Interesting Question about Buying or Building

[cloud9]

Well I thought I could get a good XPS for cheaper than building and I can but the build has a better case w/ better cooling and a better power supply.  So here's the two choices.

Dell XPS 420

Chipset - X38
CPU - Q6600
OS - Vista Home Premium 32-bit (would be upgraded to 64)
RAM - 4GB 800MHz
HD - 500GB 7200RPM SATA
Drives - Dual with blu-ray and DVD double write compatible
Screen - 20in SP2008WFP
Video Card - 512mb Nvidia GeForce 8800GT
Sound Card - 7.1 integrated
Keyboard & Mouse - Bluetooth Dell
Extras - Microsoft Works 8

Price - $2169
Discounts - $500 (standard dell) and 15% (from work)
Final Price - $1418.65

Built System (any better ideas are welcomed)

MoBo - Abit IP-35
CPU - Intel Q6600
Case - Antec 900
RAM - Corsair 4GB
Screen - Acer 20" Widescreen (same refresh and native resoulution as Dell)
HD - Seagate 250GB
CD/DVD - Philips DVD burner 2X
Video Card - EVGA 8800GT Superclocked
Keyboard & Mouse - Logitech Cordless
Sound - Creative 7.1
PSU - Sunbeam 580W
OS - Vista 64-bit

Price - 1460.38 (I haven't figured in the shipping and rebates yet)

Any ideas??

[ozzy72]

Personally I wouldn't touch the Dell with a bargepole!

[MWISimmer]

Dells are notorious for their "unupgradability" (I've just made up a new word  ;D ) and their BIOS is usually crippled so no overclocking either.

Personally I'd pay EXTRA just to NOT have a Dell..

All this depends on how proficient you are with building your own system though.

[cloud9]

Well...This would be my first build but I'm rather familiar with what I'm doing and I know a few people who have done it before...

[simonmd]

I've heard that DELL are very hard to upgrade once you've got one, beware!

Also, a word of advice, steer clear of Vista 64. There is no noticable performance difference between that and the 32bit version and there are a LOT of compatibility issues, both hardware and software, especially if you are going to run FS on it.

[Brett_Henderson]

The price gap has narrowed lately (it used to be quite a bit cheaper to build) because the parts prices (mostly CPUs and V-cards) have not come down much at all (this is what happens when one company (like Intel/Nvidia) gets and holds the advantage. And it's gonna stay this way until AMD figts back in  :-[

Anyway.. I'd still pay quite a bit more for a build, beacause you'll end up with a better computer... better RAM, better M/B.. PSU, more upgrade-able.. etc... PLUS you'll set it up YOUR way.. a nice, clean O/S only platform, and then add what you want. I lke having a Windows only CD.. not some bundled cluster-foxtrot, restore CD.. or worse.. the restoration done from a HDD partition  ::)

[cloud9]

What I'm kind of wondering is if I were to build would that be all I need or is there more/better options? Also vista 32 only recognizes 3 GB of RAM and I'd like 4 so thats why i'm going for it

Thanks 8-)

[simonmd]

There's no point in having 4gb RAM if nothing will work on it!!

[GunnerMan]

Ahh crap had a whole post typed and clicked next so to make a long story short.

Im using lots of older hardware on my Vista 64, Sidewinder 2 stick, Realtek ethernet(5 years old), etc etc. You CAN use 32 bit drivers Cameron i belive will say the same, he is almost problem free with it.

4 Gbs of ram IS the standard of today now. Crysis and FSx are some games that need 4 gbs or more to run maxed. Tomorrows games will be no different.

I wish MS would have just put out a 64 bit Vista and scratched 32 bit and then it would urge company support for 64bit products more and you would have half the problems.

[simonmd]

I wish MS would have just put out a 64 bit Vista and scratched 32 bit and then it would urge company support for 64bit products more and you would have half the problems.

AMEN to that! I tried the 32bit drivers for the wireless but it just refused to detect it, some hardware is obviously different. The joystick was no big surprise as it dates from 2000 but still, it does work perfectly with Vista32!

My point is, brand new 64bit O/S 'future proof' PC, GREAT. Just make sure that all your other stuff works with it first.

[cloud9]

Yah well if you look at my sig i'm not even near buying yet so microsoft has some time to work things out

[cloud9]

I'd really like to know if this is a good setup for a build or if I need to change things???

PLEASE help is much appreciated

[MWISimmer]

I'd really like to know if this is a good setup for a build or if I need to change things???

PLEASE help is much appreciated

Well, to be honest it depends on your time line. If your 41% saving has taken a year then there will be far better tech out when you reach your goal.. As it stands right now, that's a good system (the self build one) and will be upgradeable in the future.

One thing you don't mention is the RAM type, is it DDR2 or DDR3? Most X38 chipsets are leaning toward DDR3 now.

[ozzy72]

But the performance gains between DDR3 over 2 are not that significant...

[cloud9]

Well the chipset is p35 not x38 and preferred memory is DDR2 800 which is what mine is

Thanks for the suggestion. Any other ideas

P.S. I have 3 or 4 months max until I have enough saved