Dell purchase help (video card)

[Raekwon]

Here is my problem.

My brother has decided to buy a dell computer. He ordered a system almost 2 months ago and still hasn't received his system. He called and cancelled his order as they would not offer any insight as to why it was delayed. He decided to use this opportunity to upgrade his original choices and re-order from dell so he calls me for advice. He was ordering a Studio XPS (even though its more for games) but they don't offer a video card upgrade they only have a Nvidia GTS 240. So I looked at the Alienware and for roughly the same price as his spec he could get the Alienware but it comes with that same video card. Alienware allows the upgrade to the 295GTX which makes sense seeing as Alienware is supposed to be a gaming machine.

My question is what is the deal with the GTS 240, I read that its an OEM card based on the 9800GT but if this is true why would they even offer that with the Alienware, and also why the lack of upgrade options?

[GoinAllTheWay]

If you don't mind me asking, what is your bros budget? Every system I have built (several of them) I have had done at Memory Express. The thing that annoys me about pre-built systems in the amount of bloatware the get loaded on them.

ME has a system configurator that you can use to build your own machine, you submit that to ME, they check it over and then build it. That way you can get whatever the heck you want in it (assuming it's all compatable), no bloatware, just a brand new machine that is beyond ready to go. Ready within a few business days and they have pretty good financing on site.

As for the lack of upgrade options, with HP in particular, most that order from them are just looking for machines that do email & web. Alienware I have no idea. I know they tout themselves as builders of insane gamin rigs and I'm sure they are, they are just over priced IMO. You can do better elsewhere.

I would avoid ordering computer online like that like the plague.

[silentsim]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

If you don't mind me asking, what is your bros budget? Every system I have built (several of them) I have had done at Memory Express. The thing that annoys me about pre-built systems in the amount of bloatware the get loaded on them.

ME has a system configurator that you can use to build your own machine, you submit that to ME, they check it over and then build it. That way you can get whatever the heck you want in it (assuming it's all compatable), no bloatware, just a brand new machine that is beyond ready to go. Ready within a few business days and they have pretty good financing on site.

As for the lack of upgrade options, with HP in particular, most that order from them are just looking for machines that do email & web. Alienware I have no idea. I know they tout themselves as builders of insane gamin rigs and I'm sure they are, they are just over priced IMO. You can do better elsewhere.

I would avoid ordering computer online like that like the plague.

agreed, and you can get a rock solid custom computer from mem ex for a good price

[Vulcan]

I'd add that NCIX can build your computer also but not as handy as Memory Express. If you really want to get into it the NCIX forum members will help with suggestions for your build and you can also price match when ordering ( I think ME will also price match). Also ATI is said to give the best bang for the buck for video cards right now.

[Esoteric]

Don't go through Dell. I tried to get a computer from them back in February and they took forever, gave me a runaround, so I just cancelled, and got a better rig from Memory Express.

I took in an excel spreadsheet listing prices from them, NCIX, Newegg.ca and Tiger Direct, and the price matched everything, and built it for me. Took them less then 2 days to build it, load the drivers and the OS.

Post a build on here, and your price range, and we can help you out with a computer. DON'T BUY DELL.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

Don't go through Dell. I tried to get a computer from them back in February and they took forever, gave me a runaround, so I just cancelled, and got a better rig from Memory Express.

I took in an excel spreadsheet listing prices from them, NCIX, Newegg.ca and Tiger Direct, and the price matched everything, and built it for me. Took them less then 2 days to build it, load the drivers and the OS.

Post a build on here, and your price range, and we can help you out with a computer. DON'T BUY DELL.

Dell is good for entry level systems and laptops. For a higher end desktop, it is almost always better to build it yourself (or get mem ex to).

[Raekwon]

I totally agree and have always used memx. I told him that they do offer credit there (thats why he went through dell) hopefully he goes the memx route. Man Dell has sure gone downhill these days

[Hack&Lube]

I don't know why anybody would go with prebuilt with limited choices. Even if you go with Alienware for more choice, you are paying a premium for one of the stupidest brands on earth with some of the ugliest industrial design on earth.

I would recommend that he go with a system from Memory Express with every component price checked on shopbot.ca and then price matched at Memory Express.

A new system I was pricing out would have cost me about $1000 at Memex but ended up around $750 because of price match savings.

How much does memory express charge for building and setting up a computer? I always do my own.

[Esoteric]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I don't know why anybody would go with prebuilt with limited choices. Even if you go with Alienware for more choice, you are paying a premium for one of the stupidest brands on earth with some of the ugliest industrial design on earth.

I would recommend that he go with a system from Memory Express with every component price checked on shopbot.ca and then price matched at Memory Express.

A new system I was pricing out would have cost me about $1000 at Memex but ended up around $750 because of price match savings.

How much does memory express charge for building and setting up a computer? I always do my own.

It was $50 I think? for them to load the OS, install the latest drivers and assemble everything. Not a bad premium to pay on a $2,500 rig.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I don't know why anybody would go with prebuilt with limited choices. Even if you go with Alienware for more choice, you are paying a premium for one of the stupidest brands on earth with some of the ugliest industrial design on earth.

Just ordered a computer from Dell for my parents; it was under $700. A similar computer from Memory Express was going to be over $900.

Perhaps with a bigger/faster computer MemEx may be the better option. But my parents had decided that they wanted something new for their Internet and Email; so basic was going to be good enough.

Now if anybody would like to prove me wrong; this is what we need:
- Core 2 Duo 3.0 Ghz 1333 bus
- 4 GB RAM
- > 500 GB hard drive
- DVD-RW/ Blu-ray-ROM combo drive
- Onboard video/audio is OK
- SD card reader
- Windows 7 64 bit Home

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Just ordered a computer from Dell for my parents; it was under $700. A similar computer from Memory Express was going to be over $900.

Perhaps with a bigger/faster computer MemEx may be the better option. But my parents had decided that they wanted something new for their Internet and Email; so basic was going to be good enough.

Now if anybody would like to prove me wrong; this is what we need:
- Core 2 Duo 3.0 Ghz 1333 bus
- 4 GB RAM
- > 500 GB hard drive
- DVD-RW/ Blu-ray-ROM combo drive
- Onboard video/audio is OK
- SD card reader
- Windows 7 64 bit Home

- Core 2 Duo 3.0 Ghz 1333 bus
$174.99

- 4 GB RAM
$63.29

- 500 GB hard drive
$49.99

- DVD-RW/ Blu-ray-ROM combo drive
$66.00

- Onboard video/audio is OK
(see motherboard)

- SD card reader
$8.99

- Windows 7 64 bit Home
$113.96

* Motherboard (Asus P5QPL-AM)
$61.05

* Case & PSU (InWin BL631)
$66.95

* In-Store Install and Assembly
$50.00

Total:
$655.22

All items in stock MemEx and price matched at accepted stores by MemEx.

MemEx isn't cheap, they have a virtual monopoly in this town and have higher prices than other stores in Canada, so you should always price match what you can at Memory Express. Believe me, I am no fan of that store (friend claimed workplace sexual harassment by managers), but we have little choice in Calgary for the convenience of pick-up and easy returns/service.

[silentsim]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

- Core 2 Duo 3.0 Ghz 1333 bus
$174.99

- 4 GB RAM
$63.29

- 500 GB hard drive
$49.99

- DVD-RW/ Blu-ray-ROM combo drive
$66.00

- Onboard video/audio is OK
(see motherboard)

- SD card reader
$8.99

- Windows 7 64 bit Home
$113.96

* Motherboard (Asus P5QPL-AM)
$61.05

* Case & PSU (InWin BL631)
$66.95

* In-Store Install and Assembly
$50.00

Total:
$655.22

All items in stock MemEx and price matched at accepted stores by MemEx.

MemEx isn't cheap, they have a virtual monopoly in this town and have higher prices than other stores in Canada, so you should always price match what you can at Memory Express. Believe me, I am no fan of that store (friend claimed workplace sexual harassment by managers), but we have little choice in Calgary for the convenience of pick-up and easy returns/service.

Another thing i Like about memex as previously mentioned is the price matching. They give little to no hassle from my experience when price matching, opposite of best buy and futureshop lol

[ken0042]

Hmm, for some reason I'm seeing the prices as being at least 10% higher on each of your components- and I can't get 4 GB of memory for that price at all there.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Hmm, for some reason I'm seeing the prices as being at least 10% higher on each of your components- and I can't get 4 GB of memory for that price at all there.

It's because of:

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I would recommend that he go with a system from Memory Express with every component price checked on shopbot.ca and then price matched at Memory Express.

A new system I was pricing out would have cost me about $1000 at Memex but ended up around $750 because of price match savings.

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

All items in stock MemEx and price matched at accepted stores by MemEx.

MemEx isn't cheap, they have a virtual monopoly in this town and have higher prices than other stores in Canada, so you should always price match what you can at Memory Express.

Originally Posted by silentsim

Another thing i Like about memex as previously mentioned is the price matching. They give little to no hassle from my experience when price matching, opposite of best buy and futureshop lol

If you're embarassed about price matching everything, I guess you could go with Dell I just make multiple trips. Save $50 if you can install everything yourself too.

I'm not really just trying to make a nerdy argument for MemEx here. As I said earlier, I don't really like them. What's funny if that if you do all this price matching, their margins to cut down severely and they would hardly make any money. You just posted that we should give proving you wrong a try so I couldn't resist. I too, bought a Dell for my grandparents because it was easier, I was lazy that weekend, and MemEx didn't have their price match policy so open at the time.