As an official Dell Vostro 3900 i5 deal poster I fully endorse this deal and give it my seal of approval

Nope, as said in previous deals, average prices to build this are:
£140 cpu - i5 4460 incl heatsink/fan
£35 motherboard, your choice of budget mobo
£14 4GB memory, Crucial
£32 500GB hard drive
£25 cheap n' cheerful case
£18 cheap/n' blow PSU
£13 DVD
£120 for Windows Pro OEM
£5 for nasty keyboard
£5 for mouse
That comes to £407, ok so ditch the Windows licence cos you don't mind dodgy, and forget mouse/keyboard, so that's £277 for which you have to build yourself, order all the bits, hope it works. For just £2 more you've got it prebuilt with a genuine licence for Windows Pro. But if you can build for less please share the info as I'm sure it would help many of us. But you can't find it for less when you factor in the Windows licence although I suspect you'll argue that no one pays for a Windows licence.

is this still available. can't find and need to order

Ah, OK. That's not it then.

yes

Have you updated the BIOS?

​I've added SSD and it boots up quick once gets past the POST. It seems to take ages. Anyone else have an issue like that?

Received mine a few days ago. Mini tower is bigger than I thought it'd be (bigger volume than the case on my 2007 Dell Dimension C521!) but nay bother as it sits under a desk anyway.

Adding the SSD was not straight forward for me. For some reason W10 said no signed driver. When I got that fixed (more by luck than by judgement) I had another problem and had to convert the SSD to GPT partition. Eventually after a few hours I got it sorted and I'm very impressed. Boots up in 5 seconds.

Received mine added the 4gb of ram and an ssd and running great, bonus how quiet it is as well. Thanks much appreciated!

a decent graphics card and another 4gb of ram

CCL have it back as the deal of the week - a MASSIVE £5 saving.

Don't all rush at once. A few pence under £295.

​I've ordered up a gtx 950 low power unit to stick in. it will be here early next week I'll see how it goes with 4Gb of RAM for now and 240GB SSD.

Finally have my system up and running with the 4gb extra ram and 480gb ssd upgrades installed. I had no backup hdd so had to update using the original HDD, then migrate the data/OS (W10) straight onto the new SSD with a kit bought off Amazon. No Windows key was accessible with this computer so I couldn't even use an installation DVD... Then the SSD wasn't showing. Thankfully a youtube video on the topic of 'create and format hard disc partitions' nearly literally saved my bacon.

Long story short, it was well worth it. Now runs like a beast for the money spent. My previous pc was a medium spec Vostro from like 2008. So this is a major improvement. Not even sure I'll bother with an additional graphics card as I'm impressed with the on-board :smiley:

US prices are quoted without sales tax, which may or not be applicable.

Add 20% VAT onto that and the US price at £302 equivalent is more expensive.

Dell US has a voucher this week - until the 10th - that reduces the 3900 to the equivalent of just a few pence under £260.

The voucher does not work in the UK of course nor can we order it from the US. But just interesting.

arrived yesterday. really nicely put together bit of kit. very quiet runs very cool. highly recommended at anywhere less than £300

Another excuse for me not to buy it :-)

Deal expired now

Yep, DVD is on a SATA connections, there are 4 SATA ports, 2 in use with HD and DVD.
No IDE on these!

Is the DVD-Writer on this a SATA connector?

Edit:

Ah, looks like SATA from the manual photo.

Yes, piece of cake, mentioned many times on the Dell Vostro 3900 deals posted recently. You don't actually upgrade onto the SSD you just install Win10 from scratch so really easy and quick.

See previous page post #54
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/dell-vostro-3900-desktop-pc-i5-4460-3-2ghz-win7pro-win8-1pro-4gb-500gb-hd-cclonline-2458685?p=28149286
And some useful info on older deal post
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/dell-vostro-3900-desktop-i5-4460-3-2ghz-win7pro-win8-1pro-w10-4gb-500gb-hd-286-50-2421267?p=27672690

Can I buy a separate ssd drive and then upgrade to windows 10 on that?

Life's too short and my time is money.

Of course that's one option but my point is that it isn't a like for like comparison and when anyone says it's cheaper to build your own that really isn't the case, or usually isn't the case.

I'm on the fence between self build and buying this.
I would :
- Pay slightly more for the hard drive and get an SSD
- Don't bother with a DVD reader
- Get a cheap n nasty case with a built in PSU, This isn't a gaming PC and dell will have too
- Buy a used windows license with COA off ebay £20

£136 - Intel i5 4460
£35 - Motherboard
£14 - 4GB memory, Crucial
£23 - Case with 500w PSU
£5 - for nasty keyboard
£5 - for mouse
£20 - Win 7 Pro
£25 - SSD 120GB

£263 + Delivery + Build and Install time

So for an almost equal price you can build an equivalent PC with a faster SSD.
If I buy this I would be adding an SSD so equivalent cost is £305

Should do, I've just stuck one of those in my Dell 760 and it's working fine - after downloading new drivers form the Nvidia site, as the included CD didn't do anything useful.

Yeah that should be fine as it doesn't require additional power connectors.

would this be a good card to go with it for mid gaming nothing too demanding ? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-NVIDIA-Profile-Graphics-Card/dp/B015CM22CE/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1465084222&sr=8-10&keywords=750+gtx+ti

thanks alot.

thank you will look into doing that just wanted to ensure all was working first but all went without any issues.

Just following on from what mk-donald has said about having 2 matching sticks to get dual channel, while running dual channel can increase performance by 10% the question is would 8GB dual channel be better than 12GB in single channel mode? - I'd hazzard a guess more ram in single channel is always better than less ram in dual mode. Now, whether you even need 12GB is another question, 4GB will do many, 8GB certainly enough for most people.... of course some users need more memory but you may not really see much difference in most applications.

Nope, as said in previous deals, average prices to build this are:
£140 cpu - i5 4460 incl heatsink/fan
£35 motherboard, your choice of budget mobo
£14 4GB memory, Crucial
£32 500GB hard drive
£25 cheap n' cheerful case
£18 cheap/n' blow PSU
£13 DVD
£120 for Windows Pro OEM
£5 for nasty keyboard
£5 for mouse
That comes to £407, ok so ditch the Windows licence cos you don't mind dodgy, and forget mouse/keyboard, so that's £277 for which you have to build yourself, order all the bits, hope it works. For just £2 more you've got it prebuilt with a genuine licence for Windows Pro. But if you can build for less please share the info as I'm sure it would help many of us. But you can't find it for less when you factor in the Windows licence although I suspect you'll argue that no one pays for a Windows licence.

Crucial Memory, 4GB for £15
Integral 120GB SSD for £25 or choose whatever SSD drive you fancy. I've used several Sandisks and several Samsung, they all seem to work well. AVOID Kingston V300's.

Install of SSD has been written many times now on these threads! but easiest is to install SSD in place of the 500GB drive, use the MS Win 10 creation Tool, and download / use the 'Perform a clean installation using USB or DVD' instructions. Boot up using your USB stick/DVD install and allow Win 10 to perform a new custom install (not the upgrade option) then tick 'I don't have a product key', follow prompts to install Win10 and in 60 mins you're done.

You can then connect the original HD with another SATA cable and use it for storage.
Previously posted info #1
Info (halfway down) for Clean Install of Win10

Good old Gumtree. Components only 5 months old, guy won it in a competition and stripped it to put his Skylake in the case.

Build your own for less + better Warranties

Hi spannerzone - any chance you can add the link for buying the 4GB of RAM and the SSD? The links in the previous posts no longer work.

Also, can you point to a good instructional on how to add the SSD to this desktop? Many thanks in advance.

Well we're never going to survive unless we get a little crazy.

To use Dual Channel the motherboard needs to have identical size memory SIMMs in the pair of slots (& reasonably well matched specs of those SIMMs, though you dont need to have identical SIMMs).

Nothing to stop you having a 4GB and a 8GB SIMMs in the two slots, just won't be dual channel, ie just as the out of the box Dell has 1x4GB SIMM operating in Single Channel mode. It MAY be necessary to have the larger capacity SIMM in the lowest #'d socket.

The 4GB SIMM in my Dell Vostro 3900 was a Hynix/Hyundai PC3-12800 CL11 JEDEC spec'd at 1.35V
I added a 4GB Crucial CT51254BA160BJ @ £12.99 from eBuyer #473576 (compatible per Crucial site) and operating in Dual Channel mode CL11 though it's showing as JEDEC 1.5V.
No idea what DDR3 voltages the Dell motherboard supports, ie whether it COULD exploit the 1.35V ability of the bundled SIMM, but as my added SIMM doesn't support 1.35V it couldn't operate at that anyway. (A lower voltage is apparently preferable - if the motherboard can provide it - as it uses less power and hence heat ie better for £/chips.)
http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Crucial-memory-for-PC-systems/1-35v-1-5v-Dual-Voltage-DDR3-memory/ta-p/71731

Thanks Op. Just bought to replace my 2007 Dell Dimension C521, which was still working fine, if a little slow.

I'd say a middle of the road graphics card would be around 120-200. Gtx 960 at 140 and 380 at similar price would be middle of the road bordering on low end with the new 4k cards coming in.

Does it matter which ram am I gonna use to support dual channel? Can I just go with this and make it 12 gb with DC supported on those 2?
Thank you!

Depends on your definition of "middle of the road". If the 1080 is "top end" at £650, and the 750ti is "low end" at £90, then logically "middle of the road" would be what...around £350?

My machine is an ols inspiron 660 so no clue as to the drivers etc

Hmm maybe... I was just inside my old Vostro 200 (the grandfather of all Vostro desktops) which has a card reader module, it seems to use a couple of 9 pin header connectors but this new Vostro only has 1 9pin connector. Now later card readers seem to use 1 9pin connector which I think is more likely to work but some of those might need a driver being loaded for Windows to recognise it. Mine uses a Teac driver from Dell's site, that might be an issue finding a driver, if needed.

None of this should stop you fitting an SSD drive which can live in the space between DVD drive and card reader space.

Whilst on this theme ... my old Dell tower has a card reader/ two usb / headphone fold down unit in one of the drive bays - will I possibly be able to transfer that to the vostro and still fit a ssd?

Thanks

That USB3F has no actual pins or socket attached, Dell have not installed those bits onto the motherboard but USB2 connector is there on the board and is for the front Dell card reader (a USB2 type not the USB3 type - I'm referring to the USB format type here and not the connector number)

I think there's a very good chance that a USB2 type connector on a card reader like the one you listed should probably work.

Thanks a lot for your help - I'll wait until it comes and then have a look at the motherboard - on the picture that you posted there looks to be a 9pin and 19 pin connector that says usbf1 and usbf2 (I don't know what the difference is) so it could be one of those maybe. I guess they don't need a power supply then.

OTT? I'd argue that spec I provided is very average middle of the road. You have paraphrased exactly what I said but just less specifically with each of the components except the PSU and sound card. Your couple of bits of specific advise are even bad: a 750ti is not middle of the road but low end and also all of those components would have a huge impact on performance, specifically for gaming.

OK that should hopefully plug into the connector on the motherboard, look at page 13 on the manual
http://content.etilize.com/User-Manual/1032118510.pdf

I'd hope (but can't guarantee) that the connector that Dell use is the same config as the one you list (the USB2 not the USB3 version)

Looking at the motherboard photo you can clearly see a 9 pin connector unused which is for the Dell card reader.

Thanks a lot Spannerzone I really appreciate your help, perhaps my terminology is wrong, I was was thinking of a card reader similar to this One It talks about a 9 pin isd usb connector. I don't know if the motherboard has one or where it would be?
:
My answers in bold:
- Is the power supply the P3 & P5 and will the P5 stretch to an SSD put in the bay below the HDD?Yes the P3 and P5 are the SATA power connectors for 2 hard drives - Now the tricky thing is that an SSD is smaller and many would use a 2.5" to 3.5" adaptor bracket to mount it there, the trouble is the SSD is then centrally mounted and the 2 power connectors are spaced too closely to allow easy fitting (the lead just won't easily stretch) you can get it to work by rejiigging drives OR much easier is to mount the SSD under the DVD drive at the top of the case, there's another spare SATA power plug there. You'll need a 12" SATA data cable to reach there. Sticky tape/velco easily holds the SSD up there
-do you connect the ssd data cable to the light grey HDD2 next to the blue one, or would you swap it with the blue one?I ran a new SATA cable to the SATA 1 port (where the current hard drive blue cable is) and plugged the existing hard drive blue cable into the other unused SATA2 port - I wanted SSD as primary booting drive so put it in socket HDD1
- If I wanted to put in a card reader by the DVD drive would I connect the sata data cable to the black ODD1?Card reader is almost impossible to buy,if you want a genuine easy to fit Dell one. I don't think the card reader used a SATA data cable or a SATA power cable to operate, it uses a 16 pin plug (or similar) that connects to the motherboard.[/quote]

So you'd just run new install of Win10 and tick the 'i don't have a product key' option? that's the only way I could see that lets you proceed with a fresh install.

:
My answers in bold:
- Is the power supply the P3 & P5 and will the P5 stretch to an SSD put in the bay below the HDD?
Yes the P3 and P5 are the SATA power connectors for 2 hard drives - Now the tricky thing is that an SSD is smaller and many would use a 2.5" to 3.5" adaptor bracket to mount it there, the trouble is the SSD is then centrally mounted and the 2 power connectors are spaced too closely to allow easy fitting (the lead just won't easily stretch) you can get it to work by rejiigging drives OR much easier is to mount the SSD under the DVD drive at the top of the case, there's another spare SATA power plug there. You'll need a 12" SATA data cable to reach there. Sticky tape/velco easily holds the SSD up there
-do you connect the ssd data cable to the light grey HDD2 next to the blue one, or would you swap it with the blue one?
I ran a new SATA cable to the SATA 1 port (where the current hard drive blue cable is) and plugged the existing hard drive blue cable into the other unused SATA2 port - I wanted SSD as primary booting drive so put it in socket HDD1
- If I wanted to put in a card reader by the DVD drive would I connect the sata data cable to the black ODD1?
Card reader is almost impossible to buy,if you want a genuine easy to fit Dell one. I don't think the card reader used a SATA data cable or a SATA power cable to operate, it uses a 16 pin plug (or similar) that connects to the motherboard.

Yeah RW Everything can be useful, although with the amount of installs I do a week, I find I never use it as I either have the key on a COA sticker or the Windows installation finds the key in the MSDM table in the BIOS in the motherboard.

Thanks for that Spannerzone - I had the laptops direct order cancelled so ordered this one - I have never had the back off a computer can I ask if you don't mind:
- Is the power supply the P3 & P5 and will the P5 stretch to an SSD put in the bay below the HDD?
-do you connect the ssd data cable to the light grey HDD2 next to the blue one, or would you swap it with the blue one?
- If I wanted to put in a card reader by the DVD drive would I connect the sata data cable to the black ODD1?

Well worth doing for such a low price of around £14 but I actually haven't found W8 or W10 particularly shows much improvement going from 4 to 8 GB other then when I'm doing video editing or running a virtual machine. But then I've turned off cortana and other pointless apps :smile:

A quick look suggests the only issue is that the game won't run on intel built in graphics (which this has) so you'd need to factor in an additional graphics card.

http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/requirements/cities-skylines/12489

They also suggest 6GB ram although 4GB is the minimum required - another 4GB ram is only about £14 so well worth it as would an SSD drive but all depends on budget.

Yes it has 2 spare SATA power connectors, one next to the hard drive and one next to the DVD drive. It does not come with a spare SATA cable, get a 12" SATA cable to give you options as where to place the SSD.
Nice detailed picture here: http://content.hwigroup.net/images/products_xl/331298/3/dell-vostro-3900.jpg

What I found was when installing Windows 10 onto my Vostro 3900 I wanted a clean install (not an upgrade) and this was onto a new blank SSD drive, so when running the installer it gives options to upgrade or fresh install, that option then asks for a product key or you tick the 'i don't have a product key' which still allows it to install and then after installation Win10 discovers the product key from the BIOS like you described.

Doing a Win7/8 upgrade to Win10 does not ask for any product key as you already have a licenced product which it then upgrades.

For info, you can easy discover your product key from the BIOS on this machine by using RW Everything, info here

My setup is pretty similar but with 16gb ram, an ssd and a GTX 960. I put my spec into a power calculator site and it came up with under 300w (load). So rather than spending £80 - £100 on an excessive PSU, I went for 430w Seasonic for £40. More than enough power and good quality too.

Where from please mate?

Glad it went well for you.

If it is the Asus you ordered, it is well worth overclocking to 1400 MHz processor and 7GHz memory. Just under 20% increase in frame rate.

Hi all

I'm looking for a pc which will be able to play Cities: Skylines, the most 'intense' game I plan to use. Would this be a good start point? What kind of additional kit would I need?

Cheers

Makes a nice change to of actually had a dispatch email for this one. #inyourfaceebuyer

As others have said you'd definitely want to upgrade RAM on this. 4gb with Windows 8 or 10 runs like a dog, especially with Cortana and other system processes rinsing so much memory.

Bummed I missed out on this deal last time, but just just picked up a 4690k, gtx 960 4gb, and z97 pro-gamer mobo for this price. Silver linings and all that.

Does the PSU have a power cable for the SSD?

Windows 10 won't ask you for a product key if the key is stored on the motherboard, it will just install and activate itself. That's my experience anyway. Some machines and they have been Dell and Alienware don't store the key in the MSDM table in the BIOS, I haven't used this machine in this deal, but if they give you the licence key then type it in when it asks, you can do it later if you wish.


MSDM:Microsoft Data Management table
BIOS: Basic Input Output System

I just got asked a sensible question about installing Win10, you will be asked to input your product key but there's no sticker on the PC (the product key is embedded in the BIOS) - fear not, just choose the 'I don't have a product key' and Win10 will find the key in the BIOS and job's done.

After getting my order cancelled I ordered this one for 279. They said had 72 I'm warehouse ready to shop at 4.30pm Thursday, I ordered just before 5pm and was delivered at 9.30am yesterday Friday. I added extra 4gb ram a ssd unplugged the sata cable from the 500gb win 8 existing drive. Used the Microsoft media creation tool listed above to create a USB stick with win 10 Pro 64 in UK English. Booted machine with that in and choose the clean install was quick and easy. Didn't remove my USB stuck and didn't seem to matter for me. Windows was up and running within an hour opened up later in day added the GTX 950 low watt card the new realise one 75w. Not there is an old model that needs more power and a power connector that pc doesn't have.

Everything really easy no driver issues no problems. I updated the GTX driver from Web and downloaded my monitor driver from Web but seems to try and help you do that now.

Needed a sata? Red data cable for extra ssd. If buying one get a longer one not the shortest mine was short just reached. I put ssd under the old had and attached at a bit of a angle with one screw to one side of the hard drive mount but was tight with short cable.

Anyone know if matters which hdd connection use on the motherboard speed wise they had 2 and I used the second.

Good stuff there :smiley:

I would add that the tool to easily create the latest bootable media is Microsoft's Media Creation Tool found here (make a bootable USB stick not DVD) >

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10ISO

Boot Menu on this Dell is by pressing F12 at bootup. Hopefully this Dell is already setup for UEFI mode, but we won't get in to that as the media creation tool will create bootable media that will work in MBR or UEFI mode.

MBR means master boot record, you can find definitions of it online, suffice to say it's the old way of booting your PC.

UEFI: means unified extensible firmware interface: again definitions are online, suffice to say, it's the new faster way of booting your machine.

The definitions above are very loose, just to give you an idea of what those acronyms mean to a new user.

OK that's easy, download the Win10 software and create your USB or DVD install. Install the SSD (maybe remove the existing HD for this stage to keep install going onto SSD not HD) then boot up PC, follow install instructions for installing a clean installation rather than an upgrade and let Win10 do its thing.

NOTE! - if using USB stick to install Win10, after maybe 30 mins it will have installed...... and reboots the PC - if you have left the USB stick in the PC, it will go back and attempt to install Win 10 from the beginning again! - so keep an eye on the install.... when it says it's going to reboot the PC you should remove USB stick/DVD at the reboot.
I and others have got caught out with this, as I leave the PC installing and go off to do other things!

More here, read the "Doing a clean installation of Windows 10"

Thanks for your help. I'll be going straight to Windows 10 pro.

Do you want to have Win7 Pro on your SSD or will you go straight to Win10 Pro?

This PC does NOT come with a Win7 install DVD, it has a Win8.1pro disc supplied.

You can clone current Win7Pro over to the SSD using Macrium Reflect software (free)

You can install Win10 Pro onto the SSD drive from scratch, ie just download the MS Win10 media creation tool and put onto DVD or USB stick (read 'perform a clean installation using USB or DVD' on that page), then install SSD, boot up with w10 DVD/USB you created and install. Nothing is required from the Win7 software to do this.

I picked up this offer soon after it was posted (nearly bought at CCL on eBay at £298.98 yesterday morning). I've bought the 480gb ssd upgrade from Amazon. Will there be anything on the 3900s currently installed hard drive that needs transferring over before I can switch? Or is OS and everything installed via disc?

We'd need to know what games you want to run on it. Whilst Windows 8.1 works fine, I'd still upgrade to Windows 10, it can be a dog of an OS but there is a big update coming up for Windows 10 soon, so it's worth sticking with, also you'll have Direct X 12 support which will make a difference or not depending on the graphics card you install.

Windows 10 Consumer Roadmap so far :

Initial release : Build 10240
Threshold 2 also known as November 2015 update : Build 10586 (Current build is 10586.318)
Redstone update: Unreleased due soon

You can find out your version of Windows 10 by typing Winver in to the search box on the taskbar or using the ver command in command prompt.

Some upgrade options:
4GB memory from Crucial for £14.39
An SSD of your choice- Integral from £24
GTX950 Graphics card for £130

in the other Dell desktop deal posts people have upgraded more ram, 4GB for £13, maybe a £130 950 GTX card (the care that doesn't require any additional power connectors as this Dell doesn't have any) and an SSD for £30 to £100

That would be a cheapish way to get a semi decent setup. But note this is an home/office desktop so it's not really the basis of a highly upgradeable gaming rig. Real hardcore gamers should probably look eleswhere

What do you want to play and at what resolution.
My middle of the road will likely be your very high end.

I would honestly say build your own or get someone to make one for you.
If you buy this you will need to check the motherboard has a free pci e slot and that the power supply can provide enough wattage and if it has the right connectors otherwise they need changing.
Far too much hassle imo.

If you need any advice just quote/pm me and I'll help however I can.

This seems very OTT. This is how you would make it a high-end gaming PC, which if you were interested in doing, it wouldn't make much sense to buy a base rig like this.

If you want to play games on it, the main thing you should pick up is a graphics card (one that can cope with the fairly weak power supply such as a Nvidia 750ti). Some other upgrades could be additional RAM, addition of an SSD, and any peripherals you want to pick up; but all of these have only marginal impact on performance.

If you can wait for the new AMD cards due shortly, there should be one that will give you mid range performance without a power connector (assuming this machine's PSU doesn't have a PCIe connector). An additional 4 or 8 GB RAM would also help run things smoothly

An additional 3 x 4 GB DDR3 1600Mhz single channel sticks of RAM, 500w + PSU with gold/platinum efficiency and ideally multiple rails, 24 inch IPS monitor with at least 1080p resolution/144hz, gaming mouse with at least 1800 dpi and 1000 polls per second, mechanical keyboard, 480GB SSD with ncache 2 or some sort of 256bit bus, a decent graphics card - either GTX 960 4GB or higher if NVidia or R9 range like 380 if Radeon with 4GB ram too. Personally I'd get a GTX960 and wait for the latest Polaris cards from Radeon like RX480 with either 4 or 8 GB, a Sonus or XFI range sound card, a slick gaming mousemat, Dolby 3D Surround 7.1 compatable headset, a Steam account with some games.

I think the lower priced item is because it's a deal of the week

what would I need to do to make this a middle of the road gaming rig

Curiously they have it also showing at the higher price http://www.cclonline.com/product/208125/1K6CF/Branded-Desktop-PCs/Dell-Vostro-3900-Mini-Tower-Intel-Core-i5-4460-4GB-1600MHz-DDR3-500GB-HDD-DVD-RW-Keyboard-Mouse-Windows-7-Pro-64-bit-Windows-8-1-License-included-1-Year-Warranty/SYS4563/

Cheers, having had my orders cancelled due to low stock on the other deals I thought I'd wait until my order was shipped before posting this one!

As an official Dell Vostro 3900 i5 deal poster I fully endorse this deal and give it my seal of approval