ditto.

problem is that you need to do a little work on your end.

for example, i check out www.gotapex.com for deals that dell has DAILY.

heck just last week, they had a inspiron laptop that was around $1000 and had a $500 (or so) instant coupon off...

killer deals...

 

reason they are proprietary is because dell creates the chassis for themselves.

so they come up with wacky PS shapes.

and it's only the PS shapes. output is virtually the same as the regular world...



or spend the extra $$$ for their super duper gold accidental warranty.

at work, we have people who dont give a damn when they are given $2000 machines.

so we just end up getting the baddest and longest warranty...

 

true that

 

hha do they make filter skins to stretch over computers? or am i gonna make millions off this idea?

 

Computer build up


Motherboard ($104) ASUS P5B LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel
http://computers.pricegrabber.com/la...=corsair%202gb


2gb ram ($70) Corsair XMS2 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 DIMM Dual Channel Memory Kit
http://computers.pricegrabber.com/la...=corsair%202gb


8600gt ($110 shipped)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150230


Intel Q6600 ($300 shipped) Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017


desktop cases ($109 shipped) link: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021


psu ($104.99 ) link: corsair power supply 520w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...139001&Tpk=psu


SATA 3.0 250 gb hdd ($70) link: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148262


speakers ($0; reusing my 5.1 klipsh)
keyboard/mouse ($0; reusing my old one)
sound card ($0 reusing my audigy zs)
20inch dell LCD primary, 32Inch Vizio LCD secondary ($0 already have those)


So far my current build will cost about 871 total for everything after tax/shipping. I think this is a fairly good setup for just web browsing/multitasking/downloading. What do you guys think

 

I have that Case, it was going for much lower at Frys like a month ago, might wana check there.

 

I dont own a dell and never will. I did use a dell at work though. And the power supply failed. I also have 2 friends whose Dell power supplies crapped out on them. I build my own computers and know that a quality power supply is one of the, if not THE MOST IMPORTANT part in your computer. So I always use a quality power supply and have never had one go out on me. And I keep my computers for like 5-6 years and dont bother cleaning the power supply. Good ones are built to last.

It doesnt matter if Dell has an upgradeable power supply. You can have a 1000 jigawatt power supply, but if the parts are crap they are crap and will fail.

Its not just Dell's desktops that suck Their laptops do too! Besides those 2 friends whose power supplies crapped out and my old work computer, my moms Dell laptop broke, 2 times (her work either fixed or replaced it both times, but still.. you would think they would last more than 1 year). Her dell also has a funky trackpad issue where it has a mind of its own. Keep in mind, this is my moms telecommute work computer which stays at home all day. It NEVER left the house or was manhandled/treated roughly/etc.

My wife's dell laptop had to be sent in 3 times to be fixed. Its just a pain in the @$$ to have to deal with dell's failures. I've never had a Gateway computer (Used them at both my old job and my current job) fail on me. Dell quality in general is lacking.

What I'm saying is avoid Dell like the plague. Either build your own computer or buy any other brand but dell!

 

FWIW, I'm on my third Dell laptop. They refresh them at work every two years. They've all been rock solid.

 

I believe the only ones with proprietary PSU's are the server machines. The only thing that holds in the PSU on most Dell's is their clip - but that can be solved by using industrial strength double sided tape - should you have to really replace it.

Also, most Dell's made for home, their PSU's are around $50 to replace - so should it fail, it's not too bad of an investment.

*shrug* I think they're great machines for the price and the amount of headaches that you miss out on

 

Looks good bro.
I'd personally go with the Core 2 Duo processor (It's a little cheaper, and you won't sacrifice too much speed) It'll run cooler as well.

newegg has some good deals like C2D+2GBRAM for less than $300 shipped.

As far as the motherboard goes, I'd get SLI just in case of future upgrade wants. The link below has a nice package deal with a slightly better gfx card then the one you're planning on buying.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131142

 

ordered everything last night, with the SLi motherboard too. Woke up this morning to find out my Credit card denied the payments and i had to reorder everything. Ended up ordering another 2gb of ram from OCZ for 18 bucks after MIR.


So the total build comes out to be 810.73 for everything after tax/shipping/rebates. Can't wait till i get it in the mail so i can assemble everything

 

Windows works great on my Mac

 

no macs. too confusing for me. haha