How to configure Dell XPS 8300 for Gaming Performance While Purchasing?

I hope you are well aware of Intel’s 2^nd Generation Core I Processors and the power they pack. If you are, then Dell XPS 8300 would be a great choice if you can’t afford Alienware straightaway. However, rather than going for a stock build XPS 8300 it would be better if you customize it personally or with the help of a friend who knows a lot about gaming systems and hardwares required to play great games.

This article is all about configuring your XPS 8300 from scratch and from Dell’s Website. I am not recommending anything here. I am just telling you that there are other options available than what your retailer has been telling you.

• Head over to Dell’s Website (follow the link) > Home & Home Office (highlighted in Red) > Scroll down to Browse Desktops section and select Shop XPS 8300 (highlighted in Red in next image).

• This will take you to Dell XPS 8300 web page, where you can see the almighty CPU, Gallery (for images), Features and Video.
• You can gain some knowledge about the system by reading the information on this page and hitting (clicking) on Tech Specs and Customer Ratings for an in-depth peek.
• Now, let’s configure this system for a better gaming performance.
• Click Select and you will be taken to a webpage where you will see 3 options and there price tags as well. You should select the third one because we will have the freedom to select or deselect Monitor when we configure our system. So click on Customise on that to proceed.

• You will now see Personalise my dell webpage and now... let us begin customising.

• By default (or stock build), Core i5 takes the place of Processor. Since we want a little higher gaming performance, we will select Core i7 2600 3.4 GHz, 8MB Cache as our preferred processor model.
• Click on continue customising for next option.
• Windows 7 Home Premium is just as good as Ultimate and there is no need to throw in extra Rs.3k/- (for professional) or Rs.7k/- (for Ultimate). Don’t worry; we will need that money to throw in some extra hardware.
• Next in Line is Security Software and McAfee is fine antivirus software, but since you already get the subscription for 15 months, that is probably just enough. Personally, I don’t recommend any security software for Gaming systems. The reason is that, till now, there is no security software that won’t slow down your system when you are playing games online. Yeah you can turn it off, but the program still monitors threats and eventually slows down your gaming system.
• Unfortunately, there is no solution to this problem and you will have to format your system sooner or later.
• Next in line is your Monitor, you can opt for an 18-inch flat panel monitor, which is highly not-recommended or you can opt for a 24-inch Full HD monitor with WLED (which is by the way, pretty sharp and delivers crisp images and videos) and is highly-recommended for a gaming system.
• However, if you do have an HD monitor with amazing resolution, refresh rate, contrast ratio, connectivity options, etc. Then you might want to select No Monitor (this is why I told you to select third system to configure). When you select ‘No Monitor’, it will tell you how much amount will be subtracted from your purchase.
• Next in line is Memory and don’t bother about upgrading it because 6 GB DDR3 working at 1333MHz is more than enough for your daily or occasional gaming needs. However, if you do feel the need of some extreme quality gaming (because you have already upgraded your system to a top notch processor), then you might want to slip in a couple of OCZ Dominator series (when nobody is looking), which is costly but works like charm.
• Next in line is Hard Drive and believe me, you do want to upgrade it. A system like this will have a lot of data to store and eventually you will run out of space. I am not saying that 1 TB is enough, but it should your preferred choice. So... rather than going for 500 GB, you should upgrade your system to 1 TB on the spot.
• Next in line is Optical Drive. It is really up to you. If you can afford those Blu-ray things (DVDs, etc.), then Blu-ray drive is a good option for you but it is definitely not needed for a gaming system. Now you have the option to download nearly every game online after purchasing it and even if you want the feeling of a DVD circling in your Optical drive, then a Dual layer drive is what you need and not a Blu-ray one.
• Next in line is Video Card, one of the most important factors that can certainly affect each and every one of your games. You make haste here and you will ruin your system. At this time, Dell is offering two options, 1 GB Nvidia Geforce GT420 and 1 GB AMD Radeon HD 6770.
• Now... if you look for reviews on these particular graphics cards separately, then you will find HD 6770 beating GT420 by miles. The reason is, GT420 is for mainstream gamers and the performance makes up to only level 2, whereas HD 6770 is a Level 1, Mid Range performance graphics card and can certainly handle each and every game that you throw at it. So... without a doubt... opt for HD 6770 over GT420, because you won’t get a second chance here.
• Even if you want to upgrade your system later some day, you will have to throw away your previous card in order to install a new one and that would be plain stupid, because you knew that you could have gone with a better card and never have to upgrade it later (I am not saying forever).
• Next in line is Sound card and I do not care about it a lot. So... play around the options and search reviews about Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme or Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium sound cards for a better understanding on what you should choose.
• Next is Wireless network card and it is None by default (stock build). I strongly recommend you to get it because it costs only Rs.305/- and if you have been using a laptop (with Wi-Fi) then you might know how much it is needed nowadays.
• Getting a TV tuner would be a waste of money for a gaming system. So... get it if you wish, else, leave it behind and click Continue Customising.
• We have now configured our system according to games and what rests is MS Office software, Wireless Router, Power Surge Protection, Warranty and Data safe Backup.
• At this moment, the price would be mighty high and you may wonder if it would be nicer to assemble a system from a retailer rather than going for Dell XPS 8300 and then customising it.
• You know what, for that, I can say only one thing. Get an assembled system and you will know the difference between an XPS 8300 (and customising it) and assembling a system, after you play games on it.

That is all there is to it friends. Thanks for going through this lengthy article and configuring your system. Happy gaming.