Does this look like a good setup?

M

Maikeru

New Member
Hi everyone! I'm interested in purchasing a computer mainly for gaming, but for other things as well (I usually spend a lot of time on my computer). I've considered building my own computer, but it seems very tedious and I really have no idea where to start. Therefore, I've decided to get one built from a company like Alienware. Perhaps you guys could look over the specs for this computer and tell me what you think. Suggestions would be great. Maybe there's a better, more cost effective method, or maybe I don't need that much power or ram. I would like something no more than $4,000. Thank you in advance.


[1] Area-51® X58

Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-940 2.93 GHz 8MB Cache
Alienware P2 Chassis: Alienware® P2 Chassis with AlienIce™ 3.0 Video Cooling - Space Black
AlienFX®: Alienware® Standard System Lighting - Terra Green
Alienware P2 Chassis Upgrades: Alienware® Standard System Cooling
Power Supply: Alienware® 1000 Watt Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply
Graphics Processor: Single 1,792 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 295
Memory: 6GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 3 x 2048MB
Motherboard: Alienware® Approved Intel® X-58 Motherboard- Socket 1366 Core i7 Ready, Dual Triple Channel DDR3 Memory
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (64-bit Edition) with Service Pack 1
System Drive: Single Drive Configuration - 500GB SATA 3Gb/s 7,200RPM 16MB Cache
Optical Drives : Single Drive Configuration - 4x Dual Layer Blu-ray Burner (BD-RE, DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Enthusiast Essentials: Dual High Performance Gigabit Ethernet Ports
Sound Card: High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio
Price: ~$3200
 
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nope, thats actually pretty bad(not really, just for the price), you can probably build an almost identical system on newegg.com for close to $1000 less than that. and building a computer is very easy
 
Could you please direct me to some guides on how to build your own system? Also, how do you know if parts are compatible? Will any computer case work? I'm sorry I really don't know much about computers other than how to work them.
 
also a group of my friends all brought alienware for uni, and each one of them has some fault

2x had to be sent back to have the water cooling refitted
1x had a 32 bit OS install instead of a 64 bit
1x just keep crashing and was replace (never found out the reason)
and the rest just generally don't work well.

If you look online you will find that alot of people are having very much the same problems

you are much better building your own and if this is your first time bulding a computer or using water cooling then get a friend who has experence to help.
the system you are saying is sound exzcept drop the blue ray burner (no point, extremely expensive for no really gain, if you want one buy it next year) and i would say get 2x 200gb hard in a rad set up to inprove performance and also get a 1tb for general use
 
Here is a price list of individual components that you could assemble into a system:

All the parts are found at NewEgg.com

Phenom 9650 processor Quad-Core (2.3 gigahertz) Processor - $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103288

GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 motherboard - $75

Patriot 4 gigabytes DDR2 900 (PC2 7200) RAM - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220346

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600 Watt Power Supply - $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010&Tpk=OCZ600SXS

MSI Radeon HD 4670 Video Card - $89
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127399

Seagate Barracuda 250 gigabyte Hard Drive - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

Rosewill R103A Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $37

Microsoft Windows XP 32-Bit Home Basic - $90
or
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

Link Depot FAN-4LED-80BU 80mm Blue LED Case Fan - $2.60

Samsung Black 22x Model SH-S223F - $26

Shipping Costs about $45
 
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2048Megabytes said:
Here is a price list of individual components that you could assemble into a system:

All the parts are found at NewEgg.com

Phenom 9650 processor Quad-Core (2.3 gigahertz) Processor - $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103288

GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 motherboard - $75

Patriot 4 gigabytes DDR2 900 (PC2 7200) RAM - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220346

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600 Watt Power Supply - $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010&Tpk=OCZ600SXS

MSI Radeon HD 4670 Video Card - $89
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127399

Seagate Barracuda 250 gigabyte Hard Drive - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

Rosewill R103A Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $37

Microsoft Windows XP 32-Bit Home Basic - $90
or
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

Link Depot FAN-4LED-80BU 80mm Blue LED Case Fan - $2.60

Samsung Black 22x Model SH-S223F - $26

Shipping Costs about $45
Click to expand...
Are you saying all this together is as powerful as the alienware computer I was considering buying? Please explain how they compare.
 
I think he's giving you an example, Ill throw a list togther and explain in one sec.
Ok heres a list
Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043
Power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007
Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131352
Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115201
Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224
Hard drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136351
Blue ray drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129037
Video card two gtx295's
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130449
After market cpu cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608007
about 3000$ before shipping
A few things
1. you can get two video cards
2. 3x the hard drive space.
This is better than the alienware by far and cheaper
 
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More questions:

Processor -
What's considered the best processor for gaming?
Is there an older processor just as powerful for less $?
Which is better, Intel or AMD?

Power supply-
How much power would be required to use the best processor? If not the best, how much power do I usually need?

Ram-
Is DDR2 still better than DDR3?

Video Card-
Which is better, a single 1,792 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 295 or dual? Will I notice much of a difference?
Which is a better graphics card, NVIDIA or Radeon?

CPU cooler-
Which CPU cooler is best for keeping such a powerful video card/processor from overheating?
 
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Maikeru said:
Are you saying all this together is as powerful as the
alienware computer I was considering buying? Please explain how they compare.
Click to expand...
No, they do not compare. The i7 Nehalem technology used in the Alienware pc
will outperform those components by light years. He's just showing an example
of how easy it is build a list.

Maikeru said:
More questions:
Processor -
What's considered the best processor for gaming?
Is there an older processor just as powerful for less $?
Which is better, Intel or AMD?

Power supply-
How much power would be required to use the best processor? If not the best, how much power do I usually need?

Ram-
Is DDR2 still better than DDR3?

Video Card-
Which is better, a single 1,792 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 295 or dual? Will I notice much of a difference?
Which is a better graphics card, NVIDIA or Radeon?

CPU cooler-
Which CPU cooler is best for keeping such a powerful video card/processor from overheating?
Click to expand...

Basically you don't need a $3000.00 computer just to play games. You can
build a decent gaming rig that will play any game you want for 1/3 of that cost. Less even.
 
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1066MHz DDR3...LOL...I didn't even think they manufactured it that slow for desktops! I have seen 1066MHz DDR3 in notebooks, but a desktop, come on Alienware, pull your head out of your a**.

Wow...what a waste of money, $3,200 for that with no monitor no keyboard no nothing!

That's actually unfortunate that a company sells those things to people. I understand people don't know much about computers and they think if they buy an Alienware they are getting the best. They are praying upon unknowing people because back in the late 90's they launched a huge propaganda campaign and made everybody believe that Alienware was the absolute best money could buy.

My only advice is not to buy that computer...there are some really smart people here that will help you either build one or find a far better deal on a pre built system.
 
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