Should I get a new PC

Kashkai

Hi all,

Bear with me while I explain the situation-

I bought my Dell Dimension 8300 2 1/2 years ago. Since then I've upgraded the video card to a Radeon X800XT (AGP) and added more RAM to give me 1GB. I've also added a Creative Audigy2 ZS sound card. The processor is an Intel 3.0Ghz.

Lately, I've found that the pc is starting to chug on games such as Half Life 2 Ep. 1. I've installed the latest video drivers but they didn't help much. I want to get the new game called CRYSIS when its released as I'm a huge fan of Far Cry (from the same maker CRYTEK). However, from what I've heard, this game will crucify any pc that isn't maxed out.

I was planning on getting an XPS rig when the Vista O.S. is released later this year/early next year. However, a few friends of mine have suggested that I get another Dimension rig and upgrade it as this would be cheaper, and as I also use my pc for photos, videos, music, DVD's and work, it would be more practical as the XPS is basically a gaming rig.

Now what I want to know is:
1. Should I buy the XPS
2. Should I buy another Dimension pc
3. Should I keep my currrent pc (even though I wont be able to upgrade the video card as AGP cards are yesterday's news)

Any advice/info would be appreciated

Dave

K.O.Kiki

Nah, the X800XT should still have a fair bit of life left in it.
Your upgrade path may be better served with CPU & mobo upgrade, and maybe new HDD - if you shop around, there are still decent mobos with AGP slots around (or ones with AGP & PCI-e)
Dell XPS != good value for money IMHO

And just for lol's: Vista will never release!

*edit* and you can always turn down one or 2 quality settings...

irlrobins

Well your current rig would prob struggle to run crysis alright. So you'd prob want to upgrade for it.

As to whether to get the XPS or not, often you can get the top-end Dimension and customise the options to get the same spec as the XPS, but it will be cheaper. My Dimension 8400 had the exact same spec as the then XPS, but about €800 cheaper.

Another alternative that a lot of the users here will tell you is to build your own PC. Will prob work out cheaper than buying from Dell. Places like Komplett will have kits that allow you to do this.

Of course if you're not comfortable in building your own and supporting it, then Dell is a better option. Try their outlet store for bargains too.

PogMoThoin

Build your own....peeps here are very helpful & give great advise. Also when you build yourself you'll know everything about it when its built.
One advantage of building your own pc is that dell buy the warranty off the manufacturers of parts to enable them to buy them cheaper ie. if you buy a Seagate hd you'll get 5 yr warranty, if you buy a dell, you get whatever warranty on that hd that dell offer with the system.

magick

Now what I want to know is:
1. Should I buy the XPS
2. Should I buy another Dimension pc
3. Should I keep my currrent pc (even though I wont be able to upgrade the video card as AGP cards are yesterday's news)

1 no, its a dell

2 dear God no its a dell

3 No its a dell


self build

PogMoThoin

:rolleyes: No. Dells are quite good. Cant fault them. Dont really give trouble. Pretty well built.
But you have to remember that dell will use whatever is cheapest. ie. you'll only get 8mb cache SATA drives & cheap psu's in a dell.

Cuddlesworth

Dells are good for................wait for it..............anything but a gaming pc.

irlrobins

magick wrote:

1 no, its a dell

2 dear God no its a dell

3 No its a dell

Back your statements up with facts fanboy!

krazy_8s wrote:

Dells are good for................wait for it..............anything but a gaming pc.

Nothing wrong with my 8400 thank you very much. And their XPS systems are well built and spec'd.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

irlrobins wrote:

Back your statements up with facts fanboy!

Nothing wrong with my 8400 thank you very much. And their XPS systems are well built and spec'd.

With all of dells cost cutting measures, i'd be very slow to buy one (battery woes, mouse touch pad scandals). Maybe it doesn't apply for the top of the range models, but personally i wouldn't risk it.

PogMoThoin

irlrobins wrote:

Nothing wrong with my 8400 thank you very much. And their XPS systems are well built and spec'd.

I totally agree. But not upgradable....... its their only flaw. Altho i think they're using nvidia boards now.

Cuddlesworth

irlrobins wrote:

Nothing wrong with my 8400 thank you very much. And their XPS systems are well built and spec'd.

Yeah they have great specs...........for more than a custom build. Adding to that a locked bios with no options, the Dell crapware that comes pre-installed and the minimum cooling that you would see on a custom build. Oh yeah sure you get the great dell "warrenty". But if your not a bussiness user, they dont exactly rush to get you sorted. All the gamers I know with Dell desktops wished they had never bought from them.

Kashkai

I've had my Dell Dimension 8300 for 2 1/2 years now and its never given me any problems. Therefore, I wouldn't have a problem buying another one.

However, I'm open to building my own as I like the idea of putting the best components that I can afford into my pc as opposed to getting what some manufacturer says I should have.

I'm no computer genius, but I'm not thick either. How much knowledge would you need to be able to put one together and where would you get advice on what are the BEST components to put in e.g. AMD v INTEL etc.

I want my next pc to have a great sound system for my music and games, have a fast processor, 4 GB of RAM, top of the range drives, a big LCD screen and of course, the best graphics card money can buy. I've bought from TEKHEADS and Provantage in the past and found them to be quite good (except for the shipping costs from the states). Are Komplett and Elara any good?

Lots of questions I know, but the advice is appreciated.

Cheers,

Dave

PogMoThoin

~~SHOW OFF MODE~~ Just copy my sig ~~SHOW OFF MODE OFF

Cuddlesworth

PogMoThoin wrote:

~~SHOW OFF MODE~~ Just copy my sig ~~SHOW OFF MODE OFF

Lol, I'm more of a large selection of good rigs rather than a uber one.

Sir Random

I agree with Póg and #Elites, build a conroe based rig and you'll be set for another 2 yrs.

If you have to go Dell, wait until they start shipping conroe rigs. Their current TV campaign for the €799 Dimension states "the latest intel dual core cpus" but that's BS, they're just clearing out Pentium D dual cores to make way for conroe.

K.O.Kiki

Does any game really need 4Gigs of RAM though? I think not...
2Gb is all anyone needs

GrumPy

K.O.Kiki wrote:

Does any game really need 4Gigs of RAM though? I think not...
2Gb is all anyone needs

Too right, 4GB is overkill! rather have the 2gb, and more money to spend on a better gfx card

Ruu_Old

K.O.Kiki wrote:

Does any game really need 4Gigs of RAM though? I think not...
2Gb is all anyone needs

If there is, I refuse to buy it, the developers should be ashamed of themselves and most likely in cahoots with memory manufacturers.

PogMoThoin

Irish GrumPy wrote:

Too right, 4GB is overkill! rather have the 2gb, and more money to spend on a better gfx card

Oblivion uses just over 1gb when loaded. 2gb is loads. Even with Vista you wont need 2 go over 2gb (unless you're tryin to encode in the background)

GrumPy

PogMoThoin wrote:

Oblivion uses just over 1gb when loaded. 2gb is loads.

Yeah I know, that was my point. 2GB is fine!

PogMoThoin

Didn't realise i posted a quote.

OT: Had a good laugh at Sam Fisher doin a Zidane.

TempestSabre

A Dell is fine if you don't want to open the PC and will sell it and just buy a new one. Theres little upgrading you can do, other then the gfx ram and HD. Afer many years of building my own, a while back I bought a 4600 off the outlet store, added more ram and 6800GS. Runs everything pretty much the same as a XPS which costs twice as much. To be honest its faster than my dual Xeon at work.

If you intend upgrading a lot, then building your own is they way to do. Buy a decent case, and while overall it won't be that much cheaper it means you'll be able to upgrade more often and in smaller amounts.

Kashkai

NEED A LITTLE CLARIFICATION HERE -

When you say "Build your own", do you mean order the parts separetly and then physically put the constituent parts together or do you mean go to Kompletts, Elara's or Alienware's site and pick the components I want and let them put it together? I've done a trial run on each of their sites and the machine specs I end up with costs in the region of 3,500 - 4,000 yoyos.

As for having 4GB of RAM, I want to future proof the PC for well, the future needs of games etc. When I started pc gaming, 256mb was the norm, then 500mb, now 1GB. Who's to say CRYSIS and other games to come next year won't demand a minimum of 2GB with the manufacturers recommending more memory?

Any opinions on getting a pc from Komplett, Elara or Alienware or should I just order the parts and DIY it?

Dave

PogMoThoin

Build your own = put it together yourself. Not that hard. Like lego. You just join everythin together and install your software. Easier than You think. Picking the parts is the hardest part really.
You can always add more ram in the future. I wouldn't put 4gb in a rig now cos by the time you require 3-4gb we could be using ddr3 and it would be pointless expense. You'll not use more than 2gb for a long time, even with Vista.

K.O.Kiki

You're probably overspeccing something there; anybody should be able to build a great machine on Komplett (for example) for €2000

TempestSabre

Personally think Elara are expensive, and Alienware are daylight robbery. Getting them to build it very expensive too. To get the best value for money, when building a PC with some upgrade potential you need to buy the parts from Komplett, or OcUK or similar and put it together yourself.

You can't future proof a PC, technology is constantly changing, and they change the standards. The new AMD and Intel chips need the latest motherboards, and you can be sure in 12 months they will change again. Which also means your likely you have to change the Ram as well.

I've build PC's for years, but the last time I just bought a cheap Dell for €500 added ram and GFX to play games. I can play everything except the very latest games, as long as I'm happy to drop the res a little bit. I estimate in another few months I'll sell the Dell and buy another cheap PC maybe a Dell or build it I dunno. But I buy the trailing edge of technology not the bleeding edge.

If you've got the money to throw away, then thats cool. But don't fool yourself that you are saving money by future proofing a PC you're not. You're just spending 50-60% more just to get about 10% extra performance.

Take a look at Dells XPS range. You can get equal performance from a 5150 with the same configuration and it will cost half the price, and probably include a monitor. You need to become more aware of what PC components are actually worth buying. Consider overclocking too. You could could get a cheap single core AMD64 and overclock it and for most games it will be a lot faster than old Intel Dual Core that Dell are trying to flog off.

Take a look on Toms Hardware Guide and compare the different GFX cards, and CPU's under the same applications and games that you will be using. Some are a lot faster for not much extra cash.

Cuddlesworth

TempestSabre wrote:

If you've got the money to throw away, then thats cool. But don't fool yourself that you are saving money by future proofing a PC you're not. You're just spending 50-60% more just to get about 10% extra performance.

Take a look at Dells XPS range. You can get equal performance from a 5150 with the same configuration and it will cost half the price, and probably include a monitor. You need to become more aware of what PC components are actually worth buying. Consider overclocking too. You could could get a cheap single core AMD64 and overclock it and for most games it will be a lot faster than old Intel Dual Core that Dell are trying to flog off.

:eek: Brilliant, just pure brilliance.

TempestSabre

krazy_8s wrote:

:eek: Brilliant, just pure brilliance.

Is that agreeing with me or taking the mick

Cuddlesworth

Agreeing.

TempestSabre

krazy_8s wrote:

Agreeing.

I thought you might based on the impressive sig...:eek:

Cuddlesworth

bought for very little, mainly second hand parts.

TempestSabre

krazy_8s wrote:

bought for very little, mainly second hand parts.

Well you're the perfect example for the OP so...:)