Which PC? Dell VS CyberPowerSystems

[sithlordx]

Dell

Components
Intel? Processor Q6600 Quad Core? (2.40GHz, 1066Mhz FSB, 8MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista? Home Premium SP1 - English
1 Year Base Warranty
Display Not Included
3072MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024/2x512]
Hard Drive 500GB Serial ATA non Raid (7200 Rpm)
512MB ATI? Radeon? 3870 Graphics card
DVD +/- RW Drive (read/write CD & DVD)
Dell? Enhanced USB Multimedia Keyboard - UK/Irish (QWERTY)
Dell Optical Scroll Premium Mouse

?620

CyberPowerSystems

# *BASE_PRICE: [+506]
# CAS: Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gamer 420W Case with Side Window [+15]
# CASUPGRADE: NONE
# CS_FAN: Default Case Fan
# CPU: (Sckt775)Intel? Core? 2 Duo E8400 CPU @ 3.0GHz 1333FSB 6MB L2 Cache 64-bit
# CD: SONY DUAL FORMAT 20X DVD?R/?RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER (BLACK COLOR)
# CD2: NONE
# CABLE: None
# FLASHMEDIA: None
# FLOPPY: NONE
# FREEBIE_VC: None
# FAN: INTEL LGA775 CERTIFIED CPU FAN & HEATSINK
# HDD: Single Hard Drive (320GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD)
# HDD2: NONE
# IEEE_CARD: NONE
# KEYBOARD: Logitech PS/2 Keyboard (Black)
# MOUSE: Logitech Optical PS2 Mouse (Black)
# MODEM: NONE
# MOTHERBOARD: (Quad-Core support) Asus P5N-E nForce 650i SLI Chipset LGA775 FSB1333 DDR2 Mainboard
# MEMORY: (Req.DDR2 MainBoard)3GB (3x1GB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory [+24] (Corsair Value Select or Major Brand)
# MONITOR: NONE
# MONITOR2: NONE
# NETWORK: ONBOARD 10/100 NETWORK CARD
# OS: Microsoft? Windows Vista? Home Premium w/ Service Pack 1 (32-bit Edition)
# PRO_WIRING: None
# POWERSUPPLY: 500 Watts Power Supplies [+36] (CoolerMaster eXtreme power 500W PSU)
# RUSH: NONE
# SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
# SPEAKERS: NONE
# TVRC: NONE
# TEMP: NONE (AS SHOWN)
# USB: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
# USBHD: NONE
# UPS: None
# VIDEO2: NONE
# VIDEO3: NONE
# VIDEO: ATI Radeon HD 4850 PCI-E x16 512MB Video Card [+14]
# WEBCAM: NONE
# WNC: PCI Wireless 802.11g 54Mbps Network Interface Card [+11]
# WAP: NONE
# WARRANTY: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT

?712.99

Think they are pretty close overall but the extra 2 years warranty and Radeon 4850 are making me lean towards Cyber Power.

Thoughts?

[Hohum]

What are your needs for it in terms of usage? Also, both seem a bit overpriced, just my personal opinion though.

[Matt]

Yeah build one yourself. That way you can get both a Quad core and 4850 An probably for the same price.

[sithlordx]

Yeah I know its cheaper to build myself but I dont really have the time atm. Plus id like some warranty.

Any other places that you guys can reccomend for full systems?

[Matt]

See if Dell so a 4850 option, much better than a 3870, should be £30 to £50 more.

[sithlordx]

They dont atm.

8800 is an extra £10.

I forgot to mention id be going on finance to hence why im going with a fully built system.

[GluedOnBeard]

From my experience with dell, stay away, all the computers at work are not that great as well as my laptop.Not heard of the other people you mentioned, but got to be better than dell!!

The only place I have liked a built system from is the Scan 3xs.

[Matt]

Dell are OK imo, they can do some strange stuff inside though.

Sith, I'd def go 8800 over 3870. Any other options?

[Matt]

Look here, no idea what they are like, but good spec. Quad core, 4gbRAM, Vista 64, 500gig HDD, 4850. 600w psu, quiet CPU fan.

Custom made it, ?695 inc. Choose the options I have.

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/

Processor (CPU)
Intel? Core?2 Quad Q6600 (4 X 2.40GHz) 1066MHz FSB/ 8MB L2 Cache
Memory (RAM)
4GB CORSAIR XMS2 800MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY! (2x2GB)
Motherboard
ASUS? P5Q: DDR2, SATAII, PCI-e x16, 3 PCI, 2 x PCI-e x1
Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista? Home Premium 64-bit Edition + SP1, CD (?59)
USB Options
8 x USB 2.0 PORTS (6 REAR + 2 FRONT) AS STANDARD
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
500GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (7,200rpm)
2nd Hard Disk
NONE
1st CD/DVD Drive
20x Dual Layer LightScribe DVD Writer ?R/?RW/RAM
2nd CD/DVD Drive
NONE
Graphics Card
512MB RADEON HD 4850 PCI Express + DVI
2nd Graphics Card
NONE
Sound Card
ONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Modem
NONE, I WILL BE USING BROADBAND
Network Facilities
ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Floppy Disk Drive
NONE
Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (READS XD, MS, CF, SD, etc)
Case
Stylish Silver/Black Sigma case + 2 front USB
Power Supply & Case Cooling
600W Quiet Quad Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan (?59)
Processor Cooling
SUPER QUIET 22dBA TRIPLE COPPER HEATPIPE CPU COOLER (?15)
Firewire & Video Editing
NONE
TV Card
NONE
Monitor
NONE
2nd Monitor
NONE
DVI Cable
NONE
Keyboard & Mouse
NONE
Mouse
NONE
Speakers
NONE
Printer
NONE
Surge Protection
NONE
Webcam & VoIP
NONE
Media Center Kit
NONE
Anti-Virus
NONE
Office Software
NONE
External Hard Drive
NONE
Warranty
1 Year Return-to-Base incl 1st Month Free Collect & Return
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Quantity
1

[Matt]

Please note I didn't choose standard RAM speed or mobo. You'll want to overclock the FSB to get that CPU around 3ghz

[Matt]

Another thing to mention - last month my mate bought a Dell laptop with 4gig RAM. Came with 32bit Vista! Forgot until just now.

[sithlordx]

That PC looks awesome man, thanks.

One question tho how is Vista 64 these days? last I heard it was really buggy.

[Hohum]

It's fine. Drivers were average early on, but that applied to 32-bit aswell to some extent. Of course, if you listen to drama queens on tech site forums, they will say it's rubbish, get XP and wait for Windows 7, etc etc (great idea if you don't mind waiting until 2010).

You may aswell get the 64-bit version, basically. 32-bit is becoming a dead end... although it's not that noticeable now, it will be in about a year or so.

[Matt]

I prefer XP but Vista is more and more the standard. You need 64bit for over 3 gig of RAM so I'd go with that. As Hohum says, Vista is fine, don't believe the negativity. It's just a little different that XP.

Such a fast machine it'll do fine in every game (except Crysis!).

Please double check that mobo, CPU and RAM combination online to see if it'll overclock well. You want to get near 3ghz really.

And I have never used those guys before, so I make no assurances of build quality. The price is about right for the spec, those other places you looked seemed expensive. This is a fair price, and a good build. No keyboard or mouse, add those yourself - if gaming, do not go wireless!!

Let us know what you do and how it turns out

[tom-nook]

You need 64bit for over 3 gig of RAM so I'd go with that.

The PC I bought from Dell's outlet came pre-configured with 4gb of ram and Vista 32 bit. Whilst it knows 4 gig is installed only 3.25 is useable.