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Alienware vs. Dell XPS 700

thecoffeeguy

thecoffeeguy

Senior member
Ok..getting a new rig. I have always built mine in the past, but I don't want to this time around. 🙂 Call me lazy...I know I know, it is cheaper to build, but I am buying this rig. 🙂

First, the rig will be a home computer, shared with the wife, as well as a gaming rig. I'm not a "hardcore gamer" per say, but I am interested in some games like FEAR, LOTR II, Star Wars Empire, Dawn of War...to name a few.

So, im comparing AlienWare vs. Dell XPS. Need some feedback and recommendations.
I have a corporate account with Dell, so I get a pretty good deal on their new XPS 700 systems. Here is a current config on a Dell XPS 700-Black.

-Pentium D Processor 930 with Dual Core Technology: 3.0ghz, 800FSB
-1gb Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533Mhz -2 DIMMS ($40 more bucks gets me 1gb at 667Mhz)
-160GB Serial ATA 3Gb/S (7200 RPM)
-Single Drive: 16X DVD-ROM Drive burner
-256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS
-Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
-3 year limited warranty plus 3 year NBD on site service

The cost for this: $1,249.67

Options:
I can drop down the CPU from a 3.0ghz to a 2.8ghz and subtract $248.67.
I also have options to change video card from the default 256mb 7900 GS to:
---Dual 256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS (extra, $202.50)
---512mb nVidia Geforce 7900 GTX (extra $243.00, this obviously removes default vid card)

So I have some options to work with.

Second option is Alienware Aurora 550:

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ with HyperTransport Technology

-Alienware nForce 4 SLI Chipset MoBo PCI Express
-512mb Dual Channel Low Latency DDR PC-3200 at 400mhz
-160MB Serial ATA 7200RPM
-DVD/CD Burner 16x
-256MB nVidia Geforce 7600GT
-integrated 7.1 audio

Cost for this: $1224.00

For the Alienware, I have some options to upgrade memory and video card. I think the CPU is pretty good.
I can upgrade the video card to a 256MB Geforce 7900GT for $150 extra.
I can upgrade the ram to 1GB for $100.

I'd like to keep the total cost of the rig (whichever I buy) below $1500.

Just thought i'd get some feedback and recommendations.

One thing I did think about was that I could always get a second video card later and setup my rig for SLI so the cost is initially lower to start.

Fire away. I look forward to hearing recommendations and thoughts.
 
wait for conroe bud.

you should also go with 2gb for today's standards. can you buy either systems with 256mb of ram? if yes, just sell the 256mb and buy a 2 x 1gb kit from newegg and install it yourself. dell and alienware will rip you off on their parts.
 
Originally posted by: InlineFour
wait for conroe bud.

you should also go with 2gb for today's standards. can you buy either systems with 256mb of ram? if yes, just sell the 256mb and buy a 2 x 1gb kit from newegg and install it yourself. dell and alienware will rip you off on their parts.
Click to expand...

that is part of what I was thinking: I could go with lower RAM, then just buy what I need and install. Saves some cash in a way.

What is conroe?
 
Originally posted by: thecoffeeguy
Originally posted by: InlineFour
wait for conroe bud.

you should also go with 2gb for today's standards. can you buy either systems with 256mb of ram? if yes, just sell the 256mb and buy a 2 x 1gb kit from newegg and install it yourself. dell and alienware will rip you off on their parts.
Click to expand...

that is part of what I was thinking: I could go with lower RAM, then just buy what I need and install. Saves some cash in a way.

What is conroe?
Click to expand...

The code name for intel's next processor the inter 2 core duo, probobly going to be the faster cpu on the market for quite some time when it comes out next month.
 
Originally posted by: Smartazz

The code name for intel's next processor the inter 2 core duo, probobly going to be the faster cpu on the market for quite some time when it comes out next month.
Click to expand...

Got it.

How does that AMD cpu compare? I have always been partial to AMD.

I've kicked around pricing and different setups on the two rigs. Great thing about Alienware is I don't pay shipping or taxes, where as on dell, it comes out to a extra $140 with tax and shipping.

Don't know if I can wait til the next CPU hits the market. My current computer blows.
 
Originally posted by: InlineFour
it should come out in a month or two. i'd definately wait.
Click to expand...

Problem is, I can't... 🙁

Let me ask this:

If I were to upgrade pieces, which would be better to upgrade:

-CPU
-Memory
-Vid card

 
Originally posted by: thecoffeeguy
Originally posted by: Smartazz

The code name for intel's next processor the inter 2 core duo, probobly going to be the faster cpu on the market for quite some time when it comes out next month.
Click to expand...

Got it.

How does that AMD cpu compare? I have always been partial to AMD.

I've kicked around pricing and different setups on the two rigs. Great thing about Alienware is I don't pay shipping or taxes, where as on dell, it comes out to a extra $140 with tax and shipping.

Don't know if I can wait til the next CPU hits the market. My current computer blows.
Click to expand...

If possible wait, if not go ahead with your system, the FX62(AMD) gets beaten by a lot in a few games, but not in all, overclocked a high end conroe would destroy the FX62, people reported getting 3.5GHZ on air.
 
Originally posted by: thecoffeeguy
Originally posted by: InlineFour
it should come out in a month or two. i'd definately wait.
Click to expand...

Problem is, I can't... 🙁

Let me ask this:

If I were to upgrade pieces, which would be better to upgrade:

-CPU
-Memory
-Vid card
Click to expand...

1gb MINIMUM. then upgrade cpu and video card.
 
Originally posted by: thecoffeeguy
Originally posted by: InlineFour
it should come out in a month or two. i'd definately wait.
Click to expand...

Problem is, I can't... 🙁

Let me ask this:

If I were to upgrade pieces, which would be better to upgrade:

-CPU
-Memory
-Vid card
Click to expand...

RAM then video card, but I think you might save money upgrading the ram yourself, look into it.
 
I'd pick the Dell. I'd make the following changes:

1. Get 2GB of RAM.
2. Drop down to the 2.8Ghz Dual-Core Smithfield 830 from the 3.0Ghz Presler 930 to lower the price by $250 for minimal performance impact all around.
3. Use $200 of that to move to dual-7900GS video cards because that will have a HUGE impact on performance in games (whereas losing 200Mhz from 3.0Ghz to 2.8Ghz will not).

You should be way under $1500 with those changes, and they'll be well worth it.
 
Originally posted by: Noubourne
I'd pick the Dell. I'd make the following changes:

1. Get 2GB of RAM.
2. Drop down to the 2.8Ghz Dual-Core Smithfield 830 from the 3.0Ghz Presler 930 to lower the price by $250 for minimal performance impact all around.
3. Use $200 of that to move to dual-7900GS video cards because that will have a HUGE impact on performance in games (whereas losing 200Mhz from 3.0Ghz to 2.8Ghz will not).

You should be way under $1500 with those changes, and they'll be well worth it.
Click to expand...

edit: Looking at that, I think you got the prices wrong on that, no way is an 830 $250 cheaper than the 930.
edit: my mistake, I forgot that it costs a lot more if you buy a prebuilt.
 
Originally posted by: w00t
stop being lazy and wasting your money build your rig
Click to expand...

:laugh: I wanna be lazy!

In all serious, I really do not have the time. Between work and travelling for work, it would literally take me months to compile all the pieces and put it together. That is a luxury I don't have right now. 🙁
 
Wow,

I still can't believe the deal I got on my Dell Dim 8400 in Oct 2004. I paid $1048 for the rig in my sig and the only big difference is the video card that I can see.
 
Originally posted by: Noubourne
I'd pick the Dell. I'd make the following changes:

1. Get 2GB of RAM.
2. Drop down to the 2.8Ghz Dual-Core Smithfield 830 from the 3.0Ghz Presler 930 to lower the price by $250 for minimal performance impact all around.
3. Use $200 of that to move to dual-7900GS video cards because that will have a HUGE impact on performance in games (whereas losing 200Mhz from 3.0Ghz to 2.8Ghz will not).

You should be way under $1500 with those changes, and they'll be well worth it.
Click to expand...

Yep, just did it and it came to $1300.
 
So i've been playing with quotes on both Alienware and Dell. Check this out:

Dell: XPS 700

-IBM Pentium D 920 Dual Core CPU, 2.8ghz, 800FSB
-2GB Dual Channel DDR2 at 667mhz, 2 DIMMS
-160GB Serial ATA HD
-DVD/CD 16x Burner
-Dual 256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS
-Integrated 7.1 audio

Total is $1340 shipped and taxed.

Questions though:

How good is the GeForce 7900 GS card, as opposed to the 7900 GT card? Is a dual video card setup going to give me THAT much better performance?
Will the CPU be a bottleneck at any point?

Alienware:

-Amd Athlod 64 3200+
-1GB Dual Channel DDR PC-3200 at 400mhz
-160mb SATA Drive
-DVD/CD 16x Burner
-256mb Geforce 7900 GT
-Integrated 7.1 audio

This is out the door at $1429


What does everyone think?

I'd love to have a Alienware machine (cool stuff like alienice and cases), but the Dell letting go a rig like that for tha price?!?!?
 
Originally posted by: thecoffeeguy
So i've been playing with quotes on both Alienware and Dell. Check this out:

Dell: XPS 700

-IBM Pentium D 920 Dual Core CPU, 2.8ghz, 800FSB
-2GB Dual Channel DDR2 at 667mhz, 2 DIMMS
-160GB Serial ATA HD
-DVD/CD 16x Burner
-Dual 256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS
-Integrated 7.1 audio

Total is $1340 shipped and taxed.

Questions though:

How good is the GeForce 7900 GS card, as opposed to the 7900 GT card? Is a dual video card setup going to give me THAT much better performance?
Will the CPU be a bottleneck at any point?

Alienware:

-Amd Athlod 64 3200+
-1GB Dual Channel DDR PC-3200 at 400mhz
-160mb SATA Drive
-DVD/CD 16x Burner
-256mb Geforce 7900 GT
-Integrated 7.1 audio

This is out the door at $1429


What does everyone think?

I'd love to have a Alienware machine (cool stuff like alienice and cases), but the Dell letting go a rig like that for tha price?!?!?
Click to expand...

Having two video cards can double your frame rates in some cases, but usually doesn't sometimes dual gpu will lower frame rates, it's really preferance.
 
Looks like a few hundred more than Newegg but if you have to buy prebuilt it's ok I guess. Dual 7900GS is probably faster than a single 7900GT but then you have to deal with SLI which can have issues.

7900GT is a better card than 7900GS.

My suggestion is to find a local retailer that will build systems from parts for you. The place I buy stuff locally builds PCs for $40, you just choose the components. Unless you need the tech support from Dell/AW.
 
Originally posted by: gramboh
Looks like a few hundred more than Newegg but if you have to buy prebuilt it's ok I guess. Dual 7900GS is probably faster than a single 7900GT but then you have to deal with SLI which can have issues.

7900GT is a better card than 7900GS.

My suggestion is to find a local retailer that will build systems from parts for you. The place I buy stuff locally builds PCs for $40, you just choose the components. Unless you need the tech support from Dell/AW.
Click to expand...

ditto that suggestion. Unless you live in some very isolated area, a computer repair shop of some sort should be within a 10 mile radius. My computer a while back was built by a store called Cutting Edge PC, but I had them build it because i was so impressed with the pre-mod cases.
 
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