Curse

Lerxst_of_Syrinx · Jun 04, 2005, 08:41 AM // 08:41

Try a system from www.ibuypower.com. Great gaming systems at low prices.

Dark178 · Jun 04, 2005, 10:20 AM // 10:20

O.o sounds interesting...thanks

Dirkiess · Jun 04, 2005, 11:24 AM // 11:24

Is money an issue and are you on a budget and do you mind building your own system??

If the answer to all the above is NO, then take a look at this thread.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=16567

They have been helping a guy there build a new system, so go check it out and see what you think.

With regards to DELL though, I agree with the others. I stay clear of these companies and prefer to build my own or go with a PC Builder that I know uses good quality items that i can build cheaper than i can buy the items for.

THere is a good one in the UK, but as your USA it's not much help for you.

Old Dood · Jun 04, 2005, 12:30 PM // 12:30

Building a system if you have the time and patience to do it is rewarding.

Buying a Dell though is NOT always a rip-off. They have good deals there if you are willing to "Sift for that Gemstone" of a deal. I did. It payed off too. Been two years and I am still using my Dell 'puter. No crashes, No Problems. You do not have to use Dell's site for a memory upgrade. That is pricey. However, Dell's Memory is very good quality. I upgraded my memory through Dell however, they OWED me some credit on my computer purchase. They did not meet my specs I ordered on the system and I talked the Rep into a credit. I was real real nice toward the Rep and she liked my additude and cut me a decent credit so now I have 1.5GB ram (Dells Ram).

You can go to Crucial.com for Dell TYPE memory. And many other Companies TYPE memory. Much cheaper and very good quality. Dells are FUSSY when it comes to ram. Any old Stick will not work correctly.

As for Ibuypower.com I have never seen one of those systems. I can't say if they are worth the investment. They SEEM to have a good price. I would do a google search on reviews of those systems first. When I see those advertisments I can't help but think "You get what you Pay for..." I want to know where they "cut the corners" on these systems to make them so inexpensive. Is it a second rate PSU, Memory, MoBo, etc...?

Principa Discordia...you have allot of patience. I don't know if I would have been that much more helpful after awhile. I "Tip my Hat" to you!

BTW: You all don't know how good you have it with Ram now a days. I remember $100.00/Meg for RAM. There are some old timers here that will remember the early 1990's and the very high price of ram.

EvilWizard · Jun 04, 2005, 12:39 PM // 12:39

Someone above mentioned ibuypower.com and I recommend them as well. Dell Desktops are overpriced in my opinion. You wind up overpaying for support as well as overpaying for components inside (like them charging a difference between processors of $400 when they actually sell for a difference of about $40...) Check out the website and configure your own box. I would definitely go with more RAM right off the bat (it won't be as expensive as Dell) and get a bigger hard drive. Also make sure you get a good video card. You don't need to go ahead and buy the best card out there. I think the Radeon 9800 128s and 256s are fairly cheap now... (And Old Warrior Dude just so you dont yell at me I say Dell is good for customer service but if you want to buy a high end Desktop you should go to Alienware - who has better customer service ratings - or configure your own if you can. If you want a medium range desktop I still say you should configure your own if you can, and if you can't then you will just wind up buying a product that is not as good as it should be for money spent in most cases.) And BTW just to caveat this I just bought a Dell Laptop but it was an XPS Gen 2 so I have an excuse :P

termite · Jun 04, 2005, 02:07 PM // 14:07

Don't see anything wrong with that Dell system you mentioned. You should be fine with buying the 1 gig of ram for it, but as for the video card you might want to consider something better. Maybe a 9600xt, 9800pro or 6600GT (around 90-170USD). Just make sure that the motherboard comes with an AGP slot (or maybe PCI-Express, but then you'd need a PCI-E card).

Dirkiess · Jun 04, 2005, 02:24 PM // 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Warrior Dood

You can go to Crucial.com for Dell TYPE memory. And many other Companies TYPE memory. Much cheaper and very good quality. Dells are FUSSY when it comes to ram. Any old Stick will not work correctly.

This would be a reason i don't go with Dell. They have lock ins to there hardware just like Compaq/HP where you have to go for specific hardware which costs a premium just to run on there systems.

So yes, they look cheap, but at the end of the day, is it worth all that hassle in trying to find something that will work with your Comp?

I remember when my friend had a Dell a few years back. He wanted to upgrade some components, we tried to upgrade and found they wouldn't fit in the Case which to us, looked like any normal ATX tower. This was way before we knew about these types of changes that Dell have made to there equipment.

Another form of Lockin they have done, is on there printers. You have to Buy DELL branded cartridges. My G/F's dad has a Dell printer. Looks exactly like a Lexmark and is made by Lexmark. However, there is some slight difference in the connectors which forces you to buy Dell or some crappy branded replacement which has this work around.

At the end of the day, everyone has there own opinion on what is and isn't a good way to go when buying a PC. It's all down to you and what you want to do. Do you have the time, money and knowledge to build your own PC, or just happy to buy a Dell and then find the right hardware to fit certain components?

Dark178 · Jun 04, 2005, 02:53 PM // 14:53

well if i get that dell then upgrade the ram and graphics card is gonna be around 600-700bucks but with Ibuypower.com i made a computer and ordering it in 2 weeks

here the specs

Case ( Raidmax 268 ATX Mid-Tower Case w/350W Power Supply Black )
Power Supply ( Standard Case Power Supply )
Processor ( AMD Sempron™ processor 3000+ )
Processor Cooling ( Certified CPU Fan and Heatsink + 2 Extra Case Fans )
Motherboard ( MSI K7N2GM-V ALL-IN-ONE Motherboard w/Video Chip, Audio, LAN, USB 2.0, 8x AGP )
Operation System ( MS Windows XP Home Edition )
Memory ( 1024 MB [512MB X2] DDR-400 PC3200 Memory Module Corsair-Value or Major Brand )
Video Card ( ATI Radeon 9600-XT 256MB w/DVI + TV Out 8x AGP Video )
Hard Drive ( 80 GB HARD DRIVE 80 GB 7200 RPM Ultra ATA-100 Hard Drive )
Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )
Speaker System ( 600W PMPO 3 PCS Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System )
Network Card ( 10/100 Network Onboard )
Keyboard ( PS/2 104 Key Windows 98 Keyboard Beige )
Mouse ( Microsoft IntelliMouse 1.1A USB Internet Mouse Beige )
Warranty ( Warranty Service Standard Warranty + 1-Year i-Care Deluxe On-site Service + 24/7 Phone Support )
Rush Service ( Rush Service Fee (not shipping fee) No Rush, Ship Out in 5~10 Business Days )

Old Dood · Jun 05, 2005, 01:58 PM // 13:58

[Dirkiess]This would be a reason i don't go with Dell. They have lock ins to there hardware just like Compaq/HP where you have to go for specific hardware which costs a premium just to run on there systems.

I agree Dell has some BS issues. They didn't become so large being stupid though. I for one never liked the NO Floppy Drive anymore deal. I am OLD..I want a floppy drive. When I upgrade the BIOs it will be with a floppy drive. Case Closed.

Dell and others omitted the floppy. Then people "thought" I will add one later...just buy one and install it. Can't do it. Dell did not include the rails for it. So I always tell people spend the "$20.00 now on the darn Floppy Drive with Dell and be done with it. Same for a PSU. I have heard it is a nightmare to upgrade to. I understand Dell and other Comp Companies have there short comings, but for the average user they can work fine. Even the average gamer now a days they can work just fine. For a solid gaming machince from Dell I would go with a beefed up 8400. Not the XPS. The 8400 with all the same gear that the XPS has is way cheaper. Even an 4700 if done right is a good little game box. I am not a fanboy or do I work for Dell. They have peeved me off more then once. This is how I get credits back from them. I have never paid for shipping ever from Dell for example. These companies want $100.00 for shipping....that is so funny. Our little company uses UPS daily. I know the cost of shipping from coast to coast. A Dell system cost about $40.00 (I am guessing without my rate book).

If you are an Overclocker/Tweaker I would suggest not to buy a Dell/Hp/etc. I do know that you have to void all your warrenties on a Dell if you install the Intel chip sets on the MoBo over the Dell ones. Dell's BIOs is limited. I have said before I just do not see the NEED to overclock anymore. 'Puters are so fast today that what MORE can you get out of it? But then again it is a learning experience to build your own and tweak it out to it's fullest. That is a great feeling to do that. Plus allot of you all have the TIME to do it. I do not. My wife yells at me when I am downstairs on the machines. She thinks I am PLAYING all the time. Never crosses her mind that I am fixing the boxes that She and my Daughter have messed up with spyware/malware/etc. Or that I am just doing routine mantinence on the network. So as to overclocking....no time. I am also L A Z Y! I have to fix the network at work all the time too. Got a owner/employer that is as dumb as a stump with computers. Always breaking something. So when I get home...I want MY stuff to just work well.