New PC...to custom build or not custom build...that is the question...

[Redrum_69]

On the DELL website...I could drop down a hefty $2,795 for an XPS 710 with the following specs...

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6600 (4MB L2 Cache,2.4GHz,1066 FSB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition with re-installation CD edit
UPGRADE TO WINDOWS VISTA Express Upgrade to Windows Vista Home Premium from XP Media Center Edition edit
MEMORY 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs edit
HARD DRIVE 320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ edit
OPTICAL DRIVE Dual Drives: 48x Combo + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable edit
MONITOR 20 inch UltraSharp™ 2007WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel edit
VIDEO CARD 256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS edit
SOUND CARD Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeMusic (D) Sound Card edit
My Accessories
SPEAKERS Dell A525 30 Watt 2.1 Stereo Speakers with Subwoofer edit
KEYBOARD Saitek 104-Key Eclipse Backlit Gaming Keyboard (Ships Separately) edit
MOUSE Dell Optical USB Mouse edit
POWER PROTECTION SurgeArrest 11 Outlet with Tel2/Splitter, Coax and Ethernet Protection edit
FLOPPY & MEDIA READER 13 in 1 Media Card Reader and 3.5 in Floppy Drive


Would I be saving money if I decided to have a friend help me build a similar PC?

Is DELL a good build to go with?

Need some input..please



And...to the naysayers.."OMG you said you werent gonna create any more threads!!?!? WTF!?!?" I'll make it a poll bitches...

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by Redrum_69

On the DELL website...I could drop down a hefty $2,795 ..

shit, for that price I could bang your mom 2795 times...

and yeah, build your own...if you can, I can't...

[kaplin42]

Red,

Just curious, you're going to send your old box to the company, and then have them put all the new stuff in it? I only ask because you will want a new motherboard from the sound of it. Something that can use Serial ATA hard drives and something that can run an SLI Video Card Configuration should you so choose to do that in the near or distant future.

[Redrum_69]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

Red,

Just curious, you're going to send your old box to the company, and then have them put all the new stuff in it? I only ask because you will want a new motherboard from the sound of it. Something that can use Serial ATA hard drives and something that can run an SLI Video Card Configuration should you so choose to do that in the near or distant future.

Ok, I'll throw that at them too.

[Redrum_69]

***UPDATE***

Just wanted to thank you guys for the advice on building a PC myself. I had a friend help me build it and its a shitton better than the DELL PC..and about $900 bucks cheaper!!

Heres the build I chose...

The monitor came from COMPUSA..19" widescreen LCD

The rest came straight from Microcenter. We compared the total build on newegg.com and the prices were pretty much the same. Anyways, heres what I got on.


Digital Home Series P5W DH Deluxe 975X 775 ATX Motherboard
Asus Part No. P5WDH DLXWIFIAP SKU 040022 UPC 610839138319


Intel® Boxed Core(tm) 2 Duo Processor E6600 Part No. E6600
SKU 049197 UPC 735858184625

GeForce 7950 GT OC 512MB PCI-E x16 Video Card BFG Technologies
Mfr. Part No. BFGR7950512GTOC SKU 764647 UPC 876758000711

2GB, XMS2-6400, Dual Channel DDR2, non-ECC 240-pin Memory Modules
Mfr. Corsair Memory Part No. TWIN2X2048-6400 SKU 872408
UPC 870584005704

Caviar SE16 250GB SATA 2 Hard Drive Mfr. Part No. WD2500KSRTL
SKU 895847 UPC 718037114316

LightScribe Dual/Double Layer DVD±RW SATA Drive Mfr. Samsung OEM
Mfr. Part No. 860502 SKU 868638 UPC 892580008925


Truepower Trio 650 Watt power supply


Windows Vista home premium


Instead of using my old Thermaltake case, I opted to buy a new one so I could work my current PC over..

Armor VA8003BWS Full Tower Case Thermaltake USA Inc
Mfr. Part No. VA8003BWS SKU 567214 UPC 841163014493


Ultra Quite Universal CPU Cooler Kit Zalman Part No. CNPS9500LED
SKU 053819 UPC 823884095005

Total price at Microcenter after in store discounts..was $1800.00. Which my bonus from work will cover that and then some :O



So again....thanks for talking me into upgrading rather than buying from DELL

[Redrum_69]

So I'll be playing Vanguard this weekend....

[kaplin42]

Looks good. Just one question, if you were willing to spend another 900 on a dell, then why not spend the extra 200 and get an 8800 series card or the ATI R600. Im guessing for the 7950 GT you paid 200 +/- and, for another 200 you would have gotten a card that will take advantage of DirectX 10 when games start using it.

I was running 7900 GS cards in SLI config. Last night I got my 8800 GTS card and it plays way better. If its not too late, I would try and switch the cards.

[Redrum_69]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

Looks good. Just one question, if you were willing to spend another 900 on a dell, then why not spend the extra 200 and get an 8800 series card or the ATI R600. Im guessing for the 7950 GT you paid 200 +/- and, for another 200 you would have gotten a card that will take advantage of DirectX 10 when games start using it.

I was running 7900 GS cards in SLI config. Last night I got my 8800 GTS card and it plays way better. If its not too late, I would try and switch the cards.

I may upgrade later on to that card, but no games out currently are utilizing the directx 10. Besides..if I change my mind about playing vanguard after my friend shows me the game, then I'll fall back on WOW and some old classic RPGS like baldurs gate/ICewind dale etc

[Pants]

Way to be.

BFG makes some quality video cards, excellent service too.

[kaplin42]

Originally Posted by Redrum_69

I may upgrade later on to that card, but no games out currently are utilizing the directx 10. Besides..if I change my mind about playing vanguard after my friend shows me the game, then I'll fall back on WOW and some old classic RPGS like baldurs gate/ICewind dale etc

works for me, just thought I would ask.

Now that you mention it, i kinda want to load baldurs gate and see what thats like.