Should I just get a Dell?

[uncleezno]

I'm in the market for a new desktop that's up to playing Oblivion and Supreme Commander. I've been pricing parts on the internet, reading other people's posts on custom builds, and comparing PCs from the affordable guys (ibuypower, cyberpowerpc). I think I might end up going with a Dell and adding a new video card on my own.

The big reason why I think the Dell makes sense for me is that they throw in monitors for dirt cheap, and I need one - I'm working on a laptop now. Here's what they offer:

Intel E6420 (2.13mhz, 4MB L2 cache)
Vista (I'm going to call and ask for XP)
22 inch E228WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel
2GB DDR2 @ 667mhz
250GB HDD @ 7200RPM w/ 16MB cache
16x DVD+/-RW
3 Year Warranty

Total: $1009


If I throw in another $250 for a new video card, that still keeps it at under $1300. Does this seem reasonable? No other manufacturer has comparable prices, and I don't save much at all through getting the parts myself. I understand that the RAM isn't 800mhz, and the mobo is an unknown, but do those outweigh the cost savings in my situation?


Thanks!

 

[Inspector Jihad]

you can pick up good widescreen 22in monitors for less than 250. i think if you looked around, you could have what you wanted for under a 1000.

 

[uncleezno]

Or I could get the same system with a 19" Widescreen monitor for $909. I think that's an even better deal - my apartment probably doesn't have room for a 22" screen anyhow.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Your probably better off getting the lowest amount of RAM they offer and upgrading on your own since DDR2 is so cheap now. Search for some dell coupon's too, they'll make or break the deal.

 

[KermitM42]

Originally posted by: uncleezno
I'm in the market for a new desktop that's up to playing Oblivion and Supreme Commander. I've been pricing parts on the internet, reading other people's posts on custom builds, and comparing PCs from the affordable guys (ibuypower, cyberpowerpc). I think I might end up going with a Dell and adding a new video card on my own.

The big reason why I think the Dell makes sense for me is that they throw in monitors for dirt cheap, and I need one - I'm working on a laptop now. Here's what they offer:

Intel E6420 (2.13mhz, 4MB L2 cache)
Vista (I'm going to call and ask for XP)
22 inch E228WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel
2GB DDR2 @ 667mhz
250GB HDD @ 7200RPM w/ 16MB cache
16x DVD+/-RW
3 Year Warranty

Total: $1009


If I throw in another $250 for a new video card, that still keeps it at under $1300. Does this seem reasonable? No other manufacturer has comparable prices, and I don't save much at all through getting the parts myself. I understand that the RAM isn't 800mhz, and the mobo is an unknown, but do those outweigh the cost savings in my situation?


Thanks!

good luck with that.

 

[uncleezno]

Threw this together quickly -

MOBO - Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 P965, $119 @ mwave.com
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, $227 @ mwave.com
RAM - Crucial 2GB DDR2 800 PC2-6400, Ballistix Dual Kit (2 x 1GB), $108 @ mwave.com
VIDEO - eVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB PCI Express, $290 @ mwave.com
HDD - Samsung 250GB SpinPoint Serial ATA-300, $69 @ newegg.com
MONITOR - Samsung SyncMaster 906BW, $205 @ mwave.com
DVD - Sony AW-Q170A-B2 8x DL DVD±RW, $35 @ mwave.com
CASE - Cooler Master Cavalier 3 Silver Aluminum/Steel ATX Mid Tower, $70 @ mwave.com
POWER - Cooler Master 430W ATX eXtreme, $35 @ mwave.com

Total: $1158

Argh, maybe I will just build my own. Or wait till the end of July. Who knows.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: uncleezno
Threw this together quickly -

MOBO - Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 P965, $119 @ mwave.com
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, $227 @ mwave.com
RAM - Crucial 2GB DDR2 800 PC2-6400, Ballistix Dual Kit (2 x 1GB), $108 @ mwave.com
VIDEO - eVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB PCI Express, $290 @ mwave.com
HDD - Samsung 250GB SpinPoint Serial ATA-300, $69 @ newegg.com
MONITOR - Samsung SyncMaster 906BW, $205 @ mwave.com
DVD - Sony AW-Q170A-B2 8x DL DVD±RW, $35 @ mwave.com
CASE - Cooler Master Cavalier 3 Silver Aluminum/Steel ATX Mid Tower, $70 @ mwave.com
POWER - Cooler Master 430W ATX eXtreme, $35 @ mwave.com

Total: $1158

Argh, maybe I will just build my own. Or wait till the end of July. Who knows.

Check out the Cooler Master Centurion at newegg for $39.99 + shipping after rebate. Also, if you wait till July 23rd, that processor will drop in price (you'll actually be able to get a Q6600 for pretty much the same price as that E6600). Everything else looks good.

I'd start buying the cheap stuff in parts now and hopefully by the time the Intel price drops take place, you'll pretty much be set.

 

[tdawg]

double post

 

[tcsenter]

You forgot an operating system. For the same amount that your Dell + graphics card plan would have cost, you're getting some hugely better components.

Had you priced components more comparable in grade/line to what you'd get in the Dell (e.g. value RAM instead of premium performance RAM), you would have been able to match it for a good $300 less.

That said, there is a point where it starts to become increasingly difficult to build an equal system for less, or a superior system for the same price, as your budget decreases. With budgets of around $600 and under, building over buying becomes less about objective merits (i.e. $$) and more about subjective merits (i.e. you will feel warm and fuzzy all over).

At $400 and under, I hope warm and fuzzy will be enough, because you can't equal the prebuilt deals by any objective measure, unless you pirate the OS and other software.

 

[cockeyed]

IMO, I don't think you can go wrong with a Dell. I've been building my own for years, but if I had to upgrade, I would consider buying a Dell system. I don't know if this is still the case, but in the past, Dell has used Intel motherboards. I think it would be good to get your own videocard to add. Also, I would think more about staying with XP since you would have the opportunity to get Vista installed with all of the required drivers, avoiding problems when/if you want Vista. WinXP works well, but it is yesterday's OS and will eventually disappear as Windows 98 did. I'm running Vista with no problems and have no desire to go back to XP.

 

[M0RPH]

When you priced your Dell, did you apply the $350 off $999 coupon? That is, if it's still valid, I'm not sure when it expires. If still good, your Dell system will be even cheaper. I like the Dell systems, they're quiet and cool. I've always built my own but I just bought a Dell myself because I couldn't find any cases I like... not for a reasonable price anyway. Plus, I've been wanting a 2007WFP monitor and this was a good way to get one cheap. Here's what I got:

Intel® Core?2 Duo Processor E4300
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM
20 inch UltraSharp? 2007WFP
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3000
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
16x DVD+/-RW Drive
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium

$1029
-$350
$679 + tax

 

[uncleezno]

I did apply the $350 off coupon; the system was originally about $1350. If I end up building, I won't have to worry about an OS because I have an XP CD. I guess either way I'll wait until July. If the Dell coupons get better, or the prices of components on their site goes down, I'll get a Dell. If the coupons stay the same, but I can snag a Q6600 for the same price as the E6600, I'll end up building.

Worst comes to worst, I'll have a new computer for ~$1200 that can finally play Civ4 and Oblivion. I was originally going to buy a new computer a year ago - I'm glad I was able to hold out!

 

[thegorx]

So .... how many people here work for Dell ?

well, if you like proprietary parts that come standard with a one year warranty when their retail non proprietary counter parts usually have a three year warranty then by all means.

 

[uncleezno]

The Dell system I quoted had a 3-year warranty without needing to mail in a dozen UPCs, so that's nice.

I've been reading up on the quad-core processors, though, and it doesn't look like they do that much better in performance tests than dual-cores (Q6600 v. E6600). What's their advantage, then? The idea that eventually more software will be written to take advantage of multithreading?

 

[Mellman]

nothing wrong with dell. Nothing wrong with vista either... and 'not room for a 22" ' ? lol..its worth it trust me.

i build my own because it used to be cheaper, and i enjoy it. I still enjoy it, and its almost the same cost, and I don't have to deal with dell. Dell business support is great, their home support not so much.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: thegorx
well, if you like proprietary parts that come standard with a one year warranty when their retail non proprietary counter parts usually have a three year warranty then by all means.

Major OEMs like DELL, HP/CPQ, and Gateway/eMachines stopped using proprietary designs a few years ago on conventional tower PCs (*see exceptions). I haven't seen a Gateway/eMachines, HP/COMPAQ, or DELL tower manufactured after 2003 that could not accept a standard mATX motherboard and ATX PSU as drop-in replacement. And I've rebuilt/upgraded a few dozen in the past several years.

*Exceptions: slim towers, small form factor, thin clients, and bookshelf PCs. These very often use proprietary chassis, PSU, motherboards, et. al. Also, front panel I/O goodies like card readers or USB ports can have proprietary cable connectors or pin-outs, even on the towers where everything else is standard. But unlike proprietary chassis, PSU, or mobo, this usually can be remedied by re-wiring the connector or just replacing the device (card reader = 15 bucks).

Here's what you do with an OEM PC:

Get the latest BIOS (if available), format/wipe the OEM crap from the disk, then install everything just like you would a home-built PC; e.g. full version OS, the latest drivers from the chip makers, install the apps you want (and any updates to them), et. al. You'll be surprised at how much it almost runs like a home-built PC, or at least runs a lot better than before.