Hey there, I've had this computer for about 4 years now and I now want to replace it. I want to make a custom computer online (that's good for gaming) that I can get built and then sent to me and I would like to get a good price for it as well. I've been to ibuypower.com because a friend recommended it and found I could get a pretty nice rig for a very nice price but online reviews of the site said it had terrible customer service and other things. I checked out Alienware (I'm willing to spend about 2k-2.5k usd for this computer) and found myself with a pretty nice computer for around 3k (4gb Ram, 500g hard drive, quite case, liquid cooling, etc) but I've heard alienware is pretty overpriced. Even though I can afford it I would rather get more bang for my back instead of a pretty name. (unless they aren't overpriced, please correct me if I'm wrong) What I'm asking for would be a site online that I can get a good custom gaming computer from. Specific hardware recommendations would be nice as well. Thanks!
HP is great, it has computers for everything, just select the high performance category, from there select a model and customize, the prices range from 1-2k dollars to get a really sweet pc. I'm getting a gaming intense pc there, plus you get lightscribe, the ultra awesome way to burn cds, you can burn in a non smudge permanent label onto the cd. Anyway really good stuff, god I sound like their spokes-person . Anyway beside that generally the best way to customize is to find the brand that suits you, and buy from their website, they most often have customization options. Just avoid dell, 'nuff said. Hope I helped =)
I'd say DIY. do-it-yourself and FYI the liquid cooling systems on most OEM setups are a joke. a $50-60 aircooler can outperfom them and with less noise. also just letting you know for gaming/general use going from 2GB to 4GB RAM is largely worthless. for CAD, server work, and VERY heavy digital editing and rendering that's a different matter however. RAM is cheap though if you find a sale it's as low as $50 for 2GB of "the good stuff" what I'd get if I had to spend 2.5k on a computer silverstone TJ07 case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811163060 2GB RAM(micron D9 ICs) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820146565 Core 2 quad q6700 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115027 some highend 680i motherboard (tolazytoreseach) 4*320GB drives in RAID 1+0 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...amp;Tpk=7200.10 good RAID card(not the crappy onboard most use) (tolazytoreseach) 8800GTX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814127281 Thermalright Ultra-120 extreme heatsink http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16835109140 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...6&Tpk=fn121 2 DVD burners Corsair HX 620W PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817139002 should be a bit under 2500 even after shipping and basically VERY good quality stuff. Might be a bit overboard on the harddrive config but it would have probably the fastest harddrive performance out of any system you'll see for the next few years.
If you want it made for you and shipped to you with a lot of customer support and ever extra utilites ...consider FalconNorthwest. Link. Although a single computer from there costs a small fortune, and requires you to address it as 'big daddy.'
Well it really depends what you want your computer for. I mean if you wanted it for Core Gaming aswell as a good home computer, I reckon the Alienware was a good choice. I don't recommend a custom computer since you don't get any warranty, so a Dell or Alienware is a better choice. Hope I helped.
*sigh* don't go to alienware, dell, hp, etc. etc. etc. unless your really computer illiterate and you just want it to come, have it work, not hassle with it, and have it run as top of the line as oem comes...
my graphics card has a lifetime warranty my RAM, all 4GB of it has a lifetime warranty my harddrive has a 5 year warranty my motherboard has a 3 year warranty my cpu had a 3 year warranty my PSU has a 3 year warranty so, tell me, how is it that custom computers don't have warranties? Are you lying to spread propaganda? or are you ignorant and speaking on a matter you don't know much about? I'll be blunt, I do have a $3 fan that doesn't ahve a warranty, heck I have a bunch of $3 fans without warranties. if they break I just toss in another. It's nto worth shipping in that case. Also if an OEM system breaks down you have to ship the WHOLE system back. if you build the system yourself, then you only ship one part. and chances are you don't have to go a month without your computer. OEMs have their advantages over custom builds.(namely some people are just stupid and can destroy things in ways I can't even imagine, I'm as clumsy as it comes and careless too and I still don't destroy too many things) in most cases warranties aren't one of them. Most respectable companies offer warranties on their products past their lifespan. if my graphics card dies in 5 years, I'll return it. I'll get a brand new card, one probably 2 or 3 times faster than what I turned in. If I had a dell and the card died... I'd get whatever they had left in the warehouse which would probably be the same old card to be honest... it's just it might not work. don't know if you've heard about the RMA horrors people have had with OEMs. I have. In my experience, with around $3000 worth of parts ordered form multiple etailers and from multiple companies, i've had two defective parts. Teamgroup cross shipped their RAM. I received a replacement within 3 days. after getting my replacement I sent back my defective RAM kti in the box they provided using postage they paid for. That's first class right there. When my DFI board died, I sent it back to newegg and I had a replacement shipped within 3 days and a replacement in my hands within 1 week. usually when you only have to deal with one part your returns are A LOT easier. again not really calling you out so much as I am telling peopel to get their ---- straight before posting. Sorry you had to be the example. FYI, dem's had fun with his OEM talk to him about it on IRC sometime, eh'll tell you what eh thinks of cyberpc or cyberpower or w/e he got it from...
Found a TJ07 for about the price of a TJ09 http://www.case-mod.com/silverstone-ssttj0...dow-p-2011.html
I recommend going the way that Xelink is pointing you because I have had a crappy dell desktop for about 5years now...and I am going to be replacing it next summer and with Xelink's help I got the basics down already... but then again if you want to spend everything you got ... I would say check out (not saying do get it from) http://www.voodoopc.com they are overpriced as hell but just for enjoyment I thought check it out Zain