Buying a new PC

condors · 11-09-2005, 11:24 AM

Seems like i will be getting myself a new pc for Christmas next month.

I very much want to get a top end machine but i don't want to deal with getting parts delievered and having to return them (i have had alot of bad experiences putting together pcs)

I have an alienware pc and leaning towards getting another i thought i would be a no brainer than i saw the price (was almost 5k) and i thought that i should do a little shopping around, I would like to keep the price 3k or less if possible.

Toddzilla · 11-09-2005, 11:32 AM

do NOT buy a Dell under any circumstance

jeff061 · 11-09-2005, 11:38 AM

Dell's fine, especially if you compare it to Alienware(trash). I'm sure there are other smaller PC builders out there that other FOFC members have more experience with than I.

sterlingice · 11-09-2005, 11:45 AM

Why pay $3K for a computer in this day and age? It's not the 1990s any more so you're just pissing money away. You can get 4/5ths of the performance for less than half the price. The only possible reason I could see is so that you could win pissing contests with friends and coworkers and that hardly seems worth an extra $1000 or more.

SI

jbmagic · 11-09-2005, 08:19 PM

build you own cpu. that the best way to go.

Samdari · 11-09-2005, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by condors

Seems like i will be getting myself a new pc for Christmas next month.

I very much want to get a top end machine but i don't want to deal with getting parts delievered and having to return them (i have had alot of bad experiences putting together pcs)

I have an alienware pc and leaning towards getting another i thought i would be a no brainer than i saw the price (was almost 5k) and i thought that i should do a little shopping around, I would like to keep the price 3k or less if possible.

Take the specs from an alienware machine and call another builder.

I just saved you 2 grand.

thrym · 11-09-2005, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbmagic

build you own cpu. that the best way to go.

Agreed! Try NewEgg...there may be cheaper places out there but they seem to have it all! I've built 5 machines using their parts, all retail box stuff NO OEM parts, and not a single thing was bad outta the box.

But building your own is the ONLY way to go...might take some researching and a fair amount of reading but it will really be worth it!

jeff061 · 11-09-2005, 09:44 PM

Well like he said, he's already tried it.

WrongWay · 11-09-2005, 09:46 PM

For me, I will be waiting till January to buy my new PC from a big outlet store(Best Buy or Circuit City).

I think as soon as those big heating bills start arriving in the mail people will be passing on those big ticket items this Christmass.

So, this Grinch will be stealing himself a top of the line computer with a $400 rebate tag this January.

jbmagic · 11-09-2005, 09:48 PM

dont buy it at best buy or circuit city.

it might look pretty from the outside, the parts inside is cheap especially the motherboard.

cthomer5000 · 11-09-2005, 09:57 PM

I see you've had issues building a PC in the past. One midway option I might suggest would be to see if you have any local mom-and-pop type places that will assemble one for you at a reasonable cost. That way you can order the parts, hand it over, and skip the frustration that can come with buidling a PC while saving a nice chunk of change.

Just something to think about.

WrongWay · 11-09-2005, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbmagic

dont buy it at best buy or circuit city.

I like buying from the Big guys because they give me onsite warranties that cover everything. I have bought every computer I own this way.

I wouldn't own a car that is out of waranty and I will not own a computer that is out of waranty. No offense to the Mechanics or Computer geeks out there, but when my equipment goes out of waranty I think they rip their customers off who don't know the difference between a $1,000 motherboard failure and a $150 power supply failure.

If everything is under warranty I don't have to worry about any of this crap.

Draft Dodger · 11-09-2005, 10:17 PM

I've never owned a Dell, but if I was going to do something besides a BYO, I would probably give them a hard look. They've got some nice looking systems, and seem pretty interested in the gaming market.

I own an Alienware. Very happy with the machine - 5 years later, still use it all the time, although not as my main PC. Was extremely disappointed with their tech support, though. Considering the premium I was paying for the machine, I was expecting much better than what I got from them.

vtbub · 11-09-2005, 10:30 PM

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...Sku=E400-T6410

My new machine

thrym · 11-09-2005, 10:39 PM

maybe I am just that lucky...but...I've built PC as a side business for several years, now I guess since about 1998. I build probably 10-15 PCs a year(not much but it does keep me and my wife in TOP notch systems) and I insist on using only name brand parts. An 'on-the-edge' PC can be built for gaming for under $1000(not including monitor).

I've not had anything go down on me(ok, one monitor and two PSUs). I think its because I use GOOD retail parts and am very careful keeping the air lines open in the case and I use 3-5 fans per case...

But thats just me...as someone said, you buy from BestBuy or another company, you'd BETTER buy the warrenty cause they will crash-n-burn-blow-up and its because they use no-name parts from the cheapest companies...IMO.

MizzouRah · 11-10-2005, 02:37 AM

If you don't want to build one, I've read nothing but great things about the Dell XPS series.

I want the XPS 600 with dual core processor and two 7800GT video cards running in SLI mode.. I think it was about $3200 total for what I wanted if I was to get one down the road.

jeff061 · 11-10-2005, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Was extremely disappointed with their tech support, though. Considering the premium I was paying for the machine, I was expecting much better than what I got from them

This seems to be a common theme with them and is the main reason I tell people to stay away.

Draft Dodger · 11-10-2005, 09:09 AM

and, not to turn into a Dell shill (odd, considering I've never owned any of their products), they have some excellent flat screen monitors. very popular with the gaming crowd.

jeff061 · 11-10-2005, 09:17 AM

I just don't think there are a lot of good choices out there. For support and hardware, it's really about the Dell XPS line. You can go with other builders, local or online, and get slightly higher quality hardware but the support won't be there. Depends on what you want.

11-09-2005, 11:38 AM	#3
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	Dell's fine, especially if you compare it to Alienware(trash). I'm sure there are other smaller PC builders out there that other FOFC members have more experience with than I. __________________

11-09-2005, 11:45 AM	#4
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	Why pay $3K for a computer in this day and age? It's not the 1990s any more so you're just pissing money away. You can get 4/5ths of the performance for less than half the price. The only possible reason I could see is so that you could win pissing contests with friends and coworkers and that hardly seems worth an extra $1000 or more. SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!" Last edited by sterlingice : 11-09-2005 at 11:45 AM.

11-09-2005, 09:44 PM	#8
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	Well like he said, he's already tried it. __________________

11-09-2005, 10:17 PM	#13
Draft Dodger Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Keene, NH	I've never owned a Dell, but if I was going to do something besides a BYO, I would probably give them a hard look. They've got some nice looking systems, and seem pretty interested in the gaming market. I own an Alienware. Very happy with the machine - 5 years later, still use it all the time, although not as my main PC. Was extremely disappointed with their tech support, though. Considering the premium I was paying for the machine, I was expecting much better than what I got from them. __________________ Mile High Hockey

11-09-2005, 10:30 PM	#14
vtbub College Starter Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Burlington, VT USA	http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...Sku=E400-T6410 My new machine __________________

11-09-2005, 11:32 AM	#2
Toddzilla Pro Starter Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Burke, VA	do NOT buy a Dell under any circumstance

11-09-2005, 08:19 PM	#5
jbmagic Pro Starter Join Date: Apr 2004	build you own cpu. that the best way to go.

11-09-2005, 09:46 PM	#9
WrongWay Banned Join Date: Jan 2005	For me, I will be waiting till January to buy my new PC from a big outlet store(Best Buy or Circuit City). I think as soon as those big heating bills start arriving in the mail people will be passing on those big ticket items this Christmass. So, this Grinch will be stealing himself a top of the line computer with a $400 rebate tag this January.

11-09-2005, 09:48 PM	#10
jbmagic Pro Starter Join Date: Apr 2004	dont buy it at best buy or circuit city. it might look pretty from the outside, the parts inside is cheap especially the motherboard.

11-09-2005, 10:39 PM	#15
thrym Mascot Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Central Arkansas	maybe I am just that lucky...but...I've built PC as a side business for several years, now I guess since about 1998. I build probably 10-15 PCs a year(not much but it does keep me and my wife in TOP notch systems) and I insist on using only name brand parts. An 'on-the-edge' PC can be built for gaming for under $1000(not including monitor). I've not had anything go down on me(ok, one monitor and two PSUs). I think its because I use GOOD retail parts and am very careful keeping the air lines open in the case and I use 3-5 fans per case... But thats just me...as someone said, you buy from BestBuy or another company, you'd BETTER buy the warrenty cause they will crash-n-burn-blow-up and its because they use no-name parts from the cheapest companies...IMO. __________________ I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I don’t think you realize that what you heard was not what I meant.

11-10-2005, 02:37 AM	#16
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Troy, Mo	If you don't want to build one, I've read nothing but great things about the Dell XPS series. I want the XPS 600 with dual core processor and two 7800GT video cards running in SLI mode.. I think it was about $3200 total for what I wanted if I was to get one down the road.

11-10-2005, 09:09 AM	#18
Draft Dodger Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Keene, NH	and, not to turn into a Dell shill (odd, considering I've never owned any of their products), they have some excellent flat screen monitors. very popular with the gaming crowd. __________________ Mile High Hockey

11-10-2005, 09:17 AM	#19
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	I just don't think there are a lot of good choices out there. For support and hardware, it's really about the Dell XPS line. You can go with other builders, local or online, and get slightly higher quality hardware but the support won't be there. Depends on what you want. __________________ Last edited by jeff061 : 11-10-2005 at 09:18 AM.

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