Guys is there a BETTER System right now than this DEAL?

[DarkFudge2000]

Folks, I am looking to buy a pre built system to upgrade my old P4 2.6Ghz fossil that I built about 6 yrs ago with parts I bought from Newegg. I dont think I want to build everything again from scratch and besides I think this pre built system from Dell looks to have everything pretty current and state of the art for a decent price....what do you guys think?

If not, can you point me to a better deal?........thanks


Here's the link
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+S...&skuId=9697488


Dell - Studio XPS Desktop with Intel® Core™ i7 Processor
Model: SX8100-1986NBC | SKU: 9697488

Our Price:
$1,049.99

New Intel Core i7 logo with 5-star Intel rating
What's Included

* Dell Studio XPS Desktop with Intel® Core™ i7 Processor
* Power cord
* USB consumer multimedia keyboard, Dell laser mouse
* Software: Microsoft Works and more
* Owner's manual

Product Features

* Intel® Core™ i7-860 processor
Features an 8MB cache and 2.8GHz processor speed.
* The all new 2010 Intel® Core™ i7 processor
Features 8-way processing for ultimate smart performance. Intel® Turbo Boost Technology automatically speeds up your processor when your PC needs extra performance.
* 8GB DDR3 memory
For multitasking power, expandable to 16GB.
* Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support
Records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media.
* 1TB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 rpm)
Offers spacious storage and fast read/write times.
* ATI Radeon HD5770 graphics
Feature 1GB video memory for lush images. 7.1-channel audio support.
* Multiformat media reader
Supports Secure Digital, miniSD, microSD, Secure Digital High Capacity, MultiMediaCard, Reduced-Size MultiMediaCard, MultiMediaCard Plus, RD MultiMediaCard Plus, MultiMediaCard Micro and Memory Stick formats.
* Also supports Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick Micro, CompactFlash I, CompactFlash II, Smart Media, xD-Picture Card and Microdrive formats.
* IEEE 1394 port and 8 high-speed USB 2.0 ports
For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
* Built-in Dell 1505 wireless LAN PCI-E card and 802.11n mini card (802.11b/g/n)
Connect to the Internet without wires.
* Built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN with 56 Kbps data/fax modem
For flexible wired Web connectivity options.
* Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit operating system preinstalled
Provides a stable platform for word processing, Web navigation, gaming, media storage and more.
* Software package included
With Microsoft Works and more.

 

[Insomniator]

Damn thats pretty good, those parts add up to over 900 by themselves. Doubt you'll get any overclocking options with the Dell bios however. Could be wrong about that though...

 

[Hyperlite]

pretty good deal. But yeah, probably no OC ability.

 

[Rifter]

Its alright, you could build a system for that price the same or better and be able to OC. And unless you really need 8GB i would go with 4GB and throw the extra $100 into a upgrade in GPU and go 5850.

 

[cbn]

Is there a way to overclock these pre-builts in windows? (I realize dell doesn't include an overclocking bios)

 

[Bigun08]

some of the dell XPS series have an auto overclock in the bios it doesn't allow you to change everything just some things..

 

[M0RPH]

This is a really good deal. Is it an advertised special?

 

[DarkFudge2000]

Its alright, you could build a system for that price the same or better and be able to OC. And unless you really need 8GB i would go with 4GB and throw the extra $100 into a upgrade in GPU and go 5850.

Please point me to the direction of the parts and prices you would use to acheive this?

 

[DarkFudge2000]

some of the dell XPS series have an auto overclock in the bios it doesn't allow you to change everything just some things..

Do you know if this one can be overclocked?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Not a bad deal at all. How well would a 5770 work to drive a 22" 1920x1080 monitor for modern games? Clearly, games would not be CPU-limited much on this rig.

When overclocking is taken into account, though, one would likely be better off spending just as much, and building their own system instead.

Edit: Found this tidbit in one of the reviews:
"On 1920x1080 Resolution, with max settings, out of the box this PC has a steady 60fps on Left 4 Dead 2. In Borderlands, with max settings and 1920x1080 resolution, I get 60, with action peaks dipping to the mid 40s in fps."

Sounds like a decent gaming rig. I wish I could get one for my BIL. Have to save my money for a while though.

 

[cbn]

Not a bad deal at all. How well would a 5770 work to drive a 22" 1920x1080 monitor for modern games? Clearly, games would not be CPU-limited much on this rig.

I'm sure just fine if a person doesn't need AA.

 

[jchu14]

If you don't mind refurb. This might be a better deal depending on your usage.

Asus CG5920 at BB

slightly slower processor
1gb more ram
gts 260 instead of 5770
no wireless
$250 cheaper


ProcessorIntel® Core™ i7
Processor Speed2.66GHz
Cache Memory8MB on die Level 2
System Memory (RAM)9GB
System Memory (RAM) Expandable To24GB
Type of Memory (RAM)DDR3
Hard Drive TypeSATA (7200 rpm)
Hard Drive Size1TB
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce GTX260
Video Memory896MB
AudioHigh-definition audio (7.1-channel support)
Network CardBuilt-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
Wireless NetworkingNone
Recordable DVD DriveYes, double-layer DVD+RW/CD-RW
Recordable DVD Drive Speeds8x DVD+R DL; 8x DVD-R DL; 16x8x16 DVD+RW; 16x6x16 DVD-RW; 5x DVD-RAM; 48x32x48 CD-RW
Direct-Disc LabelingNo
Digital Media Reader or SlotsYes, digital media card reader
Available Expansion BaysExternal: 1 (5.25"); Internal: 1 (3.5")
Available Expansion Slots1 PCI-E, 1 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16
IEEE 1394 Ports1
S-Video Outputs1
Operating System PlatformWindows
Operating SystemWindows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP1

 

[DarkFudge2000]

I think I want the Direct X 11 support that the ATi card gives in the Dell.....I just am hoping I can overclock both the GPU and CPU in this DELL system.

Anyone know if its possible?


thanks

 

[alyarb]

you will be relying on third party windows software for overclocking, meaning your success will be very limited if you have any success at all. you will probably have to know your clock generator by name or be able to select it from a comprehensive list.

 

[MrK6]

I think I want the Direct X 11 support that the ATi card gives in the Dell.....I just am hoping I can overclock both the GPU and CPU in this DELL system.
Anyone know if its possible?
thanks

The GPU will be easy, you'll have the same overclocking capabilities as anyone else. The CPU, not so much. There might be a software solution out there, but I doubt it given the clock generators they usually have on these boards. There might be a hard mod (conductive ink, etc.) as well, but I haven't seen any for socket 1156. Simply put, there are very few OEM systems that support overclocking, and the i7 860's turbo mode might be as far as you'll get.

 

[DarkFudge2000]

Thanks....anyone know how much a comparable system spec'd out from Newegg piece by piece would cost?.....I really do want the Bios overclocking abilities

...I can build one, I just didnt want to go thru all that again.


Btw, how will this system compare to my old P4 2.6ghz that is o'clocked to 3.1ghz with 3 ghz RAM and an ATI AGP 3850HD video card?...Is it a signifigant enough jump to warrant a purchase now or is there something right around the corner coming in tech that I should just wait a few months for???

 

[MrK6]

Thanks....anyone know how much a comparable system spec'd out from Newegg piece by piece would cost?.....I really do want the Bios overclocking abilities

...I can build one, I just didnt want to go thru all that again.


Btw, how will this system compare to my old P4 2.6ghz that is o'clocked to 3.1ghz with 3 ghz RAM and an ATI AGP 3850HD video card?...Is it a signifigant enough jump to warrant a purchase now or is there something right around the corner coming in tech that I should just wait a few months for???

Depends on what components you want. It can be a few hundred cheaper or several hundred more expensive, depending what motherboard, case, PSU, etc. you go with. Do you want to keep within the same price range (~$1000-1100) or go cheaper?

In regards to your P4 2.6GHz, the 5850 is 3-5x faster, depending on the application, resolution and overclock. The i7-860 can be more than an order of magnitude faster (10x) if the application is highly threaded.

 

[alyarb]

As far as CPUs go, now is the time to buy. As far as GPUs go, we have a totally unbalanced unhealthy market but very fast cards are nonetheless easy to find.

As long as you don't need a monitor, high-performance i7 machines can be built for under a grand pretty easily.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-214-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103065
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-412-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231193
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-328-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-284-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827118030
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015

this comes to $890, which gives you $110 to spend on the case, keyboard, and mouse that you want. Assuming you already have a suitable monitor, if gaming is the most important thing to you, then you will want to step your CPU down to an i5 750 and go for a Radeon 5850. Everything else is pretty standard. The best buy link doesn't work for me, but compared to the dell this will be a faster system. However it does not come with 8GB of memory (presumably 1066 or 1333) or an OS, or a wifi module.

 

[five4o]

Don't forget at least another $100 for a windows licence http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-754-_-Product

 

[DarkFudge2000]

As far as CPUs go, now is the time to buy. As far as GPUs go, we have a totally unbalanced unhealthy market but very fast cards are nonetheless easy to find.

As long as you don't need a monitor, high-performance i7 machines can be built for under a grand pretty easily.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-214-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103065
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-412-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231193
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-328-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-284-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827118030
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015

this comes to $890, which gives you $110 to spend on the case, keyboard, and mouse that you want. Assuming you already have a suitable monitor, if gaming is the most important thing to you, then you will want to step your CPU down to an i5 750 and go for a Radeon 5850. Everything else is pretty standard. The best buy link doesn't work for me, but compared to the dell this will be a faster system. However it does not come with 8GB of memory (presumably 1066 or 1333) or an OS, or a wifi module.

Yes thanks or all the links....

Once I add the WIN 7 OS, the Case, the extra things like Keyboard , Mouse... etc, thats another approx $280 which actually puts me over the DELL price with less RAM in the system but a little more flexability to upgrade...and overclock?....hmmm

and then I have to put the whole thing together......I still think the DELL system is the better deal then building one when you weigh the factors I mentioned above, perhaps Im wrong.

Its funny, every time I build a system, I always say to myself, I would never ever buy a prebuilt system from a Retail store because I love the upgradeability factor that a custom built system offers me.....but you know what?? I all my years of building systems, I never really upgraded anything. And when it was finally time for an upgrade, it was time for a new system because the motherboard and chipset was already obsolete anyways!

I no longer hold stock in the expandability factor of a custom built system anymore. As long as a system has a few slots and USB ports....Im good!

 

[alyarb]

It depends on the applications you run. 8GB of memory will not do much for you unless you have a ton of apps or VMs running simultaneously. Everything else that comes with the system is a result of dell's economy of scale. The flash card reader and wifi card, and 8GB of no-name RAM are just some examples. It's a fine machine, but compared to an i5 750 at 3.8 GHz and a radeon 5850, the custom machine will far, far outperform the dell.

The custom machine is not $280 more expensive, either. There are plenty of $30-50 cases on newegg that equal or surpass the Dell chassis in quality and Win7 is only $100. With an i5 750 and XFX Radeon 5850, Windows 7 home premium and a $50 case, the custom machine comes to $1145, which is only $32 more expensive than the dell after 6% tax. Convenience is one thing, but as far as performance there is no comparison.

 

[DarkFudge2000]

Cool...thanks for that tidbit Alyarb.

Is the I7 better than the I5?

And also is it definitely confirmed that the Dell system above is NOT overclockable?

 

[alyarb]

you have a .0001% chance of finding any adjustable BIOS parameters on that dell, save for the system clock and boot priority.

i7 and i5 are architecturally identical except for the "turbo" speeds they can run at, and hyperthreading. Hyperthreading is important for rendering/encoding/cryptography but it has been known to slightly impede gaming performance so mainstream users and gamers do not agonize over it. It's a nice feature to have but most of the time it's turned off. To answer your question directly, a 3.8 GHz i5 would murder a 2.8 GHz i7. However, because an i7 has faster turbo modes, it will score better in single-threaded benchmarks than the i5 when you are using the default settings, and I think this is misleading about the flexibility of i5.

Games run on the GPU and that is why I urge most of your budget to go towards the $325 XFX 5850. Yes that's a lot of money, but it's more than twice as powerful as the 5770 that you would've gotten with the dell. This puts your machine in an *entirely* different class than the dell, despite being priced about the same. However, i'm starting to feel stupid for continuing to assume that you only want to game on this computer. You haven't said anything about any applications you run and you may as well do that now so that we don't leave any stones unturned.

 

[Markfw]

The I7 860 is better than the I5 750. The 860 has HT, and sometimes thats a real bonus, but can be turned off when you don't wat it.

As for overclocking, unless someone has that exact system and has tried it, we can;t say for sure, but based on history from past Dell boxes, I would say your odds of getting that system overclocked to anything close to 3.8 are less than 2%. One the other hand, the system above, your odds of hitting 3.8 are better than 98%

 

[alyarb]

really mark? Honestly that 2% figure is absurdly high. Dell has never in its history released a BIOS that will adjust the system bus (except a couple of their XPS line pre-Alienware acquisition), let alone the numerous voltage params that are nice to have access to. There is a funny sticky at forums.extremeoverclocking.com about dell overclocking. been there for 5 years and yet people still ask.