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Active: 735 users

Looking to Buy a New Computer - Dell?

Blogs > exalted
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
exalted
Profile Blog Joined March 2004
United States3612 Posts
November 17 2009 09:44 GMT
#1
I'm looking to buy a new computer, and checked out the Dell website - does anybody have recommendations? (living in the US, looking to order online)

My budget is around 500-700 dollars (seems like that should be enough to buy a computer that can easily handle SC2). Don't need a monitor, just the computer. Obviously looking to maximize value, and not necessarily aesthetics or anything.

Thanks in advance!

too easy
Scorch
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Austria3371 Posts
November 17 2009 09:50 GMT
#2
For maximizing value, don't go with Dell but build your own PC out of components. Can you handle that?

Also, you should tell us what you are going to do with your computer besides playing SC2, how much HD space you need etc.
Hacksaw11
Profile Joined July 2008
Australia359 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-17 09:52:00
November 17 2009 09:50 GMT
#3
A Geniunely Extreme Machine:

CPU: Intel Core i7 Extreme 975 3.33Ghz 8Mb Cache Quad Core 45nm $1,415 **x2 Quad CPU**
Motherboard: EVGA X58 Classified Motherboard eATX $769
RAM: 2 x 6GB DDR3 Corsair CMG6GX3M3A2000C8 Triple Kit 2000MHz XMP 8-8-8-24 (3x 2GB) $920
HDD: 2 x PhotoFast G-Monster PCIe SSD 1TB $9,000 *x10 HDD's (Creates server)*
2 x Hitachi 1TB SATAII 32MB Cache Ultrastar $1,478
Case: Zeus Mars solid gold diamond encrusted luxury case $864,975
PSU1: 1500W Thermaltake Toughpower Modular $442
PSU2: Enermax Revolution85+ 1250w (redundancy) $379
GPU: 4 x Sapphire ATi Radeon HD 5870 1Gb $2180
Monitor Splitters: 8 x Matrox TripleHead2Go Digital Edition (total running capacity of 24 screens) $3808
Optical Drives: 2 x Sony BWU200S Internal Blu-ray Drive $1,393
2 x ASUS BLT-1814 Lightscribe x18 SATA $84
FDD: HP 379257-B21 FDD 1.44MB ML110G2 FDD x2 $258
Soundcard: DIGIDESIGN HD1 LYNX AURORA 8 $13,425
TV Tuner: Compro VideoMate Vista E900F PCIe $225
LCD/VFD Display: Thermaltake Media Lab $165
UPS: APC INFRASTRUXURE CENTRAL BASIC $4,059
Cooling: Cooler Express 2009 Phase Change Dual Evaporator $1,163
OCZ Technology XTC Memory Cooler $39
3x 120mm Delta 120mm PFB1212UHE-F00 Fan 252CFM $147
4x 140mm Aerocool Streamliner 140mm Blue Fan $120
Thermal Compound: Nano-diamond $18.95
Cold Cathodes i4DM001B x 10 $1,840
Cables: Flexiglow Blue Illuminated SATA Cable, 50cm w/ EL wire $20
Thermaltake A2117 60cm EL Rounded FDD Cable – White $20
OCZ Enhanced VGA & HDD Power Lead With PowerShield™ EMI Control Technology $20
Monitor: Eizo Colouredge CG221 x2 $14,180
Speakers: Transmission Audio Ultimate $2,316,400
Speaker Cable: Pear Cable Corporation ANJOU Speaker Cable $7,911
Keyboard: Optimus Maximus $1,975
Mouse: Mogul Diamond Flower $26,960
Mouse Pad: Formula 1 custom Mousepad $550
Headphones: STAX SRS-007MK2 Electrostatic Headphone System $4,861
Desk: Parinan Custom PowerDesk $220,340
Chair: Pininfarina’s Aresline Xten $1,740,000
Desk Lamp Tiffany Lotus Lamp $3,063,544
Game Gagets: CH Products Aviator Bundle $399
Gaming Vest TN Games 3rd Space Gaming Vest $224
Missile Launcher USB Missile Launcher with Web Cam (as backup +lethal) $79
Flight Sim Unit TRC472 Approved version $245,511
Racing Sim Unit VirtualGT $20,751
Printer: CANON IMAGE PROGRAF IPF9000S $27,646
Webcam: Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF $169
Digital Camera: Hasselblad HD2-39 $50,215
Modem: Billion BIPAC 7404VNOX $529
Brain-Computer Interface OCZ Neural Impulse Actuator $199
Case Badge GUWPCT Extreme Edition $POA
Special Edition WP Herring BOT Totally automate your herrings $POA

T-Shirt Autographed picture of kelwynsa8 in cotton. Bright blue $FREE (incl. P&H) (delivered personally by a Genuinely Extreme Carrier Pigeon)

(No animals were harmed making this list, batteries not included for most items.)
(VenGanZa is not to blame at all for some of the genuinely exteme(ly) mad prices)
Special thanks to Rerouter for field research and buying the coffee.
(Please Note: The PC itself is under the $5,000 Mark. Cooling,Gadgets and Pherpils are over the 7M + Mark. The Title "Extreme PC may vary person to Person"

Total: $7,147,673.00+

That should barely be able to run SC2.
- -
Boblion
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
France8043 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-17 10:10:50
November 17 2009 09:56 GMT
#4
Just build your own computer.

Ahtlon II x4 620 + 5770 + 4 Gb DDR3 should be enough and is still cheap.
Or maybe a phenom II x4 955 or i5 if you have enough money.

Corsair Alim. HX520 HX450 or VX550
fuck all those elitists brb watching streams of elite players.
meeple
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
Canada10211 Posts
November 17 2009 09:57 GMT
#5
I don't usually recommend dell since I've had problem before with their reliability. However,

http://www1.ca.dell.com/ca/en/home/desktops/desktop-studio-mini/pd.aspx?refid=desktop-studio-mini&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&ref=dthp

This was the one in your price range that I would recommend. It will definitely run SC2, and the other features included just sweeten the deal.
Boblion
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
France8043 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-17 10:00:30
November 17 2009 10:00 GMT
#6
On November 17 2009 18:57 meeple wrote:
I don't usually recommend dell since I've had problem before with their reliability. However,

http://www1.ca.dell.com/ca/en/home/desktops/desktop-studio-mini/pd.aspx?refid=desktop-studio-mini&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&ref=dthp

This was the one in your price range that I would recommend. It will definitely run SC2, and the other features included just sweeten the deal.

Q8300 + GT 220

It should be fine for Sc2 but it is completly destroyed by any home made comp ( which are EASY to build ).
Tbh the GT 220 is terrible.
fuck all those elitists brb watching streams of elite players.
meeple
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
Canada10211 Posts
November 17 2009 10:02 GMT
#7
True, but if you're shopping at dell, I assume you don't know enough about computer components to put one together.
Motiva
Profile Joined November 2007
United States1774 Posts
November 17 2009 10:10 GMT
#8
imo newegg.com and build one... the money you save and performance/$ you gain is worth the stressful 2hr learning it would take to put one together... my 2 cents
Sadistx
Profile Blog Joined February 2009
Zimbabwe5568 Posts
November 17 2009 10:11 GMT
#9
Don't buy a Dell.
Dark.Carnival
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
United States5095 Posts
November 17 2009 10:14 GMT
#10
On November 17 2009 19:11 Sadistx wrote:
Don't buy a Dell.

listen to this man.
as several people have said, build your own. if you don't know how, ask a friend who knows how to help you.
@QxGDarkCell ._.
[DUF]MethodMan
Profile Blog Joined September 2006
Germany1716 Posts
November 17 2009 10:54 GMT
#11
you could also let the store you buy the parts put them together. dunno if this exists in the us, but here we have a variety of online shops which put your parts together for like 20€ which isnt too much when youve already spent 500-700$.
Roffles *
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
Pitcairn19291 Posts
November 17 2009 11:32 GMT
#12
Don't get a Dell. Why on Earth would you consider a Dell? Second hand parts with absolute shitty quality. If you're looking at a pre-configured computer, you can get much better elsewhere. Consider other brands.
God Bless
MK
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States496 Posts
November 17 2009 12:51 GMT
#13
Laptop : Dell (or Lenovo since it's the "new" IBM) is the best.
Other : build your own.
The highest knowledge is to know that we are surrounded by mystery
writer22816
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United States5775 Posts
November 17 2009 13:36 GMT
#14
On November 17 2009 18:50 Stuyvesant wrote:
A Geniunely Extreme Machine:

CPU: Intel Core i7 Extreme 975 3.33Ghz 8Mb Cache Quad Core 45nm $1,415 **x2 Quad CPU**
Motherboard: EVGA X58 Classified Motherboard eATX $769
RAM: 2 x 6GB DDR3 Corsair CMG6GX3M3A2000C8 Triple Kit 2000MHz XMP 8-8-8-24 (3x 2GB) $920
HDD: 2 x PhotoFast G-Monster PCIe SSD 1TB $9,000 *x10 HDD's (Creates server)*
2 x Hitachi 1TB SATAII 32MB Cache Ultrastar $1,478
Case: Zeus Mars solid gold diamond encrusted luxury case $864,975
PSU1: 1500W Thermaltake Toughpower Modular $442
PSU2: Enermax Revolution85+ 1250w (redundancy) $379
GPU: 4 x Sapphire ATi Radeon HD 5870 1Gb $2180
Monitor Splitters: 8 x Matrox TripleHead2Go Digital Edition (total running capacity of 24 screens) $3808
Optical Drives: 2 x Sony BWU200S Internal Blu-ray Drive $1,393
2 x ASUS BLT-1814 Lightscribe x18 SATA $84
FDD: HP 379257-B21 FDD 1.44MB ML110G2 FDD x2 $258
Soundcard: DIGIDESIGN HD1 LYNX AURORA 8 $13,425
TV Tuner: Compro VideoMate Vista E900F PCIe $225
LCD/VFD Display: Thermaltake Media Lab $165
UPS: APC INFRASTRUXURE CENTRAL BASIC $4,059
Cooling: Cooler Express 2009 Phase Change Dual Evaporator $1,163
OCZ Technology XTC Memory Cooler $39
3x 120mm Delta 120mm PFB1212UHE-F00 Fan 252CFM $147
4x 140mm Aerocool Streamliner 140mm Blue Fan $120
Thermal Compound: Nano-diamond $18.95
Cold Cathodes i4DM001B x 10 $1,840
Cables: Flexiglow Blue Illuminated SATA Cable, 50cm w/ EL wire $20
Thermaltake A2117 60cm EL Rounded FDD Cable – White $20
OCZ Enhanced VGA & HDD Power Lead With PowerShield™ EMI Control Technology $20
Monitor: Eizo Colouredge CG221 x2 $14,180
Speakers: Transmission Audio Ultimate $2,316,400
Speaker Cable: Pear Cable Corporation ANJOU Speaker Cable $7,911
Keyboard: Optimus Maximus $1,975
Mouse: Mogul Diamond Flower $26,960
Mouse Pad: Formula 1 custom Mousepad $550
Headphones: STAX SRS-007MK2 Electrostatic Headphone System $4,861
Desk: Parinan Custom PowerDesk $220,340
Chair: Pininfarina’s Aresline Xten $1,740,000
Desk Lamp Tiffany Lotus Lamp $3,063,544
Game Gagets: CH Products Aviator Bundle $399
Gaming Vest TN Games 3rd Space Gaming Vest $224
Missile Launcher USB Missile Launcher with Web Cam (as backup +lethal) $79
Flight Sim Unit TRC472 Approved version $245,511
Racing Sim Unit VirtualGT $20,751
Printer: CANON IMAGE PROGRAF IPF9000S $27,646
Webcam: Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF $169
Digital Camera: Hasselblad HD2-39 $50,215
Modem: Billion BIPAC 7404VNOX $529
Brain-Computer Interface OCZ Neural Impulse Actuator $199
Case Badge GUWPCT Extreme Edition $POA
Special Edition WP Herring BOT Totally automate your herrings $POA

T-Shirt Autographed picture of kelwynsa8 in cotton. Bright blue $FREE (incl. P&H) (delivered personally by a Genuinely Extreme Carrier Pigeon)

(No animals were harmed making this list, batteries not included for most items.)
(VenGanZa is not to blame at all for some of the genuinely exteme(ly) mad prices)
Special thanks to Rerouter for field research and buying the coffee.
(Please Note: The PC itself is under the $5,000 Mark. Cooling,Gadgets and Pherpils are over the 7M + Mark. The Title "Extreme PC may vary person to Person"

Total: $7,147,673.00+

That should barely be able to run SC2.


Vouch, this computer is a beast and gives you the most bang for your buck.
8/4/12 never forget, never forgive.
haduken
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
Australia8267 Posts
November 17 2009 14:31 GMT
#15
Dude, building a computer is ez

it's like lego these days. Just make sure you have a brain and can read the manual.
Rillanon.au
Durak
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
Canada3685 Posts
November 17 2009 14:45 GMT
#16
On November 17 2009 22:36 writer22816 wrote:
Vouch, this computer is a beast and gives you the most bang for your buck.


On November 17 2009 18:50 Stuyvesant wrote:
...Chair: Pininfarina’s Aresline Xten $1,740,000
Desk Lamp Tiffany Lotus Lamp $3,063,544...


+20 FPS right there.

My brother is having huge problems with his Dell laptop. The hard drive died four times and their customer service is brutal. I used to think Dell was a good company because of their supply chain management but I wouldn't recommend them to anyone now.

As others have suggested, you should build the computer yourself or find a friend who can help you. It'll save you money, you won't have pre-installed crap, and it's easier to get the parts fixed under warranty than through Dell if something fails.


BlasiuS
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States2405 Posts
November 17 2009 15:51 GMT
#17
On November 17 2009 18:50 Stuyvesant wrote:
Chair: Pininfarina’s Aresline Xten $1,740,000
Desk Lamp Tiffany Lotus Lamp $3,063,544


I like how almost 5 of the 7 million comes from the most expensive chair product ever made...and a rare one-of-a-kind antique lamp from the early 1900s.
next week on Everybody Loves HypnoToad:
Boblion
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
France8043 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-11-17 19:42:32
November 17 2009 19:41 GMT
#18
On November 17 2009 23:31 haduken wrote:
Dude, building a computer is ez

it's like lego these days. Just make sure you have a brain and can read the manual.

ahaha so true. Back in the mid 90's ( Window 3.1, Window 95 and ofc no internet ) it was a real pain to build your own comp. Ahhh the good old boots on floppy disks...

"Plug and play " was a dream.
fuck all those elitists brb watching streams of elite players.
Elvin_vn
Profile Blog Joined March 2004
Vietnam2038 Posts
November 17 2009 22:55 GMT
#19
On November 17 2009 23:31 haduken wrote:
Dude, building a computer is ez

it's like lego these days. Just make sure you have a brain and can read the manual.


negative
do not agrue with idiots, they will pull you down to their level and beat you with their experiences
exalted
Profile Blog Joined March 2004
United States3612 Posts
November 18 2009 04:06 GMT
#20
thanks for the troll Stuyvesant

anyway, another thing is that it needs to be able to run 2 monitors - does this mean that I need a special type of graphics card or do basically all of today's video cards have 2 monitor slots?

meeple - that studio desktop PC you recommended looks pretty good, so if it can be confirmed that it can run 2 monitors thats probably what i'll get
too easy
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