Legion Kreinak
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After reading a lot of posts on these boards that support Athlons and building your own CPU, I decided to browse NewEgg. I ended up lining up a NewEgg computer with a DeLL XPS 400. As of now, I have a DeLL. Before I considered building my own computer, I was going to go DeLL. After comparing the two in a spreadsheet, I found something interesting.
The DeLL would have a 2.8 GHz Pentium D processor 800 MHz/FSB. That's a dual core CPU, even though Intel doesn't do 'em right. Windows Media Center Edition, nvidia 6800 video card, 1 GB Dual Channel RAM, 160 GB SATA HDD, Dual drives a 16x DVD-Rom and a 16x DVD-RW, built in modem (woohoo), 19" flat panel monitor (or just gonna sub in a CRT), Soundblaster Audigy2 ZS sound card, DeLL's 5.1 surround speakers, an optimal mouse, USB keyboard. That all comes put together already, no need to deal with putting thermal paste on, etc.
Now, the one I customized had all the same specs, except it was an Athlon 3500+, 2.2 GHz, 1 GHz/FSB. I also had different speakers, a mouse and keyboard, but they're all pretty generic, to match the DeLL.
What it came out to was this:
DeLL: $1,449
Custom: $1,357
A $92 difference. Thing is, the DeLL comes put together already, and even though Athlon's are better than Pentiums, it has even been said that regardless of that, a dual-core Intel will beat a single-core AMD - that's just no comparison.
If this is true, then through the example I have shown, wouldn't it make more sense for me to just get a DeLL? I have never built a CPU in my life, and I don't want to screw anything up - not to mention it seems like I get a better deal through DeLL.
I would love any and all input. I'm going to make a follow-up post with some more info, regarding my needs and thoughts on them.
The DeLL would have a 2.8 GHz Pentium D processor 800 MHz/FSB. That's a dual core CPU, even though Intel doesn't do 'em right. Windows Media Center Edition, nvidia 6800 video card, 1 GB Dual Channel RAM, 160 GB SATA HDD, Dual drives a 16x DVD-Rom and a 16x DVD-RW, built in modem (woohoo), 19" flat panel monitor (or just gonna sub in a CRT), Soundblaster Audigy2 ZS sound card, DeLL's 5.1 surround speakers, an optimal mouse, USB keyboard. That all comes put together already, no need to deal with putting thermal paste on, etc.
Now, the one I customized had all the same specs, except it was an Athlon 3500+, 2.2 GHz, 1 GHz/FSB. I also had different speakers, a mouse and keyboard, but they're all pretty generic, to match the DeLL.
What it came out to was this:
DeLL: $1,449
Custom: $1,357
A $92 difference. Thing is, the DeLL comes put together already, and even though Athlon's are better than Pentiums, it has even been said that regardless of that, a dual-core Intel will beat a single-core AMD - that's just no comparison.
If this is true, then through the example I have shown, wouldn't it make more sense for me to just get a DeLL? I have never built a CPU in my life, and I don't want to screw anything up - not to mention it seems like I get a better deal through DeLL.
I would love any and all input. I'm going to make a follow-up post with some more info, regarding my needs and thoughts on them.