Alienware vs. Build your own PC

[orcmauler]

Ok advice time:

I am needing a new computer pretty soon, my current rig is about to give up the ghost.

I can get an alienware system for around 3300 that will be more than what I will ever need for the next few years. The pros are that my wife has an alienware system and loves it, as well as I get to save the hassle of dealing with ordering individual components online via newegg etc.

However, the option is there that I might can save some cash by ordering all parts individually then assembling them at home. So for you gurus out there, which would you suggest?

Also what is the current status on AMD vs. Intel-primarily on gaming rigs (which is what my box current and future is primarily for), Intel dual-core vs. Intel hyperthreading, etc. etc.

Thanks in advance.

[Phoenix]

If you know how to put together a cpu/mobo/video card etc. and install windows, you can easily save your self $1500+ by doing it yourself compared to going with alienware.

And AMD > Intel, enough said.

[Samus Aran]

Honestly, I would say that if you can afford the Alienware, just get that.

Now, with that being said, you can probably build a comparable computer for about 2/3 the price or less. But from the sounds of it you don't really want to deal with ordering the individual parts, which is understandable.

From the sounds of it, you're not a heavy gamer...so I'd go as far as suggesting that you just go ahead and get a Dell. You can probably get a higher-end Dell (oxymoron?) that would suit your needs for a lot cheaper than an Alienware.

Truth is, you just need to decide if you want to spend the extra money to save yourself some headaches and time.

[simeon]

Save a thousand dollars and go to:
http://www.ibuypower.com

That's where I got mine and you don't have to hassle with putting together anything. They'll do it for you and ship everything nicely. I got mine with no dings and the inside looks well kept (ie: no random shit poking everywhere, everything is nicely tied up.)

[Bralkan]

If you are capable of building it and can set aside 2 hours of your time then do it and use the money you would have spent on an Alienware on a cruise or something.

[Dintorr]

OK, but can you *really* save $1,500+?

Alienware can build their 5500 model with an AMD 4000+, 1GB RAM, dual GeForce 7800 GT's, and dual 160GB SATA-II RAID 0 drives for just over $2,000. That ain't too bad I don't think, but I don't really know.

Bumping up to the FX-55 processor adds $550, but I don't know enough about PC hardware to know if it's worth it.

Also, what's better for gaming ... the AMD dual-core processor or the FX series?

[Bralkan]

Dintorr- FX is better. Games really don't use the 2nd core so your better off getting a faster single core.

2grand isn't a bad price for that, but it is bumped up (from the top of my head) I'd say $300-500.

[makist]

/shrug.. just thought I would throw in my 2 cp on the subject of Alienware..

I have a laptop from them.. P4 3.4 GHz w/ HT, 1024MB RAM, Nvidia Geforce go5700 128mb AGP video card, 60GB 7200RPM HD.. its pretty decent.. although there is plenty of stuff I won't bother running cause I can't get the FPS I want. I would be satisfied with it, except for one major thorn in my side. Shortly after I purchased laptop, they switched all their mobile stuff to PCI-express and kind of locked away and threw away the key on anyone not PCI-express..

One major advantage of goin Alienware laptop is upgradeable video card, and forever they promised that a new Radeon/Nvidia card was in development and to be released soon.. until one day they just pulled the plug. Now you can't even buy the old video cards from them. Because its a mobile card you have to get the drivers from the manufacturer (Nvidia's won't work), and they have not bothered to update drivers since 7/15/2004.. like 15 months? and they are version 62.xx. Theres my rant anyway.

[Vorph]

Originally Posted by Dintorr

OK, but can you *really* save $1,500+?

Alienware can build their 5500 model with an AMD 4000+, 1GB RAM, dual GeForce 7800 GT's, and dual 160GB SATA-II RAID 0 drives for just over $2,000. That ain't too bad I don't think, but I don't really know.

Bumping up to the FX-55 processor adds $550, but I don't know enough about PC hardware to know if it's worth it.

Also, what's better for gaming ... the AMD dual-core processor or the FX series?

FX is a waste of money unless you know how to build a system--and are willing to put tons of extra money into several other components as well--that will allow you to overclock it to 3GHz+. Buying a FX from Alienware or any other pre-built place would be supremely retarded, since their machines can't even begin to use the FX properly.

As for what's better for gaming, I still like the X2 even now. Sure, there's not a lot of games that support the second core directly, but that's going to change. Video drivers (betas) can already use both cores for some additional performance. If you have the money to spend, get an X2. If you've gone overbudget and are looking for a way to fix it, then dropping from a X2-3800+ to a regular 3500+ would probably be one of the first places.

Realistic savings from building yourself these days seem to be about $300-500. Ibuypower is on the low end of that scale but I compared them and newegg on a part for part basis, and newegg still won pretty easily. Plus I don't agree with buying things like Corsair XMS over much cheaper and just as good or better OCZ ram, and they make you waste a lot of money in the case/psu selection too...

Think of the difference in buying newegg and then building the machine yourself is that you can get a second 7800GT for free doing it that way.

[Eomer]

Yeah, after spending the weekend starting to get my HTPC up to snuff and doing some DVD ripping, encoding etc I'm really regretting NOT getting a dual core now.

[Benito Fireslinger]

my 3500, x800xte, 1 gig of pc 3500 with a lian li pc 1200B case was around 2200 bucks last september. Prebuilt it would have costed me ALOT more

[Sanchek]

I don't know if AMD's are as smooth (I read there were some weird locking issues with their x2 chips), but I'd never trade my dual core P4 for a faster single core chip. Especially if you use multiple displays, the difference is just unbelievable.

[Mero]

Build your own. Its a great learning experience and makes you realize how it works including, obviously, the ends and outs of a system. But most importantly, building your own helps in finding problems when something goes bad. I have built my last two and haven't had any regrets.

Also, Alienwares customer service stinks from what I hear. Warranty isn't worth shit anyway.

Do some research on the web and build it. There's a ton of good websites out there to help you.

Plus you save a grand doing it yourself....and buy a AMD/nVidia.

[makist]

Their customer service isn't too bad. Available 24 hours and all. When I had some low FPS issues, they wanted me to send my laptop in, as none of the diagnostic tests were showing any signs of the issue. After fighting with them to just have them send me the parts (It really was not feasible sending it in.. I needed it for college), they sent me a new video card, although that didn't help, so they sent it in.. paid for shipping both ways and when I got it back it was working better. Although I am still pissed on them pulling the plug on all laptop users who have a AGP video card.

[WillzZz]

I'll be getting a dual-core, but I can use it for a lot of other things (I'm a CG artist, the decrease in rendertimes alone help it pay for itself). If you're just gaming, I'd do some research. I don't know a lot about the newer games coming out, and whether they support dual threads, but I doubt it. They're expensive, so make sure you know what you're getting it for, if you go that route.