AlienWare, value for money?

DamoKen

Hi All, posted a question last week on advice on parts for a gaming machine, cheers for the answers on that. The alternative to building a machine I'm also looking at due to mainly lack of spare time for building one is to buy from Alienware amongst others. The system specs that I'm looking at are those below, the total cost including tax & shipping (comes from Athlone would you believe?) comes to €4114.61 which is around 2000 more than I was thinking. However, managed to sell my other machine for a decent price and am looking into paying through my company to knock off the tax (anyone done this by the way?, appreciate any advice), if I get the tax off that would reduce the overall cost by €714.11 .
So has anyone got an Alienware machine, or know of any who do?, basically is it worth that much?

Cheers

Dken

Specs on Aurora Extreme:

Case: Alienware Full-Tower Case with 480 Watt PSU - Saucer Silver
Power Supply: No Power Supply Upgrade
Cable Management: Alienware Cable Management System
Video Cooling: AlienIce™ Video Cooling System - Astral Blue
Processor: AMD Athlon™ 64 FX-53 Processor with HyperTransport Technology
Motherboard: ASUS A8V Deluxe - VIA K8T800 Pro Motherboard
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 400MHz- 2x512MB
Video Card: ATI RADEON™ X800 XT Platinum Edition 256MB DDR3 w/Digital and TV Out
Hard Drive: 120GB Seagate Barracuda Serial ATA 7200rpm w/ 8MB Cache - Quantity 2
Optical Drive One: 16/48x IDE DVD-ROM Drive - Black - w/Software MPEG-2 Decoder
Optical Drive Two: Plextor PX-712A 12x DVD±R/W Drive - Black
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 ZS - 7.1
Network Card: Integrated High Performance 3com® Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
Floppy Drive & Additional Storage: 1.44 MB Floppy Drive - Black
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition UK
Monitor: Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 19" 930SB BK - Space Black - Quantity 1
Speakers: Creative® 7.1 Inspire™ T7700
Keyboard: Alienware® MultiMedia Keyboard International
Mouse: Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer USB 3.0 - Space Black
Automated Support: AlienAutopsy: Automated Technical Support Request System
Warranty: 3-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support

Töpher

Personally I'd say waste of money, I know people who've spent obscene amount on Alienware PC's, only to be shamed when someone else built a FAR superior machine for FAR less. :rolleyes: With Alienware, you are, IMO, paying for the brand name.

jesus_thats_gre

Originally posted by Einstürzende
Personally I'd say waste of money, I know people who've spent obscene amount on Alienware PC's, only to be shamed when someone else built a FAR superior machine for FAR less. :rolleyes: With Alienware, you are, IMO, paying for the brand name.

And the **** case! Mind you, if you are getting it tax free.... Hmmm...

Mac daddy

They look great but i think they just cost to much for what they.

If you have the money nothing better to spend it on to lazy to build your own yea go for it

BKtje

Build your owns are mroe satisfying and a hell of a lot cheaper. Couldnt you get the tax off the seperate parts anyway? What i usually do.

No they aint value for money

DamoKen

Originally posted by Mac daddy
If you have the money nothing better to spend it on to lazy to build your own yea go for it

I like to think of it as lack of time rather than laziness . Loads of other cool things out there I could spend that type of cash on, but after the last 3 months of getting dicked around by PCWorldofB*****ds over firstly a machine that was faulty from the start but which they refused to give me back my money on, and then lumped with a replacement I didn't want (different type of machine, good spec overall but s***e on gaming), I want to get something that I know is going to live up to expectations. I wouldn't mind building my own, but after the amount of time I've spent over the last 3 months on support lines and forums to try and get first my first machine to work and then the second to do what it plainly couldn't, don't fancy the thought of spending the next 2 months ringing companies around Europe wondering where some part is!, or worse still, some part not working and firstly trying to figure out which one and then the process of having to send it back and then waiting on a replacement! Truth be told I'm fairly worn out by the whole thing with the last shower of b*****ds!, be willing to spend a bit extra to avoid that whole scenario again.

Dr. Loon

I bought an Alienware - around this time last year I think it was. I wasn't arséd building my own, although I know I could've built a slightly better machine cheaper, but **** it. I like the Alienware case, and the machine is great. It comes tweaked to bits also. I'm very happy with mine, but would say, if you have the time and patience build your own. If money isn't too much of an issue, then get whatever you want.

DamoKen

Originally posted by Dr. Loon
If money isn't too much of an issue, then get whatever you want.

Well got the proceeds of selling my last machine plus a bit I've been squirelling away, so it's not a massive issue, be nice if it wasn't an issue at all . But yeah, probably just blow it one way or another anyway, might as well get something good (if overpriced) while I still have the cash. If anyone knows of any other prebuilt\customizable gamer machines (apart from that thing Dell are pushing) out there that are pretty good let us know, otherwise reckon I'll dig deep on this one.

Cheers for the input

Dken

uberwolf

I'd have a look at this thread if I were you ...

give you an idea of the specs you can get for the money. Towards the bottom is 1600 machine which looks pretty serious.

Building isn't difficult. It's just like the squares and pegs game you played as a kid. Obv modding is totally different.

RicardoSmith

If you don't have time to build it, do you have time to play games on it?

Seriously. You'd put something better cheaper yourself. I'll do it for you for a small fee, and give you all the tech support you want!

DamoKen

Originally posted by uberwolf
I'd have a look at this thread if I were you ...

give you an idea of the specs you can get for the money. Towards the bottom is 1600 machine which looks pretty serious.

Building isn't difficult. It's just like the squares and pegs game you played as a kid. Obv modding is totally different.

I take it this is the machine you mean?

High End PC (€1500 ish)

Motherboard: MB ATX S754 MSI K8N Neo Platinum € 134,09
CPU : CPU AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Tray € 244,50
CPU Cooler : ZALMAN CNPS-7000-AlCu € 27,99
HardDisk : 2 x SATA 160GB Samsung SP1614C 8MB € 107,85
DVD/CDRW : DVDR IDE LiteOn LDW-851S 8x speed € 79,89
Graphics : 256MB Sapphire Radeon X800 Pro Full-RTL € 419,98
Memory : DDR PC400 512MB Mushkin BH6 € 166,55
Sound Card : Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS Retail € 74,99
Case : Thermaltake XaserIII Lanfire VM1000A- €111-00
Power Supply : Thermaltake Butterfly 480W BLK €99-00

Definite food for thought on that one, hmmm..., ok, have to rethink this, whats jess's normal delivery time?

ChipZilla

Alienware's fine if you want a l337-looking :dunno: machine but don't have a clue how to do it yourself. For 4 grand I'd be looking for more than that spec gives. DIY and save a lot of dosh...

Creamy Goodness

they are a waste of money and they don't even look that great the case is just plastic.

you should look at some coolermaster, lian li aluminum (sp.) cases they are the schizz

Duffman

Originally posted by DamoKen
HHowever, managed to sell my other machine for a decent price and am looking into paying through my company to knock off the tax (anyone done this by the way?, appreciate any advice), if I get the tax off that would reduce the overall cost by €714.11 .

Em, you want to build a gaming machine.. This is tax evasion... I hope you get caught.

maxheadroom

Originally posted by Duffman
Em, you want to build a gaming machine.. This is tax evasion... I hope you get caught.

Well, he could be a games developer for all you know


Besides, everybody who can get away with this does it.

Champ

I'd be very cautious ordering from Alienware; it isn't too hard to find horror stories regarding them around the net...

Redrocket

if you have to ask the question, then yes, they are value for money.

Azza

My personal view is to avoid buying from alienware. Build your own its cheaper more fun and better!

Creamy Goodness

if you still decide to buy alienware you can collect it if you near athlone might save even more money

BloodBath

you have to ask the question, then yes, they are value for money.

Eh no the're not.

You could build the same system for about 1000 less. If you can get it without the tax then I say it's a good deal. The 3 year on site warranty is good and that system is top of the line.

Ring them and tell them you want xp pro though at no extra cost. They should give it to you.


BloodBath

Mac daddy

Originally posted by Cr3m0
you should look at some coolermaster, lian li aluminum (sp.) cases they are the schizz

true i have a lian li Pc65 aluminum looks great better than a lump of plastics with green eyes on it;)

l3rian

http://www.evesham.com/PCs/Info.asp?e=62962E8D-F352-49F6-8D3E-148A32623C46

GB£2,113.83 inc VAT (£1,799.00) = €3,163.86 inc VAT (€2,692.24)

Processor
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ processor with HyperTransport technology

Memory
2 x 512MB DDR RAM (PC3200) 400MHz

Hard disk
200GB Serial ATA hard drive with 8MB buffer

Graphics
256MB DDR ATI Radeon X800 XT PE graphics with TV-out, DVI & VIVO

Monitor
20" Viewsonic VP201s (TFT) DVI monitor

Speakers
Creative Inspire T7700 7.1 speakers

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive
16x DVD-ROM drive

CD/DVD Rewriter
DW-U18A 8x multi format DVD-RW

Keyboard and mouse
Microsoft cordless keyboard and cordless optical mouse

Modem
v92 56k Internet ready modem

Floppy drive
1.44MB 3.5" floppy drive

Case
Stylish tool free case (435x222x495)


The Viewsonic 20" is a much nicer monitor than that Mitsubishi 19", + its equal on the rest

The evesham got 11,329 in 3dmark03 in this months pcw mag

DamoKen

Originally posted by l3rian
http://www.evesham.com/PCs/Info.asp?e=62962E8D-F352-49F6-8D3E-148A32623C46

GB£2,113.83 inc VAT (£1,799.00) = €3,163.86 inc VAT (€2,692.24)

Processor
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ processor with HyperTransport technology

Memory
2 x 512MB DDR RAM (PC3200) 400MHz

Hard disk
200GB Serial ATA hard drive with 8MB buffer

Graphics
256MB DDR ATI Radeon X800 XT PE graphics with TV-out, DVI & VIVO

Monitor
20" Viewsonic VP201s (TFT) DVI monitor

Speakers
Creative Inspire T7700 7.1 speakers

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive
16x DVD-ROM drive

CD/DVD Rewriter
DW-U18A 8x multi format DVD-RW

Keyboard and mouse
Microsoft cordless keyboard and cordless optical mouse

Modem
v92 56k Internet ready modem

Floppy drive
1.44MB 3.5" floppy drive

Case
Stylish tool free case (435x222x495)


The Viewsonic 20" is a much nicer monitor than that Mitsubishi 19", + its equal on the rest

The evesham got 11,329 in 3dmark03 in this months pcw mag

just checked out that site, some pretty good offers alright, just waiting to hear back from them on a few things, cheers mate!