would it be stupid for me to buy a Dell?

[ForefrontStudio]

I've been comparing prices of building vs. buying, and I think I have decided to buy. I'm not seeing a huge price difference for an i7 based computer. plus I don't have a whole lot of experience with computer hardware, aside from installing and swapping parts. I'd be afraid I'd eff something up, especially with the cpu and cpu cooler. I am leaning towards an alienware pc now. my reasoning is if it's built for gaming, it must have a pretty decent motherboard in it. right? as far as the TI firewire chip goes, I can just buy a card when I need one. as of right now (hopefully not for much longer) I am using a USB interface anyway. plus if my girl orders it, she can get a discount through her place of employment.

Here is the build I have right now:

Alienware Aurora
-Windows 7 64-bit
-Intel i7 920
-1GB Nvidia GTS 240
-9GB Triple channel DDR3
-640GB 7,200 rpm HD (for now. probably add 1tb secondary later)
---------------------Price: $1,286 after $143 eep discount

the one I priced to build was actually more than the alienware, and was very similar (except 6gb ram and 1tb drive and using the previously suggested Gigabyte x58 mobo)

any additional thoughts would be much appreciated! I'd love to pull the trigger on this in the next day or two

 

[abt]

no discussion of fruit please.

I like bananas. Dell don't use proprietary components so technically you could build the exact same machine. We roll over around 200 Dell machines every year, IMO there's nothing better for the money. I've been using a Dell machine at home for the last 2 yrs with my Pro Tools rig. I've never had any issues with it.

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

I FUCKING HATE DELL!!

Seriously, any PC literally any one is better than those fuckers.

 

[Zozobra]

Thanks for the link and the advice! Wow that's a great in depth review. Good site. Looks like a good place for research!

Any time mate.

 

[Zozobra]

I've been comparing prices of building vs. buying, and I think I have decided to buy. I'm not seeing a huge price difference for an i7 based computer. plus I don't have a whole lot of experience with computer hardware, aside from installing and swapping parts. I'd be afraid I'd eff something up, especially with the cpu and cpu cooler. I am leaning towards an alienware pc now. my reasoning is if it's built for gaming, it must have a pretty decent motherboard in it. right? as far as the TI firewire chip goes, I can just buy a card when I need one. as of right now (hopefully not for much longer) I am using a USB interface anyway. plus if my girl orders it, she can get a discount through her place of employment.

Here is the build I have right now:

Alienware Aurora
-Windows 7 64-bit
-Intel i7 920
-1GB Nvidia GTS 240
-9GB Triple channel DDR3
-640GB 7,200 rpm HD (for now. probably add 1tb secondary later)
---------------------Price: $1,286 after $143 eep discount

the one I priced to build was actually more than the alienware, and was very similar (except 6gb ram and 1tb drive and using the previously suggested Gigabyte x58 mobo)

any additional thoughts would be much appreciated! I'd love to pull the trigger on this in the next day or two

Normally alienware are/at least used to be solid (and very high performace, thats sort of the point), but that one has some stripped down mobo or other. I'd never get (another) PC that doesnt have a good, aftermarket mobo. Its the most important part of the computer in terms of stability, compatability and upgradability. Skimping on a mobo is false economy (you get less options to upgrade in a year or two and just have to buy a whole new PC) and risky (they arent as well made, configured or supported and updated)

These packaged PCs generally show off things like CPU, clock speed, ram quantity, hard drive space: easy sell features. They dont tend to show you very important things like motherboard specs, ram speed (clock AND cas latency), hard drive speed (its not just the RPM, theres way more to it), because they dont tend to sell computers. But they're extremely important things. Something else they skimp on thats vital is the PSU. These hidden cost cuttings lead to (at least a much greater chance of) crap PCs.

They also tend to come with a tonne of shit installed that you dont need.

My advice would be ignore them, find something like this but for the US

http://www.computerplanet.co.uk/custom/corei7/step1.html

And carefully research the components and put together a PC. You tend to get them at round the cost of the aftermarket parts (i.e. the same sort of price as if you bought them yourself and built it yourself) because they get them at trade and their profit is the difference.

 

[jeb]

I'm an IT guy here... we have like 300 pc + a shitload of servers.... All dell...
I can tell you that the service we have here is perfect... good machiness good laptops good servers... no problem at all...

You can check the vostro series too....I know a lot of people here that own a vostro at home... they are all very happy!!

the vostros are made for small company... they remove the crap they put in the inspiron series and they remove the management components from the optiplex (corporate series) et voila! good pcs no crap no blotware... all good!

BUT!!!!!
At home.. I've build my computer for recording... quad core q6600+ intel mobo and for now I don't see the point to change or upgrade...

It's hard because the both solutions are great...

Good luck!

(sorry for my english)
Jeb

 

[digitaldeath]

www.directresolution.com

 

[ForefrontStudio]

www.directresolution.com

too bad they aren't in the US. I would looooove to have my new PC in a rackmount. looks so bawler imo. too bad the Sweetwater creation stations are so freaking expensive. they make some really nice rackmounts. plus they're still using vista at the moment.

 

[iHate]

I've had no problems with Dell. A couple years ago they were considered really high quality because you could only get the computers if you ordered direct from Dell. I suppose putting the machines in walmarts and electronic stores has made them seem like trash. I think they are good machines personally, and apart from alienware, which is owned by dell now, dell is the only company I feel comfortable with buying a stock machine. Maybe its because they manufacture there computers right down the road from me lol!!