Dell vs Falcon?

[dgsg]

Falcon has bigger power supply and lets me chose the component brands I want, but how much of the price difference is due to "branding"? Looks like a similar built Falcon is @ $1100.00 more than the Dell. The 3-ring binder with the build notes is nice but is there actually value for the $$$? Is this the same type of choice as a Seiko or Breitling watch?

 

[bamacre]

What kind of system are you looking at? Gaming I assume. You have a budget in mind?

 

[Operandi]

Aside from custom boards Dell and Falcon use the same components that you or I can buy so they are both rip-offs, Falcon is just that much more of one.

 

[Lord Evermore]

The Falcon will use standard components. They're basically just building you the same thing you could buy and build yourself, but with lots of nice paint and plastic and stickers on it, plus those little extras. This is good for upgrading later on, but relatively costs more.

Dell uses some proprietary parts, and custom cases. One would think that that would mean higher costs, but their volume is so huge it offsets it, and the parts are cheaper. They also aren't charging you for a "premium" brand name like Falcon, or AlienWare (unless you buy an AlienWare which is now owned by Dell). Dell is known for low price, functional computers that aren't too ugly. The upper end does get to be expensive but is still cheaper than others. However they're also not known as speed-demons, using as much integrated stuff as possible, and some of the cost is subsidized by all the 3rd-party software that gets pre-loaded, and the fact they don't send out operating system CDs with a computer anymore.

Falcon and others like them are now living off their reputations and not much else. They were THE place to go back in the day, if you wanted a high quality, fast as possible system, that also didn't just look like a beige box. Now, they're just selling the same thing you can get everywhere else, using standard parts, and hoping people think the name means something still. Whether the cost is acceptable depends on you, on whether they have a particular case design, logos, or support quality, or even an "exclusive" product. They are good at customization, and you don't get an operating system that's already loaded down with garbage (usually places like that don't install much software), and you get more customization options. But those are still things you could just do yourself.

 

[bamacre]

Yes, you can get the OS install disk for a Dell, and with the use of it, you can get rid of all 3rd party software.

 

[jkresh]

Falcons phone support is better (or at least its supposed to be) and they can paint the case (for $800), plus there cablind is better and it is easier to upgrade (they also often warranty overclocks which dell doesnt do as much). Main benefit to someone like falcon/voodoo over building your own is support and time involved. If you dont want to spend the time or have to worry about waiting for a manufacter to replace parts then falcon/voodoo make sense (or if you want something which you couldn't build/paint yourself). Dell is in a different category (though the xps is a reasonable system now). As to your comment on Seiko/Breitling, Seiko makes a fair movement but I wouldn't put it up in Breitling and definitely not in terms of holding value, if you take care of it the Breilting could/should last decades, the seiko is not likely to do that (and in 10 years you could sell the Breitling and buy a new Seiko (or 3)). Now if you asked about Breitling/Rolex then yes the difference between them is more based on name then quality (both are generaly "heirloom" quality), but ...