APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Next two weeks
BUDGET RANGE: ~$1,000 (excluding peripherals/accessories/monitor)
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: speakers
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: any US based site, also have a Microcenter fairly convenient (Boston)
PARTS PREFERENCES: I want a Core i7 based system as that seems to be the most future proof
OVERCLOCKING: Probably not
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No
MONITOR RESOLUTION: Want to get a 24 inch monitor (1900x1080 or 1200), maybe a 22 inch - probably from Dell
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
Have a wireless mouse but will be on the lookout for any sweet wireless keyboard or combo wireless mouse/keyboards deals in next couple of weeks
Will keep eye out for good Dell monitor deals in next couple weeks
For the actual computer, what I am thinking would be best is:
Ordering from HP or Dell the most basic model and swapping out for a better video card - probably not this month but in a few months or a year
(I have been using an old computer and have missed out on a lot of games in the last couple of years - I'll probably play those first and then upgrade for new games)
I realize I'll probably have to update the power supply if I do this but I am OK with that (it's possible, right?)
http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/desktops/desktop-studio-xps-435/pd.aspx?refid=desktop-studio-xps-435&s=dhs&cs=19
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=desktops&a1=Processor&v1=Intel&series_name=e9150t_series
Right now, the HP seems like a better deal at the same price (more RAM, bigger HD)
To me the advantages of this over building my own are:
1) Saves time and potentially not too much more expensive
- For example, if I take the HP and swap in a HD Radeon 4890 today, the price will be something like $1100+tax, which is comparable to the price I get when build from individual components on Newegg/Microcenter, although in the HP/Dell the HD, power supply, and RAM are probably not quite as good.
2) I actually really like the way these computers look and the simple cases
3) I'm not the kind of guy (anymore) who can stay up to date monthly on the best computer parts or how to keep things working well
- I don't see myself constantly upgrading, maybe only one or two major upgrades (graphics card, CPU maybe once in a couple years, adding hard drives here and there, swapping out RAM if I need more)
4) While I think it would be fun to learn how to build my own computer I don't really have the time and would get very easily frustrated if I get a DOA part or the computer fails to boot - definitely worth say $100 to me to avoid tihs
I've also done a lot of searches on this and from what I can tell the disadvantages doing this as compared to building your own are:
1) The motherboards are somehow restricted
- But I don't see myself overclocking really
- What are the other disadvantages of a the motherboards that come with these as compared to what you would use if you built your own system?
- Part of the reason I want to get a Core i7 is because I understand that the MBs will be more compatible with all future Intel processors - is this true and would there be any reason why the Dell/HP MBs would not allow a CPU upgrade?
2) For the Dell XPS specifically (maybe also the HP), there is only one PCIe slot
- What would I need an additional PCIe slot for (besides graphics)? I don't see myself ever using more than one graphics card
3) Come with cheaper stock HD and RAM components and power supply
- I would be most worried about the hard drive. Is it possible to swap out the HD e.g. with a WD Caviar Black drive from Newegg? How could I re-install the OS?
- How worried should I be about the power supply? Do I need to upgrade it from the beginning or only when I get a new graphics card?
Also considering iBuypower as they seem to have very reasonable prices but from what I understand the reliability is questionable.
Please let me know what you think about these questions / this plan. Are there any other issues I should be aware of?
BUDGET RANGE: ~$1,000 (excluding peripherals/accessories/monitor)
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: speakers
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: any US based site, also have a Microcenter fairly convenient (Boston)
PARTS PREFERENCES: I want a Core i7 based system as that seems to be the most future proof
OVERCLOCKING: Probably not
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No
MONITOR RESOLUTION: Want to get a 24 inch monitor (1900x1080 or 1200), maybe a 22 inch - probably from Dell
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
Have a wireless mouse but will be on the lookout for any sweet wireless keyboard or combo wireless mouse/keyboards deals in next couple of weeks
Will keep eye out for good Dell monitor deals in next couple weeks
For the actual computer, what I am thinking would be best is:
Ordering from HP or Dell the most basic model and swapping out for a better video card - probably not this month but in a few months or a year
(I have been using an old computer and have missed out on a lot of games in the last couple of years - I'll probably play those first and then upgrade for new games)
I realize I'll probably have to update the power supply if I do this but I am OK with that (it's possible, right?)
http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/desktops/desktop-studio-xps-435/pd.aspx?refid=desktop-studio-xps-435&s=dhs&cs=19
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=desktops&a1=Processor&v1=Intel&series_name=e9150t_series
Right now, the HP seems like a better deal at the same price (more RAM, bigger HD)
To me the advantages of this over building my own are:
1) Saves time and potentially not too much more expensive
- For example, if I take the HP and swap in a HD Radeon 4890 today, the price will be something like $1100+tax, which is comparable to the price I get when build from individual components on Newegg/Microcenter, although in the HP/Dell the HD, power supply, and RAM are probably not quite as good.
2) I actually really like the way these computers look and the simple cases
3) I'm not the kind of guy (anymore) who can stay up to date monthly on the best computer parts or how to keep things working well
- I don't see myself constantly upgrading, maybe only one or two major upgrades (graphics card, CPU maybe once in a couple years, adding hard drives here and there, swapping out RAM if I need more)
4) While I think it would be fun to learn how to build my own computer I don't really have the time and would get very easily frustrated if I get a DOA part or the computer fails to boot - definitely worth say $100 to me to avoid tihs
I've also done a lot of searches on this and from what I can tell the disadvantages doing this as compared to building your own are:
1) The motherboards are somehow restricted
- But I don't see myself overclocking really
- What are the other disadvantages of a the motherboards that come with these as compared to what you would use if you built your own system?
- Part of the reason I want to get a Core i7 is because I understand that the MBs will be more compatible with all future Intel processors - is this true and would there be any reason why the Dell/HP MBs would not allow a CPU upgrade?
2) For the Dell XPS specifically (maybe also the HP), there is only one PCIe slot
- What would I need an additional PCIe slot for (besides graphics)? I don't see myself ever using more than one graphics card
3) Come with cheaper stock HD and RAM components and power supply
- I would be most worried about the hard drive. Is it possible to swap out the HD e.g. with a WD Caviar Black drive from Newegg? How could I re-install the OS?
- How worried should I be about the power supply? Do I need to upgrade it from the beginning or only when I get a new graphics card?
Also considering iBuypower as they seem to have very reasonable prices but from what I understand the reliability is questionable.
Please let me know what you think about these questions / this plan. Are there any other issues I should be aware of?