I agree, it's not just parts you get from custom building it's about the quality. You can get better quality parts if you build it. Also generally you can normaly build something faster (spec) for about the same price of a prebuilt system.
I agree, it's not just parts you get from custom building it's about the quality. You can get better quality parts if you build it. Also generally you can normaly build something faster (spec) for about the same price of a prebuilt system.
These Gateway systems are pretty damn nice IMO. You guys keep talking about how much higher quality the parts are when you build. Not quite sure what you think is such higher quality. Maybe your motherboard will have better overclocking features and fancier heatsinks and colored trim. Not everyone is looking to overclock and not everyone stares at their components through a side window all day.
IMO the case on this Gateway is something special. Please show me an aftermarket case that has built in hotswap bays, built in card reader, lots of usb ports and compartments on top, and looks as good as this Gateway case.
OP, yeah the nerds here will look down on you for not building your own, but I'm here to tell you that there's nothing wrong with buying a prebuilt. You don't need to hold your head down in shame if you buy the Gateway or the Dell.
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BTRY B 529th FA BN
Lifer
- Nov 26, 2005
- 15,189
- 401
- 126
definitely better looking and better configured than the dell. but it still has "gamer" written all over it. if i'm paying money for a fast machine i will need it to not only look good, but fit in with the rest of the room's decor. I will never use or recommend a machine that looks like it was won from a toys r us sweepstakes.
Why not check this out for $680 after bing cashback?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...366&CatId=5138
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...366&CatId=5138
Dadofamunky
Platinum Member
- Jan 4, 2005
- 2,184
- 0
- 0
I've used Dells at work for over a decade and they are not set up for any tweaking whatsoever. Pretty much the only customizing you can do is to swap video cards and add disks. I like Dell boxes a lot in the business context - wouldn't buy anything else - but for an enthusiast user I don't think they're the best choice.
That would be my pick! Great deal and...
A new power supply ASAP would be a good idea, but you would still come in far under that dell
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Eddie313
Senior member
- Oct 15, 2006
- 634
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- 71
I think that the Gateway system has much over the dell system.
Prebuilt Warranty is a big thing most only get a year on all parts.
guys I forgot to post this a month ago...but I actually went ahead and bought the Gateway system and I am VERY HAPPY...However one question I have is, they all advertise that the i7-can hit 3.43ghz with an auto Turbo Boost feature....unfortunately, I am unable to get the cpu to turbo past 2.93ghz
I think I read somewhere that the only time you will hit the max of 3.4ghz is with only one core enabled....I guess for games that would be better because 1 core at 3.4 is better than 4 at 2.9 (if all 4 arent being used by the game?)
However, how can I force my system to use only one core when I want to?
I didnt see any BIOS options for enabling cores
BTW, here is the system I got...very happy:
http://www.gateway.com/systems/produ...17.php#prodBar
Intel® Core™ i7-860 Processor1 2.8GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 3.46GHz (8MB L3 Cache) 6
Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64-bit)7
Memory 8192MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1333MHz Memory8
Hard Drive 1.5TB 7200RPM SATA hard drive3
Chassis High performance, black glossy design with trendy red accents and lighting effects
Video ATI Radeon™ HD5850 Graphics card with 1GB of Discrete Video Memory8
Application Software Microsoft® Works & Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007 (60-day complimentary trial period)2
Audio High Definition Audio with 7.1 Audio Support
Available Expansion Slots Available: 0 - PCI-E x16, 1 - PCI-E x4, 2 - PCI-E x1
Dimensions (Box) 12" (H) x 20" (W) x 24" (D) or 304.8mm (H) x 508mm (W) x 609.6mm (D)
Dimensions (System) 17.7" (H) x 7.5" (W) x 19" (D) or 449mm (H) x 191mm (W) x 482mm (D)
External Ports (10) USB 2.0 (4 Front, 6 Rear), HDMI™, (2) eSATA, IEEE 1394a, (2) PS/2, (2) DVI, (5) Audio, (1) High Definition Headphone Jack, (1) Microphone Jack
Keyboard Multimedia Keyboard
Media Card Reader Multi-in-One Digital Media Card Reader with PhotoFrame Button4
Memory Capacity 4 DDR3 Slots Total (0 Slots Available)
Motherboard Systemboard with Intel® H57 Express Chipset
Mouse Optical Mouse
Network 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Optical Drive 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive
Power Supply 750W Power Supply
Security Software Norton™ Intenet Security 2009 (60-day trial)5
Warranty 1 Year Parts and Labor Limited Warranty with Toll-Free Tech Support9
Weight 31 lbs. (14.1 kg) system unit only / Approximately 38 lbs. (17.2 kg.) b
I think I read somewhere that the only time you will hit the max of 3.4ghz is with only one core enabled....I guess for games that would be better because 1 core at 3.4 is better than 4 at 2.9 (if all 4 arent being used by the game?)
However, how can I force my system to use only one core when I want to?
I didnt see any BIOS options for enabling cores
BTW, here is the system I got...very happy:
http://www.gateway.com/systems/produ...17.php#prodBar
Intel® Core™ i7-860 Processor1 2.8GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 3.46GHz (8MB L3 Cache) 6
Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64-bit)7
Memory 8192MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1333MHz Memory8
Hard Drive 1.5TB 7200RPM SATA hard drive3
Chassis High performance, black glossy design with trendy red accents and lighting effects
Video ATI Radeon™ HD5850 Graphics card with 1GB of Discrete Video Memory8
Application Software Microsoft® Works & Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007 (60-day complimentary trial period)2
Audio High Definition Audio with 7.1 Audio Support
Available Expansion Slots Available: 0 - PCI-E x16, 1 - PCI-E x4, 2 - PCI-E x1
Dimensions (Box) 12" (H) x 20" (W) x 24" (D) or 304.8mm (H) x 508mm (W) x 609.6mm (D)
Dimensions (System) 17.7" (H) x 7.5" (W) x 19" (D) or 449mm (H) x 191mm (W) x 482mm (D)
External Ports (10) USB 2.0 (4 Front, 6 Rear), HDMI™, (2) eSATA, IEEE 1394a, (2) PS/2, (2) DVI, (5) Audio, (1) High Definition Headphone Jack, (1) Microphone Jack
Keyboard Multimedia Keyboard
Media Card Reader Multi-in-One Digital Media Card Reader with PhotoFrame Button4
Memory Capacity 4 DDR3 Slots Total (0 Slots Available)
Motherboard Systemboard with Intel® H57 Express Chipset
Mouse Optical Mouse
Network 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Optical Drive 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive
Power Supply 750W Power Supply
Security Software Norton™ Intenet Security 2009 (60-day trial)5
Warranty 1 Year Parts and Labor Limited Warranty with Toll-Free Tech Support9
Weight 31 lbs. (14.1 kg) system unit only / Approximately 38 lbs. (17.2 kg.) b
the simplest way is to use the windows task manager to only assign 1 core to the game exe, but this will not necessarily give you the 3.4 GHz turbo because you still may have additional cores administering the OS. you definitely cannot disable cores and you would never want to. Ultimately you are going to have to ask gateway about their BIOS, because it's up to them. The only thing I can tell you is that the stock settings are going to be very conservative and the best times to power gate 3 cores and turbo 1 core are going to be few and far between indeed. load up super-pi or some other single threaded benchmark (how about a virtual machine with 1 core?) and watch the clock change in CPU-z.
It is also wrong to assume that 1 core at 3.4 is faster than 4 cores at 2.9. for every game (except VERY old games, so be specific) there is a sweet spot between threads and frequency and until you get past two cores the wider CPU is favored. All this time I had been under the impression that the 860 will allow two cores to run at 3.4, and that would be ideal for you. That may even be the case. Look it up if nobody chimes in.
If you want to get big picture though, there are only a handful of games in the world that need a 3+ GHz i7 in order to run acceptably. The CPU you have, even at these non-turbo frequencies, is much more than powerful enough to run any game, especially old and/or high-res games. I think this is why you went with the gateway. It was in the store, already built, and it passes mustard. Before going into this system you knew that you weren't going to be able to adjust any clock speeds so you can either buy a new motherboard or just be happy. like i said, it's plenty. you bought an OEM box and now you're nitpicking like a protein folder on amphetamines.
It is also wrong to assume that 1 core at 3.4 is faster than 4 cores at 2.9. for every game (except VERY old games, so be specific) there is a sweet spot between threads and frequency and until you get past two cores the wider CPU is favored. All this time I had been under the impression that the 860 will allow two cores to run at 3.4, and that would be ideal for you. That may even be the case. Look it up if nobody chimes in.
If you want to get big picture though, there are only a handful of games in the world that need a 3+ GHz i7 in order to run acceptably. The CPU you have, even at these non-turbo frequencies, is much more than powerful enough to run any game, especially old and/or high-res games. I think this is why you went with the gateway. It was in the store, already built, and it passes mustard. Before going into this system you knew that you weren't going to be able to adjust any clock speeds so you can either buy a new motherboard or just be happy. like i said, it's plenty. you bought an OEM box and now you're nitpicking like a protein folder on amphetamines.
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The last Dell OC I did was a jumper from 266 to 300. But, Opie sounds like he wants a pre-built and will live with the cons.
I just threw the following together, a much better deal imo
EVGA 3 sli x58 mobo $199
i7 930 $199
6 Gb Kingston 1600 ddr3 kit $149
XFX ati 5850 $289
Video card was newegg, rest was microcenter, you will obviously need a case, hdd, mouse, kb, and os
EVGA 3 sli x58 mobo $199
i7 930 $199
6 Gb Kingston 1600 ddr3 kit $149
XFX ati 5850 $289
Video card was newegg, rest was microcenter, you will obviously need a case, hdd, mouse, kb, and os
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