To Build a gaming PC or Buy one?
These two gaming systems are very similar in the main components but with the build system I chose to upgrade to a gigabit Ethernet card with the NPU on board to off load some of the networking cycles off the CPU. I choose WIN XP Professional on both machines since Vista is a ‘Hog’ when it comes to memory. The buy system from Alienware.com was a grand total of $2781.00 while the build system from NewEgg.com came in at $2541.35 with some nicer components over all I might add. The power supply is bigger and also the networking capabilities come in a lot beefier. The savings was a mere $239.65 but over all I tend to enjoy building my own systems so I know what is in them. Also there is $207.50 more in rebates from NewEgg.com that I would have to mail-in and wait for the savings. I could have also saved a bit more by ordering from several computer sites of the Pricewatch.com page but for ease of ordering from one place I just chose the NewEgg.com option for all the components.
BUY – ALIENWARE.COM Aurora™ 7500
Alienware P2 Chassis: Alienware® P2 Chassis with AlienIce™ 3.0 Video Cooling - Space Black
System Lighting: Alienware® Standard System Lighting - Astral Blue
High-Performance Liquid Cooling: Alienware® Standard System Cooling
Power Supply: Alienware® 700 Watt Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply
Graphics Processor: Single Graphics Processors - 768MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 GTX
Processor: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4600+ Processor w/ HyperTransport and Dual Core Technology
Memory: 2GB DDR2 Performance SDRAM at 800MHz - 2 x 1024MB
Motherboard: Alienware® Approved NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI Motherboard
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows® XP Professional
Desktop Tuners and Remotes: Media Center upgrade options are not available with Windows XP Professional.
System Drive: Single Drive Configuration - 250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ 16MB Cache
Optical Drives : Dual Drive Configuration - Drive 1: 20X Dual-Layer DVD±RW
Drive 2:20X Dual-Layer DVD±RW w/ LightScribe
Enthusiast Essentials: Dual High Performance Gigabit Ethernet Ports
Sound Card: High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio - Standard
Monitor: 24″ Dell 1920 x 1200 UltraSharp Widescreen Flat Panel
Speakers: Logitech® Z-5300e 5.1 280-Watt Speakers
Keyboard: Logitech® G15 Gaming Keyboard
Mouse : Logitech® G5 Laser Gaming Mouse
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mesh Cap
Alienware Extras: Alienware® Mousepad
Alienware Extras: Internal Wire Management
Avatar: Alienhead 3D
Window Style: Silver Window Style
Mouse Pointers: Standard Mouse Pointers
Power Plan: Standard Power Plan
$2,781.00
Click Here for Newegg.com Clearance Items.
BUILD – NEWEGG.COM
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-06 - Retail Item #: N82E16827106072Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $75.98 2@($37.99 each)
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811129021Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $129.99 Seagate Barracuda ES ST3250620NS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822148155Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy $79.99
SAMSUNG 245BW Black High Glossy 24″ 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor with Height Adjustment - Retail Item #: N82E16824001234Return Policy: [LCD] Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy $499.99
ECS AMD690GM-M2 AM2 AMD 690G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813135049Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $64.99 Bigfoot Networks K1(w/ FNA promo) 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI Game Network Adapter - Retail Item #: N82E16833342002Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $179.99
Leadtek WinFast PX8800 GTX TDH GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail Item #: N82E16814122017Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy $529.99 Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail Item #: N82E16829102006Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $79.99 Antec TPQ-850 ATX12V / EPS12V 850W Power Supply - Retail Item #: N82E16817371009Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $219.00 Logitech THX Z-5300e 280 Watts RMS 5.1 Speaker - Retail Item #: N82E16836121121Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $124.99
Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard - Retail Item #: N82E16823126179 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $69.99
Logitech G5 2-Tone 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser Mouse - Retail Item #: N82E16826104076Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $59.99
GeIL Value Series 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model GX22GB6400PXK - Retail Item #: N82E16820144067Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy $139.99
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Windsor 2.4GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA4600CUBOX - Retail Item #: N82E16819103751Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy $96.50
Is your computer running slow? Come to Newegg for your CPU upgrades.
Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2C - OEM Item #: N82E16832116400Return Policy: Software Return Policy $139.99
COOLER MASTER AQUAGATE VIVA RL-M4A-E7E1-GP Liquid Cooling System - Retail Item #: N82E16835103017Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $49.99
Subtotal: $2,541.35
Not sure where to start? You can check out my Basic computer terms site here or here is an online guide written by another computer techie.
How The “Beginners Computer Tutorial” Can Help YOU Build A PC








