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

[Insomniator]

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

Its not anywhere near a 2x markup in some cases. There was a deal last month for a 7700/1080/16GB/2TB with OS and Warranty for $1150 and you don't have to spend x number of hours learning how to build a computer from scratch, or dealing with any problems you might encounter.

That particular system couldn't be easily built for less than $1000.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Its not anywhere near a 2x markup in some cases. There was a deal last month for a 7700/1080/16GB/2TB with OS and Warranty for $1150 and you don't have to spend x number of hours learning how to build a computer from scratch, or dealing with any problems you might encounter.

That particular system couldn't be easily built for less than $1000.

The problem is, it likely comes with cheap RAM, and a $50 motherboard, and a $30 350w PSU, as was always the case when someone asked me to help them spec out a computer from a vendor rather than buy one. If you aren't picking the parts, they're being selected for you to pull a profit.

 

[Charlie98]

...Shopping online for the appropriate components is more time consuming than assembling the machine.

True that.

 

[Markfothebeast]

The biggest difference in my experiences is to buy a good quality mainboard. I've had so many headaches with cheap boards like ASRock. Everything seems to be made in Taiwan or Asia now days so I'm not sure what's considered a good product anymore. I still run an old Asus Sabretooth P67 mainboard with an i2600k processor and it by far surpasses my needs.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

The biggest difference in my experiences is to buy a good quality mainboard. I've had so many headaches with cheap boards like ASRock. Everything seems to be made in Taiwan or Asia now days so I'm not sure what's considered a good product anymore. I still run an old Asus Sabretooth P67 mainboard with an i2600k processor and it by far surpasses my needs.

You have been out of the game for a while. It depends on how you do the math, but by some measurements, anyway, ASRock is even better than ASUS. ASUS is still hot stuff, though, and they have the name recognition. But you pay for it.

Cheap boards tends to be problematic, regardless of manufacturer. I've had plenty of problematic systems, but never with a motherboard that cost over $100.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Cheap boards tends to be problematic, regardless of manufacturer. I've had plenty of problematic systems, but never with a motherboard that cost over $100.

This. I'll tell anyone who will listen, that you may find decent boards under $100, and you may find lemons over $100, but honestly, if you care about the system you're building for anything whatsoever you shouldn't mind getting spendy on the board and the PSU. Those are two components that will define your build and define the amount of garbage intermittent problems you'll have over the life of the system.

 

[corkyg]

How about answering the thread question, folks?

 

[Torn Mind]

If indeed I was ignorant beyond looking at bigger numbers on the spec sheet, then yes, I would consider a current gen Alienware Aurora with the package costing $1550 as a legit gaming pc option to buy. A boutique PC shop like CyberpowerPC would also be an option.

For those who can afford it, proper workstation Xeon builds are beyond safe buys and the "cheaper components" assertion is an absolute myth for those class of desktop computers.

 

[Torn Mind]

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.

Aside from immediate troublemakers, even computers with "cheap parts" that do not fail within the first year or however many hours in that year can last 5-7 years with rock solid stability. Going custom build is mostly for features and/or stroking e-peens. Emachines is dead because they went too cheap on the PSU, but the value lines like the Inspiron or ThinkCentre these days contain adequate PSUs.

 

[Markfothebeast]

You have been out of the game for a while. It depends on how you do the math, but by some measurements, anyway, ASRock is even better than ASUS. ASUS is still hot stuff, though, and they have the name recognition. But you pay for it.

Cheap boards tends to be problematic, regardless of manufacturer. I've had plenty of problematic systems, but never with a motherboard that cost over $100.

You're right there. I haven't been up to date with the new products. I was always upgrading hardware yearly. Simply because I was playing a lot of video games online and it was necessary at the time.

My ASUS Sabretooth P67 has been phenomenal. It has lasted through 8 years of abuse. The last 2 ASUS products I bought are absolute garbage. ASUS customer support is the worst I've dealt with. The ASUS PCE N15 WIFI PCI-E card is a pile of junk as well as the expensive ASUS RT N56U router. Both were bought in early 2012 which must have been around the time that ASUS decided to save a few bucks making poor quality products.

Just read their website. Whomever designed it has very poor English grammar. With that being said, if I ever build a new machine I will not be using any new ASUS products. I would once again spend a day reading reviews on the best quality hardware before spending a cent. If I want to slap a quick free machine together for other purposes I can visit the local recycling center dumpster after hours and find multiple i5's.

 

[Linflas]

Desktop no but I did just buy an Alienware 17 R4 laptop. The most amazing thing to me was it cost $255.00 less at the MS Store than the identical configuration from Dell or Amazon. I would have never thought to look there to buy a PC other than a Surface.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Desktop no but I did just buy an Alienware 17 R4 laptop. The most amazing thing to me was it cost $255.00 less at the MS Store than the identical configuration from Dell or Amazon. I would have never thought to look there to buy a PC other than a Surface.

Plus, the MS store PCs have only minimal bloat installed, they don't let Dell, etc. collect $$ from the crapware companies to poop on your PC.

 

[Linflas]

Plus, the MS store PCs have only minimal bloat installed, they don't let Dell, etc. collect $$ from the crapware companies to poop on your PC.

Confirmed. The only extra software on it was the Dell support center.

 

[Kadarin]

Alienware seems to have a cheap-looking plasticky boy-gamer look to their stuff, so no. I prefer a more solid look and feel. If I were a complete noob with unlimited budget, I might go with these guys (or folks like them instead): https://www.falcon-nw.com/

 

[ao_ika_red]

I knew computing (gaming) world when Acer, Dell, HP, and ASUS threw their own special line of "high performance" gaming PC. It was in Core2Extreme era and I was a middle schooler back then. And I remember my reaction when I saw it first time, "wow, it's such a cool stuff".

But, all of hysteria ended thanks to my IT teacher. He taught me how to properly build and maintain a PC and I never look at pre-built PC since then. Heck, I even built and customized a lot of PC to my family and friends to fulfil their own requirement and (unfortunately) regarded as their "IT guy" (whatever it means).

So, as a noob at its core with plethora money to spend, I will definitely buy Alienware thing.

 

[LostPassword]

The biggest difference in my experiences is to buy a good quality mainboard. I've had so many headaches with cheap boards like ASRock. Everything seems to be made in Taiwan or Asia now days so I'm not sure what's considered a good product anymore. I still run an old Asus Sabretooth P67 mainboard with an i2600k processor and it by far surpasses my needs.

i guess everyone's experience is different. i usually use gigabyte, but i've had issues with one gigabyte board. i've had 2 msi boards fail, but my nieces board is currently msi which i built for her (doing good so far). i've had asus short out, probably my fault. but both my asrocks builds are rock solid. so at this point, i just buy whatever board has good reviews (for a good price) whatever the brand.

 

[cfenton]

I'd recommend going to a local computer store and asking someone there to help you build something that suits your needs. Most of the shops near me will build the system for you for about $60 and include a 1-year warranty in case anything goes wrong. So many prebuilts are really unbalanced, like 7700K, 16GB, 2TB HDD, GTX 1050. Great processor, great RAM, but no SSD and a weak video card. Alienware is probably better about this, since they are gaming focused, but check out a local shop and see if they can put together something similar for cheaper.

 

[MushyNAT]

Nope, Alienware is a really overpriced brand even for what they sell, and you're not really getting Premium-tier brand support from Dell.

Even a noob is better off going to any of the well known custom shops like iBuyPower and buying prebuilt from there. The markup is less and you get reliable parts instead of whatever bulk crapola Dell buys.

 

[jitendrad]

Probably not I will invest that money in building PC and get better gaming experience than that

 

[Furious_Styles]

If I was PC illiterate I certainly would. Dell should have decent support and they've been around a while.

 

[DigDog]

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?

Alienware is for people who earn 100k/y and legit do not want to learn computer building - they are ok with being a pc noob and wanna stay that way.
Building a pc is really, really easy. Selecting the right parts for a balanced, economical build is not terribly hard, just ask a forum. But building it, is basically playing LEGO. Stick the thing in the slot and no thing can go into any slot except the designed one.

I mean, you *can* be too dumb for that, but you'd have to be really, really dumb.

 

[whm1974]

Alienware is for people who earn 100k/y and legit do not want to learn computer building - they are ok with being a pc noob and wanna stay that way.
Building a pc is really, really easy. Selecting the right parts for a balanced, economical build is not terribly hard, just ask a forum. But building it, is basically playing LEGO. Stick the thing in the slot and no thing can go into any slot except the designed one.

I mean, you *can* be too dumb for that, but you'd have to be really, really dumb.

The last time I've looked at Alienware, their systems were overpriced for the specs they offer. Noobs can do much better by learning how to DIY.

Noobs can actually build a rig for under $500(no OS) that is halfway decent.

 

[DigDog]

The last time I've looked at Alienware, their systems were overpriced for the specs they offer. Noobs can do much better by learning how to DIY.

Noobs can actually build a rig for under $500(no OS) that is halfway decent.

Alienware is all about the laptops, the styling, and the brand. Kinda like Rolex.
Can you get a watch that's more accurate than a $10k rolex for $500? Yes you can.
Does it fulfill the role of showing how redonkolous rich you are? Naw.

 

[whm1974]

Alienware is all about the laptops, the styling, and the brand. Kinda like Rolex.
Can you get a watch that's more accurate than a $10k rolex for $500? Yes you can.
Does it fulfill the role of showing how redonkolous rich you are? Naw.

I'm not so sure I would buy a "gaming" notebook as they are way more expensive then Gaming builds are. And besides, If I was using it for work or school, do I really want to be distracted by gaming?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Wonders will never cease; a n00b necro that does not suck.

If you can get by how annoying Linus is, and skip his BS skits, the video series they did on buying an OEM gaming system, from a number of vendors, covers the topic well.

We all pick which battles we fight in life, as not everyone is Ron Swanson. Some people do not have the energy or motivation to take out of their lives to learn to configure and build a DIY gaming PC, instead of just buying one. And LTT demonstrated that even then, should anything go wrong, it can be a frustrating experience for the neophyte. Which is why even buying one off the shelf at a Best Buy or the like is a good idea for some people.

The LTT videos definitely reflect that Alienware is among the worst choices though. So, if a clueless consumer does even a little googling, they will quickly see there are better vendors for value, support, and service, than Dell provides. Hence, my answer is no, if I was a n00b I would not buy Alienware, because I would still google the topic beforehand, and there is enough info quickly available to steer you to another S.I.

And least we forget so soon, not long ago you could get a very good value from buying OEM because ram and GPU prices were so high.