To Build or Buy, That is the Question

High End / Gaming





























































  Dell XPS Gen 4 Build
Price $3,687 – $300mir* = $3,387 $3,162.69
Processor Intel Pentium 4 EE 3.4ghz Pentium 4 EE 3.4ghz
RAM 1 GB Dual Channel DDR2 533mhz 1 GB Dual Channel DDR2 533 MHZ
OS Microsoft Windows XP Pro Microsoft Windows XP Pro
Optical 1 16x DVD +/- RW 16x DVD +/- RW
Optical 2 16x DVD-Rom 16x DVD-Rom
Hard Drive 1 74 GB SATA (10,000 RPM) 74 GB SATA (10,000 RPM)

Hard Drive 2

250 GB SATA (7,200 RPM) 250 GB SATA (7,200 RPM)
Floppy Drive Yes Yes
Monitor 17 inch LCD 17 inch LCD
Video Card ATI 850 XT PE, 256 MB ATI 850 XT PE, 256 MB
Sound Card Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
Keyboard / Mouse Standard Standard
Case / PSU Standard Dell Enlight / 350 watt

*Mir = mail in Rebate
Link to build page: http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishR.asp?ID=1316649


Comparison


It appears that if you intend to purchase a gaming or very high end computer, building it is the way to go right now. The total savings are $224.31, even after a $300 mail in rebate from Dell and the fact that they throw in a free 17 inch LCD. Both systems are top of the line, with the newest PCI-Express video card from ATI, a very nice sound card to compliment the already wonderful onboard sound, and plenty of storage for those gamers who need it. The parts in this system are only needed by those who do extreme amounts of multitasking, video editing, graphics work, or do lots of heavy gaming.

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Comments

  1. You don’t address the issue of build or buy!

    Which makes your article “JUNK”.

    As a owner of multiple HP products and having to deal with their customer support more than once and one of those times it was a over 5 hours that their tech person helped me.
    One of the times it was help for a computer that was 2+ years out of warranty.

    NOW Whether to build or buy,
    THAT IS STILL THE QUESTION THAT WAS NEVER ANSWERED.

    • Congratulations, you just commented on a five-year-old article.

      Go buy a Mac. Apple people love it WHEN YOU TALK IN ALL CAPS LIKE A BLITHERING IDIOT. You’ll fit right in.

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