-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LCz+1XOdJ/De20Y9qrE+tuXrtaqlHT+hyOypnwHqEtZw+I3OuEmKnCBBI9Tm9hOr
 j8HVACj8P7xgmxf0ZbDF0Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001215590-03-000008.txt : 20030619
<SEC-HEADER>0001215590-03-000008.hdr.sgml : 20030619
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030619112954
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001215590-03-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030618
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030619

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAMLIN JOHN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215590

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17017
		FILM NUMBER:		03749756

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DELL COMPUTER CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE DELL WAY
		CITY:			ROUND ROCK
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78682

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DELL COMPUTER CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000826083
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS [3571]
		IRS NUMBER:				742487834
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0129

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE DELL WAY
		STREET 2:		STED
		CITY:			ROUND ROCK
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78682-2244
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5127284737

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE DELL WAY
		CITY:			ROUND ROCK
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78682
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-06-18</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000826083</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DELL COMPUTER CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DELL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215590</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAMLIN JOHN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-06-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>100000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>24.09</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>198674</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-06-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>110000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>31.88</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>88674</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Nonqualified Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>24</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-06-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>100000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2002-06-18</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2011-06-18</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>100000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>300000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">8,674 shares and 80k restricted vesting 10k shares on 6/18 04-06 and 10k shares on 3/6 04-08. Also 801 in 401(k).</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Exercisable according to the following schedule: 100,000 shares on 6/18 of each year from 2004 through 2006.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>John S. Hamlin</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Thomas H. Welch, Attorney-in-F</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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