Dude, im buying a dell......?

[Hangman]

well i bought a dell computer about 3.5 yrs ago...

now i seek a new computer because im not happy with my comps performance when Im using photoshop. saving files or just plain shading in ps takes a while. I only have C&C:tiberium sun installed on it and nothng else that would take much memory.....

anyway i was thinking of getting the dimension 4700 with dual drives and maybe even the one with 2 yr warranty:
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_desktop2?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

or i could get a dell Inspiron1150 for a little more and then i could do some photoshoping at my girlfriends house where I spend quite a chunk of my time:
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_notebook2?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

i do want the cd-rw for the laptop if i get it.


anyway.....what do u all think?im quite clueless when it comes to computer performance and so i waould like to know if:

i get a dell? a pc or laptop? and most of all if these comps would b adequate to run PS and a game or two

sorry for the long post

[Stark Raving]

I've had my Dell for about 2 years.
I love it.

[amadarwin]

Personally I think the comps are a little overpriced and the laptops are way overpriced, but then again, I build my own systems.

For you, I'd take the home system with the 2 yr warranty. The one with the 3 year charges you more and drops your Ram by half. Definately a rip off for an extra year of warranty. When you order the one with the 2 yr warranty (for $869), see if you can upgrade the ram. Double it to 1024 (a gig) and you should be able handle a decent sized Photoshop project with many, many layers. This setup would last you a few years. Don't even bother with the laptops, they offer you less stuff than home systems and charge you a lot more just for the convenience of being able to tote it around. Not worth it. I have friends who drop theirs all the time, accidents do happen after all, and that's a risk I would not take with a $1000+ computer system that I use all the time.

My only bone of contention is the integrated graphics card. I'm not usually a big fan of those, but sometimes they're better than the add-on ones out there, so who knows? Hope this helps.

[NickRocks]

http://www.internetweekly.org/images/steven_reefer2.jpg

you had to know it was coming.

[Saturn Lad]

If you're getting a Dell, be sure to check out http://gotapex.com/ first, to make sure you're taking advantage of the best current coupon codes and discounts available.

[amadarwin]

glancing at that link, i like it a lot better than the $800 one, especially for almost $500 less!

[2_hotty]

I build my own desktops, and have for years, but I do own a Dell D800 laptop and I love it. (posting on it now)

I have 1gig of RAM on my laptop, and only 512 on my desktop, but I still do the majority of my major PS work on my desktop. It's just not that easy on the laptop with the touchpad or pointing stick. And carrying around a mouse isn't really an option, since that hinders the portability factor. Plus, it's hard to use a mouse on your lap.

If it's a Photoshop machine your looking for, I would go for the desktop. As far as buying a Dell, even though I build my own rigs, desktops have become so inexpensive lately, there is almost no reason to build your own. Unless you're really adiment about the seperate components.

I would suggest against the intergrated graphics though. No future upgrade options, and pretty bad performance.

[dxdragon]

looking at whats out there....get a computer thats built for graphics. It makes no sense to buy an ordinary machine when there ones geared for high performence for people in the graphics and media field.

[Blackroot]

$679 is a good price, but look at what you get. My thoughts would be to build your own system. Its not as hard as you think. My first system I built I did it on a whim and with literally NO knowledge abotu any of it or how to do it. I just followed the directions the motherboard manual and SHAZAM!!!!

insta-puter!

Here is a price breakdown of building your own system and Ill compare the newegg.com stuff with the specs on the Dell.
Tower (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=11-117-033&DEPA=0)
$10.00 WOO HOO NEW EGG'S GOT A SALE!

Hard drive (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=22-135-106&DEPA=1)
about $70 for 80 Gigs, so if your spending a dollar a gig, that seems to be market price right now.

Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-475&depa=1)
$60 this is the MB im currently using, it works well and is easy to over clock and was simple to install.

RAM (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-144-309&depa=1)
1 Gig of RAM for roughly $160. I have Giel currently, and though its not "top of the line" i dont have any trouble, I wanted OCZ but my local retailer didnt have it in stock.

AMD Processor (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-380&depa=1)
Personally I use AMD, and for those Intel lovers, I'm sure my reasons are debateable. What to buy? Honestly, get one, use it, then get the other and use it. That is the sure fire way for you to decide what to get. As for my recomendation, I have had success with the AMD and personally prefer it, that is the only reason Im displaying it here. KEEP IN MIND, THE PROCESSOR AND THE MOTHERBOARD AND THE RAM MUST, MUST, MUST ALL BE COMPATABLE OR YOUR EFFORTS AND MONEY WILL ALL BE IN VAIN!

I didnt include a CD or DVD burner, thats up to you. you can find them anywhere from 40 to 300.

so, simple math time.basically $450 for all this stuff listed here. Here is the fun part. this price does not include a monitor, keyboard, mouse, dvd or cd rom, video card (thought theMB has an integrated one) sound card and no OS, blah blah blah. the flip side, computers, and how to build them will not be a mystery for you anymore and you can help friends and family in the future, and we all know helpfull computer nerds get the girl in the end.

Hubba hubba.

so, stats time..

Dell
Processor
Pentium® 4 Processor 520 with HT Technology (2.80GHz, 800 FSB)

Memory
256MB DDR2 SDRAM at 400MHz (1x256M)

Hard Drive
40GB3 Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)

Self built
Processor
AMD Athlon XP 3000+ "Barton", 333MHz FSB, 512K Cache Processor - OEM
Specifications:
Model: AMD Athlon XP 3000+
Core: Barton
Operating Frequency: 2.16GHz
FSB: 333MHz

RAM
Geil Ultra Series Value Dual Channel 184 Pin 512MB(256MBx2) DDR PC-3200 w/ Blue Heatspreader - Retail

Hard Drive
Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD800JD, OEM Drive Only

SO, that does all of this mean?
the dell has a faster processor and a monitor and a useless 2 year warrenty, the self built has double the ram, 2x the speed and double the hard drive space, though, no cd or dvd rom, or OS (opperation System) getting the drift?

Ill be happy to provide what ever other info and answer what ever questions I can for you via e mail, (click the link to my site and hit the "contact" button on the left)

Hope this helps
Im outta-here!!!

[2_hotty]

I would suggest that if you do go with the build it yourself option, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. For example, that motherboard has an nForce2 chipset, when the nForce4's are the latest and greatest. Plus it doesn't have intergrated graphics, so you will have to buy a video card. If you want any kind of good performer, then you're at least going to spend 150 bucks. Then you have to add a keyboard, mouse, monitor, optical drive(s), and a power supply. All this adds up. I do like building my own though, at least I know every piece that's in my computer.

[amadarwin]

That's why I build as well. Easier to upgrade as well. Had a friend who had an old Moo Cow comp that we damn near had to use a chainsaw to get into to upgrade it. Thankfully I convinced him to get a better, more airflow friendly case and we moved everything over.

...and oh yea, AMD is also my poison of choice!