Alright Help Me Decide..Please Read...?

TheBlueChanell

TheBlueChanell

Supreme [H]ardness
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Apr 15, 2005
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In my debate for a new pc, I can't decide what to get. This is what Currently have.

AMD Athlon 733Mhz.
128Mb Ram.
Seagate ?5400?rpm 20Gig. HDD
Nvidia Vanta
Gateway Mobo

Ouch..I know. My next step is getting a new one with a 3k or a little over limit. It's between a custom Built which i'll do myself, and Dell XPS Gen 2 Lappy. My reason for not wanting to go with the laptop is that you can't replace the graphics card yourself, and I was told you could on the XPS. What system should I get?

Dell XPS Gen 2:
Pentium M 2.16Ghz
2Gigs RAM
7200 RPM 60gig. Drive
Nvidia 6800 Go Ultra
Soundblaster Audigy 2 Notebook
Win Xp Pro
Dual Layer DVD Burner
9cell battery
Additional Battery
Logitech Z-5500's
XPS Backpack + othercrap
4,700 dell coupon 1,800 off = 2,900
Then I'll get the following of newegg:
Func 1030, Sennheiser Pc160, BF2 = Grand Total about 3,100

Here Is My Next Choice.

Custom Built:
AMD Athlon X2 4400+
2 Gigs Crucial Pc4000
BFG 7800 GTX
DFI Lanparty NF4 SLI-DR
Maxtor MaxlineIII 300Gig.
SB Audigy 2 ZS Gamer
Plextor PX-716SA/SW
Artic Silver 5
Lian Li Pc V-1000/1200
PcPc Turbocool 510 SLI
Altec Lansing VS3151/Logitech X530
Sennheiser Pc160 Headset
Func 1030MBA
Battlefield 2
Grand Total w/ S+H = 2,900

I can't decide between the two. Should I build a rig now and wait until laptops come with upgradable GFX cards, and better technology? Should I get the lappy now? I have to keep using my Gateway EVF720 CRT until mybday in Oct or even Christmas where I could get klipsch 5.1's if the 3151's/X-530's dont satisfy me, and a Samsung 204T or a better 20" LCD if available. The other reason i'm leaning towards the dell is because I can pay it off monthly with no interest, could I do that on newegg/TD/ZZF. It's obvious the Custom Rig will give better Performance. Although, that's also a really good deal on the laptop and I could co dualcore pentium-m and put a nvidia 7800 mobile when and if they become available for the XPS. That's my last question I never ever got a strait answer, is the graphics card on the XPS upgradable, and if so could I do it myself? I think I read somewhere nvidia is planning on taking the 7800 series mobile, and it'd be nice to have a 7800 in the XPS. Sorry for ranting and raving. What do you all think? Please try to give good advice. ;)
 
whevever you buy a pre-built system, you are gonna pay a premium. Especially so in a laptop. I would definitely get the pc, although I would DIY. You would save a lot of money.

"AMD Athlon X2 4400+"
-get a X2 4200+ if you can.
$527
2 Gigs Crucial Pc4000
-bad, get value ram. Mushkin SP ($80, $160 for two) or Crucial Value ($106) 1 GB sticks if you can, they will OC well.
BFG 7800 GTX
-good, but here's a $549 MSI version.
DFI Lanparty NF4 SLI-DR
-ok, $175 here
Maxtor MaxlineIII 300Gig.
-make sure it is the 16mb cache one. You can get it on www.ZipZoomFly.com for a good price w/ safe free shipping: $180 or (3yr warrenty instead of 5) $158
SB Audigy 2 ZS Gamer
-ok Audigy 2 ZS $71
Plextor PX-716SA/SW
-ok ~$48 (you can find it yourself :p, they're everywhere.
Artic Silver 5
-ok ~$8 (same)
Lian Li Pc V-1000/1200
-ok: ~$200
PcPc Turbocool 510 SLI
-Waste of money imho. Get a Seasonic S12-500 for $105, will be quieter and more efficient. Or a S12-600 for $130.
Altec Lansing VS3151/Logitech X530
-get the X-530s. $50 or $55 on Newegg.
Sennheiser Pc160 Headset
-your choice: $85
Func 1030MBA
-ok.... $45 A little expensive?
Battlefield 2
-ok $35 (see [H]otDeals section. I think it's at Best Buy.)

----

If you DIY and got the components I reccomended, I think you could probably afford the ~$860 Dell 2405FPW instead of that 20" you were talking about.

----


edit: let's total it up:
$527
$160
$549
$175
$180 or $158
$71
~$48
~$8
~$200
$105 or $130
$50 or $55
$85
$45
$35
------
$2124 MAX (could reduce it by up to $52 with just the options I showed you). Probably under $2200 with shipping.

That leaves $800 for a Dell 2405FPW 24"!!! I would DEFINITELY get this monitor. Check out this:
http://www.bensbargains.net/ktalk/1121627367,8700,.shtml
For a cheap 2405. the 2405 is imho the best gaming LCD if you have the 7800GTX to run it at it's native res (at least, best under $1000).
 
I am going to build the DIY, myself and buy the part's off of newegg. I like the crucial gonna be oc'ing the 4400+.
 
TheBlueChanell said:
They're both pc's.....a mac is also a pc. Pc means personal computer. :p
Click to expand...

a desktop/tower as opposed to a laptop is obviously what I was talking about...

---

I encourage you to look elsewhere other than newegg for certain things. I redid my above post to include links to EVERYTHING you wanted and that I think you should get. Since you like the Crucial, here's the link to that instead of the cheaper mushkin:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146545 $106 each

For instance, newegg packs HDDs dangerously, I 100% don't recommend getting a hdd from newegg. Get the ZZF one, they have free shipping and good packaging. Also, ZZF has a $50 cheaper 7800GTX.

I give you all these corners to cut so you can get a 2405FPW. :D You know you want it....
 
I guess the question is, do you want a desktop or a laptop? I for one think 17" notebooks are dumb as they're way too bulky, but some people would disagree.
 
Heh, and why would you when you can have a normal keyboard and mouse all the time, better hardware, AND a 24" widescreen LCD for the same price (I think, how much is the notebook he's talking about? I know his initial desktop was $2900)?
 
Sorry to offend you russ if I did. :( The reason I want a laptop is because, I will be going to lans once a week starting next school year. I also am going to be taking it back and forth from mom's to my dad's. I'll take it to coffee shop's with me. Over to friend's houses, and on vacation. The laptop just makes more sense. The only thing holding me back is the non-upgradable graphics card. Which I really haven't received an answer to. :p
 
Why would you want to upgrade a 6800? That card will last you longer than the rest of the laptop...
 
PCJ said:
Why would you want to upgrade a 6800? That card will last you longer than the rest of the laptop...
Click to expand...

I would get the Pentium M Yohan (dual core) when it comes out and I'd want a mobile 7800 to go with it.
 
Well, I mean I would go for the custom built setup, its obviously better than the lappy. O, and also plenty of bad experiences with Dells....

If you could wiat a bit longer, and get a Pentium M dual core and a 7800 mobile (or something like that), then wait and buy it from another manufacturer (I like ASUS, but Acers and Compaqs have been pretty good too), but if you have to go for the Dell, if it has what you want and the others can't match it then go for the Dell. If it matches your 'mobile' needs (man, that sounds so gimmicky...), then go for it.

But I'd still say go with the DIY desktop :p
 
If you don't take the pc anywhere, then definately the desktop. Again, in the end, we can't tell you if you want a desktop or a laptop. That's up tp you.
 
TheBlueChanell said:
I also want to run my games at max settings, max resolution, and max aa/af. :)
Click to expand...
well as of now amd does that best and dell doesn't sell amd's.
 
if u wanna lan alot and everything go sff you may not overclock as much but u can stil have you 7800gtx and if ya need more than 1 hdd just buy an external one and get the lcd monitor. theres not gonna be that much iof a hassle carying your sff pc a l;cd monitor and a keyboard and mouse i mean u casn get the carrying strap for the lcd and throw the keyboard mouse in it and strap for the sff and throw the headphones in there and leave your speakers were there gonna get the most use. Just my .02 I like labtops but they will never compare to gaming on a desktop pc
 
TheBlueChanell said:
Sorry to offend you russ if I did. :( The reason I want a laptop is because, I will be going to lans once a week starting next school year. I also am going to be taking it back and forth from mom's to my dad's. I'll take it to coffee shop's with me. Over to friend's houses, and on vacation. The laptop just makes more sense. The only thing holding me back is the non-upgradable graphics card. Which I really haven't received an answer to. :p
Click to expand...

IC. Well a desktop doesn't make much sense in that case. You could get a SFF Shuttle though. I don't have much experience with small computers (laptops and such), so either follow other people's advice or check out teh SFF Forum.
 
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