Future proof PC?

irishshogun

I'd appreciate some advice, I'm hoping to get a new PC in a few weeks and I'd rather not get stuck with un-upgradeable parts again, I hope to have about 1400 Euro and was considering the Dell 9100 with an Pentium D Processor 820 (2.80GHz, 800MHz fsb, 2x1MB cache), 1024MB Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz, 160GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst cache,256MB ATI Radeon® X600 HyperMemory graphics card, (anybody know about this card had a look online but couldnt find anything specific about it, basically does it suck?) I rather the Pentium D 840 but can't afford it, but at least the board should take it or hopefully whatevers faster when I can. Theres a 19" LCD moniter with this too.
Costs about 1450 as is, any advice is this good value, does it suck? what would you change etc..
Thanks.

spartacus93

If your looking to upgrade in the future most people would tell you to avoid Dells. They use custom motherboards and powersupplies which makes the difficult to upgrade. Have you considered building yourself?

Mac daddy

irishshogun wrote:

I'd appreciate some advice, I'm hoping to get a new PC in a few weeks and I'd rather not get stuck with un-upgradeable parts again

Then don't buy a dell - non standard systemboard and psu - the rest can be swapped and added no problem.

irishshogun wrote:

Costs about 1450 as is, any advice is this good value, does it suck? what would you change etc..
Thanks.

I would buy a NON dell system - If you do have your heart set on a dell have a look in there outlet store you might get i cheaper there.

Or else build or ask someone to build it for you.

Endurance Man

If iv said it once, iv said it a thousand times , SELF BUILD!
These chaps are right, Dell mobo = no future upgradability .
What are you going to be using the pc for? Im sure we could put something together for you on komplett, and they can build it up for you, that way you no exaclty what you getting.

Zillah

www.komplett.ie set me up with a monster of a Pc. They even assembled it for me, which I wasn't expecting.

Dinner

Endurance Man wrote:

These chaps are right, Dell mobo = no future upgradability .

Well lets just get one thing straight. You can upgrade Dell parts. I have done. Some dell PSU's are non standard (as it happens the 5100 one is not standard) so you can either pay a bit more to get a Dell PSU from somewhere like pcpowerandcooling.com or buy a converter to make standard psu's work with Dells (unless i made that up but I remember seeing a converter). As regards the RAM/graphics etc. its all piss easy to upgrade. Not sure if you can upgrade their CPUs and the like.


But still, the best advise is to either build it yourself or if your not confident with that then either ask Komplett (if you buy it off them) or ask a technically minded friend.

maidhc

Most parts of Dells are pretty upgradable. A generic motherboard wont fit in the case, but thats about it.

I'd question to economics of upgrading processors and motherboards. RAM, optical drives, hard drives, graphics cards are fine, but I think for most ordinary people it makes more sense to buy a new machine when the old one is too "slow".

Most people buy a new machine every 3-5 years and dont bother with major upgrades between. That is very sensible, and the Dell you have chosen should still be good in 5 years time.

Self build is an option for very few people, and it is more expensive unless you really are spending big money to start off. I'm not sure if you get anything far more reliable either. Dell (and all the rest) only screw the stuff together.

chump

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?cs=iedhs1&kc=d&oc=d10512&x=6&y=8

...

E-Value Code: d - d10512
Subtract 3 year next day warranty == 905
Add that graphics card == 1020 incl deli. and vat

christophicus

I would say that building a computer yourself is cheaper ,unless you are buying a bottem of the range value for money pc.

RoyalMarine

building the p.c is the best option. not only do u save money, u get a better deal, and u can always replace part by part when u dont like it, as u made it urself. also, u feel a bit of sense satisfaction as u made the thing ur self!

irishshogun

Thanks for the info everyone, learned a few things! I didn't know Dell use propriatory parts, that sucks! also didnt know Komplett would build for you, Anyone know if they are expensive and do they give a warranty? Zillah what'd you get? I'd love to self build but I cant afford the machine to die on me or me to just screw it up, when I can afford to risk it then definatly. Chump afraid your link didn't work, dunno if its the link or the site itself, but I'll try again, curious to see what I'd get for E1020. Maidhc, your observation does apply to me, I try to upgrade every couple of years but I usually buy off the shelf and those machine tend to suck in term of life and upgradabilty, my hope this time is to buy a machine that is half way between a crappy off the shelf and a self build, ie I can add a new processsor or grafics card without the expensive of a new machine and the time it takes to transfer all my files and settings. My basic impression is to avoid Dell, if I accept that and I can't self build then what do you recommend?

Endurance Man

Going with komplett is not really self building, you just pick the corect parts and they will deliver it to your door built, and a lot cheaper . You will get warrantys on all the parts.
Ill just throw something together quick to give you and an idea .

Endurance Man

http://www.komplett.ie/k/shoplist.asp?mode=receive&si=286149&su=A771542E-7CBF-4192-AA19-ED6CF34F54FB

Put that together very quickly so probably missed some and may be a bit wrong, but that gives you the idea. They could put that together for you and you could easily upgrade .

irishshogun

Thanks Enduranceman, I'm actually on Komplett now trying to pick parts but I'm WAY over budget, I appreciate the advice, whatever you'd pick for around the 1400 euro mark would be great. I'd like a 19 inch moniter tho, the Samsung 19" LCD Syncmaster 930BF looks really nice and sounds reasonable too.

djmarkus

overclockers are cheap too. esp for gfx cards.

Endurance Man

That monitor does take a huge chunk outta your budget, what do you want to do with this pc exactly??

irishshogun

Endurance Man wrote:

That monitor does take a huge chunk outta your budget, what do you want to do with this pc exactly??

Yeah it is kinda expensive but I dont intend having to replace it anytime soon, I use my PC for everything, as a TV, watching movies, playing games doing video editing and photoshop work, I lecture part time at an art college, thats why I'm poor , I even read books on it, sad but true. Just looked at the price again 400E, feck it, its steep what'd you get knowing my uses of it?
your list looks nice less than 900E too, thats without a monitor tho is there anything else missing? keyboard and power unit!, need lots of HD space too 250g would be nice. thanks for the help too

Endurance Man

http://www.komplett.ie/k/shoplist.asp?mode=receive&si=286156&su=E4D3B258-E711-4EC1-9731-0D20B953E269

Well that was also done quickly but reckon it looks okay, sure the gang will be in to correct me .
That gives you 400gigs, and a 19inch Samsung. The graphics card is gonna allow you to play all the recent games and there is a decent sound card there. Wasnt sure about the case, but for 50 bucks that coolermaster is good.

PS: Forgot psu, dont think that case comes with 1.

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=308626&cks=PRL

Add that and you should have a system

irishshogun

Endurance Man wrote:

The graphics card is gonna allow you to play all the recent games QUOTE]

Thanks for all the help but I can't see a graphics card, yeah I'd probably change the case just for aesthetic reasons, its a bit ugly, I'd go for a sleek aluminium one if possible.
So If I bought all this stuff Komplette would assemble it for me? thats great, how much would they charge, do you know?

What do other members think of it? Assume (correctly!) that I know sod all

Just noticed it says 1300E on list page but on the checkout page its 1144E...strange

Endurance Man

Arggg, sorry, the graphics card did vanish there . Well i would go for a Geforce 6600GT, that would do you fine. The case is alluminum except the chassis which will be steel.
If you go for a more expensive case you might have to cut back on the hardware, i would rather have power than looks .
That said, you could get the antec super lanboy, cheapest full alluminum case around, and they are good.
Komplett do assemble, im not actually sure what/if they charge.

LoGiE

I recently bought the stuff below from Komplett. It easily handles any games around at the moment and for the next while too I'd imagine. It's in and around your budget as well.

Antec NEO480GB 480-Watt PSU
139

Gigabyte GA-K8NXP-SLI, nForce4 SLI,GbLAN Socket-939, 4xSATA, GbLAN,Firewire,PCI-E
175

Samsung SpinPoint P120S 200GB SATA2 8MB 7200RPM NCQ
97.01

Crucial PC3200 BallistiX DDR 1024MB CL2 Kit w/two matched,2.8V,64Meg x 64,184pin
185

Gainward GeForce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-Express,"U/3400PCX XP ViVo"
396

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2.0GHz Socket 939 1MB, BOXED w/fan
380

Antec Performance One P180 Miditower, Aluminum Silver (Without PSU)
147

Total: 1519.01

art

Endurance Man wrote:

http://www.komplett.ie/k/shoplist.asp?mode=receive&si=286156&su=E4D3B258-E711-4EC1-9731-0D20B953E269

Well that was also done quickly but reckon it looks okay, sure the gang will be in to correct me .
That gives you 400gigs, and a 19inch Samsung. The graphics card is gonna allow you to play all the recent games and there is a decent sound card there. Wasnt sure about the case, but for 50 bucks that coolermaster is good.

PS: Forgot psu, dont think that case comes with 1.

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=308626&cks=PRL

Add that and you should have a system

You have on-board sound (with the motherboard) so you don't need a separate sound card. Most on board is fine for most uses and in a few months the new Creative cards should become more affordable which are distinctly better than the audigy cards.

You also have two 200 GB SATA drives...??? (but there appears to be no RAID controller!!?)

chump

LoGiE wrote:

I recently bought the stuff below from Komplett. It easily handles any games around at the moment and for the next while too I'd imagine. It's in and around your budget as well.

Antec NEO480GB 480-Watt PSU
139

Gigabyte GA-K8NXP-SLI, nForce4 SLI,GbLAN Socket-939, 4xSATA, GbLAN,Firewire,PCI-E
175

Samsung SpinPoint P120S 200GB SATA2 8MB 7200RPM NCQ
97.01

Crucial PC3200 BallistiX DDR 1024MB CL2 Kit w/two matched,2.8V,64Meg x 64,184pin
185

Gainward GeForce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-Express,"U/3400PCX XP ViVo"
396

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2.0GHz Socket 939 1MB, BOXED w/fan
380

Antec Performance One P180 Miditower, Aluminum Silver (Without PSU)
147

Total: 1519.01

No monitor