Help with choosing/buying computer.

[moonstar]

I'm currently looking into buying a new computer system. I think that I've narrowed it down. It's between a Dell and a private builder that I completely trust. I know that there are some good and some bad with each. I have a Delta 1010(for Sonar XL multi track recording) that I'm going to drop in when the system gets here so the soundcard/speakers are not a huge issue. Although the Dell w/ the surround sound seems like it would be cool1!! I'll be using it for Internet,games,and digital audio workstation. Anyways,don't be shy,let me have it!! Which would you choose?The more honest opinions the better. Thanks alot.

Quotes:

~SYSTEM 1~

Dell Dimension XPS Series
Pentium® 4 Processor at 3GHz with 800MHz front side bus

Dell Dimension XPS Series: Pentium® 4 Processor at 3GHz with 800MHz front side bus MP308H [221-2566]

Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 400MHz 1GB4 [311-2904]

Keyboard: Dell® Enhanced Multimedia Keyboard EMK [310-1696]

Monitors: 19 in (18.0 in viewable) M992 Monitor M992 [320-0728]

Video Cards: New 128MB DDR ATI RADEON™ 9800 Pro Graphics Card with TV-Out and DVI 128PRO [320-0655]

Hard Drives: 120GB Serial ATA Hard Drive,7200RPM 120S [340-9243]

Floppy Drive and Additional Storage Devices: 3.5 in Floppy Drive FD [340-1927]

Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional WPXP [420-1922] [313-7222]

Mouse: Dell® 2-button Scroll Mouse SM [310-1871]

Network Interface: Integrated Intel® PRO 10/100 Ethernet IN [430-0412]

Modem: 56K PCI Data/Fax Modem DFAX [313-1313]

CD or DVD Drive: 16 Max DVD-ROM Drive 16DV995 [430-0462] [313-1946]

Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy™2 premium sound card including FREE MuVo MP3 Play SBA2MUV [A0105177] [313-1854] [320-0667]

Speakers: Altec Lansing THX Certified ADA995 ADA995 [313-0725]

Security Software: Dell SecurityCenter by McAfee, 90-day introductory offer MCAFE90 [412-0326]

Digital Music: Dell Jukebox powered by MUSICMATCH MMBASE [412-0298]

Digital Photography: Dell Picture Studio, Image Expert Standard DPS [412-0271] [412-0273]

Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options: 3 Year Limited Warranty plus 3 Year At-Home Service S3OS [950-1272] [950-3339] [950-4270] [412-0360]

XPS Specialized Support: XPS Specialized Support Included XPSSUPP [960-2697]

Multi-Media Players: RealOne™ Player, with 14 day SuperPass trial REALBAS [412-0380]

Secondary CD or DVD Drive: FREE UPGRADE! New 48x/24x/48x Max CD-RW Drive 48CDR2P [461-7877]

Special Offer: $100 OFF SPECIAL OFFER 100OFF [460-9055]

Price (includes 10 % employee discount)
Sub-total: $2,661.00
Shipping: $0.00
Tax: $212.88
Total Price: $2,873.88

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

~SYSTEM 2~


Case $119

power supply 420w $79 (enlight)

Cold Cathode $29

P4C at 3GHZ and 800mhz fsb $459

Corsair Twin 512 ultra low latency memory $349

ATI Sapphire RADEON 9800 PRO 128M DDR CRT/DVI TV With DVI Adaptor $449

Aopen 52X24X52 IDE CD-RW. 2MB buffer. Just Link buffer under-run protection. 2MB buffer. Includes Nero utilities. BLACk (this is a better and more reliable CD-RW) $65

LITE-ON 16 IDE DVD. 1 year warranty. BLACK $45

Logitech Elite Duo wireless mouse and keyboard BLACK $89

Seagate 120gigabyte Serial ATA 150MBs harddrive with a 8mb cache and runs at 7200RPM $160

Mitsumi 1.44 floppy $15

Sony DeluxePro SDM-X82/B 18 Inch LCD monitor 75hz $650 (this is a higher performance monitor then the viewsonic, and it will refresh faster for more frames) FLAT PANEL

MSI 865P Neo (this is the number one rated motherboard in the world right now, and has more featured then the Asus motherboard and has a Core Cell chip exclusive to MSI, plus i can get it for less then the Asus one) $165

MSI's 5.1 6 channel onboard chip that matches the Audigy chip

JBL Creature Silver 3 Piece Speakers $123
Seagate

US Robotics 56K V.90/V.92 PCI $45

Windows XP Professional, office XP professional, free.

Building, testing, software optimizing, updating, driver updating, burn in testing $160 (i lowered this alittle for you

Shipping anywhere in the continental US $59

60 day unconditional warranty on all parts, and 1-3 year warrenties on most all parts,

I always make sure that i check out every aspect of the computer, because i am not a bulk distributer, i have more time on my hands to do that as well as install all of the service packs, optimised drivers and test aspect of the computer longer better 'Big Names" could.

Total is $2994 complete.

[pickel]

http://www.dell.com/us/en/gen/misc/p...008_policy.htm



"The parts and assemblies used in building Dell products are selected from new and equivalent-to-new parts and assemblies in accordance with industry practices"

I wouldn't buy a floppy from Dell. When I bought my laptop I talked to them at length and was disappointed that I was not assured that I would receive ALL NEW PARTS in my unit.

Except for my laptop, I build my own computers, cars, motorcycles so that I do not leave to chance on someone else's descrection concerning parts used and assembling methods.

Go with system #2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PresterJohn]

am i reading this right? the dell comes w/1gb ram while the custom system only 512mb and is $120 more. not to mention that the dell has dvd while the custom system does not.

personally, i wouldn't spend ~3 grand on a system, but the dell seems to give you a little more for the buck.

[JPMiller]

PresterJohn

LITE-ON 16 IDE DVD. 1 year warranty. BLACK $45

plus the cost of the 18" LCD over the 19" CRT
and custom optimization and testing.
True about memory though and the JBL Creature speakers I believe got bad reviews.

[moonstar]

The custom system comes with twin 512 ram. I believe that means 1Gig. ?

[PresterJohn]

Originally posted by JPMiller
PresterJohn

plus the cost of the 18" LCD over the 19" CRT
and custom optimization and testing.
True about memory though and the JBL Creature speakers I believe got bad reviews.

good job, i didn't even notice the display difference 19" to 18"...everything got to be a blur after a while.

to me, the speakers would be secondary. but it would be kinda kinda hard to understand paying $100 more and only have 1/2 the memory...

[PresterJohn]

Originally posted by moonstar
The custom system comes with twin 512 ram. I believe that means 1Gig. ?

i would be sure to confirm that w/the builder.

[moonstar]

I def will.

[vserlnv]

some things to think on...




www.googlegear.com

p4 3.06 GHz
$420 free shipping
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Corsair TWINX1024-3200LL 1GB DDR400 XMS3200
Dual-Channel Memory *(Free 2nd Day Air)*
$283.50


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www.newegg.com

Sony DeluxePro SDM-X82/B
$599 - free shipping
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Aopen CD-RW DRIVE 52x24x52 - MODEL CRW5224
$42 free shipping
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ATI SAPPHIRE RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB DVI/TV 8X AGP
OEM free shipping
$395
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Logitech Cordless Elite Duo
$71.50 w free shipping

or the Logitech Cordless MX Duo
$85 + $6 shipping
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JBL Creature Silver
$93 + $10 = $103

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MSI 865P NEO (MS-6742-020)
$88 ( $83 + $5 shipping )

or did he mean to say >

MSI 865PE NEO2-FIS2R
$163 free shipping

or

MSI 865PE Neo2-LS
$111 ( $106 + $5 shipping )
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[PresterJohn]

moonstar,

i would also ask the builder about the windows XP and office XP included in the system.

will you be getting an original microsoft XP cd or will it be a recovery CD?

office XP is a pretty expensive package. are you going to be getting program CDs or is this preloaded on the system. if it's the latter, then this brings up legality issues.