Better setup?

[Jack McDonald]

Hi all,

This would be my first post.

So I'd just like to introduce myself first, my name is Jack and when it comes to hardware I can be a bit puzzled, but with software, I can help you out.

Anyway, I'm thinking of getting a new system, big investment, so, I was wondering, which do you think is better?

From Alienware:

Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme QX6700 2.66GHz 8MB Cache 1066MHz FSB

Windows Vista™ Home Premium

Alienware® P2 ALX Chassis with AlienIce™ 3.0 Video Cooling

Alienware® Standard System Lighting

Alienware® ALX High-Performance Liquid Cooling

Alienware® Approved NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI Motherboard

4GB Low Latency DDR2 Performance SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 x 1024MB

Extreme Performance (RAID 0)
1.5TB (2 x 750GB) Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ 2 x 16MB Cache

20X Dual Layer DVD±RW/CD-RW Writer w/ LightScribe Technology & Nero Software Suite

Dual 768MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 Ultra - SLI Enabled

Alienware® 1000 Watt Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply

Ageia PhysX PCI-Express Processing Unit w/ 128MB GDDR3

27'' Dell 1920 x 1200 UltraSharp Widescreen Flat Panel

Creative Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeGamer High Definition 7.1 Audio

Logitech® G15 Gaming Keyboard

Logitech® G5 Laser Gaming Mouse

From an Australian company, Pioneer Computers:

Processor
Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme QX6700 2.67G 8M Cache 1066M FSB Processor

PC Memory
4GB (2 x 2GB) 800MHz DDR2 RAM

MotherBoard
INTEL 975 Chip set D975XBX2 LGA775 Mother Board

Graphics
nVidia GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-Bit PCI Express Graphics Card

Sound
Integrated 7.1 Channel High Definition Audio

2nd Graphics
None

3.5" Hard Disk
200GB 7,200RPM Serial-ATA Hard Drive

3.5" Hard Disk 2
None

3.5" Hard Disk 3
None

Wireless PCI Card
None

HD Raid (Same HDs only)
None

Network Adapter
Integrated 10/100/1000M Ethernet LAN

5.25 Optical Drive
16x DVD-Rom Drive

HD Partition
Single Partition

5.25" Optical Drive 2
None

Modem
None

Floppy Drive
None

Card Reader
None

TV Tuner
None

PC Monitor
Chi Mei CMV 946D 19" Wide Screen 2ms WXGA (1440 X 900) LCD Monitor with speaker and DVI

PC Keyboard/Mouse
Microsoft Basic PS/2 Keyboard & Mouse Value Pack

Case
DreamVision Midi Tower 450w ATX Case M608

Operating System
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic

Warranty
Pioneer DreamCare 1 Year On-Site Pickup and Return Warranty

Office Software
Microsoft Office 2007 Home & Student

Anti-Virus/Security Software
Norton Internet Security 2007 OEM

This PC would be used as an entertainment PC (movies, music, gaming).
Also, just a little extra note, the Pioneer PC is about half the price of the Alienware one.

Finally, thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Kastang]

Nice setup, I would suggest that if you are able too, to purchase the parts on your own and build your own rig - you will save a ton of money and have more flex room on what you can pick out.

 

[Jack McDonald]

Hi,

That is what I thought about doing but I then thought that it would be quite difficult for me to put the PC together. I really don't have any experience when it comes to the hardware side of the computer. :O

 

[Big B]

Well, the Alienware has 2 video cards in SLI and a liquid cooling system, which probably add another $800-1000 USD to the package.

The 8800 is a pretty powerful card and should be pretty good with only one.

The second box looks fine for the most part. However, I have a major issue with the 450W power supply that seems to be part of the case. As a rule of thumb, if the power supply is included in the case, it's junk. Futhermore, I can't name any 450W power supply I'd even try to run a system with an 8800 on. I don't know what's available to you, but Thermaltake seems to be pretty big in Australia, so if something's available, ask for a Toughpower unit. The lowest-end one is 750W, but they're well built. Other brands I think would be available: Enermax, Antec, FSP. You may have Corsair and OCZ. Get at least a 600W from any of those brands and you should be fine. It'll cost a little extra, but it's worth it.