Is this a good deal

[sdorn]

I got a coupon from Dell because I have bought several laptops from them over the past six months or so for various reasons. It gives me 35% off pretty much any Dimension system other than XPS systems. I configured this system, and the discount was pretty huge. Building the same computer without the special coupon they sent was about $500 more than it priced out with the coupon. Is it a good deal?

Notice the 20" monitor, speakers, etc. I realize the video card sucks and will have to be upgraded immediately upon delivery. I figure if I throw an ATI x1900XTX in there, it should be a pretty top notch system for around $2k including a kick ass monitor.


Dell Dimension E510 Series Pentium® D Processor 940 with Dual Core Technology (3.2GHz, 800FSB)
Operating System Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
Memory 3GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz (2x1GB,2x512M)
Keyboard Dell Wireless Keyboard and Optical Mouse
Monitor 20 inch Ultrasharp 2007FP Digital Flat Panel
Video Card 128MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeon X300 SE HyperMemory
Hard Drive DataSafe 250GB (Includes main hard drive plus a hidden reserve hard drive)
Floppy Drive and Media Reader 13 in 1 Media Card Reader
Mouse Mouse included in Dell Wireless Package
Network Card Integrated Intel® PRO 10/100 Ethernet
Modem No Modem Requested
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0
CD or DVD Drive Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+/-RW w/dbl layer write capability
Sound Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Speakers Dell A525 30 Watt 2.1 Stereo Speakers with Subwoofer
TV Tuners and Remote Controls Dual TV Tuner + Remote Control - watch one channel while recording another
Dell Digital Entertainment Starter Entertainment Pack -Basic digital Music, Photo, and Casual Gaming

TOTAL:$1,396.85

 

[g-paw]

Just priced it and came up with $230 difference, which is still a chunk of change. Be sure you get the Windows CD and not the Recovery disk so you can do a clean install when you get the machine so that you can clear out the trash. You probably know this but you have to tell the Dell people that keep calling you abut the warranty to take you off their list, unless your lonely and want to talk to telemarketers.

 

[RichPLS]

Yes that is worth it... very good PC, good for those who want a support network/warranty and are not at all interested in overclocking, but want just a stable stock speed PC that is well made.
I find Dell's do run better with a clean install, eliminating their obligatory bloatware...

 

[Bevs]

You have a very good package there apart from one area that concerns me. DDR2 at that frequency may prove to be a bottleneck, it just won't do the processor justice.

This also leads me to think that you may be limited on future upgrades, can the motherboard ONLY support 533 MHz RAM? (widely concidered to be slower than DDR400) Check with Dell before you buy as to the highest frequency of RAM that can be used with the motherboard in question.

3 gig of RAM is overkill in any system in my opinion, but as you also say that you plan on adding that beast of a graphics card, I can only assume that you are planning to use the system for gaming at some point in the near future???

My advice would be to contact Dell, and disscuss the specification of the motherboard with the thought of maybe reducing the amount of memory for that of higher specification...if the motherboard can support it. If not, consider a different motherboard that can.

On this basis I have to say no in your poll. I hope that what I have said here is helpful to you.

By the way, I'm in the UK, and even with our extortionate tax rates/prices, I could put together a system equall to that for around £600. I'm not sure as to what the currency conversion rate works out as, I'll let you do the math on that.

 

[g-paw]

In dollars your build would be about $1120, which is about the savings you'd expect building. But I think there's a psychological thing, you think you really should take advantage of that big of a discount even if you're probably better off doing your own build. Evil marketers

 

[chased13]

its prob a little cheaper BUT i must say, you are stuck with the dell case (lol) thats gotta suck- i know you think ur better off using the coupon but as one the above stated, ur ram sux- 2 gb of good ram PWNS (kills, smacks down, obliterates) ur 3 gb, especilaly since last gig is 2 512( kills ur upgradeability) 2gb is sufficient

id say build (but thats my answer to any question)

try to get better ram

 

[f1nal_0men]

In dollars your build would be about $1120, which is about the savings you'd expect building. But I think there's a psychological thing, you think you really should take advantage of that big of a discount even if you're probably better off doing your own build. Evil marketers

Even with the 20" LCD?

 

[g-paw]

Don't remember if I included the monitor. I've recently speced out a very similar system with the 930 rather than 940 which came out to $841 and the 940 is about $44 more than the 930 all on newegg. That would put the machine at about $900 more or less depnding on the component mfg. With mouse, keyboard, moniter, and speakers would be more than my original estimate but close the the Dell.

 

[sawildcat]

Take the money a build a system, you get exactly what you want, you know what the limits are for future upgrades, and you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Even though the Dull system may be cheaper on a component by component basis, on a home built system you get an unlimited choice of how to configure your new system.

Best places I have found for parts, Newegg(everyones favorite), Zipzoomfly.com, Xoxide.com, Computer builders wharehouse