Choosing A New Gaming Rig

[Spartan137]

Okay, so I've got about $1200 to sink into a new computer. I've narrowed it down to my final three choices: A slightly modified Dell XPS 420, a heavily modified Dell Inspiron 530, or a slightly modified Alienware Aurora.

They have their weaknesses and strengths.

XPS 420:

Intel® Core™2 Q6600 Quad-Core (8MB L2 cache,2.4GHz,1066FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium w/ Digital Cable Support SP1
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 4 DIMMs
500GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
ATI Radeon HD3650 256MB
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Dell 1505 Wireless-N PCIe Card

Price: $1,129 (Or $34/month)

Inspiron 530:

Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8MB L2 cache,2.4GHz,1066FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 4DIMMs
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
nVidia GeForce 8600GT-DDR3 256MB
Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW)
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Internal PCI 802.11g Wireless Network Card

Price: $1,019 (Or $31/month)

Alienware Aurora:

AMD® Athlon™ X2 5200+ 2.7GHz Dual Core 2 x 512KB L2 Cache
Single Graphics Card - 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 9600 GT – Superclocked!
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 2 x 1024MB
Alienware® Approved Asus AMD® 790FX Motherboard
Windows Vista® Home Premium with Service Pack 1 – DirectX 10 Ready!
Single Drive Configuration - 250GB SATA 3Gb/s 7,200RPM 16MB Cache
Single Drive Configuration - 20X Dual-Layer Burner (DVD±RW)
High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio - Standard

Price: $1,228 (Or $37/month)

 

[Toby]

Build your own. Not a joke. It's cheaper. But I guess you probably won't be, so that's not helpful.

The Inspiron 530 would be my choice if it had a Geforce 8800 GT or better. 8600 just sucks. what's the point in a Core2Quad with a 8600? Seriously, you've got 1.200$, you should be able to get a Geforce 9600 GT.
Ditch the Blu-ray Drive, useless imo, you don't seem to be swimming in cash, and blueray means spending a $#!Tload just for the films.

IMO, don't buy ATI. see, it's mainly a question of... erm, it's like religion. you like one, but the others are just as good. but since nVidia are crushing Moore's Law and I've NEVER had problems with a geforce (3-8, i've had experience with them all), I'd strongly advise you to get an Geforce. Geforce + Intel > ATI + AMD.

Intel are kicking AMDs ass. Q6600 ftw. So just say no to AMD.

The XPS 420 seems good, but again, the graphic card isn't good enough. if you've got such a strong pc and your monitor supports it, you'll be running at 1660x1050 or something like that. 256 MB isn't enough. 512 MB is. Go for the GeForce 9600 GT if you can, but remember, the Geforce 8800 GT is already very good and also DirectX 10. I'm having no problems with a 7950GT, and even though it doesn't do DirectX 10, you can't see a big difference.

 

[LastSpartan]

Yeah, and don't go for Alienware.

You are paying for the nice case, but with this money, you could get the 9600gt.

 

[Assassin716]

Financially it is better to custom make your own, and there are a few advantages

cost efficiency

exact build you want

you will be able to constantly upgrade at your decision
-the fact is most people just buy a computer and dont even care about upgrading it when its still
a reliable machine, but when they feel its outdated they just buy a new one, your wasting money right there,
when you can just upgrade a bit and still keep the machine going.

you will have a special connection with you custom built machine <3
-and a sense of self pride for actually completing it

but if u want my input for the computers...1st stay away from Alienware..they used to be good before dell took them over.
XPS would be the best choice of the three

 

[Aeonyx]

I have an XPS and and Aurora, both are good, but not as good as building you own.

 

[smilie120]

The Aurora has the most appealing spec's, and seeing as its alienware you know its a decent make and wont bum out on you. Only probelm is all alienware stuff is overpriced. But if it was me? The Aurora...Definatley.

 

[Mobeus]

People come to me with "ultimatums" like these all the time.
Like several people before me have stated; It is more cost efficient to build your own, at the same time as you get precisely what you want.
You should really outrule Alienware as well, as what you typically get is a sub-par computer with a pretty exterior, at least for the amount of cash you're shelling out.
As they say; If you're pretty enough on the outside, people will forgive you for being rotten to the core.

 

[Robogenisis]

Build your own. It's cheaper, you get exactly what you want, and it's just plain better.

My computer build (haven't ordered it yet, but I will anyday ) is better than all those computers, and it's around the same price or cheaper. My build has quad core processor, 9600 GT video card, 8 Gigs RAM, a 64-bit Vista OS, and a 150GB Raptor HDD (10,000RPM instead of 7,200RPM, so it's opinion as to what's better, speed or size), etc.

 

[Spartan137]

@TF: I agree. The blue ray was retarded. However, Dell made it an enforced option. So I couldn't drop it. I have been considering a fourth PC a local friend suggested to me. Here's the build:



ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail

CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX - Retail

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3320613AS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM

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I only listed 2/3 the parts. Cooling, PWR, case, etc are in the cart too, but I didn't list them.

IMO, the machine is a LOT better for the price. Only $1,139 plus $10 for shipping.

I'll add that to the list of options and make it so you can vote again.

 

[Toby]

ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX - Retail
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3320613AS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM

Now that will make a seriously good pc! Very good mobo, asus have never let me down, the nForce chipset should allow you to get the most out of that 9800 GTX, which will kick a$$. if you want to drop the price a bit, there are cheaper hard drives which are nearly as good (you won't really notice). and the RAM is also excellent. I'm not that good with US prices, but out of the 4 it's easily the best and it seems a very fair deal to me.

that 9800 GTX is going to give you a lot of fun combined with the Q6600!