help me decide what to buy in my new computer! - Page 2

ps4128 · Jun 20, 2008, 08:39 PM

thats a good idea, i will have to check it out

Syndicate2083 · Jun 20, 2008, 09:47 PM

Ok yeah, I mean alienware.. well is alienware. They make a living, can't fault that. I do however get pissed off at their prices.

So. Here is a spec out via newegg of 'your' system, link is to a public wishlist i made up with links and pricing:

Newegg.com - Once You Know, You Newegg

basically.

Here is what it includes

Antec 1200 case (i like it, choose what you want haha) $214.95
Same proc $554.99
OCZ Gold 2GB DDR3 1066 x2 $201.98
WD 150GB Raptor X 10k RPM $174.99
CoolerMaster Real Power 1000w 80plus PSU (80 plus rocks!) $229.99
EVGA 790i SLi Ultra mobo (obviously for your SLi setup) $349.99
EVGA gtx280 1g FTW edition x2 $1,399.98

System total, not counting any other custom cooling and whatnot, $3,126.87

Consider the newegg, it is your friend.

Anyone else, feel free to jump in there if the combo doesnt seem good on anything

OldBuzzard · Jun 20, 2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ps4128

[...] check this out and tell me if it is worth the pricetag of 4,100 [...]

NO, not just no, but HELL NO!

How about you just call the Maingear folks, and ask. At worst all they can do is tell you no.

Another option, depending on your credit, would be a personal loan from your bank. Which just might be at a better rate than Alienware (Dell) gives you.

kris23's suggestion of getting the NewEgg card has merit also.

If that is a viable option, and Syndicate2083's wish list looks like something close to what you want, I'd suggest a couple of options there.

CASE: If you want a full Tower, the Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 would be a good choice and would be 25.00 cheaper. If a mid-tower would work, then the Cooler Master RC590 at 69.99, or CM 690 at 84.99 are both excellent cases, and will have plenty of room for the video card(s).

PSU: If you go with any of the above cases, go for the CORSAIR 1000HX. Probably the best 1000W PSU there is. it.s 40.00 more than the Cooler Master, but it's also modular and will make cable management a lot easier.

Video card: THe nVidia 280 is a damned fast card, but...looking at how fast the ATI 4850 is at just 199.99 as opposed to 699.99 for a 280!? Also, we still haven't seen what the 4870 is going to do, and it's projected to sell at 399.99. I'd wait until the 4870 is released, and see how if performs before I made my choice. It would be a real kick in the head to get 1400.00 worth of nVidia cards, only to find out that 800.00 worth of ATI's out perform them.

Decision, decisions...shucks it isn't even my system, and I'M getting a headache

Syndicate2083 · Jun 20, 2008, 11:18 PM

I agree here with OldBuzzard absolutely.

Secondly, nice call on the PSU, I recommended the Antec because i love it, just cant get used to the CM case design (external) myself.

VC's, yeah. I just ran with what you had there really. If you go ATI with their new uber cards youd obviously want to switch to a nice new intel chipset for your crossfire setup instead of the nvidia chipset board.

Hopefully we will see some life from ATI with the AMD injection, and a stronger offering again. Competition FTW.

The 4850 is a damned impressive card and super cheap for its offering.

Hope these thoughts help you out man!

PangingJr · Jun 21, 2008, 05:41 AM

just finished up reading the post #7 that OldBuzzard has made above. good post.

ps4128,

Free RAM is wasted RAM, as far as i know, was known to (and understood by) some Windows users for a very long time already,
but not to some, as it's obvious that we still hearing complaints about free RAM in Windows around the web till these days.

"Unused RAM is wasted RAM" is new motto for "Free RAM is wasted RAM"

when you see the number of the "unused" RAM in Vista is less (than what you use to see in an older Windows version), it doesn't actually mean that you are having less "free RAM".
i also like to add that it's true, that the memory management in Vista RTM has improved over a few last BETA builds of Vista (and also XP) quite noticeable.
if you always use Windows-based computer a lot for sometimes already, then since Vista RTM and now SP1, you will most likely see the memory management in Vista is actually working so well.

ps4128 · Jun 21, 2008, 08:13 AM

thanks everyone. i just woke up. it seems my issue is driving you all mad as well.

anyways, if a newegg credit card would allow me to lump all of those together into one manageable monthly fee, i will definately do it. i love building computers

.

also, old buzzard, of all the companies i checked out, maingear had the lowest prices, and were the most similar to buying it all and assembling it. it just kills me how much big name dealers like alienware mark up their prices and think they can get away with it.

i think i will call/e-mail them later today. right now this stupid comptuter is all im thinking about, and i would love to stick to my goal of ordering it in the first week of july.

this wasn't all that confusing or expensive five years ago. oh well.

p.s. if you guys have read any of my older posts you probably know i despise ati and all of their drivers/support. honestly if they had a faster card than nvidia, i'd still look at nvidia first. anyway, saying that, the 4850 looks like a good card, but i'm not waiting til august for the x2 version.

Syndicate2083 · Jun 21, 2008, 10:14 PM

haha, I personally hate ati myself as well. Long stories id rather not get into, but thats how it is. Let us know what maingear says, and what avenue you take, I know I'd like to hear what they say, or if you go newegg!

Good luck!

-Syn

**kris23** · Jun 21, 2008, 10:30 PM

well..... nearly all companies abandoned AGP so its no surprise that the ATi drivers suck on AGP platforms......

but then again, nvidia abandoned AGP development completely now so its something vs nothing...

i personally like ATi because their drivers work very well compared to those of Nvidia, especially in multi-GPU configurations......

Syndicate2083 · Jun 21, 2008, 10:34 PM

You know, honestly ive never had a single problem with nVidia drivers or configurations but every ATi setup ive ever had has gone down the tubes in flaming glory. I never buy off brand stuff, and always make sure a company is reputable too so who knows. Its just like the voodoo nvidia wars, love em or hate most people side with one or the other due to bizzare situations.

-Syn

ps4128 · Jun 22, 2008, 09:21 PM

yeah you guys are absolutely right about the nvidia/ati wars. syndicate2083, i have also had issues with both of my prior ati cards, but never with both of my prior nvidias. it all comes down to what you want to sacrifice, stability

(and performance to some extent) for ati or cash

for nvidia. i'm torn between getting a loan for a maingear (seeing as they don't support monthly financing) or spending $600 more for an alien. newegg may also still be an option.

i have, on a more positive note, bought a brand new computer desk for whatever machine i end up with, as well as a new gaming keyboard and high resolution 1500 dpi mouse, and widescreen monitor.

so basically, when i make my mind up, i will be all set

**kris23** · Jun 22, 2008, 09:36 PM

who filled your head with the lies that nvidia was stable???

they hardly are..... the boards anyway, with the exception of 790i..... especially when OCing

thats why everyone here prefers Intel chipsets, but that also means choosing ATi, which is kinda funny since ATi is AMD.....

why not get a loan for newegg? its better, way better.

but the whole nvidia vs ATi thing is getting really interesting, especially since ATi is to use GDDR5 on their 4870s and X2s maybe...

and the 4850 being a budget card blew down the 9800GTX and is equivalent to slightly lower compared to the 9800GTX+

if the 4870 touches the GTX series even in the slightest in the high res of 1920x1200 and above, we got outselves a winner!

you are going to need to get to the best of the best stuff if you really want to play, but the thing is that DDR3 is real new technology and the stuff hasnt been under developnet for that long........ i dont think systems can use more than 4GB of DDR3 reliably....

**kris23** · Jun 22, 2008, 09:42 PM

if you want to build a system that is beyond anything you have ever seen before, you probably would want to look at this.....

Newegg.com - Intel BOXD5400XS Dual LGA 771 Skulltrail D5400XS Extended ATX Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

a compromise-less board with the ability of running both SLi and Crossfire without any changes, the use of FB-DIMMs and Dual Core 2 Extreme Quads......

this will probably be able to compete with a Nehalem Desktop next year if needed////

if you were set on buying an Alienware, this would be similar in cost.

ps4128 · Jun 23, 2008, 07:22 PM

thanks kris.

btw... i never said nvidia in general was stable, i only remarked that in all of my experiences with them i have never had an issue, whereas in all of my ati experiences i have had major issues (usually ending in hard drive formatting)

anyway i will check out your link. i may buy even sooner than i thought, because i am getting my paycheck sooner than i thought.

i will keep you guys posted.

ps4128 · Jun 23, 2008, 07:29 PM

i just checked out that motherboard

i think it is overall much cheaper to save up and build a system, but i haven't in a while.

could you guys help me out by making newegg wishlists with everything i need to fit my 5 year life?
everything, fans, case, etc.

use the above intel mobo, and 280 gtxs (preferably in sli)

keep in mind my previously specified system, and try to keep it under 3,500 $.

thanks!

**kris23** · Jun 23, 2008, 09:13 PM

lol k