[strvs]

I am considering purchasing this PC setup from dell:

$1,729

Components
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6400 (2MB L2 Cache,2.13GHz,1066 FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium
22 inch E228WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel
Free Upgrade to 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz from 1GB - $150 Value
500GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable
256MB nVidia GeForce 8600 GTS
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio

would you say this is a good deal? Would it be worth the time/effort to build my own? I have no experience building computers but if i can save alot of money it may be an option, but i'll need some help from our resident geeks mwah:

I recently bought a laptop but its giving me alot of problems, and the game performance is highly underwhelming, i'm planning on returning it and just spending the extra money on a nice desktop

spanks

[Sniper101]

Id stay away from dell built systems. Ive never had good luck, or seen others have good luck with them for that matter, with dells. they always seem to fail right after the warranty, within a week or two. Outside of that input, the setup and price seems pretty good, and i might say a bit high off the top of my head but most likely a good deal.
If youre willing to spend that amount of cash on a high end desktop...mostly for gaming...either go to a gaming specific dealer...i can only think of Alienware, or custom build

[strvs]

I'd like to keep the price under 2000, give or take

[Sniper101]

ya go custom, buy from the same company or site if you can...it will save with shipping. check out tigerdirect, newegg, sites like that

[Short Hand]

let gerv peice something together for ya. and anyone member here will more then take the time to help you. I got my A+ with my diploma , after graduating, so I am happy .

[anti]

don't be intimated to build your own pc. i'll help you out (a call is no big deal) along with everyone else here. i was kinda worried at first when i built mine, but it's really a matter of plug and play as long as you buy the right components. to me it sounds like a good buy, but then again i've been out of the loop for awhile so i'm not too sure. ninty, gerv, or miscguy can offer better advice. i've heard some mixed opinions with dell, some good or bad. sucks to hear your laptop is having problems. whatever you do, do not buy alienware.

[Madmartagen]

yeah strvs, ask for help, that pc is way too expensive. i would also stay away from Vista for the moment.

[strvs]

ok.. i think i've found a much better deal:
http://pc.ncix.com/ncixpc/ncixpc.cfm?uu ... A8-1409370

[elstatec]

dude just buy the components and set it up yourself as anti says, much cheaper and much more of a good feeling that "you made it"

[geRV]

nerds mad:

Sent this to bean a while back, components are from newegg and the amount is in american $

Core 2 duo 2.4ghz $308 from newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115003

Corsair xms 2gig $149 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145034

abit fatil1ty mobo $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813127022

evga 8800gtx $590
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814150205

650 antec psu $79.99 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817371001

320 gig hdd $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822148140


About $ 1345 worth there, case is obviously personal preference. You could even get an 8800gts (64omb variation) which is still good and opt for the slightly faster 2.66 core 2 duo.

Not sure of the exchange rates for dollars but its a good build, just needs a case.

[Miscguy]

Considering that 1700 also includes monitor and operating system its not half bad. I just built a new system for 1300 that didnt include hdd's, a monitor, or a OS. Give me a few hours and i'll get back to this with a parts list.

Monitor. Generic since i didnt see the one you listed. $309
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824001083

Cpu. The new 6400 with the 4mg cache. $193
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115016

Mobo. Im using this and love it. $159
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813130081

Ram. lower end version of what i used. $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820146673

Video. 320 version of the top of the line. no real advantage to have 640 at common res's. $329
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6814143091

HDD. $134
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6822148136

Power Supply. All wrapped cables are nice. $95.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6817153029

OS. Since its on your list. $219
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6832116142

Case is preferance so its left out. $1643.93 Better parts, cheaper. With case and shipping your probably looking at around 1700+ but it will have better parts. You can also buy XP instead of Vista and save some money.

Editx2. Forgot optical drives but there at worst $50

[strvs]

Thanks for the help guys.. i've got one built on this ncix site (which is a canadian seller..) so keep in mind the exchange, but i think its a great deal:

1,999$

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Dual Core Processor LGA775 Conroe 2.40GHZ 1066FSB 4MB Retail
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 ATX LGA775 Conroe P965 DDR2 PCI-E16 3PCI-E1 3PCI SATA2 GBLAN Audio Motherboard
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro LGA775 2500RPM 45CFM
Corsair Value Select PC2-5300 2X1GB DDR2-667 240PIN Dual Channel Memory Kit
EVGA E-GEFORCE 8800 GTS Superclocked 576MHZ 640MB 1.7GHZ GDDR3 Dual DVI-I HDCP HDTV Out Video Card
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2 3GB/S 7200RPM 16MB Cache NCQ Hard Drive
Samsung SH-S182F DVD+RW 18X8X18 DVD-RW 18X6X18 DL 8X 2MB IDE OEM Black DVD Writer
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with SP2 OEM English W/ Vista Upgrade Coupon
Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Xtreme Audio 24BIT Sound Card 7.1 PCI OEM
Acer AL1916W Asd 19IN Widescreen LCD Monitor 1440X900 700:1 5MS VGA DVI-D

Whaddya think? If you guys could help me build a system on http://www.ncix.com it would be greatly appreciated, as newegg doesnt deliver to canada, and all the estimates are in US funds

[strvs]

Or perhaps this one for $1,354:

1 x Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Dual Core Processor LGA775 Conroe 2.13GHZ 1066FSB 4MB Retail
1 x Gigabyte GA-945GME-DS2 mATX LGA775 Conroe 945G DDR2 PCI-E16 3PCI VGA GMA950 Sound GBLAN Motherboard
1 x Corsair Value Select PC2-5300 1X1024MB DDR2-667 240PIN DIMM
1 x EVGA E-GEFORCE 8800 GTS KO ACS3 PCI-E 588MHZ 320MB 1.84GHZ GDDR3 Dual DVI-I HDCP HDTV Out Video Card
1 x Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro LGA775 2500RPM 45CFM
1 x Antec SLK1650B Black MID-TOWER 3X5.25 5X3.5 ATX12V 350W
1 x Antec Neo HE430 High Efficiency 430W ATX12V V2.2 Active PFC Power Supply
1 x Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200.10 8MB 8.5MS SATA2 NCQ Hard Drive
1 x Samsung SH-S182F DVD+RW 18X8X18 DVD-RW 18X6X18 DL 8X 2MB IDE OEM Black DVD Writer
1 x Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition OEM
1 x ASUS Quietdrive DVD-E616A Black 16X DVD-ROM CD-ROM 48X Retail Box W/SOFTWARE

Does not include monitor.. These are NCIX pre-built systems, and if i can get a similar value to custom i'd just rather them build it for me.

[geRV]

Depends on the res you're gonna use, if you're using over 1280x1024 get the gts with 640mb. Id also change that cpu to the 2.4 version.

[strvs]

OK, i think i've decided on this one:

$1,577

1 x ANTEC SLK3000B ATX MID TOWER CASE Black 6X5.25 5X3.5 NO PS
1 x Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Dual Core Processor LGA775 Conroe 2.40GHZ 1066FSB 4MB Retail
1 x Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 ATX LGA775 Conroe P965 DDR2 PCI-E16 3PCI-E1 3PCI SATA2 GBLAN Audio Motherboard
1 x Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro LGA775 2500RPM 45CFM
1 x Corsair Value Select PC2-5300 1X1024MB DDR2-667 240PIN DIMM
1 x EVGA E-GEFORCE 8800 GTS KO ACS3 PCI-E 588MHZ 320MB 1.84GHZ GDDR3 Dual DVI-I HDCP HDTV Out Video Card
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2 3GB/S 7200RPM 16MB Cache NCQ Hard Drive
1 x Antec Neo HE550 High Efficiency 550W ATX12V V2.2 Active PFC Power Supply
1 x Samsung SH-S182F DVD+RW 18X8X18 DVD-RW 18X6X18 DL 8X 2MB IDE OEM Black DVD Writer
1 x Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with SP2 OEM English W/ Vista Upgrade Coupon
1 x Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Xtreme Audio 24BIT Sound Card 7.1 PCI OEM
1 x ASUS Quietdrive DVD-E616A Black 16X DVD-ROM CD-ROM 48X Retail Box W/SOFTWARE
1 x Microsoft Basic Keyboard PS2 Black OEM Single Pack (with System Only)
1 x Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical Black USB/PS2 OEM

I've been reading up on the GEFORCE 8800 GTS KO ACS3 320MB .. and it sounds great. It's an overclocked version of the GTS, and in most benchmarks actually beats out the 640MB.. the 640 only taking an advantage in ridiculous high resolutions

I went with 1 gig of ram because i'd like to keep it under 1700 or so for now, i can always upgrade when needed

thoughts?