Gaming Desktop Computers

[blackgeltabs 5,000+ posts]

I would build my own and I really dont think it would be hard at all considering everything is plug and play. I did it a real long time ago when I built my first pentium 75. It was my upgrade from my 486/33 w/ 4mb of Ram

 

[phildapimp89 10+ year member]

I bought a Compaq Evo without a processor for $120, bought a 2.6ghz processor for $60 off Ebay and a new fan for $15 from Newegg. I didn't have a retention bracket so I made my own out of some pliable scrap metal. Took about twenty minutes to assemble because of the retention bracket.

Anyway, if I bought it factory it would be at least $250-300.

Trust me put your own together. Save lots of $$.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

If you're going to go that route, the custom XPS I'd choose would be:
Pentium D 950 (2 x 3.4 GHz)

Dual Nvidia GeForce 7900GTXs or ATI Radeon X1900 XTX

2 GB of RAM - 2 DIMM

500 GB RAID 0 (2 x 250 GB)

DVD-ROM + DVD-RW

13-in-1 Media Card Reader + 3.5" Floppy

24" Widescreen Monitor

Soundblaster X-Fi

Logitech Z-5450 or Z-5500 Speakers

Saitek Gaming Keyboard

Logitech G5 Mouse

Optional:

TV Tuner (if you choose TV Tuner, get XP Media Center Edition. If you don't, get XP Home)

Microsoft Office

Don't get:

Any of the crappy headphones

Any of Dell's POS printers

Although, honestly, if you're getting a gaming rig, you have to go AMD ... Just a much better gaming processor ...

ooh thats hot. get the dual 7900's and SLI that baby

 

[noob with an RS 10+ year member]

to hell with dell.

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

Both those computers have PCI-E expansion slots and the card is AGP, meaning it won't work with them ... Also, have you ever opened up an M-series Pavillion ? Trust me, that's not something you want to modify ... You can't get anything in or out of that thing without taking the whole d*mn thing apart ... and there are better monitors than the Samsung 930B ... Lack of DVI cable FTL ...
If he has the money, why bother taking a computer and upgrading practically every component to get what he wants ? He'd spend just as much doing that and lose any warranty in the process. Those high-end gaming machines are, for the most part, no compromise machines. You do pay a premium, but you get a very high quality, high-performance product.

The whole point was to keep him from having to open the case because he didn't want to do the work himself. Their staff will do it for him, so who cares how difficult it is. The only parts that have to be upgrades are the Power Supply and VPU.

The Samsung 930B is the monitor that I own so I will only recommend it instead of others that I have read about and do now own. I got a free DVI cable when purchasing a bundle off Newegg.com so I’m set there.

The warranty is still good because you're doing everything through them and getting their service plan so they'll back up everything on the PC.

Granted I agree with you about the idea of taking a retail box and modding the pieces but I'm trying to save the man around 1500-2000 with this option. The dells and alienwares will run you 3600-4500 + out of the door for the whole package.

Save the money and invest it or use it to buy a new computer 2/3 years down the road. Heck, even use it to pay for new games and the subscription fees for online play.

Here is a comparable PCI card (was in a hurry looking at the other card).

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=BROWSE&product_code=338181&Pn=Verto_GeForce_7900GT_Video_Card

 

[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

its easy when u know how...

I would love to build a new machine....

 

[blackgeltabs 5,000+ posts]

x2
Also, one big thing ... If you want performance, don't load Norton on your computer ... Norton Internet Security 2005, for instance, claims 60-65 MB of RAM by itself just running in the background ... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif NIS 2006, while I haven't checked, would almost certainly use even more ... I'd assume at least 80 MB, if not over 100 MB with the addition of the anti-spyware software and, of course, the perpetual bloating of Norton ...

I advise ESET NOD32 as it's quite light on resources and provides superior protection as well, although it isn't a full internet security suite (who needs that with a gaming PC, anyways, though, right ?)

The only reason im looking at a dell is for compareable models its at least 1500 cheaper than an alienware.

The only downfall is that I cant get it with AMD chip set.

On the same hand I also realize that I dont sit in front of a computer everyday consistantly testing my video and processor hardware seeing how many more FPS I can get out of it on the latest and greatest game. So if im comparaing similiar systems between 2 companies and one of the major difference is Intel vs AMD, maybe there would be a difference of 10-20 FPS on a game?? Im not sure, but since I dont game a ton I dont know if I would know a difference?!?!

 

[HeatSeeker 10+ year member]

I say build your own, its mostly plugging things into each other, and hitting the power button. You can easily save 1-2 k by building your own...

If not I concur with Falcon or w/e its called, heard many good things about em too

 

[mattmcss 10+ year member]

theres plenty of people, like me, who would build you a better system for cheaper, I don't have a ton of time but I can certaily save you some dough.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

The only reason im looking at a dell is for compareable models its at least 1500 cheaper than an alienware.
The only downfall is that I cant get it with AMD chip set.

On the same hand I also realize that I dont sit in front of a computer everyday consistantly testing my video and processor hardware seeing how many more FPS I can get out of it on the latest and greatest game. So if im comparaing similiar systems between 2 companies and one of the major difference is Intel vs AMD, maybe there would be a difference of 10-20 FPS on a game?? Im not sure, but since I dont game a ton I dont know if I would know a difference?!?!

big. the diff between 10 fps and 30 fps is suprising. try playin FEAR at 10fps lol

 

[Kickerkitty 10+ year member]

Look, I bought a refurbed unit from Dell, cost me $350. Bought a FP1905 new to go with it, and upgraded everything. Overall got a killer computer for a huge steal, with the warranty on a GOOD monitor.

 

[blackgeltabs 5,000+ posts]

Im going to have to think about this for a day. If I was to build it piece by piece what would I have to buy? Also would I need to buy a brand new windows software. My biggest thing is I dont know how you go form putting everything in a case to have the computer recognize it with no OS preloaded.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

Im going to have to think about this for a day. If I was to build it piece by piece what would I have to buy?

Case/PSU, MOBO, RAM, CPU, HDD, GPU, CD/DVD drive, Heatsink and fan, and i cant think of anything else. just make sure everything is compatible

Also would I need to buy a brand new windows software. My biggest thing is I dont know how you go form putting everything in a case to have the computer recognize it with no OS preloaded.

pshhh buy. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

its plug and play. match colors and shapes and you will be good. dont forget to READ THE MANUAL on everything if you are new at this. once you get everything set up, make sure that the CD drive is the first boot thing (the technical term escapes me) and stick the windows cd into the cD drive, partition/format the HDD and install windows! once you are done with that, install the drivers windows doesnt take care of and you are done!

Integrated graphics > MX4000 ...

its okay, the mobo i got didnt come with a gpu hehe

 

[Phrozt 10+ year member]

you really can't just "plug and play" computers now..

you have to make sure you buy all the right parts in the first place.. and that can take some time if you really research it properly and get the most bang for your buck.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

yea you match, plug and play