Looking for some expert advice

[nipper]

Hello and good day! I am hoping for a little advice here. I think it is time to get away from my gateway and buy a faster computer. I came across this site: www.overdrivepc.com and they seem to be experts at building custom computers. Check out this thread in their forums:

http://www.overdrivepc.com/forum/showthread.php?s=ec00cfda6096e15db486b4beeefaa7b3&threadid=1917

They explain how they build the computers using top quality parts and use several innovations that other places don't do.

My question is, are the prices about right for the performance they offer or do any of you know of places I might find a better deal?

This is the one I've been looking at over there:

Highly Expandable Tower Case with Twin-Fan 350 Watt Power Supply
Intel 2.40 GHz Pentium 4 | 400 MHz FSB | Indigo Blue "ORB" CPU Cooling Package
512MB's of PC2100 DDR SDRAM
MSI 845 Ultra-ARU RAID Motherboard
Dual 60.0GB Maxtor | ATA133 | 7200RPM Hard Drives in RAID 0, RAID 1 or Spanning Mode
Pioneer DS106 Slot-Load 16X DVD\CD Drive | WinDVD 3.0
Plextor 40X12X40 CD-RW Drive
GeForce4 Ti4600 - 128MB | CardExpert | 2X/4X AGP | TV-Out | DVI | Gainward
Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum 5.1 | Audigy Drive & Remote
3COM 905C-TX 10/100 Network Interface Card
Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro, Internet Keyboard Pro or Office Keyboard
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer Optical 3.0
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Operating System
Klipsch ProMedia 4.1 Surround Sound + Subwoofer Audio System
4 Additional Case Fans for Excessive Cooling (Protective Grills Included)
SureCool Temperature Management System (125 cfm) | 3-Way Adjustable Cooling
Spiral Wrapped & Velcro Bound Wire & Cable Management
Stainless Steel Mounting Hardware
Stainless Steel Motherboard Support Studs Equipped with "Nylok" Fasteners
Custom Motherboard Shock & Flex Prevention Components
High Quality "round" style ATA and Floppy Cables for Space Efficiency and Durability
Internal Photon II "Micro-Light" for Handy Case Illumination in Low-Light Situations
BIOS Recovery & Restoration CD
System Recovery CD?s
Local Support Web CD
Emergency Boot CD
Optimized & Configured for Maximum Performance
1 Year Standard Parts & Labor Warranty
Toll Free Tech Support

$3,132

Any professional input here would be appreciated. I don't think I could build my own computer but I don't want another gateway either but I also want to know if I'm getting a good deal too and thought posting this somewhere like a place here, I might get good advice.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rimshaker]

damn, that's quite a high-end system considering you just wanna replace a gateway All i can say is, is that no system should EVER cost more than $3000! Heck, you can buy decent computers these days for under $800 now. If you don't want to build it yourself though, you won't have much price control. 3grand is a lot for a computer... even if it is high-end.

 

[QTPie]

<<All i can say is, is that no system should EVER cost more than $3000! Heck, you can buy decent computers these days for under $800 now>>

I agree. My most expensive system that I built was $1,500USD.

 

[cmdrdredd]

i'd buy parts and build yourself or get it built for you. I'm sure there's someone you know that can/will help you out. Some retailers even build your system if you request it.

 

[SilentRunning]

Am I missing something or does that price not include a monitor?

 

[Zugzwang152]

You're getting gyped on all the "extras" they throw in.
The following I think are unnecessary:
4 Additional Case Fans for Excessive Cooling (Protective Grills Included)
Spiral Wrapped & Velcro Bound Wire & Cable Management <---- get yourself some garbage bag ties
Stainless Steel Mounting Hardware
Stainless Steel Motherboard Support Studs Equipped with "Nylok" Fasteners
Custom Motherboard Shock & Flex Prevention Components
Internal Photon II "Micro-Light" for Handy Case Illumination in Low-Light Situations
BIOS Recovery & Restoration CD
System Recovery CD?s
Local Support Web CD
Emergency Boot CD
Optimized & Configured for Maximum Performance

All of this nonsense you don't need, and they probably inflate the prices on you for it. Myabe even lose one of the hard drives. All in all you're looking at probably at least 500 bucks less. maybe more, depending.

 

[hopeless879]

Originally posted by: nipper


They explain how they build the computers using top quality parts and use several innovations that other places don't do.

Their "innovations" are only hiding cables away out of site, using round ATA cables, and not loading on alot of startup software like other OEM's do. There is no way that machine is worth $3000. You would probably get similar performance from a Dell costing in the $2000 or lower range.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Here's the challenge I pose to you:

Order the parts from that list yourself, and use the AT forums here to get help on putting it together yourself. Then, we'll all celebrate with you in a gigantic NEF thread when you build it yourself and customize it to your exact needs and wants and laugh at their inflated price!

 

[hoodwink]

Originally posted by: nipper


They explain how they build the computers using top quality parts and use several innovations that other places don't do.

My question is, are the prices about right for the performance they offer or do any of you know of places I might find a better deal?

I agree with the other posters: those "innovations" don't amount to much... meaning the way those innovations affect the performance of your system are almost negligable. Personally, I would never spend $2k for a system, much less $3k but that is just me. It's best to build yourself, but you can get a system with comparable performance from Dell or any other company for less.

However, if money is no object to you, have you tried looking into http://www.alienware.com ? They have some pretty trick computers and coolness factor is quite high...