Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Larry on December 02, 2007, 02:39:35 PM
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My old computer crashed a few days ago and I was shoping around for a new one. Since I dont have all the money upfront I was looking at alienware because they let you pay month by month. Since I dont know much about computers I thought Id show you guys the specs and get some feedback before buying it.
Alienware® 750 Watt Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8600 GTS
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 5200+ Processor w/ HyperTransport and Dual Core Technology
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 2 x 1024MB
Alienware® Approved NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI Motherboard
Windows Vista® Home Premium
250GB SATA 3Gb/s 7,200RPM 16MB Cache
20X Dual-Layer DVD±RW
Dual High Performance Gigabit Ethernet Ports
High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio
Alienware® USB Full-Size Keyboard
Standard Optical 3-Button Mouse with Scroll Wheel
1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
$1,299 as low as $39/mo
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As a general rule most folks think that alienware is a bit overpriced. However its certainly a better gaming rig then Dell etc...
No question that rig will play AH well. If thats the best option for you financially then so be it....
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Other companies like Dell let you pay by month as well. IMO, Alienware will get you a fast computer, but you can build a similar PC for less. If you're not into building computers, find whatever is in your budget. Alienware will get you a gamer computer, but Dell XPS's are nice as well. A Walmart special certainly is not going to be a gaming computer. Avoid onboard video, have a deidcated video card.
And about that Alienware computer. Avoid the 8600 GTS. Don't be tricked by the larger 8600 number. It's more like a 7200-7300 as compared to a 7800-7900. It's not the same caliber as a 7600 was in the 7xxx generation. Only Nvidia cards I recommend are the 8800GT, 8800 GTS 320mb and up.
The Nvidia 590 SLI chipst on the motherboard isn't bad, but its an older chipset. Older than my Nvidia 650 SLI I purchased about a year ago.
Budget is the key though. Give us your budget, and we can look around for you. Also, Vista is going to drag perfomance down on gaming. You can order (at least from Dell) new computer with Windows XP installed, and not Vista.
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From Dell $899
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™2 Q6600 Quad-Core (8MB L2 cache,2.4GHz,1066FSB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium**
MEMORY 3GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 4 DIMMs edit
HARD DRIVE 320GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
OPTICAL DRIVE Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
MONITORS No Monitor
VIDEO CARD 128MB ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO***
SOUND CARD Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
BLUETOOTH AND MEDIA READER Dell 19 in 1 Media Reader with Bluetooth
KEYBOARD Dell USB Keyboard
MOUSE Dell Optical USB Mouse
WI-FI AND MODEM 56K PCI Data Fax Modem
**I couldn't find the Windows XP option, but I know it exists.
***In this package you could get a 8600GTS (highest available in the package), but I went with the cheapest one. Recommend selling it on ebay and if your budget is $1300, you could get an 8800GTS with money to spare. Now this depends on the power supply Dell ships with it, if it can handle it. But you can check out their other packages in the Dell XPS line.
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(Alienware is Dell)
They're generally VERY overpriced.
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The only way for me to afford a good PC now is if I pay it off like dell or alienware lets you. I have about $450 right now I just dont want to wait a few months to have the rest.
Dell XPS 210
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E4500 (2.2GHz, 800 FSB)
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition with re-installation CD
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 2DIMMs
320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
8x DVD+/-RW Drive
128MB ATI Radeon X1300
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Dell USB Keyboard and Dell Premium Optical USB Mouse
2Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor, 24x7 Phone Support
$1,108 as low as $34/mo
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Originally posted by Fulmar
**I couldn't find the Windows XP option, but I know it exists.
for this option , you normally have to call and order/request it over the phone, they do not show it on their website.......
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Other video card that come with the Aurora 7500
512MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 GT [+$50 or $2/mo.]
320MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 GTS - Superclocked! [+$80 or $3/mo.]
768MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 GTX [+$450 or $14/mo.]
768MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 Ultra [+$900 or $27/mo.]
The two 768MB ones are out of the question but the two 8800 GT(S) I could handle.
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Originally posted by Larry
Dell XPS 210
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E4500 (2.2GHz, 800 FSB)
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition with re-installation CD
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 2DIMMs
320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
8x DVD+/-RW Drive
128MB ATI Radeon X1300
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Dell USB Keyboard and Dell Premium Optical USB Mouse
2Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor, 24x7 Phone Support
$1,108 as low as $34/mo
Not sure why my system is less expensive and better than what you're posting here. Other than the In Home Service for 2 years which is like an extra $150. Are you including a monitor with this and othe options not listed? The X1300 is no where near on par with even an 8600 GTS.
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Originally posted by Larry
Other video card that come with the Aurora 7500
512MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 GT [+$50 or $2/mo.]
320MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 GTS - Superclocked! [+$80 or $3/mo.]
768MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 GTX [+$450 or $14/mo.]
768MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 Ultra [+$900 or $27/mo.]
The two 768MB ones are out of the question but the two 8800 GT(S) I could handle.
The 8800 GT is a great card for the money. Cheaper and does about as good as the 8800 GTS 320 (standard clock). IMO its a toss up with both of those cards. It's $30.
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Okay here are my choses for now. One, wait about few months sitting in a corner having withdraws untill I can get enough money to pay to get a new system or.. Two, upgrade my sisters computer that she doesnt need anymore.
Here are the specs on it:
Dell OptiPlex 280 mini-tower
Windows XP pro
Intel Pen. 4 CPU 2.80Ghz
256mb DDR2 RAM
128mb intagraded videochip.
For about $250 I can get 2GB of ram and a new Vcard. Only thing is as I said before I dont know much about this stuff and wanted to know if the Vcard was good. As some of you know Im a skiner and need to run 1024tex. with the hi res pack installed. So will this card pull it off?
Radeon HD 2400 PRO OverClocked 256 MB DDR2 PCI-E Graphics Card
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The 2400 is the lower end of the 2000 line. It *should* but if you can find a 2600 or 2600 Pro or 2600 XT that would be better.
The 2400 has a high number but is about comparable to a Ge 6600 for performance, according to Tom's Hardware.
The 2600 Pro is about par with a Ge6800 GS, and the 2600 XT about par with the 6800 Ultra or 7600 GT.
P.S. Avoid the E4000 series on the Core 2 Duos... They're the new equivelant of the Celeron. 800MHz FSB, too, compared to 1066 or 1333 for the E6000 line. They lack muscle.
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Pulled up the spec sheet on the Optiplex 280...
Power Supply: Small Form Factor 160W; Small Desktop 210W;
Desktop 280W; Mini-Tower 305W
You might want to open it up and see what the max rating on your power supply is, and how many amps you have on the rails (look at the sticker) before you decide on a video card that draws too much juice.
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I was running a 6200 before my system crashed and was getting around 40-75fps depending on how many fires were on screen.
Old system:
Dell 4600
Win XP home
Intel Pen. 4 2.40Ghz
1.76GB DDR RAM
Geforce 6200 256mb ddr
Krusty this case is one of those "space savers" so the slot for a vcard is about half size. I looked up the sevect tag for it and then looked for compatable vcard and this is the list:
Radeon HD 2400 PRO OverClocked 256 MB DDR2 PCI-E Graphics Card
Radeon HD 2400 PRO 256 MB DDR2 PCI Express Graphics Card
Refurbished: 128 MB ATI X600 SE Graphics Card with DVI/TV Out
Refurbished: 256 MB Radeon X600 Graphics Card with DMS-59- RoHS Compliant
I didnt want to go with a refubished one but if one of them are better I will.
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Nah, the X600 would be worse than your old 6200, even.
If that's the case, then go with the best you can get, then go for the 2400 Pro.
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BTW power supply is max output of 210W.
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I don't think that'll be a problem for the 2400. It's low enough that it doesn't have a minimum power requirement, like the 2600 might have had.
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Things might be looking up. Since it is the holiyday season Iv talked my grandmother an parents into giving me cash instead of clothes and other goodies.
If I can sell my old 6200 and the 1.75gb of memory Ill have just enough for my new system.
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with SP2
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6750
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ
XFX PVT71JYPF4 GeForce 7950GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
COOLMAX CW-650T EPS12V 650W Aluminum ATX v2.01 APFC Power Supply w/ "SLI"
TRIPP LITE 6 ft. DVI to VGA Cable Model P556-006
Grand Total: $867.77 w/ S&H
Just need some feedback. Will all these parts be compatible? Also I have a LCD monitor with a VGP plug, since the Vcard only has a DVI output will that DVI>VGA cable make it work?
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TK, I would think that video card should/might come with a DVI to Analog converter to hook up to your existing monitor cord......all the newer vidcards I have seen shipped or received have come with at least 1 if not 2 of these adapter/converters
good luck
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It doesnt come wiht the converter, but will this one work?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814999902
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Yes.
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Alienware = megaexpensive and very poor price/value.
Have a local hardware shop compile you a box, you'll get double performance for the money.
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See if you can change the motherboard to a 680i version. More stable and a better chipset for any possible future upgrades.
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Iv made a few changes, one of which was the mothermoard. Since the 7950 Im buying is only $190 and is a SLI card I would get a mothermoard that has two PCI-E 16x slots.
The one I picked was:
MSI P6N SLI-FI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
Maybe in a few months I can get another 7950.
Edit: One more thing I have to ask. Will XP home run both cores on the processor?
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Yes, it will run both cores.
Remember that SLI gives a 5% max performance increase for twice the price. Also, AH is a CPU intensive game and will probably see no increase from an SLI setup at all.
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Originally posted by Larry
Iv made a few changes, one of which was the mothermoard. Since the 7950 Im buying is only $190 and is a SLI card I would get a mothermoard that has two PCI-E 16x slots.
The one I picked was:
MSI P6N SLI-FI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
Maybe in a few months I can get another 7950.
The 650 is a good chipset. HOWEVER, it only operates at 16x PCI-E mode when only one card is being used. If you are running SLI, it goes to 8x mode. So the performance isn' there. Only thing you'd want to get a 2nd card for is if you want to run more than 2 monitors.
SLI is a good idea in theory, but it is not practical. Why? In order to take full advantage of SLI and actually get 'some' use out of it, you would need the fastest processor on the market. Before the Quad-cores came out, tomshardware tested two 8800GTX's with multiple processor and found you'd need the $1000 X6800 in order to keep up with the two GPU's. I.e. the video card were processing data faster than the CPU -> thus a CPU bottleneck.
And two 7950's may yield 10-15% boost in performance over just 1. Don't waste your money. And if you have the extra money to spend, but a faster processor, more ram, faster/bigger hard drive, but don't spend it on another video card.