Computers

[Ierian]

I am looking for some adivce so any input is helpful.


I was buying a comp from a custom builder on ebay when I get a email about his paypal acct was messed up and my money was being refund. I got a little concerned about being ripped off so I canceled it thru paypal.


I am wondering about Alienware or buying thru Dell, so is these 2 comps worth buying a computer thru and which one are best for gaming on.

[Phlegm]

Alienware and Dell are the same now.

[Ierian]

So are they worth the money or not? I am trying to get a idea about the quality and is there better place to buy from.

[Tikker]

eh, you were ready to buy from some fly by night ebay company, and now you're suddenly concerned about dell/alienware quality?


jeje

[Eldred]

eh, you were ready to buy from some fly by night ebay company, and now you're suddenly concerned about dell/alienware quality?


jeje

[Ierian]

Well first off I wasn't concerned about the company from Ebay. I was more concerned about there banking issues more than anything. I have always heard buying a company built PC and having to buy there part only if you wish to upgrade or replace a item.

I guess my question should have been something like this. Which is better to buy a company built PC like Dell or Alienware or have it custom built.

[Gidan]

In general uou can get more bank for the buck with custom build, but if you dont know what your doing, you can really get taken. Know whats going into your box and have an idea of what those pieces are actually worth.

While Alienware and Dell may be the same company, they sell different products. With the exception of laptops, Alienware is overpriced becaues you can build it yourself much cheaper. I would put the Dell XPS systems a just below Alienware and also like Alienware, you will be overpaying if you can build yourself.

Basicly, if you can build yourself and YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING, do it yourself, you will gain power and pay less. If your not comfortable doing it yourself and dont have somone you can trust not to screw you then buy a prebuilt brand name system. If you have the money and want the best go Alienware, if your looking budget go Dell.

There are many other companies out there makeing great boxes, however you listed Dell and Alienware so I stuck with those.

[Ginzburgh]

I am one of the people that are not confident to build my own PC so I went with a dell machine. I've had no problems thusfar, I am on my third dell.

[Tikker]

Acer makes really nice laptops too

[Jimmy Durante]

While I won't be purchasing another desktop, I'm curious: Is the cost difference between a DIY and a prebuilt system still significant?

[Diekan]

Isn't there a forum for this type of stuff?

[Gidan]

While I won't be purchasing another desktop, I'm curious: Is the cost difference between a DIY and a prebuilt system still significant?

The cost difference is still significan, plus the advantage of getting exactly what you want vs whats available.

[Narrock]

I am one of the people that are not confident to build my own PC so I went with a dell machine. I've had no problems thusfar, I am on my third dell.

Because the first two were duds

[Harrison]

Judging by your posts I would say your best bet lies in a Dell/Company-built PC.

People like me build our computers piece by piece out of experience. Don't trust anyone who isn't a friend to cut you a deal on such experience.

[Ginzburgh]

Because the first two were duds

Because the first two had to be upgraded.

MMO gamer ftl ~

[Narrock]

Because the first two were duds

Because the first two had to be upgraded.

MMO gamer ftl ~

Yup, quite an expensive hobby.

[Tikker]

it's cheaper than RC airplanes!

[Ierian]

So I decided to go with the Dell comp XPS 410 and I have three question I am hoping someone can answer.


1. Which processor would u go with.

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6300 (1.86GHz, 1066 FSB) [Included in Price]

Intel ® Core™2 Duo Processor E6400 (2.13GHz, 1066 FSB) [add $50 or $1/month1]


2. Which memory would you chose.

1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 2DIMMs [Included in Price]

1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs [add $20]

2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs


3. Is there that big of a difference on these cards

256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache [Included in Price]

256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS [add $200 or $6/month1]
High Performance - High Value



Any Help would be appreciated.

[Harrison]

The 7900gs is a major upgrade from the 7300LE

[Tikker]

So I decided to go with the Dell comp XPS 410 and I have three question I am hoping someone can answer.


1. Which processor would u go with.

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6300 (1.86GHz, 1066 FSB) [Included in Price]

Intel ® Core™2 Duo Processor E6400 (2.13GHz, 1066 FSB) [add $50 or $1/month1]

for $50 you can't pass up the extra horsepower. both cpu's are good overclockers though

2. Which memory would you chose.

1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 2DIMMs [Included in Price]

1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs [add $20]

2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs

what's the price to move to 2gb ram?
if nothing else, spend the extra $20 and get the faster stuff

3. Is there that big of a difference on these cards

256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache [Included in Price]

256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS [add $200 or $6/month1]
High Performance - High Value



Any Help would be appreciated.

like Harrison said, the 7900 is much better than the 7300 (the 7300 is typically a laptop card)

for good cpu and video card graphs hit up http://www.tomshardware.com

[Menlaan]

Go with 2MBs of RAM. What size and quality of monitor do you have? If it's small, you can probably go with the cheaper video card.

When I buy, I'm going to buy from Monarch (http://www.monarchcomputer.com), but it's not as user-friendly a website as Dell's

[Diekan]

who the fuck is Ierian?

[Gidan]

So I decided to go with the Dell comp XPS 410 and I have three question I am hoping someone can answer.


1. Which processor would u go with.

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6300 (1.86GHz, 1066 FSB) [Included in Price]

Intel ® Core™2 Duo Processor E6400 (2.13GHz, 1066 FSB) [add $50 or $1/month1]


2. Which memory would you chose.

1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 2DIMMs [Included in Price]

1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs [add $20]

2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs


3. Is there that big of a difference on these cards

256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache [Included in Price]

256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS [add $200 or $6/month1]
High Performance - High Value



Any Help would be appreciated.

To actually be able to give intelligent advise, we need to know what you want to do with this box and what type of budget are you on. Is this for gaming? Work? Internet? Media Center? other?

Is the XPS 410 with the 6300 CPU, 1G 533 RAM and the 7300 hitting the high end of your budget? If so, then stop looking at the XPS line and look lower. If its well under your budget, then you would be an idiot not to get at a minimum the 6400, the 1G 677 RAM (Unless you have better that you can put into the box) and the 7900.

Why spend the $$ on an XPS if you are not willing to spend the $50 on an upgraded CPU, $20 on 677 vs 533 RAM and your going to put a POS 7300 vid card?


If I were buying the XPS 410, it would have $1800ish
Intel ® Core™2 Duo Processor E6600
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
500GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM)
256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS
Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeMusic (D), w/Dolby® Digital 5.1

If I couldn't afford those, I wouldn't be buying the XPS 410.


If $1800 - $2000 was my price range however (and I was buying prebuild, very unlikely), I would buy somehting more like this but I am an Alienware fan and they have never failed me.
[1] Area-51® 7500
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz 2MB Cache 1066MHz FSB
Power Supply: 650 Watt Alienware® Multi-GPU Approved
Motherboard: Alienware® Approved NVIDIA nForce 4 SLI Motherboard
Graphics Processor: 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 7900 GT
Memory: 2GB DDR2 Performance SDRAM at 800MHz - 2 x 1024MB


However, like I said before. Without more info, advising you is very difficult.

[Ierian]

Quote:
who the fuck is Ierian?

Why does it really matter to you unless this is your way of being a Dick?

I seldom post here but read the boards alot at work when I have the time.
I posted here to ask for some advice about computeres since I don't know much about the technical stuff.

I have been playing EQ since 02 and I play a 70 Ranger named Ierian and also play a 70 Necro named Mlayan on the Nameless. I do believe that you really don't give a shit about who I am Dickan but just want to be an asshole. So I hope this has enlightened you some about me.[/quote]

[Diekan]

1. If you really read these boards as much as you say, you'd know that this type of post belongs in the TECH forum.

2. If you were remotely intelligent you wouldn't have to ask about "which computer is best" - even a moron can figure it out.

3. When you have more than 19 posts come back and see me, when you're actually relevant.

Till then, you're just another anon, illrelevant troll.