Pulling the trigger on a new PC

Comments

• WantsumBier Member Posts: 1,079

  April 2007

  I'm no computer guy but it sounds good! I really like the custom LEDs he he.

  Seriously, I have a 2003 Dell Dimension and i'm pondering an upgrade myself. just have to get the wife's approval (little or no chance in that).

  I shoot for the curve... anything above that is gravy.
• pyrofreak Member UncommonPosts: 1,481

  April 2007

  For gaming, I'd stick with XP for a while. A lot of the video card drivers have problems with Vista.

  Now with 57.3% more flames!
• n25philly Member Posts: 1,317

  April 2007

  Originally posted by darthwoogy
  
  
  Im finally replacing my 2003 Dell Dimensions...phew!  Well this is what Ive picked out, based on my budget (see below).  My intententions are strictly for gaming, specifically Vanguard and soon to be AoC.  Im not a very techy type guy, so I want to make sure IM not getting ripped off, or if anything, if theres something I should upgrade or downgrade in this order.  I would really appreciate it if you techy / gamers could give your opinions.  Thanks!!  Oh I assume I would want XP over Vista for an OS...?
   
  XPS 710          Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6300 (2MB L2 Cache,1.86GHz,1066 FSB)  
  
  
  
  Good Choice
  
  
  Operating System         Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium        
  
  
  
  Another good choice
  
  
  Memory           2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs     
  
  
  
  Also good, you can never have too much memory
  
  
  Keyboard         Dell USB Keyboard       
  Monitor            No Monitor        
  Video Cards     768MB nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX  
  
  
  
  Now you're just making me jealous!
  
      
  Hard Drive       250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™         
  
  
  
  I would try to get either get a bigger hard drive or if available get two of these in a Raid 0.  It seems like a lot now, but you always want to overdo hard drive space because it's the last thing you want to have to upgrade.
  
  
  Floppy Drive and Media Reader           No Floppy Drive or Media Reader Included       
  Mouse Dell Optical USB Mouse            
  Modem            No Modem        
  Adobe Software           Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 7.0              
  Optical Drive    Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability           
  Sound Cards    Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeMusic (D) Sound Card              
  Speakers          No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system)      
  Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed)      No Productivity software pre-installed     
  Security Software         McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 15-months            
  Warranty and Service   1Yr Ltd Warranty and At-Home Service            
  XPS Specialized Support          Dimension XPS, Specialized Support      
  Internet Access Service            No ISP requested           
  Miscellaneous   Award Winning Service and Support      
  SYSTEM DETAILS    2.5MM aluminum thickness Chassis with front & back customizable LEDs          
  SYSTEM DETAILS    7-slot, BTX design motherboard             
  SYSTEM DETAILS    750-watt Power Supply              
  SYSTEM DETAILS    Tower Six-heat pipe, Copper base Heat Sink with aluminum fans            
  SYSTEM DETAILS    Two 120mm x 38mm front fans        
  
  
  
  
  
  Everything else here looks fine.  My only question would be with the BTX case mainly because I've never worked with one before.  Hopefully it's just as easy to upgrade and stuff like that down the road if needed.
  
  
   
  

  member of imminst.org
• darthwoogy Member Posts: 17

  April 2007

  Good question, as Im not sure what the heck the BTX setup is, and whether its easily upgradeable.  Anyone else know?
• pyrofreak Member UncommonPosts: 1,481

  April 2007

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTX_(form_factor)
  
  
  
  Wikipedia knows all.

  Now with 57.3% more flames!
• n25philly Member Posts: 1,317

  April 2007

  Well, BTX is basically the layout of your computer.  The standard is ATX, and BTX was put together by Intel to improve airflow through the computer, but it never really caught on.  It shouldn't cause any issues since it's just the way things are arranged inside, but that doesn't mean it won't.

  member of imminst.org
• bonobotheory Member UncommonPosts: 1,007

  April 2007

  The BTX form factor won't cause any problems unless you decide to upgrade your motherboard. At that point, you'll have to find another BTX motherboard (not easy, since BTX development isn't continuing), or get a new case to go along with the new motherboard, unless your case is one of those rare beasts that can accept both ATX and BTX mobos. Upgrading anything else should be easy.
• gpett Member Posts: 1,105

  April 2007

  Wait two days.
  
  
  
  Intel is annoucing agressive price cuts across the board and 3 new processors.  Here is the info at JonnyGuru.
  
  
  
  Also, you can build an equivalent system to that Dell and save $500-1000.  The below products meet or exceed the specs of the stuff in that Dell system for under $1500 (tax and shipping not included).  Plus, the below system would OC like a beast if you were so inclined to do so.  Or you can leave it stock.  How much is Dell charging you?
  
  
  
  
  
  Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 1.8 GHz 1066MHz 4MB L2 Cache - $180.00
  
  
  
  GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - $115.00
  
  
  
  PNY GeForce 8800GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - $529.99
  
  
  
  Transcend JETRAM 2x1GB DDR2 800 PC2 6400 Dual Channel Memory - $107.99
  
  
  
  HITACHI Deskstar T7K500 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $69.99
  
  
  
  XCLIO GREATPOWER X14S4P4 750W ATX12V 750W Power Supply - $149.99
  
  
  
  LIAN LI PC-7B plus II (2x120mm front and back fans) Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $79.99
  
  
  
  Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 Black USB Ergonomics Keyboard and Mouse Included - $21.99
  
  
  
  LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM Write Black IDE - $29.99
  
  
  
  Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM - $111.99
  
  
  
  Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - $74.99
  
  
  
  Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Fan For Intel CPU $19.50
  
  
  
  Total = $1,491.11