Dell vs NewEgg buy or build

[boneca1]

After my post yesterday where I tried to figure out what do I need to upgrade my current PC I came to realize that I need to buy or build new one.

I went to NewEgg to price some items after that I went to Dell site to build one just to see what value/money difference it will be and this is what I came down too. It's pretty close with up and downs on both sides.

Which way you would go if o'clocking isn't main perspective as well as gaming...

Dell

Model XPS410
CPU Intel Core 2 Duo 6600
Mobo not known brand - negative
Memory 4GB 4 dims not known brand - negative
Video card GeForce 7300LE 256MB worse than NE I don't really care that much since not for games
HD 250GB SATA - doesn't matter for me
OS Windows Vista Ultimate - plus
DVD Drive DVD-RW 16x not known brand - negative
Sound card 7.1 integrated not known brand - doesn't really metter
Security Norton Internet Security 15mth subscription - plus
Power supply not known brand

Price around $1500 including taxes with free shipping

NewEgg

Model My own
CPU Intel Core 2 Duo 6600 - $316.00
Mobo ASUS P5B-Deluxe - $180.00 plus
Memory 4GB 2 dims G-Skill or similar - $530.00 plus
Video card GeForce 7950GT 256MB XFX or ASUS $290.00 plus
HD none - will put my own WD74GB Raptor
OS none - will need to buy separately Windows Vista Ultimate - expensive
DVD Drive none - will put my own
Sound card none - will put my own
Security none - will put my own
Power supply none - will need to buy separately good quality 500W PW around $70

Price around $1450 including shipping, obviously some components are missing...

Sorry for long post and thanks for all the advices
boneca

 

[zodder]

Damn. Too bad you waited until Vista was introduced. Getting the Dell w/ XP and a cheap upgrade voucher to Vista would have been ideal.

 

[hytek369]

dell is really quiet, if you are not doing anything special, just give in to dell. i have 2 systems, 1 dell and 1 custom, but i ended using the dell more.

 

[boneca1]

Originally posted by: zodder
Damn. Too bad you waited until Vista was introduced. Getting the Dell w/ XP and a cheap upgrade voucher to Vista would have been ideal.

what exactly I would gain from this? having another version of XP in my house? I already own a few. Or there something else I don't know about?

 

[lobbyone]

Overclocking and gaming aside, i'll still take the parts from newegg.

 

[Boyo]

Go with the home built model. Except that I would beef up the video card to something like a 7900GTX or an 8800 series.

 

[zodder]

Originally posted by: boneca1

Originally posted by: zodder
Damn. Too bad you waited until Vista was introduced. Getting the Dell w/ XP and a cheap upgrade voucher to Vista would have been ideal.

what exactly I would gain from this? having another version of XP in my house? I already own a few. Or there something else I don't know about?

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm assuming there is a premium placed on new comps with Vista?

 

[bamacre]

I added in some info for you...

Model XPS410
CPU Intel Core 2 Duo 6600
Mobo (Intel 965P based motherboard, I have found it to be very stable)
Memory 4GB 4 dims (Dell uses Samsung, Infineon, and Micron - that's what I have been seeing for DDR2 667)
Video card GeForce 7300LE 256MB (enough for non-gaming system)
HD 250GB SATA - (this will either be a Samsung SpinPoint, Western Digital WD2500JS or Seagate 7200.9)
OS Windows Vista Ultimate - plus
DVD Drive DVD-RW 16x (this will be a Toshiba)
Sound card 7.1 integrated (SigmaTel High Definition Audio Codec)
Security Norton Internet Security 15mth subscription - plus
Power supply (actually very good power supply, plenty if you are not gaming - runs an 8800 GTS flawlessly - rated at 375W, dual 12V rails w/ 18A each)

Pictures...

http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps410a_01.jpg
http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps410a_02.jpg
http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps410a_03.jpg
http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps410a_04.jpg

Also, be warned that there are NO PATA connections on the motherboard. All optical drives are SATA, and from what I hear, no matter what, don't even bother trying to use a PATA drive in this system. Same goes for the E520 and E521 models.

 

[boneca1]

Originally posted by: zodder

Originally posted by: boneca1

Originally posted by: zodder
Damn. Too bad you waited until Vista was introduced. Getting the Dell w/ XP and a cheap upgrade voucher to Vista would have been ideal.

what exactly I would gain from this? having another version of XP in my house? I already own a few. Or there something else I don't know about?

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm assuming there is a premium placed on new comps with Vista?

There is an option to select Ultimate if you go for XPS system for additional $100+

 

[boneca1]

Originally posted by: bamacre
I added in some info for you...

Model XPS410
CPU Intel Core 2 Duo 6600
Mobo (Intel 965P based motherboard, I have found it to be very stable)
Memory 4GB 4 dims (Dell uses Samsung, Infineon, and Micron - that's what I have been seeing for DDR2 667)
Video card GeForce 7300LE 256MB (enough for non-gaming system)
HD 250GB SATA - (this will either be a Samsung SpinPoint, Western Digital WD2500JS or Seagate 7200.9)
OS Windows Vista Ultimate - plus
DVD Drive DVD-RW 16x (this will be a Toshiba)
Sound card 7.1 integrated (SigmaTel High Definition Audio Codec)
Security Norton Internet Security 15mth subscription - plus
Power supply (actually very good power supply, plenty if you are not gaming - runs an 8800 GTS flawlessly - rated at 375W, dual 12V rails w/ 18A each)

Pictures...

http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps410a_01.jpg
http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps410a_02.jpg
http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps410a_03.jpg
http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps410a_04.jpg

Also, be warned that there are NO PATA connections on the motherboard. All optical drives are SATA, and from what I hear, no matter what, don't even bother trying to use a PATA drive in this system. Same goes for the E520 and E521 models.

This is very helpful info, Thank you for this. Looks like another vote for Dell
btw Is that your system on te pictures?

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: boneca1
This is very helpful info, Thank you for this. Looks like another vote for Dell

No problem. I have been working with the XPS 410's for the past couple of weeks. Just know that the con's are...

1) No cpu overclocking.
2) Proprietary case and motherboard
3) Dell support is flaky

The pluses..

1) Very quiet and stable
2) Don't have to worry about compatibility
3) Very nice case design

Originally posted by: boneca1

btw Is that your system on te pictures?

Nope, that is one I have sold.

 

[zodder]

Also, be warned that there are NO PATA connections on the motherboard. All optical drives are SATA, and from what I hear, no matter what, don't even bother trying to use a PATA drive in this system. Same goes for the E520 and E521 models.

Roger that! It took me over an hour to get an IDE card setup in my sister's Dell. Even then, I crossed my fingers that it would continue working.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: zodder

Also, be warned that there are NO PATA connections on the motherboard. All optical drives are SATA, and from what I hear, no matter what, don't even bother trying to use a PATA drive in this system. Same goes for the E520 and E521 models.

Roger that! It took me over an hour to get an IDE card setup in my sister's Dell. Even then, I crossed my fingers that it would continue working.

The good thing is that Dell's use of SATA optical drives has really caused the prices of them to go down, and drastically at that. I've been picking up SATA DVD burners for ~$40. Before Dell switched, they were maybe $100.

 

[ShellGuy]

i doubt it microsoft prob switched all xp builders to vista,


Will G.

 

[boneca1]

Known that there are no PATA connections on Mobo makes me think again, I was thinking of using some of the components I'm currently have but looks like this won't be an option anymore , also I had bad luck with Intel mobo in the past, maybe this was just my luck but you know once you have bad luck with something you don't want to trust that particular product even tho I have obviously no problems with Intel's processors

 

[Aikouka]

Just to test my system builder knowledge, don't OEMs like Dell and HP typically use custom mobos from Foxconn?

Looks like I am right: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxconn#Motherboards

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: boneca1
Known that there are no PATA connections on Mobo makes me think again, I was thinking of using some of the components I'm currently have but looks like this won't be an option anymore , also I had bad luck with Intel mobo in the past, maybe this was just my luck but you know once you have bad luck with something you don't want to trust that particular product even tho I have obviously no problems with Intel's processors

Personally, if you are buying retail Dell, as opposed to Dell's Outlet, then I would go with building. Via the Outlet, I've been paying 759 to 799 (plus tax) for this...

Model XPS 410
Intel C2D E6600
2GB
7300LE 256MB
250GB SATA
XP MCE / Pro / Home
DVD-RW 16x
7.1 Integrated Audio

I picked up this one late last night.

 

[mcurphy]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: zodder

Also, be warned that there are NO PATA connections on the motherboard. All optical drives are SATA, and from what I hear, no matter what, don't even bother trying to use a PATA drive in this system. Same goes for the E520 and E521 models.

Roger that! It took me over an hour to get an IDE card setup in my sister's Dell. Even then, I crossed my fingers that it would continue working.

The good thing is that Dell's use of SATA optical drives has really caused the prices of them to go down, and drastically at that. I've been picking up SATA DVD burners for ~$40. Before Dell switched, they were maybe $100.

Where are you finding SATA dvd burners for ~$40? Just curious, as I have been looking for one at a good price...

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: mcurphy

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: zodder

Also, be warned that there are NO PATA connections on the motherboard. All optical drives are SATA, and from what I hear, no matter what, don't even bother trying to use a PATA drive in this system. Same goes for the E520 and E521 models.

Roger that! It took me over an hour to get an IDE card setup in my sister's Dell. Even then, I crossed my fingers that it would continue working.

The good thing is that Dell's use of SATA optical drives has really caused the prices of them to go down, and drastically at that. I've been picking up SATA DVD burners for ~$40. Before Dell switched, they were maybe $100.

Where are you finding SATA dvd burners for ~$40? Just curious, as I have been looking for one at a good price...

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=175515

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151141

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106046

 

[mcurphy]

Thanks for the links

I just noticed the other SATA thread in this forum with a lot of suggestions, lol

 

[boneca1]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: boneca1
Known that there are no PATA connections on Mobo makes me think again, I was thinking of using some of the components I'm currently have but looks like this won't be an option anymore , also I had bad luck with Intel mobo in the past, maybe this was just my luck but you know once you have bad luck with something you don't want to trust that particular product even tho I have obviously no problems with Intel's processors

Personally, if you are buying retail Dell, as opposed to Dell's Outlet, then I would go with building. Via the Outlet, I've been paying 759 to 799 (plus tax) for this...

Model XPS 410
Intel C2D E6600
2GB
7300LE 256MB
250GB SATA
XP MCE / Pro / Home
DVD-RW 16x
7.1 Integrated Audio

I picked up this one late last night.

with 4GB of memory and Vista Ultimate it will be pretty close I think

 

[rstrohkirch]

Guess I'm a little confused on your comparison chart

For the dell you list 7300LE and note that it doesn't matter since it isn't for games
Yet on the DIY build you list a $290 7950GT

?

 

[boneca1]

Originally posted by: rstrohkirch
Guess I'm a little confused on your comparison chart

For the dell you list 7300LE and note that it doesn't matter since it isn't for games
Yet on the DIY build you list a $290 7950GT

?

well I understand your confusion, if I don't game it doesn't mean that I want to buy the cheapest lover end Video card. The 7300LE is what available from Dell right now (there is another one there as well I think it's also 7300 but I can't recall the letters with about $30 difference) now If I would build my own system I would go for little better card.
That's all there is to it. I hope I cleared your confusion...

 

[Blintok]

was in similar circumstance a week ago.
Have a Dell Dim8400 and had a Sony Rx650

wanted to get a new computer to replace the sony. Dell or build my own, what to choose
Was happy with the Dell and almost went that route, main reason i built my own was, standard parts(easy upgrades), plus a clean Hard drive with no pre-installed crud.

(new one replaced the Dell, Dell replaced the sony)

For 1k$ including tax canadian put together a nice system
Intel E6300
Asus P5B
Mushkin (2gig) DDR2800
Seagate 320gig sata2
Thermaltake "Matrix" case
SilverStone 500w power supply
DVD rom drive

to that i added a Evga Geforce 7950gt ko 512 (bot previously)

The Dell has the "work & multimedia" stuff - (does Divx, email, picture editing etc etc)
DvD reader, DvD burner, Evga Geforce 6800gs 256, 320g sata2, 250g & 500g USB drives
160g sata drive. replaced stock ps with a pc power and cooling 470w, SB audigy.

glad i built my own, really happy with the new computer

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: boneca1

Power supply none - will need to buy separately good quality 500W PW around $70

Normally I would say $70 + "good quality PSU" would not be possible but there is one exception; theEnhance ENP-5150GH.

You won't find anything remotely comparable in quality on Newegg for that wattage class.

Though you should also know a good 350-400 watt Seasonic or Forton-Source would have no problems running that system.