So i'm gonna get a computer, BUT...

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TopHat

TopHat

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killermrk
KillerMRK2
I would like for some compettition....

I have on the list:

Dell Dimension E521 at 1057 USD

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Proccessor 3800+

Windows Media Center

1GB dual channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533mhz

160GB HDD

256 MB ATI Radeon X1300 pro- same as Dell XPS 700

Dual Drives: 16X DVD and 48X CD-RW/DVD

Dell A225 ( Stereo ) speakers

Floppy Drive and 13 in 1 Media Card reader

1Yr warranty

15 months of Anti-Everything.

My opinon- Its a Dell... :drool:
 
It would help if you tell us what you plan to do with the computer. (Gaming, video/image editing, basic internet, email & word processing)
 
Hmmm, Mostly Basic Computing, But I occasionally run Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004.
 
Yes, but my dad uses it to burn dvds, AND my sister downloads anything with toys in it. This leads to slow running.

EDIT: Might I add photoshop?
 
Well, first find a computer that is in your budget. Second, get a computer with a 32-bit processor, if you get a 64-bit you'll find that you can't run all your applications correctly. And finally, don't buy a dell.
 
Why not buy a dell? My mother recently purchased an E510 and have been suprised, It only costed 700 USD.

Also, the Athlon has a 32 bit proccessor in there I think, and only uses 64 bit mode when stressed.
 
No Dell, go with someone else. All I've had with Dell desktops are trouble, and you say your sister downloads all kinds of stuff? Well that is a sure ticket to Dell Hell.
 
Yes, but was the Dell a top of the line E-series?

These computers are great, if you have any others please suggest!
 
Honestly, I'd have to tell you to build your own. You won't be locked into only getting the parts available through Dell or whatever.

What is the budget anyways?
 
I configured another Dell that might be better for you, and it's about the same price. I tried to match the same components if I could, unless I thought another option was better.

XPS 410: $1099

  • 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
  • Windows XP MCE 2005
  • 1GB RAM (dual channel)
  • 250GB HDD
  • 16x DVD w/ double layer write capability
  • 256MB ATI Radeo X1300 Pro
  • 19" Ultrasharp digital flat panel

Some things to keep in mind:

  • Stay away from the software bundles that Dell offers. You'll save a lot of money.
  • Do you need two optical drives? If so, then add another $40 to the price tag. But that should still be pretty close to the price you're aiming for.
  • Do you really need a floppy drive and media card reader? You can save $50 and can probably pick up a cheap (and more capable) card reader separately. Also, many printers include card readers. Just keep this in mind.
  • Does the anti-"everything" come free? If so, then go ahead and take it. If not, then there are many free alternatives to protect your computer.
  • Dell makes excellent monitors, but don't get their analog monitors.

To everyone else:

Seriously, what's wrong with anyone getting a Dell? I can tell you that they're not as bad as people make them out to be. What are you basing your information on? So you're trying to tell me that, if Matt's sister "downloads all kinds of stuff" on a Gateway or HP, nothing is going to happen? It only affects Dell?
 
Bloatware. I have to agree on this one. Dell puts more "trial" software on their PCs than anyone else. If you were to actually unbox one of these and try to strip it to basic Windows with nothing else installed, so you could then put the utilities and antivirus YOU wanted, you'd be there for 2 or 3 hours, and almost 25 restarts. Just to get the stuff off of it, you haven't started your own installs yet. If you can order the PC with Windows and the utilities you want ONLY, then OK. I don't know if you can. If you do so, and there's still crap on it when it arrives, don't be shy about sending it back telling them it's not what you ordered. Their commercial says they build it "just for you," but I don't believe it for a second. That might apply to memory and drives, but they don't have enough disk images to let you select trialware.
 
Build your own computer!!!

If anything, get Intel Core 2 Duo E6300, at least 1GB RAM, a small OS and programs hard drive and then a data hard drive, so if your main hard drive crashes, you won't lose your data. So like a 40 - 80GB Main HDD and a 120GB+ Data drive. Windows XP Home or Pro would be good, Media Center isn't all THAT unless you're going to hook it up as a home studio sort of thing.
 
I'd suggest building your own, but I take it you don't have the experience to do so?

If so, check out IBuyPower. Much better, and cheaper, than Dell. You get much better options, and you don't get raped for every penny in your wallet.

It's based on building gaming PCs, but you can easily configure a basic computer on there (Just don't buy into the eye candy products, like neon lights and cases with windows. Go for cheap looks, strong performance.).

Edit:

You can build this for $977.00 (before shipping):

Case: Raidmax X-1 ATX Mid-tower Case w/420W Power Supply

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6300 (2x 1.86GHz/2MB L2 Cache/1066FSB) w/ Standard Fan

Motherboard: ECS 965T-A P965 Chipset w/7.1 Sound, Gb LAN, USB 2.0 PCI-E MB

Memory: 1024MB [512MB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Corsair Memory

Video Card: nVidia 7600GS PCI-E 256MB Video Card (DVI + TV-Out)

Hard Drive: 160 GB HARD DRIVE [Serial-ATA-II, 3Gb, 7200 RPM, 8M Cache]

Optical Drive(s): 16X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive (AND) 52x32x52 CD-RW Drive

Sound: Onboard Premium Sound

Speakers: 600W PMPO 3 PCS Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System

Media Reader: 12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader/Writer

OS: MS Windows XP Home Edition w/Service Pack-2

Bonus Items: Free Games - World of Warcraft + Hero

You could drop the extra optical drive and speakers and shave off about $30. Plus, you're getting 2 free games.

Honestly, if all you're going to be doing is basic computing, DVD/CD burning, photoshopping, and similar tasks, that is a perfect setup.
 
Although I can't speak for the people who have posted in this thread, most people I know who have been unsatisfied with Dell computers were not very knowledgable about how to properly use and maintain a PC of any kind. And if you don't know how to do that, then you are going to be equally unsatisfied with any manufacturer (even if you build it yourself). My family has purchased 5 computers from Dell, with the oldest nearing 8 years of age which my father now uses for web surfing and email. I doubled its RAM a few years ago to 512MB, added a network card, and swapped out the hard drive to create some network storage space (none of the new components were purchased from Dell). None of the PC's have ever given me any problems which were not related to Windows or some other type of software installed on the computer, and Dell support has always solved any problem we have called about. Really, I couldn't imagine it being any better with any other manufacturer. Building your own can be a really fun, interesting, and educational experience (I love it!), but most people suggest that without considering the time and effort required in selecting quality components by someone who has never done it before. On top of that, the overwhelming majority of consumers don't have (or want) the technical knowledge of connecting and configuring all of the components correctly. With that said, just be wary of what people are really criticizing when speaking out against any computer manufacturer. They are extremely complicated machines, and the majority of people still expect them to be as "easy to use" as a TV or DVD player. When they don't work right, they usually blame the manufacturer rather than Microsoft or the software they are running. I've seen the situation dozens of times with my own friends on virtually every major PC manufacturer, and in my opinion, if you don't feel very comfortable building your own and dealing with the challenges that come with it, sticking with Dell is your best bet.
 
Jordan, thank you very much, as I have no expeirience of building my own computer, and this isn't MY computer it is a replacement of an old Compaq Presario 6000, and boy is it slow! Dells have brought me nothing but happiness for the past... lets say 5 years, after bieng on old Packard Bells and HP's. This Compaq has been used for 5 years, which is outdated in many peoples eyes. The computer I have selected has everything I need, which includes burning cd's, playing games, and surfing the web. All of this and the endless, virus ridden downloads, I know my sister will get. (Smiley Central anyone?) Which is why I have selected PC cillin. This computer currently uses AVG anti-virus, which has fufilled our needs quite nicley, but PC Cillin I have used previously, and was satisfied, so I think this Dell will be the best computer I have had to date, and they are so easy to upgrade, my grandmother recently added 512 MB of RAM to her 2-year old Dell B110.

Off to order it today,

Matt
 
TS
Second, get a computer with a 32-bit processor, if you get a 64-bit you'll find that you can't run all your applications correctly.
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What applications won't run properly? All my games and apps run perfectly fine on my Athlon64.

MachOne
Memory: 1024MB [512MB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Corsair Memory
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I remember reading that you're better off sticking with 533Mhz with the new Intel Core 2 CPUs. Something to do with the 1066Mhz FSB. I read that some higher clocked RAM actually runs effectively slower than the 533Mhz RAM it's designed to work with. But don't quote me on that.


KM.
 
MatttheTuner
and they are so easy to upgrade, my grandmother recently added 512 MB of RAM to her 2-year old Dell B110.
Matt
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Umm, just because its a Dell doesn't make it any easier to upgrade?? Also adding memory is like something a 4 year old can do, of course its easy.

I agree with most other people, Dells are horrible computers. More people need to learn how to build their own computers and save a ton of money. Building your own is so much more customizable than buying from some website.

Also the best anti-virus software that I have seen is McAfee. Its only like $40 and it seriously works.
 
=V8 Power=
Umm, just because its a Dell doesn't make it any easier to upgrade?? Also adding memory is like something a 4 year old can do, of course its easy.

Zing.

I agree with most other people, Dells are horrible computers. More people need to learn how to build their own computers and save a ton of money. Building your own is so much more customizable than buying from some website.
Click to expand...

Building is best, yes, but some people don't have the time nor patience (understandable).

Also the best anti-virus software that I have seen is McAfee. Its only like $40 and it seriously works.
Click to expand...

Wrong. AVG Free is probably the best, and it is free. McAfee and Norton have done nothing but give me problems. Now, ZoneAlarm on the other hand is the top dog in the security business. If you need a great firewall and anti-virus, go with it.

Anyways, Matt, I suggest checking out www.ibuypower.com. Apparently you ignored my post (Or maybe you don't like spending less and still get better components?).

Mattthetuner
Dells have brought me nothing but happiness for the past... lets say 5 years
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So, Dells have been bringing you happiness since you were 7?
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Yep, My uncle had a Dell, and I was 8! :P

Also, its too late... I ordered it 5 minutes ago! :D
 
dells work, any problem you all are saying youve had witht hem cane be fixed with a Format and fresh install of windows. Also get windows MCE unless you want to fork over the extra 100 bucks for pro. Dont get home because that OS is like the ME of XP. Also make sure you spend the extra 10 bucks to get the OS disk and drivers disk and do not get that Dataguard crap. Thats my only tips as far as setting up a dell. When it arrives at your door, format it and put a fresh copy of XP Pro or MCE whichever you like, then put all the stuff YOU want on it. If you wee to mess with it before the format and after its like a 35% increase in performance.
 
dougiemeats
So this thread was essentially useless? :odd:
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Since all it did was rake over the hackneyed coals of "ZOMG Dell SUXORZ", and "Build your own computer you moron" and "All paid-for A/V programs are resource hungry and they suck", then yeah, pretty much.

So much dogma in this forum...
 
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