need help deciding please

[Bordoh]

I'm looking for a new computer. My main use is going to be gaming. I'm considering a dell refurbished, or one from tigerdirect.

Tigerdirect one is here:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...5&sku=SYX-1040

for $1600 .. think bing is 8% on tigerdirect right now.


Here are the specs for a dell refurb:

• Alienware Aurora Desktop
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium

Operating System:
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium

Memory:
6 GB Triple Channel DDR3 1333MHz (3 DIMMs)

Hard Disk Drive:
1 TB SATA II Hard Drive (7200RPM)

Video:
Single 1.8GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260

System Color:
Cosmic Black

Certified Refurbished:
Certified Refurbished

Hardware Upgrade:
Alienware TactX Mouse
Alienware High-Performance Liquid Cooling
Alienware MM Keyboard

Processor:
Processor: Intel Core i7-920 Processor (8MB L3 Cache, 1MB L2 Cache, 2.66GHz)

Software Upgrade:
64BIT Operating System DVD
Microsoft Works 9.0
Norton AV Gamer Edition 30day

Base:
Alienware Aurora Desktop

Media Bay:
24X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability

the video card on the refurb I can get a choice of 1 GB Radeon 5770, the 1.8 GB GTX 260, or dual sli 1GB GTS 240's.

the choice on video card makes nearly no difference on price, and with a coupon code after tax its just under $1000.


My concern is the dell refurb won't last all that long. It's a little out of my budget, but I'm thinking of springing for the $1600 one in hopes that its going to last longer and be able to play newer games coming out.

I'm also wondering, are these good deals? I've had a dell refurbished laptop and never had any problems with it so I'm not too weary of a refurb, plus its got a 1 year warranty anyway.

Any input is appreciated,
thank you very much.

 

[boomhower]

Any reason why you dont want to build your own, you gave the budget for s very -nice system

 

[Bordoh]

well.. I had heard that buying a prebuilt now is nearly as cheap or cheaper as building your own. I didn't really have any time to find prices on parting one out (full time school / work is killing me at the moment) so I just looked real quick at some prebuilts.

Could I built a comparable system for less?

 

[bamacre]

I don't think Dell Outlet is a bad idea at all. However, I would recommend looking at the Studio XPS 435 Tower (same as Studio XPS 9000) instead of the Alienware. It's cheaper, and has a PSU capable of running any single video card, as well as 6 dimm slots for memory and Core i7 processors.

There's also a 15% off code for all Outlet desktops and laptops, BHG94B83JW77VK (expires on 4/16).

Also, I forgot to mention, the "1.8GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260" offered by Dell in their desktops is a slightly neutered GTX 260...

But, it only needs one 6pin power connector, instead of two like the retail cards. I pulled one from a Dell, and have it running in my older Dell XPS 410.

 

[Bordoh]

thanks for the tip on the 435, they're currently all sold out mostly, only 1 left. I'm guessing that's because the coupon code is available right now, but I'll check back a few times.

Would the dell have any problems running newer games at a decent graphics setting? I use a 19" monitor at 1440x900 res. My current computer can barely run EQ2 even on that res, but its also about 10 years old.

 

[bamacre]

thanks for the tip on the 435, they're currently all sold out mostly, only 1 left. I'm guessing that's because the coupon code is available right now, but I'll check back a few times.

Would the dell have any problems running newer games at a decent graphics setting? I use a 19" monitor at 1440x900 res. My current computer can barely run EQ2 even on that res, but its also about 10 years old.

My Dell XPS 410 with the GTX 260 (and Q6600, 6GB) doesn't have any problems with newer games. Running L4D2 at 1920x1080 with 2xAA as well. I'd keep looking, maybe you'll spot an XPS 435 with an HD5870. I've seen them for good prices.

 

[Decembermouse]

well.. I had heard that buying a prebuilt now is nearly as cheap or cheaper as building your own. I didn't really have any time to find prices on parting one out (full time school / work is killing me at the moment) so I just looked real quick at some prebuilts.

Could I built a comparable system for less?

AbsoLUTELY you can. I'll price out parts hopefully tomorrow for you. But it's almost 3:30am and I really should be in bed

Really though. $1600 for a computer with only a GTX260? Really? You can get better components for cheaper... a better PSU, a name-brand mobo (not Dell brand, something with good chokes, capacitors, etc), quality memory that you can be sure has good latencies, a better hard drive for the price, a newer video card that can play DirectX 11 games... I mean, the GTX260 can't even run DirectX 10.1...

Anyway, I'll price it out tomorrow. Pester me if I don't! It's gonna be a long day at work so I hope I don't forget or something.

 

[Bordoh]

oh, the $1600 was for the one from tigerdirect I linked, it was crossfired radeon 5770's on that one.

the dell with the gtx 260 was like $980 after tax.

The pricing of parts is greatly appreciated though, if I can actually build this myself that would be awesome.

 

[Decembermouse]

Hey bud fyi I would hold off on buying that overpriced Tigerdirect one if I were you... if you build it yourself, you'll get

-better memory with lower latencies, not sure what kind of memory they put in either of the above, but no way it's DDR3-1600 CL6

-better power supply. Antec EarthWatts. Solid PSU.

-2TB hard drive.

-2x Radeon 5770's in Crossfire. These aren't generic reference designs with a stock cooler or board layout, but are from ASUS and are factory-overclocked with a better pcb design and better cooling. 25MHz overclock on each one.

-better motherboard... EVGA. Nuff said lol.

etc... It's around $1400 it looks like

I can email you the cart if you'd like. The Alienware looks enticing, it looks like a better deal, but keep in mind: slower memory, only one gfx card (if you get any of those get the 5770, even though it's bound to be a reference design, slower and noisier than the ASUS ones in the Newegg cart above)... Idk man, I really don't trust refurbs. I used to work at Circuit City's Firedog, and we had wayyy more refurb/open box computers returned due to problems than new ones. I would say... be confident that you are getting the best parts for every aspect of your machine. Be confident that you know what brand of memory, power supply, hard drive, motherboard, who actually built the case, etc. My opinion, definitely worth doing it yourself. Faster computer, higher quality parts. True, you don't get the fancy Alienware mouse or whatever, or liquid cooling (which I don't know about... who actually manufactures the parts for Alienware's liquid cooling setups? Even the nice name-brand kits need to be maintained to avoid having liquid spill, a system burst/leak, or water pump failure), but I'd just forget the enticing gimmicks the Alienware has, and go with the real thing. They buy discount bulk reference parts (e.g. reference 5770, off-brand PSU, who knows what memory or mobo) and put neat gizmos in there to reel you in (cool mouse, liquid cooling), but I would much prefer a computer with hardware whose origin I know, and that I trust.

 

[Bordoh]

if you could please PM me that cart, I'm interested to see what exactly is in there. I've also been checkin for the xps 435's on occasion, I'm not sure about it, but it didn't look too bad if I was going for a budgeted gamer pc. with coupon code, after tax its $680. What do yall think?

Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
Memory
4 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz (2 DIMMs)
Hard Disk Drive
1 TB SATA II Hard Drive (7200RPM) 3.0Gb/s, 32MB Cache
Video
1 GB ATI Radeon HD 5450 DDR3
Certified Refurbished
Certified Refurbished
Hardware Upgrade
USB Multimedia Keyboard
125V Power Cord
Thermal Heat Sink
USB Optical mouse
No Modem
Processor
Processor: Intel Core i7-920 Processor (8MB L3 Cache, 1MB L2 Cache, 2.66GHz)
Software Upgrade
Windows Live
Microsoft Works 9.0
McAfee Security Center, 30 Day
64BIT Operating System DVD
Base
Studio XPS - 435 Tower
Media Bay
6X Blu-ray (BD-RE)






also found this one for $1400 after tax... I know its a reburb still, but.. still lookin inticing.. two 2gb radeon 5870's seem pretty nice..

Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate
Memory
12 GB DDR3 Triple Channel 1067MHz (6 DIMMs)
Hard Disk Drive
500 GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
Video
Dual 2GB GDDR5 ATI Radeon HD 5870
Media Bay
24X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
Software Upgrade
Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit Operating System DVD
Microsoft Works 9.0
Processor
Processor: Intel Core i7-920 Processor (8MB L3 Cache, 1MB L2 Cache, 2.66GHz)
Hardware Upgrade
Alienware TactX Mouse
Alienware High-Performance Liquid Cooling
Alienware MM Keyboard
System Color
Lunar Shadow
Certified Refurbished
Certified Refurbished
Base
Alienware Aurora Desktop

 

[bamacre]

That's a bargain, very nice snag!

 

[Chapbass]

Hmmmm not postiive about that first one for 680...but that looks pretty solid for 1400 bucks...

Maybe when I get unlazy in a few mins ill see what a DIY one would look like with similar specs.

edit: yeah, I dont think you're going to find something with those specs (especially if it really is TWO 5870's in crossfire), also the 12gb of ram totally kills cost. What, two 5870's is going to run you like 750-800, plus 12gb of ram is going to run 300 bucks...thats 1100...plus the i7 920 is 250, thats basically 1400 right there...and were not talking OS, MB, case, PSU, HDD, CD drive....


I'd get the 2nd one.

 

[Bordoh]

ya, it seemed like too nice a deal to pass up.. I actually got the $1400 one. I would hope that its really two 5870's, seeing has how they advertised it as such. Bah, now I'm paranoid !..

heh.. thx for all the advice though guys.