XG Desktop pc, any good?

[aadamszc]

Hello, this is actually my first time posting on these forums, but I have been browsing for a while. Anyway, down to business:

I am currently looking to purchase a decent desktop gaming pc with a limited budget of ~$1000. I am not really looking to build it myself because, quite frankly, I am no good with putting things together. The main question about the systems is should I go with an AMD or Intel Processor? There is only a slight cost difference between the two(AMD = 879.00 - no monitor) and (Intel = 859.00 - No monitor -- for $16.00 more, I could get an intel core2 Quad e6600 @ 2.4GHz, would it be better?).

CPU: (Socket AM2) AMD Athlon™64 X2 6000+ Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology [+20] with
MOTHERBOARD: (Socket AM2)GigaByte GA-M57SLI-S4 nForce 570-SLI Chipset DDR2/800 SATA RAID PCI-Express MBoard w/GbLAN,IEEE1394,USB2.0,&7.1Audio

or

CPU: (Sckt775)Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6850 CPU @ 3.00GHz 1333FSB 4MB L2 Cache 64-bit [+899 -- guess this includes base price.] with ($10 off Mail-in Rebate) (Quad-Core FSB1333) MSI P6N SLI-FI nForce 650i SLI Chipset LGA775 FSB1333 DDR2 Mainboard

The rest of my system information can be found below. For each configured pm(AMD or Intel), mostly all of the specs are the same. The stuff that isn't the same doesn't really matter all that much to me. On a side note: The NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT 512MB Videocard...I realize it was in the best buy section post for september, but it was in the cheaper section. It's not like I want to play on the highest resolution all settings max, would this video card/system work on at least the medium settings of some of the newest games out there?

CAS: XION II Mid-Tower Case 350Watt W/ Mod Side-Panel Window [-75] (SILVER COLOR)
CS_FAN: Extra Ball Bearing Case Fan [+3] (3 x Fans [+6])
CASUPGRADE: NONE
CD: Sony Q170A 18x Double Layer Dual Format DVD+-R/+-RW + CD-R/RW Drive (BLACK COLOR)
CD2: SONY 16X DVD-ROM (BLACK COLOR)
CABLE: None
FLASHMEDIA: None
FREEBIE_CU1: FREE! 1GB USB 2.0 Portable Flash Drive
FREEBIE_CU2: FREE! AGE OF EMPIRE III
FREEBIE_CU3: FREE! RISE OF NATIONS: RISE OF LEGENDS
FAN: AMD ATHLON64 CERTIFIED CPU FAN & HEATSINK
FLOPPY: NONE
HDD: Single Hard Drive (320GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD [+16])
HDD2: NONE
IEEE_CARD: NONE
KEYBOARD: Logitech Deluxe 104 PS/2 Keyboard (Black Color)
MOUSE: Logitech Optical Wheel Mouse (BLACK COLOR)
MODEM: NONE
MONITOR: NONE
MONITOR2: NONE
MEMORY: (Req.DDR2 MainBoard)2GB (2x1GB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory [+90] (Corsair Value Select or Major Brand)
NETWORK: ONBOARD 10/100 NETWORK CARD
OS: Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Basic (32-bit Edition)
PRO_WIRING: None
PRINTER: None
PRINTER_CABLE: None
POWERSUPPLY: STANDARD CASE POWER SUPPLY
RUSH: NO; READY TO SHIP IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
SOFT: Microsoft® Works v8.5
SERVICE: Standard Warranty: 1-Year Limited Warranty Plus 24/7 Life-Time Technical Support
SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
SPEAKERS: Logitech S100 2.0 Stereo Speaker Set (BLACK COLOR)
TEMP: NONE (AS SHOWN)
TVRC: None
USB: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
UPS: None
USBHD: NONE
VIDEO: NEW!!! NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT 512MB 16X PCI Express [+50]
VIDEO2: NONE [-70]
VIDEOCAMERA: NONE
WNC: PCI Wireless 802.11g 54Mbps Network Interface Card
WAP: NONE

I only have a few more questions that I would like to ask.
1) Do you think the case suppliers psu would work fine(I think 300W)
2) Do you think I will have any cooling problems?
3) Do you see anything that you think I should upgrade? Do certain things look like the will not work together?
4) Buyxg.com? Good Place to buy? The seem to have found a fine balance between quality products and reasonable prices.

Thank you very much,
-Adam

P.S. Even if you could only answer one of my questions(a lot of reading), I would be extremely grateful.

 

[srtboy]

I would go for a dell system if I wasn't building. Dell would give the best bang for the buck. Just be patient last good deal was on 8/22 on a dimension 9200 with quad core for 609.00 shipped.

 

[srtboy]

Just configured this at dell for 749.00. then purchase some more ram at newegg.com for another 40.00. dell wants to charge 100.00 for 1 gb ram.

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6550 (4MB L2 Cache,2.33GHz,1333 FSB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium edit
MONITOR 19 inch SE198WFP Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor edit
MEMORY 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs edit
HARD DRIVE 320GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 16X DVD+/-RW Drive edit
VIDEO CARD 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT-DDR3 edit
SOUND Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio edit
KEYBOARD & MOUSE Dell USB Keyboard and Dell Optical USB Mouse edit
FLOPPY & MEDIA READER No Floppy Drive Included edit
MODEM & WIRELESS 56K PCI Data Fax Modem

http://www.xpbargains.com/best_deal.php/dell_desktop_deals.htm

 

[aadamszc]

Very Nice, thank you.

Couple Questions though:

Q1) 2.33GHz - highest I can go?
Q2) There 1gb of ram is only 667Mhz, a problem? Plus..I'm afraid I'll fry my motherboard or something if I try to install more ram myself
Q3) I know this will sound silly, but wouldn't it be more economical to get like ~$100 monitor from someone and save an extra 90 dollars? Or will the $100 monitor pretty much make the graphics card stink?

 

[srtboy]

1. Yes that is the fastest configuration.
2. No, 667 mhz is enough. You cannot overclock anyway.
3. A monitor is one of the most important components of the computer. I would probably upgrade to the 20" or 22" since the are both 1650x1050 and the 19" is 1440x900 resolution.
4. Upgrading ram is too easy you just snap it in. be sure to unplug the power from the computer first.

If you are not going to build yourself or overclock then buying from dell is the way to go. You get a warranty and product support. This configuration is just an example there are better deals you just have to wait.