New Dell XPS 5 Owner, Instead Of Building My Own

Pride

Pride

New Member
Ok, after time & time again, of configuring computers online, in my head and adding prices from newegg together, I finally decided to purchase a Dell XPS 5 system. Since I'm not an elite gamer, I wanted a killer gaming system, to go along with the many mutitask issues I do with my children.

I wanted to go with an AMD system, to give it a try out and see the difference between Intel & AMD, especially for games. However, Intel has never displeased me in the past, so I went ahead and got an Intel. Also, I stayed with nVidia this time, due to the awesome performance they have always gave me. I know many people will disagree with my choices, but to each his/her own, I always say.

When purchasing the Dell, I thought about the pros & cons of building my own system, and other manufacturers. And everytime I configured systems like HP, Gateway, Dell, Alienware, Monarch, Falcon Northwest, VooDoo, Shuttle, Sony, ABS & IBuyPower.com; Dell always came up cheaper with the upgrades I wanted.

As far as specs go, let me know what ya think:

OS - Windows XP Pro SP2
Processor - Intel P4 3.6 Ghz HT
Keyboard/Mouse - Wireless Keyboard & Wireless Mouse
Monitor - 19" LCD Digital Flat screen
Video Card - nVidia GeForce 6800 GT PCI-E x 16 (256 mb)
Hard Drive - 2 X 250 GB (7200 rpm)
Memory - 2GB DDR2 SDRAM @ 533Mhz
Floppy Drive - 3.5"
Standard Drive - 16X DVD-ROM
Secondary Drive - 16X DVD+/-RW
Sound Card - Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS
Speakers - Sourround Sound 5.1
Cooling System - 5 Fans Total (2 Dedicated to the PSU)

Got a printer with the purchase, so I went ahead and purchased the ink cartridges & cable to go along with it.

All in all, it was actually cheaper for Dell to build the system I ordered, than to buy the parts online, and build it myself. That saved me some time, since I work nights, and have 2 children that I get every other day & every other weekend (yes, I'm divorced). I believe I made a good choice, and I will keep all of you updated in the future, especially when the computer arrives.

Thanks Praetor for all of your support. You lead me in the right direction, however I seemed to have went with my instincts on this one and took a chance with Dell. (Currently I'm using an HP Celeron 2.1 Ghz, 40 GB, nVidia Ge2 (16mb), 512 mb). I'm sure a couple of my friends will be ticked at me, when I tell them I bought a system from Dell, instead of letting them build it, or me building it myself. However, since I'm not a huge serious gamer on PC's, I feel like this system will more than suit my needs.

Thanks again for everyone's support.

P.S. Any comments, suggestions and questions will be considered/appreciated.
 
Nice System. What'd you pay for it? I was highly considering a new computer because my mom agreeed to give me 2 grand if I moved to Florida (from California). I bought a 26 inch Sharp LCD TV instead of a new computer and a few other things and now im kind of regretting it. Hope you are happy with it!
 
lilm, it wasn't cheap. I poured about $3,200 in the system, overall. Of course I configured the system myself, instead of taking what was offered. I hope I'm happy with it too, considering I probably won't be buying another computer anytime within the next 2 or 3 years, or more.

kof2000, it's the Intel® 955X Express chipset, in which supports 64 bit. However, I would assume that would only be with the Pentium D Extreme processor?
 
i put together a system with the exact same specs as the dell xps and it was alot cheaper... but anyway i have 2 friends with the XPS and they love it, so i hope ur happy with it.
 
I put together a system with the exact same specs as the Dell XPS 5, and it wasn't much cheaper at all.

The Dell XPS 5 price I paid after configuring: $3,400. Now that was with a 19" digital LCD, All-in-one printer w/ cartridges, Intel 3.6 Ghz P4 w HT, Dual Drives (DVD-ROM & DVD-R+/-RW), 2 GB SDRAM, CL Sound Audigy 2 Z, 500 GB HD, 256 MB nVidia GeForce 6800 PCIEx16, 5 Fans, 650w PSU & Wireless keyboard & Mouse.

The computer I configured at Newegg.com was roughly $600 cheaper, at most. And by the time shipping & handling is added, the price comes close to the same thing; and that doesn't include building the system. Also, I figured I might need the support from the company, if anything does go wrong.

About the only thing I know about piecing a computer together, would be adding RAM, video & sound cards, and possibly some fans.

Hopefully I will enjoy this machine, and when I finally do recieve it I sure hope I enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed my HP. (My son & daughter are getting my HP)
 
it sounds good but to tell u the truth i think u got ripped off. before i bought my compuer, i customized a dell to the same specs and it ended up being around 1600 bucks when it cost me only (its still alot but comparing to the dell...) around 920 bucks. If i were one of ur friends i would probably b ticked that u did that too. but like u say "to each his/her own". :)
specs are ok tho
 
kof2000 said:
that is not a 64bit intel is it?
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no dell dosent support 64 bit intels (or at least im pretty shure as i know, if im wrong som1 correct me). I think its mainly because people that usualy buy dells arent as knowlagable about computers as those who customize them so if u asked most people who have bought dells wut 64 bit support is they prob wouldnt know.
 
Thanks for clearing that up mgoldb2. I checked out the specs at Dell & Intel's web-sites. However, I didn't do enough research to actually know whether or not they were 64 bit, or not.

ilovefishsticks, I seriously didn't feel like building it. I'm no teen anymore, and my son probably would have been better off trying a crack at it, than me, considering he's 11. So, the assembly part was a huge consideration, when deciding on which one to do: build or buy.

On another note, I feel like I came out alright, considering Alienware, ABS, VooDoo, Monarch, Ibuypower, Sony, Falcon Northwest & Shuttle, just to name a few, were more expensive. I'm aware that some of those systems are better quality, somewhat. But, I have no serious game addition.

HP & Gateway were very similar and the prices were roughly the same, even with the specials.
 
check out powerspec...it's a no name brand computer that is incredibly cheap compared to dell and other name brands..I think the only place you can buy their products are at microcenter...But they have really high spec PCs for relatively cheaper price compared to other pre built computers.
 
I think thats what my PC was when i bought it. I think think the only thing i didn;t upgrade was the sound card that i can think of, I even upgraded the floppy lol, well not really upgraded, just replaced. that actully broke. everything else i just wanted to be better.
 
Well, I should have checked them out. However, I ended up purchasing a Dell XPS Gen 5 instead. Hopefully, it will be what I am expecting, since I'm a multimedia freak. I also use alot of time playing SimCity Rush Hour, as well.
 
Thanks Praetor for all of your support. You lead me in the right direction, however I seemed to have went with my instincts on this one and took a chance with Dell. (Currently I'm using an HP Celeron 2.1 Ghz, 40 GB, nVidia Ge2 (16mb), 512 mb). I'm sure a couple of my friends will be ticked at me, when I tell them I bought a system from Dell, instead of letting them build it, or me building it myself. However, since I'm not a huge serious gamer on PC's, I feel like this system will more than suit my needs.
Click to expand...
Yeah well Dell is designed to cater yo a market like yourself and that's why they're successful :)

P.S. Any comments, suggestions and questions will be considered/appreciated.
Click to expand...
If you've not actually bought the system yet, make sure you upgrade to the biggest PSU Dell wil[l give you since that's something you wont easily be able to do on yer own

kof2000, it's the Intel® 955X Express chipset, in which supports 64 bit. However, I would assume that would only be with the Pentium D Extreme processor?
Click to expand...
Intel's 64bit processors include trhe 8xx, 5x1 and 6xx series chips (yess your's is a 64bit proc_

no dell dosent support 64 bit intels
Click to expand...
Well from the specs,
Dell said:
Intel® Pentium® 4 processor with HT Technology - 600 sequence - up to 660 (3.60GHz, 800MHz, 2MB cache
Click to expand...
so yes they do
 
As far as I know Praetor, the PSU that I got is a 460w PSU. If I had bought the Intel Extreme Edition, it would have been a 650w. But, I would assume that 460w would be sufficent enough for my needs.
 
250w? Dang, my HP has a larger PSU than that. I am assuming that many computer manufacturers go with the minimum when installing many parts; the PSU being one of them?

I certainly didn't want my any part of my computer to overheat, so I'm glad that's large enough. However, I have searched the world over, and can't seem to find something I have been looking for. Maybe you might know, right off hand? Who manufacturers Dell's mobo's? I've heard that Sony makes their LCD's, and I've also heard that Dell's printers have certain printer ink cartridges so you can only order from them. Any other news that I might want to know?
 
Well, I will probably never build one on my own, due to the time I have & fear of tearing something up. So, buying from them is a first, for me. I assume that I will always be the type of person to buy from a manufacturer, moreso than to build one of my own, or have someone build it for me.

So, if all goes well, I will enjoy this computer like I have enjoyed my HP & Packard Bell in the past. There's always a first for everyone, depending on the situation. As for Mac, Linux, or anything out of the ordinary; I seriously doubt I will ever try those computers and/or platforms.

However, I am curious. . .Since the majority of people on this forum build their own computers, what "brandname" computer would you have chose from if were limited to manufacturers like:

Sony
Dell
HP/Compaq
Gateway/EMachines
Alienware

IMO,

Sony was more overpriced than Dell, and dedicating the majority of their machines to multimedia.

Gateway/EMachines have terrible support and as overpriced as any of those I listed, with alot more plastic.

Alienware is awesome; however it was quite a bit more expensive than the Dell.

The Dell was a little expensive, however there was always a perk like a free printer, DVD Burner, free shipping or LCD to go along.

Brandnames like VooDoo, Falcon Northwest and IBuyPower.com were a little overpriced, when compared to the Dell.

The only other brandname I was considering was the HP. I have had great products in the past, and was see-sawing back and forth between them and the Dell.
 
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