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Dell or custom?

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mikelish

Senior member
Apr 26, 2003
325
0
76
I am looking for a desktop computer for use at college. I also want it to be ready for the new wave of games like HL2, Doom3, Max Payne 2 etc.

My question is, Should I wait for Dell to have a special deal / coupon / rebate, or should I just go ahead and buy parts off newegg and build my own?

I'm looking for about these basic specs:

p4 2.4 w/ht 800mhz fsb
512mb ram
80+gb HD
radeon 9800
lcd monitor


From newegg it looks like it will cost around $1,000 if I get the LL corsair ram. And part of the reason I want a 2.4ghz is so I can upgrade to a 3.2 or higher in a year or two.

Thanks,

Michael Sneeden

 
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StraightPipe

Golden Member
Feb 5, 2003
1,676
0
71
custom will usually be cheaper (specially if you already have software)

dell(prebuilt) is good if you want support and/or dont have time to mess with putting it together.
 
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BaboonGuy

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2002
4,125
0
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Originally posted by: nick1985
the official anandtech "build your own" mascot
Click to expand...

STOP POSTING THAT

and anyways, build your own. but DON'T get the LL ram. it's a marketing gimmick and a huge waste of money. Basically they are charging you a LOT more for some guarenteed timings and an LL. Get XMS RAM, HyperX, OCZ EL, or any other good brand. I hear the Buffalo Winbond stuff is very good for very cheap.
 
nick1985

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
Originally posted by: BaboonGuy
Originally posted by: nick1985
the official anandtech "build your own" mascot
Click to expand...

STOP POSTING THAT

and anyways, build your own. but DON'T get the LL ram. it's a marketing gimmick and a huge waste of money. Basically they are charging you a LOT more for some guarenteed timings and an LL. Get XMS RAM, HyperX, OCZ EL, or any other good brand. I hear the Buffalo Winbond stuff is very good for very cheap.
Click to expand...

no :p
 
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LordUnum

Golden Member
Jul 3, 2001
1,153
0
0
Yup, custom for every PC build... unless it's for family/friends and you're not partial to providing lifetime warranty support (aka repeated visits acting as a techmonkey, weeding through loads of bloatware/spyware/porn/etc. to fix screw-up du jour).
 
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JayMassive

Senior member
Aug 8, 2003
332
0
0
I'll admit I'm a Dell fan--mine was a great buy at the time; but customizing seems to be the way to go. I'm working on a new box right now, and the little things you can do on a custom pc, like overclocking, just make more sense.
 
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TaylorD

Diamond Member
May 13, 2000
5,495
0
76
custom ONLY if you are comfortable putting it together and do not need the support. Custom is pretty much always the way to go as long as you don't mind investing the time, and searching for deals on the parts you want.

I say that, but my two most recent systems were a dell and an alienware. I bought both used, and "customized" them myself. So as a third option, you can buy a used system and sometimes get an even better deal.
 
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Hyperlite26

Member
Jul 8, 2002
109
0
0
My personal opinion... If you ever build one you will never go Dell, Gateway, HP etc again. This is if it IS for yourself! I agree with the member who said if it's for family, friend or a business you will be better off directing them to one of the Corporate players because of the precise reasons he stated. You will save yourself alot of headaches & time... that member preaches the truth.lol

Back to the custom build.... You can build it for the same money, or less, and get more for your money to boot. Not to mention the flexibility for down the road.

Bottom line, if it's mine it's custom built, no other way to go.lol
 
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chocoruacal

Golden Member
Nov 12, 2002
1,197
0
0
Crap...a mod should sticky one of these "Dell vs. Self Built" posts and be done with it. Here it goes....


A self-built allows you to pick the components with the exact features you want/need. You will be able to overclock (most likely.) You will be able to pick parts that will fend off antiquity longer than a factory computer will (Dell, Sony, HP.) You will spend more money. Your parts will have a longer warranty. Lifetime CPU, 1-3 years mobo, lifetime RAM, lifetime PS, etc. You can upgrade any individual compenent down the road.

A factory computer has huge value, in that it will be cheaper than self-built, assuming you are building from the ground up. Hardware, software, monitor, operating system. Remember...XP itself can cost you anywhere from $100-$150. My last factory comp. was a Sony, and the software alone was probably worth $300-$400 retail. If you go Dell it will have an in-home warranty. This can be worth much $$$ if you're not computer literate. Upgrading the system is severly limited....proprietary parts.
 
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tweeve2002

Senior member
Sep 5, 2003
474
0
0
If you get a DELL and still want to upgrade in the future you can, but you will either have to wait till the warenty goes out or void it. Ether way a prebuilt can still be upgraded. I have a Dimension 8100 and after the 1 year Warenty went out, I added a new sound card, added faster and more RAM, new Video card, addin RAID card, new fans, a DVD RON, CD Burner. and about to drill a hole in the side for another Fan (the system is running hot). plus all my old stuff that i took out went into other computers around the house and to friends, besides the RAM. no other computer takes RDRAM 600Mhz RAM in the house o well.
 
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Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
Originally posted by: tweeve2002
If you get a DELL and still want to upgrade in the future you can, but you will either have to wait till the warenty goes out or void it. Ether way a prebuilt can still be upgraded. I have a Dimension 8100 and after the 1 year Warenty went out, I added a new sound card, added faster and more RAM, new Video card, addin RAID card, new fans, a DVD RON, CD Burner. and about to drill a hole in the side for another Fan (the system is running hot). plus all my old stuff that i took out went into other computers around the house and to friends, besides the RAM. no other computer takes RDRAM 600Mhz RAM in the house o well.
Click to expand...

We bought a Dell machine, 3yr warranty. Got a replacement monitor, then upgraded the RAM, then had to get a replacement DVD drive, which they supplied under warranty.
We upgraded without vioding the warranty, although adding a enw processor might void warranty because it's different to adding, its changing.

If you do think about limits of Dell, check what things might void warranties before discounting a Dell system.
 
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TaylorD

Diamond Member
May 13, 2000
5,495
0
76
upgrading a dell does not void the warranty.
but obviously if you replace the processor, dell does not cover the new processor (but it should be covered from wherever you got it)

Basically dell offers a warranty for everything thats original in the system
 
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joecool

Platinum Member
Apr 2, 2001
2,934
2
81
build it yourself - it's more fun and that way, if it breaks, you'll know how to fix it - no sending it off to the factory for weeks to get repaired!
 
Boonesmi

Boonesmi

Lifer
Feb 19, 2001
14,448
1
81
uuhhgg who would want to buy a dell when they can build their own and get exactly what they want/need
 
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Mitzi

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2001
3,775
1
76
Originally posted by: Boonesmi
uuhhgg who would want to buy a dell when they can build their own and get exactly what they want/need
Click to expand...

That about sums it up for me.
 
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