If you were a noob... would you buy Alienware?

[damage424]

So simple question....

Let's say you are a noob, who is technologically dumb. And I mean really dumb, and don't want to build your own PC for fear of being dumb...

Would you go and buy a nice PC from Alienware?

 

[bbhaag]

Probably not. I prefer building my own. We are all new to building computers at some point though.
Some people want to learn how to build one so they do their research ask questions then buy the parts and put it all together. Like I did when I was new to building and inexperienced. Other people just don't have the interest or are to nervous to try but want a fast computer that looks good and comes with support and a good warranty. For them there's companies like Alienware to fill that niche.

 

[whm1974]

I actually wanted to build my own MS-DOS computers during the early 90's when I first heard of people doing it. But I didn't get the chance until 2000.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Some people just lead such busy lives, that it's actually cheaper for them to splash out for an Alienware Gaming PC, rather than research parts, spend an afternoon building, troubleshooting, and overclocking. Those last two parts can often take more than a day.

For some of us, that aren't full-time employed, then building yourself may be a better option. But for other people... there's Alienware.

 

[lakedude]

Under the stated condition, yes I would. In fact my first ever PC was an overpriced Dell that I bought thinking that would be good because it was expensive. Only later did I realize what a huge waste of money that was.

Is the question intended to ask if a noob SHOULD buy an Alienware? In that case it depends. Nothing wrong with a pre-built but Alienware tends to be overpriced.

I've purchased several more Dell computers over the years. Buying pre-built can save both time and money (the OS included basically for free on factory PC). Of course factory built tends to be less flexible if you want to upgrade. One of my favorite computers was a Dell that I added a better power supply and video card to. I just got rid of a another Dell that was running ME so that means it was about 17 years old. It still worked fine but it was getting a bit long in the tooth.

 

[corkyg]

No, I would visit my local SWS Electronics store and get something much more cost effective.

 

[Elixer]

So simple question....

Let's say you are a noob, who is technologically dumb. And I mean really dumb, and don't want to build your own PC for fear of being dumb...

Would you go and buy a nice PC from Alienware?

Well, if they are really a huge noob, then, it is better for their support people to deal with them, rather than you getting a call late at night, expecting you to help them.

 

[Yakk]

I won an i7 920 x58 Alienware system years ago. Still going today at 4.2 with an upgraded the PSU to a 875w unit to run crossfire cards. 2 of the original 3 Seagate HDs died, but that's Seagate for you.

Was well built though, and bloody f'n heavy. Today I wouldn't know how they are.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, if they are really a huge noob, then, it is better for their support people to deal with them, rather than you getting a call late at night, expecting you to help them.

Like my (less than Genius) friend, who called me at 3am one night, "because his internet was down, and hey, YOU built the PC, fix this!".

(Comcast doing maintenance on the lines.)

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If people ask me about doing a build, I usually point them at a prebuilt with a warranty and so on. If you poke around, you can usually find a prebuilt that fits your needs, even if you are one of the self-anointed cognoscenti. So I wouldn't discount prebuilts, even for non-n00bs. But n00bs do tend to go prebuilt. I don't know if n00bs would know about Alienware specifically though.

In every circle of friends, it seems that there's a That Guy™ building rigs for his buddies. Thankfully most people know not to listen to That Guy™.

 

[VirtualLarry]

In every circle of friends, it seems that there's a That Guy™ building rigs for his buddies. Thankfully most people know not to listen to That Guy™.

Hey now... I've already admitted in another thread to being "That Guy". I dunno about your advice, having a custom-built-rig is so much better, IMHO. Upgradability is better, longevity is better, overall parts quality is better (* depending on system builder, if they use quality parts. Many cheaper OEM Name-brand rigs use absolutely bottom-of-the-barrel parts, like e-machines and the like. They build to a price point, and nothing more).

Edit: Also to note, my Ryzen 5 1600 rig w/RX 470 4GB scores 10000+ in Fire Strike.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Hey now... I've already admitted in another thread to being "That Guy". I dunno about your advice, having a custom-built-rig is so much better, IMHO. Upgradability is better, longevity is better, overall parts quality is better (* depending on system builder, if they use quality parts. Many cheaper OEM Name-brand rigs use absolutely bottom-of-the-barrel parts, like e-machines and the like. They build to a price point, and nothing more).

Edit: Also to note, my Ryzen 5 1600 rig w/RX 470 4GB scores 10000+ in Fire Strike.

I do not have a consistent definition of That Guy™.

I think what happens is that when somebody gets excited about building a friend or relative a rig, the normal person in question finds the salivating and half-boner kind of off-putting, and buys a Dell or HP instead.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I think what happens is that when somebody gets excited about building a friend or relative a rig, the normal person in question finds the salivating and half-boner kind of off-putting, and buys a Dell or HP instead.

LOL.

Well, a gamer in-law relative did replace the custom-built (by me) Q9550 OCed to 3.5-ish, with dual CF HD6870 cards, and 8GB DDR2-800, a 64GB SSD, and a 1TB HDD, with an Alienware, when it came time to replace it due to old age.

I kind of questioned why, but then shrugged it off. That's what I was referring to as, some people have very little time for a build.

(NB. This was back in the day, when the HD6870 cards had JUST come out, and SSDs were also fairly new.)

The PC was a gift at the time, but not every game out there behaved well with Crossfire. Some games would crash if you didn't disable it. (Known issue with those games, it wasn't my OC.)

 

[dave_the_nerd]

LOL.

Well, a gamer in-law relative did replace the custom-built (by me) Q9550 OCed to 3.5-ish, with dual CF HD6870 cards, and 8GB DDR2-800, a 64GB SSD, and a 1TB HDD, with an Alienware, when it came time to replace it due to old age.

I kind of questioned why, but then shrugged it off. That's what I was referring to as, some people have very little time for a build.

(NB. This was back in the day, when the HD6870 cards had JUST come out, and SSDs were also fairly new.)

The PC was a gift at the time, but not every game out there behaved well with Crossfire. Some games would crash if you didn't disable it. (Known issue with those games, it wasn't my OC.)

Yeah. I tinkering around with CF configs for a while, and then kinda gave up.

The upside of only having one GPU is that you can go ITX.

 

[damage424]

No, I would visit my local SWS Electronics store and get something much more cost effective.

Interesting... do you mean going to a place like Microcenter...?

 

[corkyg]

Interesting... do you mean going to a place like Microcenter...?

I guess there is a similarity. In Tucson, I guess the nearest Microcenter is about 1000 miles away. SWS is sort of a local equivalent.

http://www.shopsws.com/

 

[DaveSimmons]

For someone who absolutely does not want to deal with building a PC, sure.

It's not hard, but not for everyone:

Homer cooking - https://youtu.be/a-DlCdhsIIU

 

[tynopik]

no, because
1. i'm cheap
2. i hate bling
3. i don't game

 

[DaveSimmons]

> 1. i'm cheap
> 3. i don't game

If you want a legal copy of Windows and don't have parts to reuse it can be cheaper to get a prebuilt.

 

[damage424]

I would be buying it for gaming.

Saw some news on Alienware releasing some new PC's this summer, so I will keep my eye out on those.

Thanks for all the responses. This place has always been great to get good information.

 

[Charlie98]

I was actually going to go this route when the nice members here at AT talked me off the ledge... and I built my own. I'm actually quite tech dumb, I'm more of a hardware guy, and I did it... in fact, I've built something like 8 computers since. In lieu of building a PC from components, knowing what I know now, I would just go buy a regular PC with the proper CPU and add a GPU of my choice rather than spend a bunch of money on an Alien.

 

[Insomniator]

Yes I'd buy one, assuming a good deal from Dell (outlet deals especially).

I've always built my PC's but just bought an OLED Alienware laptop... damn its nice.

 

[francisw19]

No, I would visit my local SWS Electronics store and get something much more cost effective.

I'll second this. Some of the local PC shops will do builds for an extra (reasonable) fee. To me this is a good approach (assuming you'd have access to such a service) - you can consult with a tech to spend your cash where it would be best for you. And you're still getting the components you want for the best price (most places I shop at will price match with no hassle).

 

[Markfothebeast]

When I was completely unexperienced with computers as a kid, I wanted a Gateway. Those were the shiznit at the time. I didn't have the money so I scraped together $200 and went to a "super computer sale". I bought a 66MHZ Intel processor, 8MB SIMM RAM, mainboard, etc. I was super excited. I read through the mainboard manual for awhile before putting anything together. These old Intel mainboards had a whole lot of jumpers to configure. If you didn't set the processor speed and bus speed jumpers properly you were SOL. There sure was a lot more to understand.

A few years before that time, the computer businesses were soldering chips to boards to build computers. That was some serious computer building right there.

I never did have a soundcard on that old 66mhz Intel beast. I spent so much time playing on it that one day my dad entered my bedroom while I was using it, picked up the the machine and threw it off the deck. Boy, was I pissed.

Comparing todays PC building to then - a walk in the park. The only everchanging challenge is keeping up with what component fits what, what new video card is better for the money, etc. Its like Shopping online for the appropriate components is more time consuming than assembling the machine.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

No. I learned to build computers when I was like 10, there's no reason a grown adult should spend a 2x markup with inferior silicon on something no more complicated than Lego.