Am I getting ripped off for this machine?

[goot]

I'm thinking of buying a DELL Dimension PC (purely for gaming).

Since I've always used DELL for work, I'm tempted to get DELL for my home.

However, are DELL machines for personal use a waste of money? Are u paying extra for the brand?

 

[mrweirdo]

I prefer to build my own but I have found that they have some prety good deals expecialy after all the extras like software and LCD monitor with the system.

 

[KillaKilla]

1ST: Yes, you're paying a sizeable amount for labor and tech support. If you can, build your own.

LCDs are not worth it, anyway. Also, you'll be ripped off for upgrades if not at the base purchase.

EDIT: Which one were you looking at?

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: KillaKilla
1ST: Yes, you're paying a sizeable amount for labor and tech support. If you can, build your own.

LCDs are not worth it, anyway. Also, you'll be ripped off for upgrades if not at the base purchase.

EDIT: Which one were you looking at?

why would you say lcds are not worth it?

we need more information, what machine and how much?

 

[Corporate Thug]

we cant tell if u are getting ripped or not if we dont know the price and the system specs 😉

 

[KillaKilla]

Originally posted by: bob4432
why would you say lcds are not worth it? we need more information, what machine and how much?

Because LCDs are far more expensive than CRTs for the same size, but have no motion blur.

We need to know atleast:

1. What you want to use it for.
2. What you're willing to spend.
3. Do you prefer Intel or AMD or are you impartial?
4. What you already have (IE: an OS, monitor, keyboard, etc.)

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: KillaKilla

Originally posted by: bob4432
why would you say lcds are not worth it? we need more information, what machine and how much?

Because LCDs are far more expensive than CRTs for the same size, but have no motion blur.

We need to know atleast:

1. What you want to use it for.
2. What you're willing to spend.
3. Do you prefer Intel or AMD or are you impartial?
4. What you already have (IE: an OS, monitor, keyboard, etc.)

it is true they are quite a bit more expensive, but i have gamed on a few and did not see any motion blur. plus they don't take up any desk space and they are also a lot cooler (temperature) than a crt.

 

[goot]

Ok, here are the specs of the rig I'm planning to get:

-Dell Dimension(TM) 4600 2.6GHz w/HT Desktop
512KB ON-DIE L2 Cache
Intel(R) 865G Chipset
Integrated Intel(R) PRO 10/100 Ethernet
-MS Windows XP (Home)
-512MG 400Mhz DDR SDRAM
-80GIG IDE Hard Drive
-48 speed DVD/CD-RW
-56k Data/Fax Modem
-17" CRT Monitor
-Sound Blaster Live 5.1 Digital Sound Card
-128MG ATI RADEON 9800 PRO DDR w/ TV-OUT and DVI

TOTAL PRICE = AUD $1871.10

http://dellstore02.dell.com.au/public/cart/configurator.jsp?prd_id=183056

I am getting this primarily for gaming and what to keep it under a budget of $2000 AUD

What do u think?

 

[Corporate Thug]

whats AUD? australian? how does it convert to US?

 

[goot]

0.75 USD = 1 AUD

SO

It's approximately $1400USD

 

[MDE]

Well, try pricing a similar set of components from Australian websites and see what the total adds up to. If it's within your budget and not too far over the price of the Dell, I'd say go for it.

 

[goot]

what do u think of the system itself?

Do u think it'll last a while to provide reasonable fps in latest dx 9.0 games?

(I can accept fps b/w 15 - 30 fps )

 

[Corporate Thug]

CPU : 170
moboL: 110, depending on which one so i took average
ram: 100 depending on which one
HD: 66
win xp pro 139
DVD/CDRW 50
modem 10
sound 35
video 250

not sure about monitor, say $100

this adds up to ~$1000 (prices taken from newegg, except for video card which is take from microcenter) so yes, dell is overcharging

 

[egale]

Not too bad but sound card should be audigy 2 not sound blaster live. Also, I would probably upgrade the generic 17" crt to either their best 17" or 19" or a good 17" or greater lcd.

 

[MDE]

Overall, it isn't bad, but I'd upgrade the sound card to an Audigy2 and get some decent speakers included (or buy them separately). Another worthy upgrade would be going to 1Gb of RAM. If you really want to knitpick, find one with an i875 chipset and possibly a Logitech MX mouse.

EDIT: Shady, Australia supposedly taxes PC components like crazy, so it's better to go to an Australian site for pricing.

 

[goot]

Is there much difference in performance b/w a Sound Blaster Live and Audigy?

 

[egale]

There will be a big difference in cpu usage. The sound blaster live will rob your games of precious fps because it relies more on your cpu for processing.

 

[goot]

With a 2.6GHZ processor and a 128DDR RADEON 9800 PRO, will the cpu usage by the Sound card really be noticeable?

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: goot
what do u think of the system itself?

Do u think it'll last a while to provide reasonable fps in latest dx 9.0 games?

(I can accept fps b/w 15 - 30 fps )

That system should do fine with the Radeon 9800 Pro in there. Oh...framerates of 15-30fps? That's pretty darn low, in my opinion. I prefer over 60fps - anything much lower than 40-50 starts to look jumpy for me.😉

Also, you might want to find out some specs on that 17" monitor, like what resolutions and refresh rates it supports. Some 17" cheapies I've seen max out at 1024x768 @ only 60Hz, which is pretty poor. I've seen 15" screens already that can do better. That said, I've also seen 17" monitors that can do 1280x1024@ 75Hz.

As for the price - no idea unfortunately. My PC's - Primary, Secondary - have remained mostly the same for a few months now, so I've not gone shopping for major components in awhile, or at least not P4's.

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: goot
With a 2.6GHZ processor and a 128DDR RADEON 9800 PRO, will the cpu usage by the Sound card really be noticeable?

PRobably. Also you are getting a pretty old soundcard with an old feature set

 

[egale]

Also as for price. Dell is not bad. Remember you are getting some software, some tech support (as crappy as it is) and some guarantee.

If you build it yourself and add up the parts, you will save very little or nothing. Most probably when you can pick and choose your parts, you will substitute what Dell is giving you with better so when you total everything, there will be no savings.

Also if you build it yourself and it doesn't work, it is hard sometimes to figure what is at fault. If you don't have spare parts to substitute, you will start a long process of RMAing till you find the problem.

But, for those of us who build it ourselves, the pleasure of doing that more than makes up for the inconveniences.

 

[dnuggett]

You are absolutley paying too much if you were in the states. Prob is I have no idea what the cost of components/parts look like in Australia.

 

[mrweirdo]

Originally posted by: bob4432

Originally posted by: KillaKilla

Originally posted by: bob4432
why would you say lcds are not worth it? we need more information, what machine and how much?

Because LCDs are far more expensive than CRTs for the same size, but have no motion blur.

We need to know atleast:

1. What you want to use it for.
2. What you're willing to spend.
3. Do you prefer Intel or AMD or are you impartial?
4. What you already have (IE: an OS, monitor, keyboard, etc.)

it is true they are quite a bit more expensive, but i have gamed on a few and did not see any motion blur. plus they don't take up any desk space and they are also a lot cooler (temperature) than a crt.

one thing to add to that when a monitor reaches the end of its lifespan a CRT is gona cost a small fortune to dispose of because of all the hazardous materials in it unlike an LCD wich would be cheap. Last I heard to get rid of a CRT monitor it costs about $300 for a 17inch and is suposed double in a years time.

Also LCD will save you money on energy bills in the long run so it will practly pay for itself over a CRT based monitor.

 

[dnuggett]

one thing to add to that when a monitor reaches the end of its lifespan a CRT is gona cost a small fortune to dispose of because of all the hazardous materials in it unlike an LCD wich would be cheap. Last I heard to get rid of a CRT monitor it costs about $300 for a 17inch and is suposed double in a years time.

Ummm I think I'll put mine in the attic, basement or garage then. There are plenty of other options besides shelling out $300.00. That is unless you are a packrat... then I guess you pay the packrat tax.