Help with PC purchase

[Meat1000]

Hi, I'm considering buying a Dell pc to be used for gaming w/ todays games. Now, i'm content w/ not being able to crank the gfx all the way up in every game I choose to play. I'm considering 2 Dell XPS models:

The first one is 1400

XPS 420 Intel® Core™2 Q9400 Quad-Core (6MB L2cache,2.66GHz,1333FSB)
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-Bit
Memory 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMS
KEYBOARD Dell USB Keyboard
Monitors 22 inch UltraSharp™ 2208WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel
Video Cards ATI Radeon HD3650 256MB AT3650
Hard Drive 750GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
Floppy Drive and Media Reader Dell Media Card Reader
included in Dell Bluetooth Package NMEDCRD
MOUSE Dell Premium Optical USB Mouse POM [310-8647]
Optical Drive Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x
DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable DV16DVR
Sound Cards Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio IS

The second is 1500

XPS 630 Intel® Core™2 Q6600 Quad-Core (8MB L2cache,2.40GHz,1066FSB)
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
Memory 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMS
Keyboard Dell USB Keyboard EK
Monitors 19 inch SE198WFP Widescreen Digital Flat
Video Card nVidia GeForce 9800 GT 512MB GT9800
Hard Drive 500GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache, 500S
Mouse Dell Optical USB Mouse
Optical Drive Dual Drives: 48x Combo + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable VCM6DVR
Sound Cards Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio IS

Which one would be better for gaming? And what may be the expected longevity for playing games w/ this hardware? Also, how is the 9800 GT compared to graphics cards out today?

Thanks in Advance.

 

[hossdaddy]

the 2nd one is better by a ton due to the graphics card. That being said both are grossly over priced for what you are getting. you could put together a far superior machine including monitor for under $1000.

Answer back if you wish to see more.

 

[Dangman]

What games will you be playing with this system?

And the expected longevity for playing games with that hardware is totally user-dependent. In other words, it's up to you how long a system lasts for gaming. If you don't mind low settings, it'll last a while. If you want high settings, not that long.

The 9800GT is a good card for 1440x900, the resolution of that 19" WS monitor, but it's already been outperformed by the ATI HD4850 video card.

 

[Meat1000]

Thank you both for the quick reply.

I figured it may be overpriced, but unfortunately I'm not much of a builder.

I'd like to play modern games like Crysis, Oblivion, Bioshock, Fallout 3, Neverwinter Nights 2, UT3, etc. Put it this way, hehe, I played Oblivion w/ the Old Oblivion Mod on my really old Dell laptop, so while high settings are nice, I can deal w/ having to crank them back in the future.

I was just trying to get an idea, if say 3 years down the line if I scale graphics options back, I could still be playing games.

Hossdaddy, just curious what parts would you choose for say a 1500 complete (os included) pc.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Dangman]

Hossdaddy, just curious what parts would you choose for say a 1500 complete (os included) pc.

I'm not hossdaddy but I think I can make a decent build:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 CPU - $190
Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45 Motherboard - $120
G.Skill F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ 2 x 2GB DDR2 800 RAM - $50
MSI N260GTX-T2D896 OC GeForce GTX 260 896MB PCI-E Video Card - $240
Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $75
Samsung SH-222F 22X DVD±R SATA DVD Burner - $26
BFGTech BFGR800WESPSU ES-800 800W PSU - $110
Cooler Master RC-590-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $50
Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle HSF - $32 & Retention Bracket - $7
Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit SP1 OEM - $100
Acer X223Wbd Black 22" DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - $170
----
$1170 plus tax and shipping

Without maxing out that $1500 budget, the above PC already outperforms both Dell PCs due to its faster hard drive, faster video card and better overclocking motherboard. If you want to max out that $1500 budget, drop the GTX260 and get the GTX280 and get a second set of that G.Skill RAM. If you want a faster CPU, get the Q9400.

 

[techminster]

If you're looking at a dell, check the HP's too

 

[hossdaddy]

heres my build for you,

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA $24.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s $64.99

SAMSUNG 2253BW Black 22" 2ms(GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor $259.99-$20 mir

MSI N260GTX-T2D896 OC GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 $239.99 - $40 mir $199.99!!!!!!!!!

Microsoft FA6-00010 Black USB Wired Ergonomics Keyboard $38.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400 $49.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit $99.99

PLANTRONICS GAMECOM1 3.5mm Circumaural Stereo Gaming Headset $19.99

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower + Antec NeoPower 650 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC $114.94 combo deal

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz + ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 $254.98 combo deal

Total: $1,168.84 -$75 mir + a little shipping because 99% of these items are free shipping.

I guessed on a couple things but this setup should do nicely for a while!

GL!