Help Me Spend $1500.00 USD

[burntpixel]

I just had a five year old Dell XPS 600 die.

I was simply going to go to Dell and replace it with it's latest offspring (which looks like Studio XPS 9000).
After reading some of the reviews, I'm not sure I want to do this...?

So, I have started looking into HP. The same (almost identical) machine at HP is actually $100.00 cheaper. There are reviews on HP's site but none really any where else on the Pavilion Elite HPE-180t series (cnet, etc.)

Dell Link

HP Link

The machines main purpose will be used for Photography. Photoshop, Lightroom and Photostitching are the programs mostly used.

Here are the specs of both machines;
Intel® Core™ i7-920 processor(8MB L3 Cache, 2.66GHz)
7 Home Prem
12GB DDR3-1066MHz SDRAM [6 DIMMs]
1TB RAID 0 (2 x 500GB SATA HDDs)
1.8GB NVIDIA Geforce GTX 260 [2 DVI, HDMI and VGA adapters]
LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
15-in-1 memory card reader, 1 USB, 1394, audio
Integrated 7.1 channel sound with front audio ports
Wireless keyboard and wireless optical mouse

I am going to continue to use my 24" Dell monitor and Logitech speakers. Just replacing the tower.

So, if this were you which way would you go?

 

[Stoic Sentinel]

Honestly, you can make a much better PC by building it, but if you really just want to buy pre-built, I'd go with the HP.

 

[ganzey]

Hp>dell

 

[Laquer Head]

I choose 'Build-Your-Own' option!

 

[Stoic Sentinel]

I choose 'Build-Your-Own' option!

Agreed, much better PC for the same price

 

[burntpixel]

Thanks for the replies and honesty.

I'm not sure I could build a pc...?
I've opened my XPS 600 and upraded the RAM, that is about the extent of my pc building knowledge.
I know there are much better systems out there but right now I'm in a pinch with a $1500 limit.

 

[Drenlin]

Building a PC is fairly straightforward...everything only fits in one hole. It's actually pretty easy.

The hardest part is putting on the heatsink for the processor, and even that's pretty simple if you use the one that comes with it.

 

[Analizer]

Can't you make a desktop PC on your own? Much better performance.

My suggestion:

COOLER MASTER Storm Scout - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

ASUS P6T - $229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359

ATi Radeon HD5850 - $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102857&cm_re=hd5850-_-14-102-857-_-Product

Intel Core i7-920 - $288.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Thermaltake Toughpower XT W0230RU 850W - $216.49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ermaltake_power_supply-_-17-153-105-_-Product

OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600MHZ - $149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

Seagate Barracuda 500GB - $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...94&cm_re=seagate_500gb-_-22-148-294-_-Product

LG Black 24X DVD+R - $27.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136177


Total of: $1408.42

 

[Cams]

Can't you make a desktop PC on your own? Much better performance.

My suggestion:

COOLER MASTER Storm Scout - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

ASUS P6T - $229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359

ATi Radeon HD5850 - $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102857&cm_re=hd5850-_-14-102-857-_-Product

Intel Core i7-920 - $288.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Thermaltake Toughpower XT W0230RU 850W - $216.49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ermaltake_power_supply-_-17-153-105-_-Product
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600MHZ - $149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

Seagate Barracuda 500GB - $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...94&cm_re=seagate_500gb-_-22-148-294-_-Product

LG Black 24X DVD+R - $27.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136177


Total of: $1408.42

Why did you go with so much wattage?

 

[Gooberman]

Thanks for the replies and honesty.

I'm not sure I could build a pc...?
I've opened my XPS 600 and upraded the RAM, that is about the extent of my pc building knowledge.
I know there are much better systems out there but right now I'm in a pinch with a $1500 limit.

How to build a computer WITH PHOTOS!!

Why did you go with so much wattage?

yeah you don't need that much power for that 5850

 

[Flaring Afro]

Thanks for the replies and honesty.

I'm not sure I could build a pc...?
I've opened my XPS 600 and upraded the RAM, that is about the extent of my pc building knowledge.
I know there are much better systems out there but right now I'm in a pinch with a $1500 limit.

If you can plug an xbox into a tv, you can read a tutorial and build a pc. I used this one and had no prior experience. Took a couple of hours.

http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/

Just make sure to zip tie the cords in a way that they can't touch your fans.