Which Computer Should I Get?!?!?

ShadowXORShadowXOR Join Date: 2002-11-27 Member: 10106Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Please help me!</div> Tell me which of these I should get, I'm asking because one is significantly cheaper then the other and am wondering which is more worth it.

Dell Dimension 8300 - The Cheaper One

Intel® 875P Chipset
350 Watt Power Supply
Basic Cooling System
Pentium4 Processor with HT Technology 3.06GHz 533 FSB
200 GB Hard Drive
3.5" Floppy Drive
16x Max DVD-Rom Drive
New 4x DVD+RW/+R Drive w/CD-RW
128MB DDR ATI RADEON™ 9800 Pro Graphics Card with TV-Out and DVI
Sound Blaster­ Audigy™2 sound card with DVD Audio
New Dell Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 Ethernet
4 year warranty
Windows XP Pro

Cost = Around $2100 after tax, shipping rebates, everything

Intel® 875P Chipset
Dell Dimension XPS - The More Expensive One
460 Watt Powersupply
Advanced Cooling System
Pentium4 Processor with HT Technology 3.0GHz 800 FSB
200 GB Hard Drive
3.5" Floppy Drive
16x Max DVD-Rom Drive
New 4x DVD+RW/+R Drive w/CD-RW
128MB DDR ATI RADEON™ 9800 Pro Graphics Card with TV-Out and DVI
Sound Blaster­ Audigy™2 sound card with DVD Audio
New Dell Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 Ethernet
4 Year Warranty
Windows XP Pro

Price = Around $3000 After tax, shipping, rebates, everything.

And as you guys can tell that did not include RAM, they both come with 512 I believe, but i want 2 gigs of Ram, and its much cheaper to get it from someone other then dell, so what do you guys think, is the more advanced system worth it?

Comments

  • GorgeBushGorgeBush Join Date: 2003-04-22 Member: 15745Members
    edited April 2003
    2100$, but upgrade cooling system! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • ShadowXORShadowXOR Join Date: 2002-11-27 Member: 10106Members
    I don't want to do any work though <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> lol
  • zerg_overmindzerg_overmind Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15724Members
    no don't get an xp,xp has problems playing ns.......
    ......i know i because have one <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • AllUrHiveRblong2usAllUrHiveRblong2us By Your Powers Combined... Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11244Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--ShadowXOR+Apr 28 2003, 08:22 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (ShadowXOR @ Apr 28 2003, 08:22 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I don't want to do any work though <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> lol <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    If you don't wanna do work, then don't get a computer. It's very simple, really.
  • SirusSirus Join Date: 2002-11-13 Member: 8466Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    You would think so.
  • SandrockSandrock Join Date: 2002-12-16 Member: 10905Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    Definetely the $2100 one, but like was stated before, you'll need to upgrade the cooling system. With that processor and that video card, your gonna have a lot of heat. If you take it to some small computer shop, they can do it for you and I wouldn't think it would cost that much.
  • VoberVober Join Date: 2002-03-27 Member: 356Members
    WHOA!!! CHEAP?!?!?!?!

    both of those look sweet, but to save costs build your own.....
    Not hard, stick everything in where it fits ;-)

    My $300 computer I built:
    40 GB Haedrive
    64 mb radeon 7500
    128 stick and a 256 stick pc133 ram
    48x/12x/48x cd burner
    Given a monitor
    1.1ghz t-bird
    motherboard that can support a lot higer
    get this::
    NO SOUND CARD LMAO mother board sound
  • AllUrHiveRblong2usAllUrHiveRblong2us By Your Powers Combined... Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11244Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Vober+Apr 28 2003, 09:01 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Vober @ Apr 28 2003, 09:01 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> NO SOUND CARD LMAO mother board sound <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    What's so bad about that?
  • ShadowXORShadowXOR Join Date: 2002-11-27 Member: 10106Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--AllUrHiveRBelong2Us+Apr 28 2003, 08:45 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (AllUrHiveRBelong2Us @ Apr 28 2003, 08:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--ShadowXOR+Apr 28 2003, 08:22 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (ShadowXOR @ Apr 28 2003, 08:22 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I don't want to do any work though <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> lol <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    If you don't wanna do work, then don't get a computer. It's very simple, really. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That makes no sense.
  • AllUrHiveRblong2usAllUrHiveRblong2us By Your Powers Combined... Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11244Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--ShadowXOR+Apr 28 2003, 09:05 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (ShadowXOR @ Apr 28 2003, 09:05 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--AllUrHiveRBelong2Us+Apr 28 2003, 08:45 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (AllUrHiveRBelong2Us @ Apr 28 2003, 08:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--ShadowXOR+Apr 28 2003, 08:22 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (ShadowXOR @ Apr 28 2003, 08:22 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I don't want to do any work though <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> lol <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    If you don't wanna do work, then don't get a computer. It's very simple, really. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That makes no sense. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Of course it makes sense. You don't want to do work, computers are made to make work easier, and even if they are used for play, they need to be worked on regularly for maintenence purposes, so therefore to truly do no work you must not get a computer.
  • WheeeeWheeee Join Date: 2003-02-18 Member: 13713Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    I have to agree, if you don't want to put any effort into building a computer by yourself, don't get one. If you really want one, get a cheap one because the money you save will go towards a much better computer when you decide that you want to sink the 2-5 hours setting up a new computer.
  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    I'd recommend just building one. Or at the very least, not going with a Dell, Compaq, or Alienware.

    The first two because their warranty support is HORRIBLE (have a friend with a Compaq, which they insist the two-year warranty expired on.. two days BEFORE he bought it.. another with a Dell laptop which the screen died on, and they refused to fix), last because they're an overpriced name.

    You may spend more time, but you waste less money, and have a far more intimate knowledge of how the system works, than just buying a beige box off the shelf. Plus, you can customize it for your own uses, instead of going with a profiled POS.

    So, for $2000... you can either drop it and get a mid-range system that doesn't work that well, or drop that much cash, get a top-of-the-line machine with all the options. You just have to plug strip A into slot B. Honestly no harder than flat-pack furniture, though you need to be significantly more careful with it. Heck, all the parts normally come with bright, graphical installation instructions anyway.
  • VyvnVyvn Join Date: 2002-08-24 Member: 1226Members
    edited April 2003
    Why would you pay $900 more for a system that is identical except for a larger power supply and a better cooling system, and has a slightly slower processor to boot? (edit: and what Doom just mentioned below...)

    And, might I add, I would kill for either of those systems.
  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    To me looks like the only difference is a 533FSB cpu vs a 800FSB cpu.. and for $900, I bet you won't notice that much difference at all. Go with the cheaper one. Also, the cooling that comes with it will be fine if you aren't planning any overclocking...
  • ShadowXORShadowXOR Join Date: 2002-11-27 Member: 10106Members
    I am not asking for anyone opinion on building computers, other brands, etc. I asked which of these two computers I should get, and none of this B.S. about work. Thanks to those who replied to what I asked, like DOOManiac (P.S. DOOManiac I see you had a part in mapping some Desert Crisis stuff....fun mod.)

    I still haven't decided so more input would be appreciated, and also here are links to pages that contain more info about the respective systems.


    8300
    <a href='http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/model_dimen_dimen_8300.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/mod..._dimen_8300.htm</a>

    XPS

    <a href='http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/model_dimen_dimen_XPS.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/mod...n_dimen_XPS.htm</a>
  • ChuchumanquiqChuchumanquiq Join Date: 2003-04-16 Member: 15560Members
    edited April 2003
    dude...

    forget both of them

    get a dual-capable lower Ghz Xeon... they have HT and don't cost and ARM AND A LEG... it will come with a crap video card, but you can upgrade that

    my wife picked out <a href='http://www.dell.com/us/en/bsd/offers/specials_3x_precn_ws650_mcrec.htm' target='_blank'>this dell workstation</a> and we put in a Radeon 9500 and a DVD burner

    not bad for HALF of what you're going to pay

    think twice before buying the latest and greatest... you're paying too much
  • ShadowXORShadowXOR Join Date: 2002-11-27 Member: 10106Members
    whats a dell workstation isnt that for businesses
  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    Most likely the only only differences are software bundles. If there are any hardware differences, its probably minor, and maybe even good.

    Technically, my motherboard is classified as a "workstation" board for businesses. The chipset performs just as good as its "consumer" board counterpart, but I got some stuff like not as good onboard sound (big deal, I use my Live anyway) but a gigabit ethernet instead of 10/100 built in. Also its cheaper since you're not paying money for crappy software bundles you don't need.
  • SpoogeSpooge Thunderbolt missile in your cheerios Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 67Members
    I thumbed through that config window and something caught my eye: Make sure you aren't getting a 5400 ATA/100 hard drive. That might be what they're pushing in their "special" 200G drives. The other thing was the difference between 2 gigs of ram and 512k ram was almost 1000$ <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo--> Don't think you'll be needing that much but whatever floats your boat.
  • SycophantSycophant Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 7092Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--ShadowXOR+Apr 28 2003, 10:23 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (ShadowXOR @ Apr 28 2003, 10:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Intel® 875P Chipset
    460 Watt Powersupply
    Advanced Cooling System
    Pentium4 Processor with HT Technology 3.0GHz 800 FSB
    200 GB Hard Drive
    3.5" Floppy Drive
    16x Max DVD-Rom Drive
    New 4x DVD+RW/+R Drive w/CD-RW
    128MB DDR ATI RADEON™ 9800 Pro Graphics Card with TV-Out and DVI
    Sound Blaster
  • CowswinCowswin Join Date: 2003-03-17 Member: 14623Banned, Constellation
    I'd say you're paying out the wazoo for either of them, go to newegg <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    If you're buying Dell because you're not going to build something, then you probably aren't planning on upgrading the proccessor/mobo. In that case, I'd hold out for the next generation of proccessors to come out, which will lower the price of your 3.0Ghz a lot less. Comparable to what you'd save if you built it, even <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • ChuchumanquiqChuchumanquiq Join Date: 2003-04-16 Member: 15560Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--TychoCelchuuu+Apr 29 2003, 09:27 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (TychoCelchuuu @ Apr 29 2003, 09:27 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> If you're buying Dell because you're not going to build something, then you probably aren't planning on upgrading the proccessor/mobo. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    or you could go with the dual-capable workstation and upgrade to a dual proc P4/Xeon when you can afford to

    we're going to be doind that instead of buying a new machine next year
  • ShadowXORShadowXOR Join Date: 2002-11-27 Member: 10106Members
    I can build a computer from scratch, I just don't want to, and I want a warranty. Building them is a huge pain in the ****...
  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    Must not have built one recently. With most of the new stuff, it's quite literally 'snap open, screw down, insert cable' about five to ten times (depending upon how many peripherals/expansion cards you have inside) and then stand it up, close it up, and turn it on with the OS-of-choice boot CD in the drive.
    Add a little time if you're going for a custom cooler setup/thermal transfer compound, but even with that the entire process should take you less than an hour. Half an hour, if you keep your parts and tools organized. Heck, most mobos don't even require you to set jumpers any more... everything through software, a good chunk self-configging.

    Slap on XP Pro, let it boot and find everything, and the machine is good to go, usually in less time than it takes to configure an off-the-shelf beige. If you want a more customized rig, it takes more time... but the knowledge of the machine comes in even more handy at that point.

    Heh.. and if you build it right the first time, there's no need for a warranty.
    (Pats the P-90 in a Tempest-rated case, which has run just fine for well over eight years now)
  • ZelZel Join Date: 2003-01-27 Member: 12861Members
    all i have to say is that youll never need a 200 GB drive. get an 80. save lots.
  • ShadowXORShadowXOR Join Date: 2002-11-27 Member: 10106Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Zel+Apr 30 2003, 12:25 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zel @ Apr 30 2003, 12:25 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> all i have to say is that youll never need a 200 GB drive. get an 80. save lots. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I filled up a 60 gig in about a month.
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