Looking to buy/build new computer...need help

Take this to the homebuilt section. They will be able to piece a good system together for you.

I went to dell.com and this was a computer I was able to come up with:

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6550 (4MB L2 Cache,2.33GHz,1333 FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs
320GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
16X DVD+/-RW Drive
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT-DDR3

All together, this would cost me $859. It's a bit over budget, and I have no idea if it would meet the requirements of what I posted above. Processors CONFUSE me how some with lower GHz perform better than some with higher GHz and how certain RAM is better than other. I can't tell which would be better.

I know I could make a computer for cheaper than above, but how much cheaper?

i know a dell sales rep that can help you out, pm for contact info

Yes, the Core2 E6550 will eat a P4 alive.

Try this instead: http://configure.us.dell.com/dells [...] b4gi&s=bsd
It's a little bit more expensive, but you get to choose your OS (XP or Vista) and it doesn't come with the bloatware of the regular systems.

Most people like to have HDD space for games, music, movies and pictures. The 8600GT isn't the best card, but it will handle what you want to do.

You know all of the annoying trial software that pre-built systems come with (like AOL and netzero)? Those companies pay Dell to put that stuff on the system as advertisement and as a result, lowers the end-users costs. The business lines don't come with any of that crap installed so your prices increase slightly. I would also imagine it has something to do with the different case. I would upgrade to the burner if I were you, just so you could back-up your files onto disk.

If WOW is the only game you want to play and photoshop is the only other requirement, it should be fine. If you want to play better games than WOW, I would consider a better card.

Yes.

Somebody is going to say no.

Look at this issue this way (just quick rough numbers with apples to apples comparision):

A basic PSU and case will cost you $100 or so.

The Q6600 can be purchased for just under $300

MB is going to be $110 or so.

WinXP will cost you $90 for OEM, $190 for Retail.

A HD will cost $80

The RAM might cost $60

The burner will cost $35

The Video card is what $160

$935 for DIY. $214 Premium for the Dell (which includes shipping, some basic support, a warranty for those minor things and that real big screwup the eats the CPU). Of course the $935 for DIY does not include shipping costs ($40-$50 easily) plus your valuable time to assemble it yourself.

Would I buy the Dell? Yep. Sure would. You know what you are getting. The price is fair. And if the sucker is a dud you get another one from Dell under the warranty exchange. I would not buy that particular unit as I would only buy a computer that was preloaded with Vista, but that is my personal opionion and not a critical must have for many people.

Just a word of advice. Avoid Dell upgrades. Another 2GB of RAM could cost you $200 or more from Dell, yet that same Kingston RAM can be bought for $60. Which raises a question, on your Dell system, is the 2GB of RAM included or is that an upgrade? If an upgrade, just accept the basic RAM and install your own sticks of RAM and save a few $.