Gaming Pc's???

Messer#1

Hey there, just been looking at investing in a good gaming pc but wondering about which one. There's all the alienware stuff and the Dell XPS and also some on elara.ie. I'm getting a bit lazy and don't want to go modding or searching around for separate components, so a nice ready to buy package is what I'm after. Has anyone got any advice?

D

komplett.ie do ready built pcs.

jjmax

I know you said you didn't want to mess about, but building your own is the way to go.
Use Komplett as a good source and to help you pick the right bits.
The biggest desicion is the motherboard, next to it is the case.
After you have those two sorted everything else falls into place.
If you pick a motherboard on Komplett, say the MSI K8N Neo, if you scroll down you'll see a list of compatible accessories and components.
With the above example it'll help you pick RAM, CPU, Graphics Card, which takes a lot of the headache out of finding compatible components.
Also, you can ring Komplett for info.
There are loads of retailers out there aside from Komplett, although I found them to be the cheapest and most reliable for PC parts. www.elara.ie are good too though. Like I said there are laods, and there's a sticky on this forum devoted to listing them.
For help building your PC try these sites -
http://www.mysuperpc.com/
or
http://www.pcmech.com/build.htm
or
http://www.buildyourown.org.uk/

I know you said you didn't want to go through all this hassle, but it's worth for many reasons.
Apart from the whole sense of achievement.
You'll know your system inside-out (literally).
You'll save a wad of cash.
You'll be the proud owner of a unique one-off!

WizZard

Or get some one of us on boards to build it for you. Less hassle for youy, you just buy the components.

uberpixie

Messer#1 wrote:

Hey there, just been looking at investing in a good gaming pc but wondering about which one. There's all the alienware stuff and the Dell XPS and also some on elara.ie. I'm getting a bit lazy and don't want to go modding or searching around for separate components, so a nice ready to buy package is what I'm after. Has anyone got any advice?

Don't go near alienware for a desktop. They take the p i s s with their pricing. The will try sell you a destop for €2500 without a monitor with 512mb of bog ram and a mid range gfx card.(just look at their website it's a scandal what they charge)

Alienware lappies are dacent, but if you are getting a desktop go dell over alienware, it will be a grand cheaper with a monitor at least! Go dell 8400 over XPS. Better value and same parts: just a plainer case.

The trick with ordering form dell is to get out your pen and paper and comparing each chassis. Usually going up a chassis is better value than adding extras to a lower chassis. Dell charge an arm and a leg for extras.

Have a look at elara like jjmax said. Their high end stuff seems ok bar the gfx seem a bit weedy, but nicer cases than dell and you can get amd 64 boxes.

Also have look at ordering in from the uk. Uk has a fantstic number of pc builders with very low prices in comparison to this country. The only problem will be finding one that ships to ireland.

TKK

I would wonder about the claim you'll save a wad of cash...I think you'll end up with better quality components and thus a better quality machine for your cash...

I built a system last year and didn't save anything on a similar spec machine but did end up with the better quality...

astrofool

well if you bought the same quality, you'd pay less then..

jjmax

Saved over a grand building my own (including monitor)then if I'd bought the Dell equivalent.

Nema

..

Nema

Ok i was here a few weeks ago, i was thinking of buying a PC or building, i build one as you will see in my sig, the thing is its not 110% safe, i got a Mobo Nforce4 SLI Gigabit, anyways i was at home one day waiting, waiting,waiting for my parts to come 4 days late " another thing you cant controll" finally they came and i was so HAPPPPPY i was jumping up and down " sad whatever " so i got up to my work room and started to build after i installed everything " happy with my self " i tryed to power it up and yes it would not power up so after a lot of troubleshooting and ringing around it was clear that the MOBO was ****** before i even got it " Faulty " so i rang them back up and they said sure send it back " i had to pay " and it will be out to you in 3/4 weeks " between the lines 3/4 months" so i said to my self **** that and i had to go over to ITD and buy another one but this time i got the MSI K8N SLI platinum and here i am today. so i whent over what i thought i was going to spend and i still havent heard anything from gig so up to you, BUT i would do it again heeh i love my PC and i dont think i could have got one in shop like it so bye lol!!!


Just something you should know !!!

WizZard

Amazingly you were able to build a PC, but not use punctuation?

jjmax

I had similarish experiences to Nema, but all in all I'm happy I went with a Build-Yer-Own.
Komplett were infuriating at times, but I've used them since and will use them again and again.
At the risk of running the wrath of Dev - steer clear of dabs.com.

BloodBath

Amazingly you were able to build a PC, but not use punctuation?

Lol I was just thinking the same thing. Man that was hard to read.


BloodBath

leeroybrown

I think that you'll always end up with a better PC if you build it yourself. I end up spending a similar amount of money but I definitely get a superior spec, better parts and a good upgrade path. I'm still using the same (core) Athlon XP system that I built in 2001 and it still does a very good job. I've picked up upgrade parts along the way and I'm about to replace the core parts with new AMD64/939 ones and I'll have two good full systems from the remaining parts.

I've also helped friends build PC's were they've gotten very good specs that they wouldn't otherwise have been able to afford. They've also been able to easily upgrade their machines and are still happily using them.

The only caveats are that you *need* to spend time picking your components and you may have to deal with troubleshooting and returns. I've had faulty RAM (quite a few times), a motherboard, a monitor and a metric shedload of hard drives and some faults can be a pain to diagnose (the motherboard one was annoying). I always try to buy from a company that deals with returns properly - a nasty experience with the infamous Scan taught me that.

The only people I know who got bad value from building their own were people who over-spec'ed their PC for their needs but at the end of the day they still got a great PC for the money.

Orion

WizZard wrote:

Amazingly you were able to build a PC, but not use punctuation?

Yes he was - just too damn much of it - and not always in the right place.

Orion

uberpixie wrote:

Don't go near alienware for a desktop. They take the p i s s with their pricing. The will try sell you a destop for €2500 without a monitor with 512mb of bog ram and a mid range gfx card.(just look at their website it's a scandal what they charge)

JHC - you're not kidding. First time I've actually looked at their site...
[edit] btw this is under their gaming pc section [/edit]
A64-3500,
NF4 Mobo,
512 crap ram,
radeon x300!,
80gb hdd!!! (at least it's sata),
dvdr,
Audigy 2 ZS (can't complain about that)

All for the snip of 1200 sterling!!!!!

I love the HDD pricing though - 80Gb included + second 80Gb for £53. Or you could pay £29 above list for a 160gb. My maths may be $hite but 29 is less than 53 for 160Gb in my copybook

rsynnott

WizZard wrote:

Amazingly you were able to build a PC, but not use punctuation?

He/She certainly IS able to use punctuation; just not the way anybody else does That's one of the most unreadable things I've ever seen....