You might also want to contrast this system with the server, the Dimension 8200.
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This is my office with the Dimension 8300 system, the dual LCD monitors, and my trusty old OmniKey/102 keyboard. You can also see a pile of old photos waiting to be scanned. Click on the image to enlarge. |
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To the left of my desk are the scanner, printer, trash and recycling buckets, and on the far left is the Dimension 8200 which is used as a 24/7 server.Click on the image to enlarge. |
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The 8300 opened up. Here are the drive bays. There are free spaces for a 5.25" and 3.5" drive (external access) and an internal 3.5" drive. The existing hard drive has an SATA interface so doesn't need the bulky ribbon cable. In fact a ribbon cable for the primary IDE channel is not provided. This is probably why Dell doesn't sell systems combining both drive types -- they don't want to supply both cables. Click on the image to enlarge. |
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Looking down at the motherboard. All the PCI slots are empty. Plastic card hold-down latch (green, lower left in picture) has been improved over the 8200 and holds down any cards firmly. Rubber bumper on top of green fan shroud in the 8200 is deleted. Case is now marked "made in China" and fan shroud as "made in Mexico". Both appeared to be made in USA in the 8200. Click on the image to enlarge. |
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This view shows the clean design. Two of the four memory slots are filled. Click on the image to enlarge. |
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Back view showing connections. Unlike the 8200 I own, almost everything is on the motherboard on this system, giving lots of room for future expansion. Click on the image to enlarge. |
For some reason, Dell decided to remove the front feet from the case starting with the 8250 model. Since my system is on carpet, it doesn't matter, but it sure would on a hard floor! The 8200 is on the left, the 8300 on the right.
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