Halo 1 & 2 for PC
This topic has moved here: Subject: question for people with dell pc's
  • Subject: question for people with dell pc's
Subject: question for people with dell pc's
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if you have upgraded your dell support to version 3.0, have you noticed your computer to be running slightly slower?

another question about norton internet security 2004: I have tried to update it, and two weird things happen:

Virtual memory space becomes low during installation of update
I look at liveupdate afterwards, and it asks to update the same thing again

anybody experience these things?

My system:
Dell Dimension 8400
Mobo brand unknown, has the A06 BIOS version
P4 550
512 MB DDR2 RAM 533 Mhz
ATi X300SE
80 GB SATA 7200 RPM hard drive
Windows XP pro with SP2



[Edited on 6/29/2005]

  • 06.29.2005 4:30 PM PDT
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No but the problem is SP2 it will screw over Dell PCs.

  • 06.29.2005 4:41 PM PDT
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i've had my pc and SP2 for about 6 months now. It started getting slower after i got the dell support 3.

  • 06.29.2005 5:34 PM PDT

* Pr: ĭnʹtərnĕts: "I hear there's rumors on the uh (pause), Internets...

Dell sucks.

  • 06.29.2005 6:46 PM PDT
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Hmm...it appears you haven't gotten much in the way of constructive comments...

I don't have a Dell, but if this support thing is like any program or driver - can you roll back the version, or download an earlier version? I'm sure their website has older versions available, like the one you used before the slow down.

Surprisingly, Dell may not 'suck' so much anymore - the new Gen 5 XPS allows overclocking and comes with a very nice heatsink/fan - it's also BTX. They're starting to grow a bit more gamer friendly.

  • 06.29.2005 7:41 PM PDT
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Posted by: sexy legs davis
Hmm...it appears you haven't gotten much in the way of constructive comments...

I don't have a Dell, but if this support thing is like any program or driver - can you roll back the version, or download an earlier version? I'm sure their website has older versions available, like the one you used before the slow down.

Surprisingly, Dell may not 'suck' so much anymore - the new Gen 5 XPS allows overclocking and comes with a very nice heatsink/fan - it's also BTX. They're starting to grow a bit more gamer friendly.


I'm actually starting to think that the norton internet security is causing this. The dell support doesn't seem to be acting up like norton is. The support was able to get updates for my burning software, dvd firmware, and other things i never thought of. I don't wanna get rid of it if it get's me firmware updates just like that.

[Edited on 6/29/2005]

  • 06.29.2005 8:25 PM PDT
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I had dell after SP2 and I renewed my Mac Afee it messed up big time.

  • 06.29.2005 8:47 PM PDT

* Pr: ĭnʹtərnĕts: "I hear there's rumors on the uh (pause), Internets...

Umm, Mr. Sexy, the Gen 5 is like $2000 if you want the 'good' stuff, you can build a new computer with all the stuff you want, and a |337 case, for much lower.


So please, elaborate on how $2000 is 'gamer friendly'.

(Most of us 'gamers' don't carry around 2 grand)

  • 06.29.2005 9:13 PM PDT
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I said Dell is growing more gamer friendly - they used to lock the BIOS on the FSB and such, on the new XPS they don't, plus they do supposedly ship with something other than the stock heatsink/fan that allowed one reviewer to get a 500MHz overclock.

Now, did I say it was a wise investment? Of course not. My rig can blow a Dell out of the water, and it cost me less than $1300. I don't deny that it's cheaper to build on your own, I doubt it will ever change from that. I'm simply saying that at least they're moving from the typical pre-fab pc scene which involves overly cautious manufacturers locking everything on the pc and using lower-grade parts. At least they're starting to realize why people say 'Dell is crap', 'I'll never buy a Dell'. It's at least a step. That's what I meant.

I guess you took it offensively...I was just trying to shed some light beyond 'Dell sucks', especially when he wanted help and not a flamewar.

Is Norton running when you play games? I mean, can you disable it during a game, or at least tell it to allow Halo or something? It sounds like it's simply starting to hog resources and spends a lot of cpu MHz 'protecting' your system.

I usually just shutoff McAfee during games, the fps loss when it is supposedly potecting me from god knows what can get steep on Battlefield 2...

[Edited on 6/29/2005]

  • 06.29.2005 10:15 PM PDT
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Posted by: sexy legs davis
I said Dell is growing more gamer friendly - they used to lock the BIOS on the FSB and such, on the new XPS they don't, plus they do supposedly ship with something other than the stock heatsink/fan that allowed one reviewer to get a 500MHz overclock.

Now, did I say it was a wise investment? Of course not. My rig can blow a Dell out of the water, and it cost me less than $1300. I don't deny that it's cheaper to build on your own, I doubt it will ever change from that. I'm simply saying that at least they're moving from the typical pre-fab pc scene which involves overly cautious manufacturers locking everything on the pc and using lower-grade parts. At least they're starting to realize why people say 'Dell is crap', 'I'll never buy a Dell'. It's at least a step. That's what I meant.

I guess you took it offensively...I was just trying to shed some light beyond 'Dell sucks', especially when he wanted help and not a flamewar.

Is Norton running when you play games? I mean, can you disable it during a game, or at least tell it to allow Halo or something? It sounds like it's simply starting to hog resources and spends a lot of cpu MHz 'protecting' your system.

I usually just shutoff McAfee during games, the fps loss when it is supposedly potecting me from god knows what can get steep on Battlefield 2...

I don't turn off norton, unless it's blocking images on a website (for example: screenshots on bungie). The slowdown doesn't seem as bad as it used to now; the only impact i noticed on halo back then was slightly longer loading times and lag when it tried to update itself. It really spikes up when i run liveupdate and for some time afterwards.

Thank you for helping me. I'm a newb to the PC gaming world, about 6 months of experience. I will build my next pc unless trends change. I'm not totally disappointed with my system, it's not that bad (at least to me, my previous system was a JUNKER). I could have gotten something more powerful if i had a bigger budget.

[Edited on 6/29/2005]

  • 06.29.2005 10:55 PM PDT
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I have a (mostly) Dell Pc. I never had their support software running that I know of, but Norton is a HUGE system resource hog (depends which components you use, obviously a full-time virus scanner and firewall set to constant monitoring will take more resources than just the regular passive antivirus software). I loved how well it worked, but it just takes too much to have it on while playing.

I love Dells for prebuilts, if you absolutely must get a prebuilt system get one, but for gaming.. there are definitely times when I wish I had built one.

FYI I'm in the middle of hacking my Dell case (I love the clamshell cases) to pieces to be ATX compatible. Currently what's left of my computer is stacked on my subwoofer underneath my desk... soon as I get to go to my buddy's dad's machine shop I get to do one of the last bits of work on it. Not that hard, really, as long as you're not scared to cut into the metal.

  • 06.29.2005 11:55 PM PDT