CD / DVD read speed 16X
Optical Storage (2nd)
- Type None
Storage Removable
- Type None
Monitor
- Monitor Type DELL SE198WFP - Flat panel display - TFT active matrix
- Display (projector) diagonal size 17
- Max Resolution 1440 x 900
- Dot pitch 0.285 mm
- Response time 5 ms
- Image brightness 300 cd/m2
- Display (projector) image contrast ratio 1000:1
Multimedia Functionality
- TV tuner type None
Graphics Controller
- Type Integrated
- Graphics Processor / Vendor Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 4.0
- Max Allocated RAM Size 224 MB
Audio Output
- Type Sound card - Integrated
- Sound output mode 7.1 channel surround
- Audio output compliant standards High Definition Audio
- Speaker(s) None
Input Device
- Type Keyboard, Mouse
Keyboard
- Keyboard interface USB
Mouse
- Mouse technology Optical
- Mouse interface USB
Audio Input
- Type None
Telecom
- Modem None
Networking
- Networking Network adapter - Integrated
- Data Link Protocol Ethernet, Fast Ethernet
Printer
- Type None
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Bays Total (Free) 2 ( 1 ) x Internal - 3.5" x 1/3H, 1 ( 1 ) x Front accessible - 3.5" x 1/3H, 1 ( 0 ) x Front accessible - 5.25" x 1/2H
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) 1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express x16, 1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express x1, 4 ( 2 ) x Memory - DIMM 240-pin, 1 ( 0 ) x Processor - LGA775 Socket, 2 ( 2 ) x PCI
- Interfaces 1 x Audio - Line-out - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Audio - Line-out/headphones - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ( 1 in front ), 1 x Audio - Line-in - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Audio - Line-out (center/subwoofer) - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Audio - Line-out (rear) - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Audio - Line-out (side surround) - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45, 6 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A ( 2 in front ), 2 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm ( 1 in front )
Power
- Power device type Power supply
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
- Power provided 250 Watt
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic Service Pack 1
- Software Microsoft Works 9.0, McAfee SecurityCenter (Trial), Drivers & Utilities
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Technical support - Phone consulting - 1 year, Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year - On-site
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics'
- Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (Mar 2008) 7.3
Manufacturer info
- Dell, Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Dell, Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.dell.com/
- Address:
One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682 - Phone: (800) 274-3355
- Email: LB_Order_Questions@dell.com
