Okay, I've wanted to get a new computer for some time now. Been looking at some Alienware, never bit the bullet.

Well now Dell has 25% off. I can get a $2800 computer for about $2100, plus my dad would pay about $400 (sister theft and an agreement we made).

My current computer is about 4 years old, a Gateway. 1.8 processor, 715 MB Ram, GeForce 5900. Spyware and Adware galore, but we can't seem to get rid of them no matter the program we use.

The new one would be a 3.6 (maybe 3.8), 1 Gig RAM (we'd upgrade to 2 seperately), Geforce 6800, and a Dell.

I'm trying to justify spending the money on my meager paycheck. Thoughts?

Don't get namebrand. You're paying for the name. Either get the parts, and build it yourself, or use my favorite.

JediKirby

I wouldnt recomend ibuypower myself. I bought a computer from them, and they glue gunned all of the components together.

uh... not mine. I've already taken out and added in multiple components... Are you sure it was ibuypower?

If you feel the need for it, sure. If you don't, then don't bother.

Dell's prices can come pretty close to home-built when the prices drop. I've seen Dell desktops at prices that would've been very hard to match.

Edit - I lied. Going with a 3.6 at most (3.8 didn't get reviews that warranted an extra hundred bucks)

Wow... just... wow.

Do not buy from Dell. They will rip you off, no matter how good the deal looks. There are plenty of guides all over the internet to build you own PC. It's really easy. You can do it in a couple hours first time. Spend some time on New Egg, ask on a forum about the parts you've selected to double check, order them and follow a guide.

One more tip, go with an AMD Athlon 64 939 3500+. Right now AMD is much better than Intel for gaming. For example AMD's 200$ 939 3200+ beats all Intel's chips at HL2, including their 1000$ EE chips.

Here's a good guide.

Here's another one.

Man spyware is truly a plague. They need to start cracking down on this bull****..is spyware even illegal?

In what way? Many retail PCs have power and data connectors secured with a daub of hot glue on each side.

These guys had it smeared all over everything that was connected together. Some components I havent ever tried to pry apart because I'm too afraid I'll break them.

A number of the Dell "PC" laptops people I know have have had some problems, but mine is a commercial model and has been perfect. If you wanna go with Dell you might consider getting more of a professional model than a home model.

I got a Dell about a week ago that is close to the specs you mentioned, Charoziak.

My old computer was 5 yrs. old, disregarding a graphics card and a RAM upgrade.

My mom has a Dell, it's a good machine. No problems (that I see thus far). If you go name brand, I recommend these.

Haha. You're gonna get shafted. The best part? You're not going to listen to anyone when they tell you to build it yourself. How do I know? Because if you were going to listen, you would've already asked for help on it.

All I have to say is no matter what--you're getting shafted on price in a price:performance ratio.

Some people have jobs and school and who knows what else and don't have the time/experience/whatever to build their own computers. It is pretty obvious, to me at least, from Charoziac's post where he mentions Gateway, Dell, and Alienware that he wants to buy a new computer.

not to discredit your post Bob, because I see it as valid since he did indeed ask about BUYING a new computer. But the reasons you listed for *not* building a computer aren't particularly good. At most, putting a new system together with all of the resources and guides availible (he has a computer, connected to the internet right now) takes around four hours. This is if you're quite unsure of what you're doing, and taking the utmost care to not screw something up. Add another hour tops for the software (installing Windows XP and drivers) and then you've got a functional computer.

I'd hardly say that should the situation arise that somebody, even with a job, and school couldn't set aside around five hours to put a system together and install the OS / Drivers.

But I agree, he does seem to want to BUY a computer. I'd say that it's more-than-likely because he doesn't want to risk breaking something while building a computer / or would prefer the convienience of having it pre-built. But not because he can't find the time.

Definitely do not get a 3.8 GHz, or even a 3.6 GHz. For that matter, I wouldn't even spend the money on a 3.4 GHz. The problem is that unless whatever manufacturer you're going with has above average processor cooling, whenever you put that processor on load, it's gonna overheat and throttle down the speed anyway.

The 3.8 GHz reviews tell that even with really good cooling, those things throttle at the drop of a dime, and the 3.6 GHz isn't far off. Go with a 3.4 GHz, but if there is a substantial price break between that and a 3.2 GHz, you're not gonna notice the performance difference between the two, and you might as well save the money.

What Yecti said.

Basically, buying a computer from a manufacturer is a waste of time. I'm trying to make sure people realize this. It doesn't really sink in fully until you first build your own computer, and then look at one that was sent to you by Dell or Gateway, and compare performance, even with the SAME EXACT COMPONENTS. And like Yecti said, it really doesn't take that much time to assemble, and is a valuable skill to have (okay, so he didn't say that last part).

But no one listens to me anyways, because I'm just the local overzealous fanboy.*

*Sarcasm

4 hours? You're kidding. My mother is probably computer illiterate x100. I got home from a week long thing and my new PC case had come (The last part I had ordered to a full PC) she put the entire thing together herself in less than 2 hours. I just had to flick it on and install XP Pro and 98 on a dual boot. If MY mom can do it in 2 hours, you can do it in 1.

JediKirby

Anyone who puts a dab of glue on molex connectors needs to be stabbed repeatedly in the face, with a dull knife, in different directions, at high speed, rapidly, without mercy, continuously, for as long as they still have a face that resembles humanity.

Molex connectors are already the hardest damn plugs in the universe to get out on some computers. They do NOT need assistance in this endeavor!

IDE cables probably wouldn't be as bad, but they stay in well enough on their own.

Clearly you don't have the experience I do when it comes to the imprecise manufacturing of pins and sockets that is the Molex/Waldom corporation.

Elaborate, because that made no sense.

My experience:

Every single molex connector I've ever used (I've built maybe 20 systems, and modified a good lot more) has always been nearly impossible to pull out once plugged in. Sometimes the use of a tool is required just to get the leverage to pull them out. I've actually managed to pull apart a molex with the plastic casing still in a drive, and the pins and such pulled out. That was not a fun day.

What I mean is, many Molex plugs are poorly manufactured and fall right out. On my power supplies they stick well and are not a challenge to remove. On some systems at home, they frequently vibrate loose. Loose enough to interrupt the power to a component to cause a nice lockup.

A daub of glue is a good idea for prebuilt PCs, it saves money when people call it to figure out why they are getting lockups or something. And for build to order PCs targeted towards enthusiasts, well, hot glue pops right off.

Remind me to get my PSUs from you from now on. I WISH I had that kind of problem.

The connectors made by Molex are actually good (but nowhere near as well engineered as Molex's other lines of interconnects), but there are plenty of third party manufacturers that make junk. My favorites are the ones with the pins that can rotate a good 10 degrees in any direction and you have to jiggle the plug to [edit- no]

-_-