Cannot Decide what gaming PC to Buy? DELL or Alienware?

As a new XPS600 user, I can say it is quite an awesome machine. Dell's service has been known to be pretty darn good, so that is why I went with them. Also, I got my 600 at the Dell outlet. I got an awesome machine for a fraction of what it would cost for me to build it on the "normal" Dell site. Here is what I got: XPS600, Windows XP Pro, Pentium DC 3.2, 2G 667 RAM, 2x 80G 10K HDs, CD RW, DVD RW, 7800GTX GPU, Soundblaster X-fi 5.1 card, and a film card reader. Also opted for a 2 year warranty. All that for 1600 bux. If I built it, it would be over 3K.

Kmark...AW makes some real cool computers, they look awesome, and its definetly different than buying an XPS. However, you seem very budget minded...wanting a ton for the money. The bang for the buck is over at Dell, and the coolness factor is at alienware. I went through a similar debate when I ordered this XPS. I ended up with a 40% off coupon code, getting this$5000 dollar system with a 3 year warranty and FREE instant 2 day shipping fedex for under 3 grand.

Sure part of me wishes I had the AW, cause they just make a room look so awesome with the lights, case etc...but I ended up with much higher end parts for the price with Dell.

Its really your call. There isnt a right or wrong answer. Its your preference.

I would love to have an Alienware but I've had good experience with Dell support that it made me buy another Dell.

+, dell outlet is the way to go but im not sure if UK has them.

My current refurb xps600,
p4 3.6ht, 2gb ram, 160gb hd, 7800gtx for $1,200

Alienware=overpriced and sexy
Dell=Inexpensive but gets the job done.

You're only getting hitch for about 2 years before getting a divorce.

haha great quote, too bad that doesn't work in real life...I would love to trade the old ball in chain for a new improved model

my vote goes for.....self built!

if you think you can do it, build it yourself. You will end up with a better computer for less.

I will have to agree with mr. roboto, as DIY will work better than both of them. Really I would go with Alienware and get an AMD system, as AMD smokes Intel in a gaming desktop, but I personaly would rather build a desktop and save the rest of the money I saved for some recording equiment.

Thats such a funny misconception...AMD smokes Intel in gaming...dude..ITS ALL about the graphics cards in gaming, regardless of the 200 charts people study to find the 20 more frames per second.

Take the FX-60 and the latest Pentium 4 Extreme Edition and the same graphics card and the "real" performance is the same...only benchmarks will show a difference, NOT games.

those are some big words without proof... Honestly, nearly everything ive read has said otherwise. And even if they are the same, as you say for games, the amd dual cores are still way ahead of the Intels, even with the release of pressler, and im no talking about just in gaming.

Ok...ill take AMD's $1200 dollar FX, and in another PC i'll put in the P4 Extreme Edition for a cool $1200 and then ill install battlefield 2 and max the settings and you can tell me which is "better" ok?

Let's leave the AMD vs Intel fights for later guys ok? Really I was just trying to suggest which one he would get better performance from, and in my own opinion it would be AMD. Sure, Intel's are great, but AMD's can do better. Not to mention, AMD built computers are normaly cheaper, and any extra money your paying for an AMD system would be because it was paired with a few more goodies that the Intel one doesn't have.

well, i wasnt talking about gaming. Im talking general performance of the chip. Also, too bad the p4EE isnt a dual core. Im not going to start a flame war here, all im saying is intel is lagging behind in the dual core department, thats all. Ive owned intell all my life, so im far from an amd fanboy...

Personally you should hit which ever is the MOST cost effective. CPU is a good area to decide on which system may be better and although many people feel AMD is a better performer I tend to look fo ra system that runs best bang for buck. Take for example the Pentium4 3 Ghz Cpu which has been around forever. Many programs are optimized for both the Athlon64 and the Pentium4 however you will find a pentium4 system is much cheaper than a comparable athlon system. Take for example the Dimension 5150 and 9150 which both are GREAT gaming rigs with nearly similar componants however both systems biggest advantage is the pricepoint. Compared to a rig made by alienware I will be spending oodles more cash at Alienware. Why am I so loyal to Dell? its not brand loyalty I just know Dell offers a systems thars loaded to the teeth for a fraction of the price.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...c=1d51h1&s=bsd <- System specs
Penitum4 64Bit 3Ghz, 256MB DDR2 Ram, 80GB SATA HDD, CDRW-DVDROM combo, Int Sound, Int Video, 19 Inch Flat Panel.

With a system like this running under 600 dollars after rebate is madness. What wuld you need to have this compete with a system on the level of an XPS600? about $100 worth of ram, a $300 videocard, and $100 worth of peripharals such as a better mouse, keyboard, dvdrw drive. To my knowledge few companies can offer that level of performance for so little cash. Also if you dont end up liking the flat panel it will be extremely easy to sell a 19 inch lcd panel to the public on ebay or local want ads. I feel the XPS600 is a precey machine in fact more than its worth but considering Dell sells these babies in the outlet for a grand you can see the value with the system as opposed to the competition.

For reference the closest inexpensive gaming rig is the Aurora 3500 which is nearly specificed similarly to the 5150 for a MINIMUM of 799 not including a monitor then you gotta factor in the cost of upgrading where does the value come in for the minor performance boost you'll see in games from the A64 cpu?

probally the dell xps i have seen one and it looks great!

Ahh the old DIY post rears it's ugly head. Compare apples to apples and with all that he needs you will find that the cost is the same, or more for the old DIY build. And by that I mean you have to include every part, no cheating and saying you already have an optical drive or hard drive and so on. I could have built it myself. But I wouldn't have gotten anything near what I got from Dell on my XPS. The one difference would have been the AMD processor.

But if my Dell breaks I have it back up the next day. My DIY breaks first I have to sort through who owns the RMA process. Is it the retailer or the manufacturer. Then I have to get it set up, and shipped out. Now I am without a computer until I get the repaired or replaced part. Frankly that sucks bigtime. I have gone that route and I say no thank you!

Amen to that

seems that he has already made his choice.

what was the decision