Should i go dell or build a system?

eagle05

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hello, I'm new to the forum. I am interested in getting a desktop but don't know if i should just go with a dell or go with a custom built one.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: sometime within the month, but not in a hurry.

BUDGET RANGE: 350 After reliable Rebates, but can be a bit flexible.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Internet, word processing, powerpoints viewing and editing, watching movies, burning onto cds and dvds.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, frys.com, any reliable website.

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type: AMD or intel.

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080, 1920x1200.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I want something that is fairly fast enough, at least a core 2 duo processor with at least 2-3 gigs of ram. Often times I run a lot of applications at once so I need something that won't slow down my computer. I want to use a 32 inch lcd 1080p tv as my moniter too. I found this dell system that includes a 20 inch LCD moniter, so I was thinking I could just sell that, which I'm sure i could sell for at least $100. THe link to the dell is here.

http://dealnews.com/Dell-Vostro-220-s-Core-2-Duo-2.93-GHz-Desktop-PC-w-20-LCD-for-429-free-shipping/339792.html

So basically should I go for the dell or build my own system? I would have to upgrade to get a dvd writer as the system as listed only comes with a dvd reader.
 

klunuts

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i second that
 

eagle05

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well let's say that I do decide to go for the dell that i mentioned above in the link. Are those Dell machines easy to upgrade on the parts other than from Dell? The upgrades for Dell are a ripoff and would rather just get upgrade parts from elsewhere in the future as needed.
 

whitefang

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I just built this PC for a friend. Here's the specs and the parts from newegg

Processor: AMD regor 240 2.8 ghz dual core

MotherBoard: Asus MRA785G

Ram: 4GB of DDR2 g.skill 800 mhz

PowerSupply: thermaltake 430W

HDD: 160GB WD ($8 more for 320GB)

DVD: Lite-on DVD burner sata

Total comes to $386 but the case has free shipping and my web browser isn't updating it so it's $371


Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688

MotherBoard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131595

HardDrive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075

Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231207

PowerSupply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154094

DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
 

Dougie Fresh

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If you're on a low budget and want a dell, check out the Dell Outlet website. I've had great luck with the refurb stuff. It's all tested and guaranteed. You can sometimes even find coupons for Dell Outlet with a Google search.
 

Kopp123

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I had a Dell that was very easy to upgrade. The case was actually really easy to work with (anything that could be modified was clearly marked) and had good cable management.

This was 10 years ago, so I don't know how things are now... I know you don't get much choice in what your expansion slots are so don't plan on anything.
 
The problem with upgrading that particular Dell is the narrow case. You will have a hard time finding power supplies, video cards, or CPU heatsinks to fit. And the small case means that you will have cooling problems if you do manage to find upgrade parts.

The stock motherboard will have little or no overclocking capabilities.

Whitefang's build list:
Processor is no longer for sale.

Power supply:
Corsair 400CX (30 amp 12 volt rail)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008
For a very few dollars more, you get a much better PSU: a little more usable power, better efficiency (more than 80%), and active PFC.

DVD: Samsung or LG.
 

eloplayspolo

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Dec 12, 2009
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Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
select item 1 quantity of item 1


SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model TS-H663B/UOAH

SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model TS-H663B/UOAH - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151197
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options27-151-197|hide options27-151-197)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info27-151-197.0.18)

* 1 year: $6.99
* 2 year: $11.99



$26.99

select item 2 quantity of item 2


LOGISYS Computer Area 51 CS51WBK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 480W Power Supply

LOGISYS Computer Area 51 CS51WBK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 480W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811148030
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$12.00 Instant


$49.99
$37.99

1

i-shop Gift

i-shop Gift - Retail
Item #: N82E16800995066
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$5.99 Saving


$5.99
$0.00

select item 4 quantity of item 4


Western Digital Caviar Blue WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822136075
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy



$39.49

select item 5 quantity of item 5


SAPPHIRE 100296HDMI Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

SAPPHIRE 100296HDMI Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814102855
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy

Protect Your Investment (expand for options14-102-855S7423|hide options14-102-855S7423)

Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan

The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info14-102-855.0.18)

* 1 year: $9.99
* 2 year: $16.99

-$5.00 Instant


$79.99
$74.99

1

AMD Gift Battleforge Game Coupon

AMD Gift Battleforge Game Coupon - Retail
Item #: N82E16800999217
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$29.99 Saving


$29.99
$0.00

select item 7 quantity of item 7

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ
AMD Sempron X2 2200 2.0GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model SDO2200IAA4DO
ASRock N68-S AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

*

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231098
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy

*

AMD Sempron X2 2200 2.0GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model SDO2200IAA4DO - OEM
Item #: N82E16819103826
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy

*

ASRock N68-S AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813157158
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$34.00 Combo


$140.97
$106.97

Subtotal: $286.43
 

Had lots of luck there myself several years back, just not in the habit of reccomending Dell anymore.
 

Dougie Fresh

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For a budget build, things such as combos and rebates will be your friend :).

Here's a good mobo/CPU combo:
ASUS M4A785-M AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315855 ($123.98)

Here's a good tower/PSU combo:
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315685 ($88.94)

HDD:
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD2500AAKS 250GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136161 ($47.99)

RAM:
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122 ($85.99)

ODD:
LG Black SATA DVD/CD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136177 ($29.99)

Total: $376.89 (w/o shipping)

For ***your requirements***, "Internet, word processing, powerpoints viewing and editing, watching movies, burning onto cds and dvds" this will be a great system. The components are all highly-reviewed, quality components from top brands.

If you want to do gaming however, you'll need to upgrade the power supply and video but that would go beyond your budget and what you said you want to do with it. If you want to be a little more future proof for adding a video card later, consider this combo case/PSU for about $34 more:

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315686 ($119.94).
 

eloplayspolo

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Dec 12, 2009
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i had a logysis in one of my first builds powering a ati saphire 1600xt 512mb agp card, 12 fans 1 optical drive and a ide drive and it is still running till this day, 6 years. the case also has a LCD fan monitor for 9 of the fans.

there is always a risk when u dont buy the most trusted brands.... for a case and PSU combo for 37 dollars, u cant really complain.
 

whitefang

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You are suggesting the #1 cheapest power supply on newegg. That PSU is $9.99 and it is the only PSU in the 0-10 dollar section.
 

p51mustang23

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Jan 6, 2010
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if you want 1080 and a windows os and a computer for 350 ur really pushing it. IMO the economics of homebuilding are no better than buying a prebuilt in the sub 350$ range (when i say sub 350 im not even including monitor and OS)

I would recommend the dell. Id rather have a cheap dell system break and just use their warranty to have it fixed than have a cheap homebuild fry and have to deal with fixing that. Not that that situation is likly, but it is possible.
 

whitefang

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He doesn't need an OS.

If he gets the dell he will need to buy another DVD rom which is $30 which puts his dell at $360 (if he manages to sell his monitor) and you can easily build a PC from newegg better then that dell.

His dell only has 2GB of ram too.
 

Dougie Fresh

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Here's what you can get at DellOutlet.com for just under $350. There are a ton of these systems available.

Inspiron 545s
(System Identifier: EEPR3GDK)

Inspiron Desktop 545s SlimTower
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium

System Price : $339.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory
4 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz (2 DIMMs)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard Disk Drive
640 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
System Color
Piano Black
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Certified Refurbished
Certified Refurbished
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Hardware Upgrade
Dell 19 in 1 Media Card Reader
125V Power Cord
USB Keyboard
Optical 2-Button Mouse
No Modem
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software Upgrade
Windows Live
Microsoft Works 9.0
64BIT Operating System CD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chassis Type
Slim Tower
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Base
Inspiron Desktop 545s SlimTower
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Media Bay
16X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processor
Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor E5300 (2M Cache, 2.60 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)