winner. i forgot aboot that. lolBell wrote:
Perhaps he was talking about vista...... Also, these companies tend to have deals with software manufacturer's so theres quite a bit of free software (atleast another $100). Then you have basic microsoft office for another $100
Martyn
Last edited by Obese_Soldier (2006-12-13 13:00:09)
Absolutely no truth in that. They use the same parts you do.Obese_Soldier wrote:
Besides, I've heard that they make their products hard to upgrade so when new hardware becomes available, you have to buy a new computer or buy it from them.
Sorry about that, I changed it.Kmarion wrote:
Absolutely no truth in that. They use the same parts you do.Obese_Soldier wrote:
Besides, I've heard that they make their products hard to upgrade so when new hardware becomes available, you have to buy a new computer or buy it from them.
Well, I speak from experience.. I have had them before and never would again .Obese_Soldier wrote:
Sorry about that, I changed it.Kmarion wrote:
Absolutely no truth in that. They use the same parts you do.Obese_Soldier wrote:
Besides, I've heard that they make their products hard to upgrade so when new hardware becomes available, you have to buy a new computer or buy it from them.
isent your case an alien ware caseKmarion wrote:
Absolutely no truth in that. They use the same parts you do.Obese_Soldier wrote:
Besides, I've heard that they make their products hard to upgrade so when new hardware becomes available, you have to buy a new computer or buy it from them.
GR34 wrote:
isent your case an alien ware caseKmarion wrote:
Absolutely no truth in that. They use the same parts you do.Obese_Soldier wrote:
Besides, I've heard that they make their products hard to upgrade so when new hardware becomes available, you have to buy a new computer or buy it from them.
Kmarion wrote:
Well, I speak from experience.. I have had them before and never would again .
LOL guess mine was really overpriced... I paid $2064 for my AlienwareDes.Kmal wrote:
Alienware Area-51 5500
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz 2MB Cache 1066MHz FSB
Windows® XP Media Center Edition
1GB DDR2 Performance SDRAM 667MHz
160GB SATA 3Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ 8MB Cache
256MB Radeon® X1650XT
High Definition 7.1 Audio
$1,469 (no monitor)
Newegg (exact same computer)
Case (similar)
99% same mobo
E6400
Dont know what kind of RAM they used... so i just searched by best rating.
Best rated and brand vid card
Exact same HDD
VERY similar CD Burner
700 Watt PSU (best rated)
$1,012.93
Take your pick.
They really raised the prices lately...
gene, i thought u played on all low...?Sgt.Gene wrote:
LOL guess mine was really overpriced... I paid $2064 for my AlienwareDes.Kmal wrote:
Alienware Area-51 5500
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz 2MB Cache 1066MHz FSB
Windows® XP Media Center Edition
1GB DDR2 Performance SDRAM 667MHz
160GB SATA 3Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ 8MB Cache
256MB Radeon® X1650XT
High Definition 7.1 Audio
$1,469 (no monitor)
Newegg (exact same computer)
Case (similar)
99% same mobo
E6400
Dont know what kind of RAM they used... so i just searched by best rating.
Best rated and brand vid card
Exact same HDD
VERY similar CD Burner
700 Watt PSU (best rated)
$1,012.93
Take your pick.
They really raised the prices lately...
yes, they were like 700 for the aurora 3500....Stealth42o wrote:
The prices were low once?
I do...Des.Kmal wrote:
gene, i thought u played on all low...?Sgt.Gene wrote:
LOL guess mine was really overpriced... I paid $2064 for my AlienwareDes.Kmal wrote:
Alienware Area-51 5500
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz 2MB Cache 1066MHz FSB
Windows® XP Media Center Edition
1GB DDR2 Performance SDRAM 667MHz
160GB SATA 3Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ 8MB Cache
256MB Radeon® X1650XT
High Definition 7.1 Audio
$1,469 (no monitor)
Newegg (exact same computer)
Case (similar)
99% same mobo
E6400
Dont know what kind of RAM they used... so i just searched by best rating.
Best rated and brand vid card
Exact same HDD
VERY similar CD Burner
700 Watt PSU (best rated)
$1,012.93
Take your pick.
They really raised the prices lately...
The price of Alienware system also depends on the level of warranty and support you purchase (how much you want to trust your system in their hands). With so many parts being individually distributed with lifetime warranties, I see no reason why anyone with basic technological know-how should go with a pre-built unit. I find it a much more satisfying endeavor to do your own parts compatibility research and build one yourself.OrangeHound wrote:
(Not defending Alienware) ... but, does the Alienware computer come to your home as a bunch of parts, or as a complete unit? What about an operating system? That's $200 you forgot ...Des.Kmal wrote:
Take your pick.
They really raised the prices lately...
That extra $400 or so pays for assembly, OS installation, testing, etc. You may want to do this yourself, or you may want to pay someone to do it.
Edit: after considering the OS, it is a $257 difference.
Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2006-12-14 19:08:22)
Lets not forget you are getting a hardware configuration that has been time tested and burnt in. Add to this the warranty, support, and marketing. I am not defending alienware, because I do think they are over priced, and I prefer to build my own systems. But comparing a pre-built to a home-built is apples and oranges. If you want to show how alienware is overpriced, spec out a similar Dell or Gateway.theknuck wrote:
how is it cheaper? it's the same components? ??????Cbass wrote:
Not much of a diffrence to be concerned about. Besides, everything from newegg is "almost like" what alienware uses. Of course newegg will be cheaper... they use cheaper equipment
and if i was buying an alienware i surely wouldn't get that vid card, but i'm sure the upgrade would cost $200 more than what the card actually costs. build your own FTW!!!
this does not take into account warranty, support, and you didn't not include software. You can't compare a pre-built system to a home-built system. Besides Alienwares prices are market driven. They wouldn't be able to charge $6,000 for a puter if nobody was willing to pay that. Just because your not willing to pay it, doesn't make the company stupid. If you have the know-how, the time, and the patience to deal with problems build your own, I do. But if you want a stable system with support, and a time tested configuration buy a pre-built. If your a smart consumer that aviods Sony, Nike, Lexus etc buy a dell. If you have money to burn, and want a case with eyes on it, shell out the bills and get the alien box. Don't knock a company for selling a $2500 computer for $6000, you would do it too if you could.CrazeD wrote:
A much better comparison:
Alienware hardware:
AMD FX-62
Doesnt specify mobo
2GB DDR2 PC6400 RAM
Either two 7900GT's in SLI, or two 7950GX2's in SLI
EIther 7200RPM HDD, or Raptors in RAID 0
and like a 30" monitor
Around 6000$
Here's what I threw togethor real quick:
mobo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6813135024 - $129.95
cpu - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6819103751 - $319.00
ram - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6820231065 - $239.00
hdd - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6822148140 - 94.99 (x2) $189.99
video card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814161038 - $484.99
psu - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6817128009 - $159.99
case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6811133155 - $179.99
monitor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6824009089 - $639.99
dvd rom - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6827106027 $18.99
keyboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6823126179 - $71.99
mouse - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6826104191 - $45.99
total - $2479.87
EDIT: Links fixed, some things were revised as I made this list a while ago for another site - so some items are no longer carried by Newegg.
P.S. With a 32" screen, it is still way cheaper than the Alienware.
*cough* Yes you can, by taking the very differences you mentioned into consideration.Shadovve wrote:
this does not take into account warranty, support, and you didn't not include software. You can't compare a pre-built system to a home-built system.
Sorry to bump a week old thread but I wanted to post something. First of all though I just bought an Alienware with Windows XP & I get a free express upgrade as soon as Vista is released. 2nd, my motherboard is an NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI Motherboard, it said so right there on the screen when i was building my system, granted I wasn't able to choose anything else but it did tell me what it was (with a "more info" option too so i could see what it was capable of) & 3rd, what I actually came here to post is this:Obese_Soldier wrote:
After building my own computer, I have to say the DIY is much better than Alienware. Also, if you buy a Windows XP from Newegg, you get a Vista upgrade for $10 dollars for shipping. Alienware and other computer companies charge more money than the upgrade when changing parts.
Also, they don't clearly specify what your motherboard is, or what things it can do.
Building your own computer is much better than buying one from a company, because the quality of the parts is better (If you choose the right brands), and that it costs thousands of dollars less (for high end systems).
EDITED
Last edited by SlightlySto0pid (2006-12-20 17:17:34)
I'm sorry but it's BS. If only it were true.MagikTrik wrote:
Sorry to bump a week old thread but I wanted to post something. First of all though I just bought an Alienware with Windows XP & I get a free express upgrade as soon as Vista is released. 2nd, my motherboard is an NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI Motherboard, it said so right there on the screen when i was building my system, granted I wasn't able to choose anything else but it did tell me what it was (with a "more info" option too so i could see what it was capable of) & 3rd, what I actually came here to post is this:Obese_Soldier wrote:
After building my own computer, I have to say the DIY is much better than Alienware. Also, if you buy a Windows XP from Newegg, you get a Vista upgrade for $10 dollars for shipping. Alienware and other computer companies charge more money than the upgrade when changing parts.
Also, they don't clearly specify what your motherboard is, or what things it can do.
Building your own computer is much better than buying one from a company, because the quality of the parts is better (If you choose the right brands), and that it costs thousands of dollars less (for high end systems).
EDITED
5 -
.
Dell has nothing to do with the marketing, manufacturing, or service of Alienware. It is it's own separate business entity.SlightlySto0pid wrote:
p.s. I'm pretty sure Dell owns Alienware now that's when their prices went up
Last edited by Kmarion (2006-12-20 17:22:07)
I must say its not very "convenient" dealing with the amount of issues I had with them...lolDizik wrote:
When buying an Alienware, or any other prebuilt OEM machine, you're paying for the "convenience" of not having to put the computer together yourself. Not everybody is a hardware geek that likes building their own computer. Believe it or not, some people just want to unpack a rig and plug it in and not worry about setting anything up. Also, take into consideration that when you buy an OEM machine, you're usually getting a service plan along with it. That would be another reason for the increase in price. But for the most part, you're paying for the "convenience" like I mentioned before, and the ability to say "I got an Alienware". For the uneducated, that might be something to awe over. But for the rest of us that actually know something about computers, we laugh at you knowing you probably paid twice the price of something that we built ourself, and ours is better built and of higher quality.
Personally, I won't buy a computer from an OEM unless it's for a laptop. I enjoy the process of building my own computer, and like the fact that I know exactly what's going into it. Also, you don't have to worry about tons of bloatware preloaded onto the computer, which most OEM's do.
Don't forget guys, Alienware was bought out by Dell earlier this year. So if you're going to buy an OEM, chances are you'll pay more for Alienware when you can get the exact same thing (or pretty close to it) from Dell for a smaller pricetag.
Yes zipzoom fly blows, they have no customer service. I had to call about 10 times over the span of 3 days, just to talk to someone other than a machine. I go newegg or tiger direct, they seem to be the best.jsnipy wrote:
bah ... newegg > zipzoomfly (forget what thier previous deceiving name was) imo ... beside who can wait 6-7 daysBeerzGod wrote:
Alienware is a complete ripoff for anyone who knows anything about computers, or even a little bit about how to build them. However, it's not such a ripoff to the less-knowledged people who only want a good computer with newer parts (That don't say Dell on them) and have the money to spend on them.
Newegg sucks. Check out Zipzoomfly.com. They have equal base prices on products with most of them being a little less expensive... but the kicker is that Zip doesn't have sales tax and they DON'T charge for standard 6-7 day delivery. Plus they have the same return policies for broken products, etc. No tax and shipping charges can cut out hundreds of dollars if you're buying a full system at once.