Author Topic: Dell or build. 1Gig or 2. Processor ? (Read 348 times)

Stone · « **on:** April 01, 2006, 01:32:07 PM »

I am having trouble with my PC. It seems I have to constantly buy new parts to keep it running.

So now I am considering buyin a whole new system. Maybe even a brand PC.

Looking on a Dell system now for aprox ~1500€ (Dimension 9150)

- Intel® Pentium® 4 650 HT (3.40GHz, 800MHz FSB, 2Mb )
- 1024Mb PC-4200 Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz [2x512]
- 80Gb SATA HD , 7.200RPM 8Mb DataBurst™
- 256MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 7800
- 48x/24x/48x/16x CD-RW/DVD-ROM
- SoundBlaster Audigy 2 (D)

Questions:

I could save 100€ by changing the processor to a 630 (3.00GHz), or pay 100€ extra to get it to 3.60 GHz.
? I think maybe best value is the 3.40 ?

Spending the 100€ to get 2 GB RAM could be an option ?
? Maybe games run faster on 3.0GHz/ 2GB RAM vs 3.4GHz / 1 GB RAM ?

I select only 80GB SATA disk. The 250GB is again ~100€ more.
? if I dont need the space, it will not make games faster ?

Also have to look what I can build with the same ammount of money. But I always get the non working components. The 3 years on-site service would be very nice

ALF · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2006, 06:11:38 PM »

Tell us what you plan on dong with the PC.

SNO · « **Reply #2 on:** April 01, 2006, 07:53:19 PM »

I know that if you use Mwave that they will install the cpu and memory on the board and test it before they send it out, that way you know the core components are going to work when you get it.

Stone · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2006, 01:13:05 AM »

The PC is used for surfing and gameing.

At the moment I play AH2, Civ4 and on-line poker.

But now and then I like to buy some third person game also. Last one was Half Life 2.

Since 4-5 years, I have built my own computer. But I seem to be unlucky, with the components. Firs one I used for 2 years. It had some strange problems. Data was being corrupted on the HD. So I started to buy new components, and ended up, more or less with a new PC, before I found the problem. The MOBO was broken from day 1

Now I again have a broken MOBO, probobly from a broken TV-tuner card.

I always have had ok, or below ok framem rates. And have to turn all the nice graphics down down down.

It would be nice for a change to be able to turn all the graphics on in AH2 at least, and for a while at least in games like Half Life 2.

Now I am considering Dell, because of the on-site waranty + I think Dell is the only brand PC, that ofers a good CPU + Video card.

But I am not sure about the price. But when I have decided on the Dell components, I then could see what components I could buy for the same price.

Stone · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2006, 02:26:15 AM »

Some how I start to think this dell is a bit over priced.

Also I think that the "256MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 7800" is not a smart buy, now when the 7900 series is out?

Brooke · « **Reply #5 on:** April 03, 2006, 02:44:51 AM »

I have owned lots of Dells and like them a lot. They have always been stable and trouble-free for me.

I currently have a Dell Dimension 9150 with a Pentium D dual-core processor. I like the dual core.

For whole systems, Dell seems to have good prices; but for higher-end graphics cards, I would do the following. I'd get the lowest-end graphics card when buying the sytem from Dell, then buy the card you want from a place like Newegg.com. Dell's prices on graphics cards usually aren't that great.

For me, Dell lists the following at US$1003 from the "small business" section (which anyone can buy from).

Dimension 9150
Pentium D, 3 GHz
1 GB RAM
Windows XP Pro
160 GB hard disk
Radeon x300
No monitor

I'd then use the monitor I already had with my system (unless you want a bigger monitor) and buy an XFX nVidia based card from Newegg.com (a 6800GS or 7x00 series maybe).

Stone · « **Reply #6 on:** April 03, 2006, 09:48:59 AM »

Oh you have the Dimension 9150 ?

Dimension 9150 is what Dell have here in Finland also.

Is it a quiet system?

Hmm Dual core? Some one said that dual core is not good for gameing?

Options for the same price would be
* Intel® Pentium® D 830 (3.00GHz, 800MHz FSB, 2x1Mb)
* Intel® Pentium® 4 660 HT (3.60GHz, 800MHz FSB, 2Mb)

What is faster for games?
Games is the only place I realy need speed

I wonder what AMD CPU is in the same speed "class" as the P D830 & P4 660 ?

I will consider buing the Vidcard sepparatly. That sounds like a nice option.

Brooke · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2006, 01:48:02 AM »

The Dell 9150 itself seems quiet, but the newer video cards, such as the nVidia 6800GS that I have, are noisy. Here is a suggested way to reduce video-card fan noise, but it still will be noiser than with lower-performance or older video cards:

http://www.electraforge.com/brooke/misc/riva_tuner/riva_tuner.html

I got the dual core as newer games will start using multithreading soon, I think. Even when they don't, dual core allows me to pop out of a game (like Aces High) and still be able to do something briefly in another application before returning to the game. Dual-core Pentiums are fine for Aces High and all other games I play (Battlefield 1942, WWIIOL). Dual-core AMD with Windows XP supposedly does not work well with Aces High.

jtdragon · « **Reply #8 on:** April 06, 2006, 10:20:03 AM »

Just got a Dell E510 for same reason,
P4 3200/X600/!gig and it runs close to my old AMD 3200/6800GT/! gig.
only thing i"ll change is get a 7600 card???? The 600 did surpize me, lost only 10-15 FR not bad for a cheap card