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Thread ID: 106996 2010-01-31 11:08:00 Dell Inspiron 580 - Should I buy? natos17 (15605) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
853897 2010-02-02 00:25:00 natos17
As others have advised - you can do a lot better than Dell. Better parts, more reliability - and without a lot of the junk.

I noticed the Paradigm PC listed didn't list brand on the PSU - which most of us here would consider to be very important. Also it doesn't list a monitor - didn't you say you wanted one as well?

Perhaps easiest to start with basics - you've listed some already. I've made a list below from your previous posts. As I understand it - you require a desktop - capable of basic computing + video / music and gaming.

So - you need indication for:

Case - Mid Tower
Mobo - No pref - needs to be quality - doesn't need onboard video (stand alone card for gaming)
CPU - AMD or Intel, good value ratio
PSU - Depends on other parts, decent brand
HDD - 320-500 Gb
RAM - 4 Gb
Gfx Card - Value for money + OK for med gaming
Onboard Sound OK
Optical Drive - Std CD/DVD burner
OS Win7
Monitor - size?
KBd & Mouse - guessing wired if you are gaming?

Using Computer Lounge - here's an initial thought.
www.computerlounge.co.nz

The team here (who have way more experience than I have) will hopefully chip in as well.

That's $1069 for a preconfig system. Add OS @ $179
www.computerlounge.co.nz

Mouse and Kbd @ $59 & $49 = $108
www.computerlounge.co.nz
www.computerlounge.co.nz

And monitor $315 (22in)
www.computerlounge.co.nz

Grand total = $1671

There may be further discounts from CL as well - you won't know until you check with them.

A lot of this stuff wouldn't be my pref - but it is pretty close to your original budget - and you can guarantee it will be quality.
Brooko (8444)
853898 2010-02-02 06:30:00 Thanks man! Appreciate it. It's exactly what I'm looking for. A bit pricier than I was looking for, but with the 5% off the system and a cheaper monitor, mouse and keyboard, I've worked out I could get it ~$1460. Which is around the max figure and the price of the dell. I'm actually pretty keen on it. Anybody else have any opinions? natos17 (15605)
853899 2010-02-02 08:13:00 What's the specs of the Dell you were looking at? qazwsxokmijn (102)
853900 2010-02-02 08:21:00 About the same, 500gb HDD, 4gb ram, one of the new intel i3 processors, a GeForce G310 512mb graphics card for $1450. Pretty much same price. But i've heard Dells are harder to get compatible upgrade components.

www1.ap.dell.com (the cheaper one)
natos17 (15605)
853901 2010-02-02 09:00:00 I'm not too sure whether the new i3 is comparable to the Athlon being offered in CL's system, but the 4850 in CL's system is much better than the inferior G310 Dell includes in the 580.

Added to the fact CL uses an Asus board, and SuperTalent RAM, whereas Dell would use some lower-quality brands.
qazwsxokmijn (102)
853902 2010-02-02 22:23:00 Anybody know if AOC monitors are any good? Looking at getting this one, it looks pretty sweet but is suspiciously cheap. But looking around, they seem reputable enough.

www.computerlounge.co.nz
natos17 (15605)
853903 2010-02-02 23:11:00 They're not the best but they do the job. qazwsxokmijn (102)
853904 2010-02-03 03:07:00 Of course it can.
Heard of marketing?
Why did MS get to be THE O/S company in the world?

Why does Apple sell so many iproducts?

Why do brandnames sell so much stuff.

Quality has nothing to do with it.

Dell has TV ads, the others don't. They send mailouts, they are in your face everywhere.

Who's seen a TV ad for any of the decent NZ PC shops?

If you believe size = quality you're just the sort of sucker the ads are targetted at.

yawn
SolMiester (139)
853905 2010-02-03 05:13:00 Anybody know if AOC monitors are any good? Looking at getting this one, it looks pretty sweet but is suspiciously cheap. But looking around, they seem reputable enough.

www.computerlounge.co.nz


For monitors, I would recommend Dells Ultrasharp, but that is the only Dell product I would buy. Have a laptop, and it is still going after 4 years, but a few of the buttons on it no longer work and the build quality isn't good (cheap silver plastic)and in one place it has cracked from the heat. I guess Dells are 'ok' but you can get a better system custom build from you with good brands, such as Asus.
robbyp (2751)
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