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Thanks for the HELP on choosing a system

F

fecht

Senior member
I live in a dormatory and my heater broke and flooded the room. I filed a insurance claim yet they will only let me get a pre-built computer. 2 questions. Lets say under $3000 w/ monitor
1. What system would you suggest getting for a gamer that i can add to later.
2. Personally i have only used AMD chips so i have a bias against Intel. - Is there really a difference?

damn Alienware has a 12 day build time w/ 4 day ship and i really can't wait that long
Please help me

I appreciate your help I chose an alienware 😛
Josh
 
3 grand? Thats a lotta computer!!

Lotta options with prebuilts. I too have discounts with prebuilts, so that is the route that I am going in the future. For warranty and service, Dell is without a doubt the best. However, they have some trouble with upgrading (because they tend to be optimized for certain configurations, power demands, etc.) and may be very difficult to overclock. And supposedly if mess with the hardware you void the warranty.

As for those smaller prebuilts, abs, alienware, falcon nw, polywell, etc. they seem to be absurdly expensive for their high end systems. You might as well get a cheaper Dell and splurge on a larger lcd flatpanel option.

Regarding the ship times, when I ordered my Dell coupla days before christmas, it took almost 3 weeks before I got it.
 
bestbuy.com is selling a bunch of alienware systems...you probably don't need the 12day build time if you get one through them.
 
Think about a smaller online place if the insurance company will let you. A place like Envision has very good reseller ratings and since they use the parts that you would, you can upgrade or overclock to your hearts content. I agree that Alienware and Falcon are over priced by the way and neither has stellar reseller ratings.
 


<< I could build you one heck of a computer with high quality components for that cash

Ausm >>



Yea, but who cares. He HAS to buy a prebuilt one.

I'd go with either a gateway or an alienware system.
 
Here's what gateway offers for $2999. I don't think any prebuilt can beat their offer.:

Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.2GHz with 512K L2 Advanced Transfer Cache
? 1024MB RDRAM PC800 (free upgrade from 512MB RDRAM- Limited Time Only)
? 64MB DDR ATI RADEON 8500G AGP Graphics with TV Out and DVI
? 120GB Ultra ATA 100 Drive
? DVD RAM/DVD R Drive
? 24X/10X/40X Recordable/Rewritable CD ROM Drive
? Sound Blaster Live! Value w/Digital Audio Output
? Boston Acoustics® BA7800 5-piece Subwoofer and Satellite Speaker System
? 56K PCI Voice Modem¹
? 10/100 Ethernet
? IEEE 1394 Card
? 18" LCD Flat Panel Display (18.1" viewable) (free upgrade from the 15" LCD Flat Panel Display - Limited Time Only)
? Video🙂Ware Advanced

It also comes with USB 2.0, and tons of video editing software. Just format the HD, and do a clean install of XP and you'll be in business 🙂

IMHO - it's an awesome system. Great speakers, video card, 18inch LCD, Firewire, 120gb HD, DVDRAM, ETC!

Link: http://www.gateway.com/home/deals/offers/700xl.shtml
 


<<

<< I could build you one heck of a computer with high quality components for that cash Ausm >>

Yea, but who cares. He HAS to buy a prebuilt one. I'd go with either a gateway or an alienware system. >>




ummm I think he would I build computers for a living being a registered business I would qualify for a prebuilt system...I sent him all my info plus I live very close to him and it looks like he needs it fast...but hey why am I explaing this to an Arrogan S.O.B lie you who flamed my ars


Ausm
 
As similar system from dell has these components, and costs $3788.

Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.2GHz with 512K L2 Advanced Transfer Cache
? 1gb RDRAM PC800
? 64MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce3 4X AGP Graphics Card with DVI
? 120GB Ultra ATA 100 Drive
? 24X/10X/40X Recordable/Rewritable CD ROM Drive (DVD RAM option not available)
? Sound Blaster Live! Value w/Digital Audio Output
? Harman Kardon HK-695 Surround Sound Speakers with Subwoofer
? 56K PCI Voice Modem¹
? 10/100 Ethernet
? 17 in (17.0 in viewable) 1702FP Digital Flat Panel Display
? Standard Dell Movie Studio Bundle for Windows XP

You'll get a smaller monitor, you can't get the DVDRAM and a CDRW together, at it costs a buttload more. Dude, you should get a Gateway! Plus, you might be able to find some rebates on certain sites 🙂
 
If I couldn't build my own, or go with GamePC or Alienware, I'd get a Dell. At least you know they'll BE THERE later.

BTW, Any computer you order is going to have at least a 7 day build time.
 


<< If I couldn't build my own, or go with GamePC or Alienware, I'd get a Dell. At least you know they'll BE THERE later.

BTW, Any computer you order is going to have at least a 7 day build time. >>



I know Gateway is having some finacial trouble, but they are on their way to fixing it. Trust me, they won't be going under any time soon.
 
hmm...the gateway certainly looks to be the best for the money....

ugly on the outside tho...ah, the reason alienware exists.
 


<< And supposedly if mess with the hardware you void the warranty. >>

that has never been true for dell. it was as one point for other makers but the courts ruled it was fair use to switch components if they were switchable (i.e. slots or sockets)
 
If you have to go pre-biult , don't worry about getting a superfast system but make sure you get peripherals that you can keep for your next system, eg, 18" LCD screen, Laser printer, scanner etc if you can. That way you you can sell the rest of it off sometime in the near future and biuld yourself what you want with the money you get for it... and you still keep all the good stuff 🙂

 


<<

<< And supposedly if mess with the hardware you void the warranty. >>

that has never been true for dell. it was as one point for other makers but the courts ruled it was fair use to switch components if they were switchable (i.e. slots or sockets) >>



It's the same for gateway. I have replaced my video card, upgraded the ram, and added a hard drive and they still give me support for everything. When my GF2 was having some conflicts with my system, they showed my parents how to fix it (I was out of town). Their warranty is great, and tech support is REALLY good.
 
Thanks...
Qty: 1 Aurora DDR
~ Case: Dragon Full-Tower Case (340-Watt PS) (Saucer Silver)
~ Power Supply: Enermax EG465P-VE 431 Watt Power Supply
~ Processor: AMD Athlon XP 1800+ Processor 266Mhz FSB w/ $50
Mail-in Rebate
~ Cooling Fan/Heatsink: GlobalWIN WBK38 Processor Cooling Fan
~ Memory: 512MB DDR SDRAM (PC-2100)
~ Hard Drive: 100GB Western Digital UltraATA 7200RPM 8MB Cache
~ Monitor: NEC 19" FE950+ MultiSync Flat CRT (Saucer Silver)
~ Video Card: PNY VertoT GeForce3 Ti 500 w/64MB 4X AGP
~ Video Cooling: KoolMaxx Video Cooling System (Saucer Silver)
~ Sound Card: SoundBlaster Audigy 5.1 Platinum eX w/ External Box
~ DVD-ROM: 16X /40X DVD-ROM Drive w/Hardware MPEG-2 Decoder
~ CD-RW: PlexWriter 24X/10X/40X CD-ReWritable - IDE - White
~ Ethernet NIC: On-board 10/100 BaseT Ethernet/Fast Ethernet
~ LAN Accessory Kit: FREE! - Alienware LAN-Gamer Accessory Kit
~ Warranty: Aliencare Toll-Free 3-Year 24/7 ONSITE Warranty
~ Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
That is what i got.
Hivez
 
🙁 I really wanted you to get the gateway 🙁

🙂 But, I see you make a very good choice! I have always loved alienware (although the price is a little steep). If I had to get a system, I would get the Aurora too. I like the colors that you can choose - the conspiracy blue monior, speakers, etc. Not to mention that their AMD solutions are awesome. Good choice, and good luck with your new computer system 🙂
 
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