Yeah, I made a new thread instead of bumping the old one.So I ordered a
computer from Dell on 11/4 and initially the shipping date given to me over
the phone was 11/13 but when I recieved a confirmationemail it stated the
shipping date as 11/19. No problem, I figured the sales rep was probably
just mistaken. Today I got another email and the shipping
date has been pushed back untill 11/30.
So I start looking on the Dell community forums and it seems a lot of peoples
orders are being delayed multiple times and it is taking over a month for orders to go out. I am worried with it being xmas time it is going to be even longer of a wait. The email gives me an option to cancel my order and I am considering it but I want to know if I could have something similar built for around the same money or less. Does anyone on here build computers and can tell me roughly what it would cost to have a good computer built plus keyboard, mouse, monitor?
Another computer advice thread
Re: Another computer advice thread
What do you mean by "good" computer? What model Dell were you going to get?
If we're talking about a $300-500 PC you really can't build it as cheap as you can buy it. It really only pays to build a higher end PC.
If we're talking about a $300-500 PC you really can't build it as cheap as you can buy it. It really only pays to build a higher end PC.
Re: Another computer advice thread
Sorry. I ordered a XPS 8000. Intel core i7 860, Gefore GTX260, 1TB SATA HDD 16MB Cache, 8 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 20" HD Monitor. Total $1,380.19 including taxes.
Re: Another computer advice thread
Does anyone know where I can get information on this and maybe somewhere I can look into getting a computer built?
Re: Another computer advice thread
Hmm, that price really isn't too bad. Although I'm comparing it to the prices I payed for a similar system last February (prices probably came down since then on a few of the items). I don't know where you can get one built, but you might not like the prices. You almost match the price of the Dell if you build it yourself, but if you have to pay some one to do it I'm guessing it'll be more. But of course, if you use good parts, you'll have a PC much better than a Dell (I don't like Dell much these days).
Anyway, I don't wanna make any suggestions, but I'll just share my last build so you can gauge some numbers. I went to NewEgg.com, they have a 12 month no interest plan. So I set my budget for $1200 (figuring $100/month is real easy).
The $1200 got me a Core i7 920, 6GB DDR3 RAM, 1TB HDD w/ 32MB cache, GeForce 9800GS, Cooler Master (Centron?) case, top of the line Enermax PSU, Biostar x58 mobo, and I think that's it. I really favor my old keyboard and mouse so I kept those, and I was using my old 4:3 LCD until I found a good deal on my new 19" 16:9 (I don't really remember how much I payed for it, something like $80 or $90).
So to break it down... The 920 is the only i7 I see worth buying. The next model up is only a slight increase in clock speed, you can just overclock to that speed if you really want to. The extreme edition has a faster clock speed and the faster QPI but is $1k so that's out of the question. The 920 is as fast of CPU as you need, everything else will bottleneck to it.
The RAM was expensive at the time but I'm sure the price came down on it. You can probably get the 8GB you wanted for the same price I payed for my 6GB. Same deal with the video card. The only reason I bought the 9800GS was because it came with a free copy of World at War and the GTX's were still like $500 (I think it's crazy to spend that on a video card).
The power supply is a big deal. I went with a pretty expensive (don't remember exact price) Enermax, which is one of the only 2 brands of PSUs I trust. You don't wanna skimp on this part, while Dell and every other PC maker WILL give you a piece of shit power supply.
And the case matters more than you think. I would bother going into detail on why. Dell usually has very good cases, although there's a few things I don't like. The case I got is actually the best reviewed mid size case on New Egg, and when it came in I realized why.
I think my hard drive was like $100, but they've come down since then. Last time I checked 1TB drives where more in the $70-80 range. I didn't get a disc drive since I already had a new one, but you can get a DVD-RW drive from New Egg for $25, not a big deal. And I wont bother going into mobos. At this point, any i7 board will pretty much be the same thing, same features and whatnot. Most people tend to stick to brands. I built a PC with a Biostar mobo a short while before this build and was very happy with it, that's one of the reasons I went with it. That and the fact that there was only about 5 i7 boards available at the time of purchase. Anyway, I'm sure almost any board you get will be better than what ever piece of shit board Dell uses.
The only other thing, which kinda sucks, is buying an OS. You can get full versions from New Egg that they call "for system builders" at a discounted price. I got Vista Home Premium for $110, full version not upgrade version. You can get 7 for the same price I believe.
So anyway, you're looking at almost the same price if you bought everything yourself retail. But if you had it built for you... I don't know. I don't know if system builders get OEM/discount rates or if they have to pay the same retail price you do. Either way, they'll of course be charging you to build it which might end up making it cost more than the Dell.
Ahhh, I don't even know what I just said. I forget the point I was trying to make.
Anyway, I don't wanna make any suggestions, but I'll just share my last build so you can gauge some numbers. I went to NewEgg.com, they have a 12 month no interest plan. So I set my budget for $1200 (figuring $100/month is real easy).
The $1200 got me a Core i7 920, 6GB DDR3 RAM, 1TB HDD w/ 32MB cache, GeForce 9800GS, Cooler Master (Centron?) case, top of the line Enermax PSU, Biostar x58 mobo, and I think that's it. I really favor my old keyboard and mouse so I kept those, and I was using my old 4:3 LCD until I found a good deal on my new 19" 16:9 (I don't really remember how much I payed for it, something like $80 or $90).
So to break it down... The 920 is the only i7 I see worth buying. The next model up is only a slight increase in clock speed, you can just overclock to that speed if you really want to. The extreme edition has a faster clock speed and the faster QPI but is $1k so that's out of the question. The 920 is as fast of CPU as you need, everything else will bottleneck to it.
The RAM was expensive at the time but I'm sure the price came down on it. You can probably get the 8GB you wanted for the same price I payed for my 6GB. Same deal with the video card. The only reason I bought the 9800GS was because it came with a free copy of World at War and the GTX's were still like $500 (I think it's crazy to spend that on a video card).
The power supply is a big deal. I went with a pretty expensive (don't remember exact price) Enermax, which is one of the only 2 brands of PSUs I trust. You don't wanna skimp on this part, while Dell and every other PC maker WILL give you a piece of shit power supply.
And the case matters more than you think. I would bother going into detail on why. Dell usually has very good cases, although there's a few things I don't like. The case I got is actually the best reviewed mid size case on New Egg, and when it came in I realized why.
I think my hard drive was like $100, but they've come down since then. Last time I checked 1TB drives where more in the $70-80 range. I didn't get a disc drive since I already had a new one, but you can get a DVD-RW drive from New Egg for $25, not a big deal. And I wont bother going into mobos. At this point, any i7 board will pretty much be the same thing, same features and whatnot. Most people tend to stick to brands. I built a PC with a Biostar mobo a short while before this build and was very happy with it, that's one of the reasons I went with it. That and the fact that there was only about 5 i7 boards available at the time of purchase. Anyway, I'm sure almost any board you get will be better than what ever piece of shit board Dell uses.
The only other thing, which kinda sucks, is buying an OS. You can get full versions from New Egg that they call "for system builders" at a discounted price. I got Vista Home Premium for $110, full version not upgrade version. You can get 7 for the same price I believe.
So anyway, you're looking at almost the same price if you bought everything yourself retail. But if you had it built for you... I don't know. I don't know if system builders get OEM/discount rates or if they have to pay the same retail price you do. Either way, they'll of course be charging you to build it which might end up making it cost more than the Dell.
Ahhh, I don't even know what I just said. I forget the point I was trying to make.
Re: Another computer advice thread
Thank you for the reply. I can get Windows 7 Pro for $30 with a student discount. Reading the information you provided though I think I might just wait it out and hope for the best. I know Dells are not too upgradeable but I think it is possible. I have read about people putting new PSUs in them, you just have to be carefull about the size. At any rate I have no idea how to get one built and I do not have the time or desire to mess around with it myself. I thought for sure people would have more input as all someone has to do is mention computer games and people start going off on computer builds and whatnot. Dells fine though. They use Intel motherboards and I will put a better PSU in it. The other parts should be fine and I like the white and black case. I have never been a fan of plexi glass and LEDs and all of that. Thanks again for the response.
Re: Another computer advice thread
No problem.
Although, I would like to say... Even though Dell has Intel make them boards doesn't mean their good. I question how good Intel retail boards are anyway, and I've had a Dell where it's Intel made board failed in a year. As for the other parts, you should be OK. Their DVD drives aren't anything special, and I've had a few get screwy on me. Since you're getting a higher end model they probably wont throw in any old cheap RAM, so you should be good there.
As far as power supplies go, Dell will give you one that's at least powerful enough for your build (not to say that it's great quality or anything). I wouldn't bother upgrading it unless you're willing to spend $150-200. Anything under $100 and you might as well just keep the stock one.
Although, I would like to say... Even though Dell has Intel make them boards doesn't mean their good. I question how good Intel retail boards are anyway, and I've had a Dell where it's Intel made board failed in a year. As for the other parts, you should be OK. Their DVD drives aren't anything special, and I've had a few get screwy on me. Since you're getting a higher end model they probably wont throw in any old cheap RAM, so you should be good there.
As far as power supplies go, Dell will give you one that's at least powerful enough for your build (not to say that it's great quality or anything). I wouldn't bother upgrading it unless you're willing to spend $150-200. Anything under $100 and you might as well just keep the stock one.
Re: Another computer advice thread
The ram I ordered is 8GB dual channel DDR3 at 1066 mhz, 4*2GB. Not sure what brand but for some reason I thought they used Corsair but I could be wrong.
Re: Another computer advice thread
Damn, man. Now they delayed it until Dec. 7. That is some frustrating shit.
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scrotumwound
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Re: Another computer advice thread
damn is it supposed to take a month to build a computer?