danielanastasi

Hey guys,

I'm in the market for a new computer - I'm in Perth, Australia btw.

Now I know bits and peices about computers, but I've never built one and therefore I'm leaning towards a pre-built computer. I don't know what will and won't be compatible these days as my gaming and such dropped off over the last few years. It seems to move too fast when you're out of touch with it all :)

This is what I want in a computer - One that will play high end games and do everything in between, but will last me a few years at least. Aiming for the $2,000-$3,000 AUD mark. Nothing ridiculously over the top.

I've heard its cheaper to buy the parts and build, but as mentioned above, I'm unsure of how to do it and what to buy.

I've seen this computer that seems like its the best for my needs and the price - I've been looking all my options.

This is the system I've seen; (It's a DELL - I havent heard anything bad about dell so...)

Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q9300 (2.5GHz, 1333FSB, 6MB)
4GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM
500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ
22" Dell Entry Wide Screen Flat Panel LCD Monitor
Dual 512MB PCIe™ x16 NVIDIA® GeForce® 9800 GT
16X Max DVD+/-RW Combination Drive with double layer write capability
McAfee® Security Center™ – 30 days trial
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
Integrated 7.1 sound
2 years XPS Premier Service + 1 year Complete Cover
Integrated Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000
Dell(TM) XPS 630 Resource DVD
Dell(TM) Support Center
eBay Web Access Software
Dell(TM) Dock Software
Adobe reader (English)
XPS Accessory Kit
Shipping Documents (XPS 630)
Red Bezel for XPS 630

(Theres also the option of a physics accelerator but I have no idea what that is? Will I need one? Is it worth the +$190AUD??)

Price is $2499 AUD incl delivery ($25 a week)

What do you think? Better to build? This is the best system for the money I've seen while searching.

Any input would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Dan

danielanastasi

I also posted here to make sure that if I chose an option like this, that I wasn't getting ripped off...

Cheers,

Dan

Toucan Sam

Dell is expensive. Any computer you buy there you can easily buy for $200 cheaper even pre-built. Build it yourself and you save even more.
Dell thinks their customer service, warranties, etc. allows them to charge a premium for their computers, but all of that is rather excessive.
Bottom line, if you are going to buy a pre-built, you're better off going somewhere else.
And that physics accelerator is probably junk, makes little if any difference in performance, and is certainly not worth $200. That same money could be spent on a better graphics card or for a new graphics card in a year or two.

MrChooks

Hi danielanastasi

Toucan Sam is 1000% correct - here is my recent experience for what its worth - might be some help to you

I am a complete 'puter klutz - but have just bought a fantastic custom built rig - designed with the help of my (Sydney) local computer store and invaluable inputs from TSF.

See my PM to the TSF guys that helped me below - basically sets out why I wouldn't buy a Dell or any other OEM machine for that matter ever again.

My computer guys (D&D Computers in Sydney) were fantastic and I guess they would ship to WA. Alternatively, I think one of the TSF experts (Dai?) is based in WA and he might be able to point you to a really reliable custom computer builder that is closer.

At the end of the day - from my experience a custom built rig is going to be both cheaper and far more satisfactory than ANY brand name OEM unit.




My New "Growler"

Hey BD30
Long time since we commed - but I had to:
(a) let you know my new "growler" has been delivered and is up and running like a clock &
(b) take a moment to thank you and linderman, for all the help you guys gave me in getting this thing spec-ed out.

So here iz wot the "growler" lookz like:
1 x Antec Sonata III MiniTower Case & Eathwatts PSU
1 x Intel CORE 2 DUO E8400 3.00GHz
1 x Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400DHX C 2GB (2x XMS2 1GB) Twin 2X PC-6400 DDR2 RAM
1 x Gigabyte GA-EP35C-DS3R (Rev 2.1)
1 x Gigabyte NX86T512H
1 x Samsung 1.44 FDD Black
1 x Seagate Barracuda 250Gb 16Mb Cache SATA2 HDD
1 x LiteOn DH-20A3L 20X DVD SUPER ALL-WRITE LIGHT SCRIBE,SATA
1 x Creative SBSA30 Speakers, Black
1 x Logitech Deluxe 250 Desktop Black KB & Mouse
1 x Microsoft Win XP Home CD OEM (SP2)
1 x Nero 7 Burning software
1 x Kingston 4Gb USB Hi Speed Data Traveler 100
1 x Install my existing Pioneer DVDRW into new machine
1 x D & D Service-3: Full System Hardware and Software Installation & Testing.

The whole lot is upgradeable, the case is as quiet as a mouse and I got it assembled, O/S loaded & tested by the computer shop for a lot less $$s than something similar from the OEMs.

In fact because my unit is similar to one of D&D's own system computers - they only charged $50 to build, load O/S and stress test the whole thing. - They were great - when I went down to pick it up - they had it up and running and went through the order list and check against the installed components and confirmed all operating correctly.

This thing is as fast as lightning and an absolute pleasure to work with.

But the big plus is that when the installed technology gets close to pension age - I will simply take the box back to my trusty 'puter store (D&D Computers in Sydney) and have them change out the pensionable bits and away I go again - at a fraction of the cost of another Dell or HP.

More importantly - by staying away from the OEM's I got to point my $$s at the bits you really want to concentrate on - rather than just accepting another OEM box full of mediocrity.

And just as a footnote - and whilst I wouldn't have clue where the BIOS is - I understand from TSF comments that the OEMs all "cheat" or mess with BIOS and their machines and they often act up with post purchase hardware installations. Well in my case, my old Dell simply refused to give me a confident back-up on my external HDD - I was about to toss the freaking thing - but when I plugged it into my new "Growler" (just for fun really - never expected it to work!) - it worked fine and now always responds with a green light - "Backup successful"

Tks again to both of you, BD30 & Linderman

Best regards MrChooks (Philip)

sobeit

some things to consider when building your own.
1. you have individual warranties for each items
2. if break something then you have to pay to replace it
3. you have to puchase your own software since you cannot use any that came with any other systems.
4. You have to find your own help if there is problem since there no support line.

but you have fun and have bragging rights building your own. Personally I no longer build my own since its cheaper to get oem ones. I will do my own upgrading.

__________________


Do not feed the trolls.

MrChooks

Dan:
Take a look at this - here is a selection of D&D's custom built units

http://www.ddcomputer.com.au/system_...r-Systems.html

D&D give 12 month warranty and you can "fiddle" with the spec if you want (that'z how I speced up my new "growler"- But as I said - they are in Sydney - see if Dai (TSF) can point you to a similar outfit in WA.

Alternatively - send an email to Jenny at D&D - see if they can help you

danielanastasi

Thanks for the help everyone,

I've seen a company called itech over in WA and they look good! A system with similar specs to the dell one, without a monitor/mouse/keyboard will set me back about $1500!!!

Thanks guys!

Dan

MrChooks

Am sure you will be happier with a custom made rig - just make sure you are comfortable with the local computer store - if they are helpful up front and answer your questions without too much crap - you are probably on a winner

danielanastasi

Awesome chooks!

Thanks - I've already started looking :)

Cheers,

Dan