Hp vs Dell (new title- need more feedback for new PC).

[WayAbvPar]

Poking around on computerstop.com (they have a local place I can buy from and who will slap the thing together for me). Fry's won't give me a free Win7 upgrade unless I buy a prebuilt system; Computer Stop has licenses and will give one to me if I ask when I buy it.

Looking at this for a vid card-
http://www.gpureview.com/GeForce-GTX-285-card-605.html

I don't know anything about the new stuff, so I am trying to get feedback. Looks like the big ticket items are the processor (~$625 for the i7950!) and the video card (~$300). Where can I skimp? Do I need a $200 motherboard, or will the cheap version work? Same with cases- if I buy a power supply apart from the case, do I really need a $125 case? Sound cards? $30-$125 or so. Going higher end on everything I put together a system (without OS and assembly) for like $1750. Obviously I am doing something wrong.

Would like to get into the store to order it today if possible- they are closed tomorrow though Sunday for a major remodel, so it will be a few days to get the system together anyway.

Are newegg's prices that much better? Or am I just choosing expensive components where I don't need them?

[SnakeCharmer]

Are newegg's prices that much better?

Generally, yeah.  That same proc is 569.99 at the egg.  So 55 buck right there?  What about getting the i7920 and overclocking it a bit?  That alone would save you 290 bucks.

Or am I just choosing expensive components where I don't need them?

Doesn't seem like it.

But it does seem a bit counter productive to go cheap on some parts for such a new/nice system.

Edit:  I threw one together, that includes everything from top to bottom for 1552.55.  Probably has more mobo than you're looking for (tri SLI capable, 6 mem slots, etc), though.

[Yegolev]

Personally, I get a less-than-top-speed version of the same CPU architecture and find that I save money while also not noticing a difference.  Of course, I usually only upgrade the CPU when I can jump at least one architecture up since a faster clock just doesn't seem worth the money to me.

[Mrbloodworth]

I can post the one I just bought that was about 900$ (including a 19" flatscreen) If you want. I showed it around and people said it was a "Solid last gen machine that will do you well for a few years and have room to grow".

It came with a win 7 upgrade.

[SnakeCharmer]

Personally, I get a less-than-top-speed version of the same CPU architecture and find that I save money while also not noticing a difference.  Of course, I usually only upgrade the CPU when I can jump at least one architecture up since a faster clock just doesn't seem worth the money to me.

For whatever it's worth, I've read that the 920's are fantastic overclockers, so there's that...

This is what I threw together.  No doubt someone more knowledgeable put together something better:
Samsung DVD - 24.99
Antec 900 case - 104.99
Seagate 1TB HD - 89.99
XFX GTX 285 Video Card - 349.99
Corsair PSU - 750W - 164.99
6GB DDR3 RAM - 147.99
EVGA E758-TR mobo - 259.99
i7 920 proc - 279.99
Vista 64, includes W7 coupon - 109.99

No MIRs, all 'instant savings'.

[Sky]

I also go less than top end for the cpu. I generally get whatever is lowest at the top end, if that makes sense. I don't worry so much about GHz as I do making sure I've got the most cache and fastest fsb. When C2D first came out, I went with the e6600, which was the first step on the ladder of the best chips at the time.

[Trippy]

Unlocking this for more feedback- sorry Trippy! If that is a huge problem let me know.

I only locked it to save people from getting banned. I.e. the next person that says or otherwise implies WAP overpaid will be taking a forced vacation from the boards.

[WayAbvPar]

Personally, I get a less-than-top-speed version of the same CPU architecture and find that I save money while also not noticing a difference.  Of course, I usually only upgrade the CPU when I can jump at least one architecture up since a faster clock just doesn't seem worth the money to me.

For whatever it's worth, I've read that the 920's are fantastic overclockers, so there's that...

This is what I threw together.  No doubt someone more knowledgeable put together something better:
Samsung DVD - 24.99
Antec 900 case - 104.99
Seagate 1TB HD - 89.99
XFX GTX 285 Video Card - 349.99
Corsair PSU - 750W - 164.99
6GB DDR3 RAM - 147.99
EVGA E758-TR mobo - 259.99
i7 920 proc - 279.99
Vista 64, includes W7 coupon - 109.99

No MIRs, all 'instant savings'.

That is very close to what i think I am going to end up with- I am going ATI 4890 on the video card (was told they tested better), WD instead of Seagate on the drive, ASUS mobo, Antec 300 case, 22x optical drive,  and 12GB of RAM (apparently the i7 chips need it in chunks of 3s?). Price is only about $100 different than the stuff listed here, so I can definitely live with that. And if it goes tits up I can walk back into the shop and hand it to them instead of RMA and shipping and all that bs.

[Morfiend]

Thats a lot like the system I specced. Although if you have the cash, you might consider a 12gb ram kit. I believe its ~$200 on newegg.

As for GPUs, I love EVGA, they have great return policies and also upgrade policies. Their cards have always been very very good to me.

EVGA Graphics Cards on Newegg. I usually go for something around $350-$400. Also, bonus, right now they all come with a free copy of Batman: Arkham Asylum. I would go for a 285 if you can afford it.

[Strazos]

That setup looks fine to me.

Still happy with the system I built earlier this year, only hiccup being when the system went into a deep sleep coma, and required a bios battery reset.

[fuser]

That is very close to what i think I am going to end up with- I am going ATI 4890 on the video card (was told they tested better), WD instead of Seagate on the drive, ASUS mobo, Antec 300 case, 22x optical drive,  and 12GB of RAM (apparently the i7 chips need it in chunks of 3s?). Price is only about $100 different than the stuff listed here, so I can definitely live with that. And if it goes tits up I can walk back into the shop and hand it to them instead of RMA and shipping and all that bs.

Sounds like a nice system, and yep the i7 is triple channel. i5/i3 are going to be dual channel as a more mainstream less cost solution.

[Big Gulp]

I.e. the next person that says or otherwise implies WAP overpaid will be taking a forced vacation from the boards.

Y'know, I wasn't going to pipe up until I saw this post.  I'm still not going to say anything more to Way.

You however?  You are a cock gobbling douchebag, and you can ban away.

[schild]

I.e. the next person that says or otherwise implies WAP overpaid will be taking a forced vacation from the boards.

Y'know, I wasn't going to pipe up until I saw this post.  I'm still not going to say anything more to Way.

You however?  You are a cock gobbling douchebag, and you can ban away.

Oh, don't be so dramatic.

[WayAbvPar]

If I overpaid this time, it was by a couple of hundred bucks give or take. I can definitely live with that.

[SnakeCharmer]

Eh, as long as you're happy, who cares?

[WayAbvPar]

I won't know if I am happy or not until I get the thing set up and run it for a week or so. If it is half as much trouble as the HP system was I will probably put my fist through my monitor. I got out of it under 2k and got a reasonably beefy system (afaik), so that part makes me happy at least.