Just spent $1.3k on a New Dell Computer

[Aepheme]

I've been in the market for a new computer for a while, with an eye towards procuring one of those beautiful value-priced >20" Dell LCDs before buying the parts. A deal came across my table a couple hours ago, and I couldn't help but jump on it for $1,290.

Here are the specs:

Pentium D 820 (2.80ghz)
2x512mb SDRAM (533mhz)
256mb PCIe nVidia Geforce 6800
250GB SATA 7200rpm
Audigy2 ZS Card
16x DVD+/-RW and 16x DVD-ROM
Dell 5650 5.1 Speaker Set

oh, and a 2405FPW Display.

Did I make the right decision on these options? The upgrades cost $348 (inc. adtl. taxes):

1.) Radeon x300 to a Geforce 6800 ($136)
2.) Adding another 512mb DIMM ($37)
3.) 160GB to 250GB ($37)
4.) Onboard to Audigy2 ($43)
5.) Adding speakers ($50)
6.) Switching a CD-RW for a 16x DVD+/-RW ($25)

Would you have made the same choices? Those seemed like decent values. What about the ones I rejected? I didn't choose the following upgrades:

1.) Pentium D 820 (2.8ghz) to Pentium D 830 (3.0ghz) for $105
2.) Radeon x300 to Geforce 7800 GTX for for $391
3.) other more ridiculously priced upgrades to Memory and Storage

Thanks for your thoughts! Let me know if you think I should call back and change any of these options...! I don't have much time (just received the confirmation), but might have a little.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I probably would have skipped the dell brand speakers and gotten something else.

6800gt might be a little wimpy for the 2405 native res with new games.

EDIT: how much is the 2405 on its own right now?

 

[imported_Kensai]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I probably would have skipped the dell brand speakers and gotten something else.

6800gt might be a little wimpy for the 2405 native res with new games.

EDIT: how much is the 2405 on its own right now?

Looking at his specs, I don't think it's a 6800GT. Looks more like a 6800NU, Mr. Soundman.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Kensai

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I probably would have skipped the dell brand speakers and gotten something else.

6800gt might be a little wimpy for the 2405 native res with new games.

EDIT: how much is the 2405 on its own right now?

Looking at his specs, I don't think it's a 6800GT. Looks more like a 6800NU, Mr. Soundman.

whoops (makes my point better though )

 

[Aepheme]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I probably would have skipped the dell brand speakers and gotten something else.

6800gt might be a little wimpy for the 2405 native res with new games.

EDIT: how much is the 2405 on its own right now?

Yeah, I wasn't sure about the speakers. I'm not exactly an audiophile, so I checked e-bay and it looked like they were selling for more than $50. I can ebay them pretty easily if I don't like them.

That's a good point. I hadn't thought about that. Maybe the 7800 GTX upgrade would've been worth it -- looks like Dell offers better than market value right now. It's only a 6800 vanilla, I believe.

The 2405 is $1,199 right now. So...this isn't a bad deal.

-edit-

I guess I could've gotten the Logitech Z5500 for $248, but that's more than I usually spend on speakers.

The native resolution of the 2405FPW is 1920x1200. Think I'll be pretty crippled with a 6800NU?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Aepheme

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I probably would have skipped the dell brand speakers and gotten something else.

6800gt might be a little wimpy for the 2405 native res with new games.

EDIT: how much is the 2405 on its own right now?

Yeah, I wasn't sure about the speakers. I'm not exactly an audiophile, so I checked e-bay and it looked like they were selling for more than $50. I can ebay them pretty easily if I don't like them.

That's a good point. I hadn't thought about that. Maybe the 7800 GTX upgrade would've been worth it -- looks like Dell offers better than market value right now. It's only a 6800 vanilla, I believe.

The 2405 is $1,199 right now. So...this isn't a bad deal.

-edit-

I guess I could've gotten the Logitech Z5500 for $248, but that's more than I usually spend on speakers.

The native resolution of the 2405FPW is 1920x1200. Think I'll be pretty crippled with a 6800NU?

Ok, I thought the 2405 could be had for around $800 now or so with deals. Just wanted to know so it would be easier to see if using the money on a build your own system would be better.

If there aren't any deals at the moment, then a dell computer package sounds like a good idea for sure.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Aepheme
-edit-

I guess I could've gotten the Logitech Z5500 for $248, but that's more than I usually spend on speakers.

The native resolution of the 2405FPW is 1920x1200. Think I'll be pretty crippled with a 6800NU?

I think you'll certainly be in trouble with next gen games for sure. Depends on detail settings and AA/AF too.

 

[Aepheme]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If there aren't any deals at the moment, then a dell computer package sounds like a good idea for sure.

Yeah, I've been waiting for almost a month now for a good deal on one of these monitors and they don't seem to be happening very often. If they do -- it seems to be a combinable coupon mistake that only lasts a couple hours.

That said, I could remove all my upgrades, ask them to give me a barebone machine, and sell it on Ebay. It's going for around $600-$700 right now. That'd leave me with a $300-$400 2405FPW, which I certainly wouldn't mind. =)

I doubt I could recoup the upgrade amount on ebay. It might increase the selling value by $200, but not $350... do you think?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Aepheme

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If there aren't any deals at the moment, then a dell computer package sounds like a good idea for sure.

Yeah, I've been waiting for almost a month now for a good deal on one of these monitors and they don't seem to be happening very often. If they do -- it seems to be a combinable coupon mistake that only lasts a couple hours.

That said, I could remove all my upgrades, ask them to give me a barebone machine, and sell it on Ebay. It's going for around $600-$700 right now. That'd leave me with a $300-$400 2405FPW, which I certainly wouldn't mind. =)

I doubt I could recoup the upgrade amount on ebay. It might increase the selling value by $200, but not $350... do you think?

I really don't know how much dell computer go for on ebay, sorry.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Heh, you might want to check out this thread http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=27&threadid=1696441&enterthread=y

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Yeah, your gaming performance will be pretty limited with a Pentium D 820 and a 6800 vanilla...

 

[Markbnj]

[I think you'll certainly be in trouble with next gen games for sure. Depends on detail settings and AA/AF too.]

Bear in mind that 1920 x 1200 is a push for any current card if you want to turn all the settings up. There are other wide-screen resolutions you can use. I think 1600 x 1024 should be achievable on the 6800 with the settings cranked up.

 

[Aepheme]

Thanks for the comments, all. I wish I could test it out... If anyone here has a 2405FPW / 6800 combination, please post how it works for you. (I might start a new thread with that in the topic at some point).

It's hard... Is a Geforce 7800 GTX worth $391?

 

[mechBgon]

Make the warranty a realistic length, like 2-3 years, if it has a skimpy warranty like 1 year.

 

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: Aepheme
Thanks for the comments, all. I wish I could test it out... If anyone here has a 2405FPW / 6800 combination, please post how it works for you. (I might start a new thread with that in the topic at some point).

It's hard... Is a Geforce 7800 GTX worth $391?

Yes in your situation

 

[forged]

Originally posted by: Aepheme


It's hard... Is a Geforce 7800 GTX worth $391?

YES

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Originally posted by: forged

Originally posted by: Aepheme


It's hard... Is a Geforce 7800 GTX worth $391?

YES

Yes. 20" monitor? Yes.