• 30Oct 09

  Windows 7

  Finally got around to installing Windows 7 Ultimate (64 bit) on my XPS 420 last night.
  
  Well here's a quick run down on the install.
  
  First off it was QUICK. Damn Quick. It took around 20 minutes from start to new desktop.
  
  No need to install drivers for the SATA controller (as you would with Vista) as this was detected and worked out of the box.
  
  Once completed a quick check of device manager showed everything was detected, except my Sound Blaster X-fi. This was detected as a HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO DEVICE or some such thing. When I say everything else I mean everything else. TV card, check. 19-1 card reader + bluetooth, check. GTX 295 video card, check. Dell 2408WFP monitor, check. The list goes on and on.
  
  I did a quick Windows Update and updated drivers for all hardware including the X-fi were available, so I installed all of these.
  
  Once the machine came back up from the reboot I installed Microsofts free anti-virus software Microsoft Security Essentials.
  
  Something that really impressed me was most of my "video" files all worked out of the box, DVDs, XviDs, etc. Blu-ray on the other hand did not play. I'll check out Nvidia's PureVideo HD or something similar over the next few days as I come to grips with Microsoft's new OS.
  
  So now the big question. Was it worth it? To be totally honest, no not really. It feels like a well tuned Vista, but I already had 1 of those.
  
  If you do decide to update though be prepared for an extremely quick/painless experience. I'm up and running and I haven't downloaded any drivers at all other than the most up to date Nvidia drivers for my GTX 295, and I'm pretty sure they were available from Windows Update too.
  
  ---
  
  Last night I started restoring my Steam games from a back up I created. When I finally woke up (after a night at the pub) ... NOTHING! The backups just kept locking Steam up. So I'm currently downloading Borderlands, and I'll get round to the rest of my games later.
  • Posted Oct 30, 2009 3:43 pm PT
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• 16Oct 09

  Dell XPS 420 MEGA upgrade

  A while back I overclocked my un-overclockable XPS 420 using a piece of electrical tape to get my Q6600 to 3.0GHz. I even added a GTX 260 Core 216 using the standard 425W PSU. Time passed and the call to upgrade again came...
  
  Last night screw driver in hand I set about hacking away at my XPS.
  
  I removed the 425W PSU and replaced it with an 850W Thermaltake W0204 PSU. I then ripped out the GTX 260 and replaced it with a nice little card called a GTX 295. Rewired everything and I was done. Not a bad little upgrade for the un-overclockable/un-upgradeable Dell machine.
  
  Starting to remove stuff from the 420.
  
  
  
  All back together, new hardware in place.
  
  
  
  Device Manager showing the GTX 295 up and running.
  
  
  
  3DMark Vantage, showing a much higher mark than the last time I ran it.
  
  
  
  Now I'm all set for my next upgrade which will be to a nice highend DX11 card when they're finally needed. Or I may finally get around to replacing this thing. Who knows? For now though I'm extremely happy with my XPS 420.
  • Posted Oct 16, 2009 2:41 pm PT
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• 18Aug 09

  It's here... nearly 10 years old, but brand new!

  Even though I already own 1 ThinkGeek's stock of brand new nearly 10 year old consoles was too much to pass up!
  
  
  Dreamcast @ ThinkGeek
  • Posted Aug 18, 2009 2:01 pm PT
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