Need some Gaming PC advice

[chronictoker]

Well I need to get a new computer. I was going to get the Alienware X58, which would cost me 3000 dollars, which is pretty damn expensive but it seems like it would be worth it since i could pay monthly for it. But i've been hearing that its cheaper to build your own PC so i was just wanting to see if any of you could put together a PC that would have similar specs but be cheaper. I'd like to get it under 2000 dollars but I doubt that I'd be able to do that and still have the kind of performance the alienware computer would offer, but honestly i could be completely wrong as i know nothing about building pc's lol. I do know someone who can put it together for me, i would just need to buy the parts. So any help is apreciated.

Here's the specs of the alienware computer i was considering:

-Intel Core I7-975 Extreme 3.33 GHZ 8MB Cache (processor)
-Alienware approved CPU liquid cooling
-Alienware 1000 watt muliti gpu approved power supply
-Dual 1GB Nvidia Geoforce GTX 285 (video card)
-6GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1333 MHz - 3 x 2048MB (memory)
-alienware approved Intel X-58 motherboard - Socket 1366 core i7 ready, Dual triple channel DDR3 memory
- vista ultimate 64bit free windows 7 upgrade
-300GB velociraptor SATA 3.0Gb/s 10,000RPM 16MB cache (hard drive)
-20X Dual Layer Burner (DVD RW) w/ lightscribe (optical drive)
-Killer Xeno Pro (gaming network card or something of the sort lol, not sure)
-high definition 7.1 performance audio

Now I'm not too familiar with computer parts and specs, so i'm sure that some of whats in that computer may be overkill, idk. I just want to have a very good computer and be able to run any games at full settings, and at maximum capabilities.

sorry for long post and thanks in advance

[glc]

The whole thing is overkill. Wait a few weeks and build something around the P55 chipset, which is due any day now. You will easily be able to build a top line gamer for under $2000.

[Khalil]

Alienware is way too expensive for what they are. When it comes to gaming rigs, either build it yourself or have a local reputable builder build one for you.
Let us know if you want to build and we can give you some great recommendations.
Another option to consider for gaming is the AMD AM3 platform. The processor in a gaming computer is not the major component. The main component is the Video card.

[chronictoker]

yea i'm definetly considering building one. which is why i came here for advice. I would like to get a system that is able to perform on a similar level as the computer i posted in the original post. Now it seems from the opinions i've been getting from a few people i talked to that, that computer is overkill, but i don't really know enough to be able to know if it is or not. So if anyone can help me with some ideas on how to build a top notch gaming pc, preferably under $2000 if possible then i would greatly apreciate it.

[Khalil]

Here is an AMD system, someone else can recommend an Intel system for you as well. Even though the i3 and i5 are coming out soon I have my doubts they would be stable, with all due respect to glc and his opinion. The i7 have proven to be an unreliable platform from Intel.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103692 AMD 965
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131402 ASUS M4A79XTD EVO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=Asus%204890 Asus ATI 4890
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160 Cooler Master Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006 Corsair 750W PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134792 Kingston 4GB DDR3 Memory
Your choice of Optical Drive
Your choice of Operating System
Western Digital Black your choice size
Good luck

[dabro15]

I would honestly stay away from a DDR3 build. The price difference between a DDR2 build and a DDR3 build is so much (I'm classifying the builds names in RAM to keep things simple). If you really want DDR3 memory you have to buy a motherboard that supports it and the CPU (the more expensive part), not to mention the RAM itself being around 100-200 dollars alone. Since DDR3 technology it the "latest and greatest", the prices of new stuff last year has dramatically dropped. Also, you don't need DDR3 memory to run the latest games. I would just go with a clean Intel-Nvidia build that will run very stable and be around $1,000. Since you have such a large budget put extra into nice SLI graphics, which is the most important part in gaming as Kahlil mentioned. All you really need to run the latest games is a decent CPU and nice graphics.

[glc]

If you want Core i3/i5/i7, DDR3 is the only game in town.

[Svaneyk]

I bought an alienware notebook a number of years back and it has been the worst computer experience of my life. For some reason I equated very expensive machine with top notch customer service. Wrong. They have the worst customer service of any company I've ever worked with. I ended up replacing the MoBo in the thing 3 times and each time it took Alienware a good 3+ months to get the job done. Nothing you could do or say would speed up the process...not to mention the replacement MoBo's were quite expensive overall. (Like an idiot I didn't purchase the exteneded warrantee.)

On a positive note, I've built a couple of computers now under the guidance of the great folks that belong to these forums and both computers were far cheaper overall and frankly gave me better performance than that P.O.S. Alienware notebook. Not to mention Newegg has fantastic customer service, in my experience.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by dabro15 I would honestly stay away from a DDR3 build. The price difference between a DDR2 build and a DDR3 build is so much (I'm classifying the builds names in RAM to keep things simple). If you really want DDR3 memory you have to buy a motherboard that supports it and the CPU (the more expensive part), not to mention the RAM itself being around 100-200 dollars alone. Since DDR3 technology it the "latest and greatest", the prices of new stuff last year has dramatically dropped. Also, you don't need DDR3 memory to run the latest games. I would just go with a clean Intel-Nvidia build that will run very stable and be around $1,000. Since you have such a large budget put extra into nice SLI graphics, which is the most important part in gaming as Kahlil mentioned. All you really need to run the latest games is a decent CPU and nice graphics.

If you've looked at DDR3 prices recently, you'll notice that they are almost the same price as DDR2 ram. You can get a good 4GB DDR3 kit for under $80, a good 4GB DDR2 kit will cost around $50, so you are not getting much savings. The trend so far in terms of ram prices is that DDR2 prices are going up and DDR3 are going down, coupled with the fact that less manufacturers will be supporting DDR2 in the future and more are supporting DDR3, it doesn't make much sense to stick with DDR2 unless you have severe budget restrictions or your processor doesn't support the ram. For AMD platform, DDR3 and DDR2 boards are priced almost equally.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by Khalil Here is an AMD system, someone else can recommend an Intel system for you as well. Even though the i3 and i5 are coming out soon I have my doubts they would be stable, with all due respect to glc and his opinion. The i7 have proven to be an unreliable platform from Intel. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103692 AMD 965 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131402 ASUS M4A79XTD EVO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=Asus%204890 Asus ATI 4890 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160 Cooler Master Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006 Corsair 750W PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134792 Kingston 4GB DDR3 Memory Your choice of Optical Drive Your choice of Operating System Western Digital Black your choice size Good luck

Nice build, however I would stick with the Phenom II X4 955 BE instead of the Phenom II X4 965 BE, for a ~5% increase in performance you use up an extra 15W of power (or 12%) and an extra $55 (or 29%) as of this time of typing. Link to the Phenom II X4 955 BE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103674

[glc]

Alienware support is a whole different ballgame since the Dell buyout. Yes, before the buyout their support was truly awful. Now it's pretty decent.

[GandalftheGrey]

i've heard that Dell designs their pc's so that upgrades or additional components can only be made with Dell parts. Is this true? Is this also true for the alienware computers? I have an external harddrive connected to a PCI card which I would like to carryover to my new gaming pc.

[glc]

No, that is not true. However, why does your external drive use a card?

[GandalftheGrey]

because i bought one that hooks up to my computer via pci expansion slot.

[glc]

I've never seen one of those - I've seen USB, Firewire, SCSI, and eSATA.

[GandalftheGrey]

hmmm i dunno. all i know is that I had to install a card in one of the expansion slots to interface with the hard drive. maybe "pci" isn't the right word to use.

[David M]

A high end gamer, therefore a lot more expensive computer, will only get you a relatively small increase in game setting levels (eye candy) and large resolution monitor improvements. This is compared to a medium quality gaming computer. New high end games are not being written that have the same very high video demands of what Crysis had. I think they know that there are only so many $2000 plus gaming machines out there and need to orient their games to the mass market and not the few with really expensive machines.

[Khalil]

Originally Posted by David M A high end gamer, therefore a lot more expensive computer, will only get you a relatively small increase in game setting levels (eye candy) and large resolution monitor improvements. This is compared to a medium quality gaming computer. New high end games are not being written that have the same very high video demands of what Crysis had. I think they know that there are only so many $2000 plus gaming machines out there and need to orient their games to the mass market and not the few with really expensive machines.

u are correct!