[BenLuby]

We've got a lot of the information on measuring devices, PDA's and what nots on here. My question? What kind of computers does everyone use? I am considering buying an alienware, but I am trying to see if anyone happens to know if they are worth the price.
Obviously, there will be some gaming done on it. (Yeah, I play Eve online, and a computer that can do that is a nice thing.) Opinions?

[Randall Garrett]

Ben:

I don't have any specific "Brand" recommendations - we all have our preferences, etc. I do, however, have some advice on a couple of specific elements.

For performance, I'd stick to the Intel side (vs. AMD) for CPU choice though I don't think you can really make a case for Quad Core right now. Core 2 Duo is working out fine.

For the GPU, I would opt for nVidia over ATI, and I'd spring for a DX10-capable card - i.e. an 8800-based unit.

I run a single 8800GTS on one machine and 8800GTX's (SLI) on another. Both push a Dell 3007 @ 2560 x 1600 resolution. Both on Vista Ultimate. Generally speaking, unless Eve REALLY needs the horsepower (which I doubt), I would go for a single-card setup. Like I said, I run both, and dollar-for-dollar, I cannot really justify the SLI setup. If you are going with AlienWare, you might consider upping the power supply (it is an option) if you think you might eventually go with an SLI set-up.

With the TWO DX10 games I have, even the SLI rig can't push pixels fast enough to run them at 2560 x 1600, so I lower the resolution down to 1280 x 800 and pump up the AA, etc. to compensate. If you are running something more reasonable, like 1920 x 1200, I'd think the bang-for-the-buck choice would be a single 8800GTX. By the time there are more DX10 games out, we'll all be wanting ("needing", LOL) a new GPU class and the monitors will be better, too. I really have to be picky to tell much difference in performance of more mainstream "DX9" games between the single GT and the SLI GTX rig, mainly due to being forced to the lower 1280 x 1200 resolution. A few games, which in the past were "benchmark" stressers (i.e. HL2, FEAR, etc) seem to run reasonably well on a single 8800GT, even at 2560 x 1200. When I drop the resolution down to 1280 x 800 and turn up the AA, etc., most people wouldn't know it is not running at full resolution w/o AA.

FWIW, my two machines are both older Dell XPS 600's. I've not upgraded lately as I am waiting for the next chipset revs. (both CPU and GPU) to become commonly available. What I "need" (LOL) just isn't available at under $10K, so I am waiting...

Hope this helps!
.

[Theresa James]

Ben,

My son spent a fortune on his ALIENWARE, but he LOVES IT! He is taking classes for computer engineering (software & hardware) and the unit he bought is currently perfect for all his classes & is upgradeable to what he may need in the next two years for additional classes. While I can't give you any technical specifics (I'm computer ignorant), if you want additional first hand information/impressions from a current Alienware owner, I will ask my son to give you his impressions. He is out of town until Monday night, but let me know if he can be of any assistance to you. From what I gather in listening to him talking about it, it is a wonderful system, just very pricey.

Oh....and by the way....yes, he is a gamer too!

[DB]

Randy .... you scare me ...

[Randall Garrett]

Doug,

Sorry, man - I just read my post and it sure could sound geeky! ;-) It would have probably been better if I'd just used:

"next generation" for DX10,
"current crop" for DX9,
"smoothing" for AA, and
"dual cards" for SLI

Summarily, I should have just said "I'd go with the Core 2 Duo chip and an 8800 series nVidia graphics card to give you great performance on today's stuff and the next generation. Don't go overboard as better stuff will cost less and be better next year anyway."

Ben, let me know if you need any specific recommendations and explanations, etc. If you have a system spec'ed out, if you send me the cart or a copy/paste, I'd be happy to look at it and make recommendations on how to get the best bang for the buck (IMHO.)

Hope this helps!
.

[BenLuby]

Thanks to both of you, Theresa and Randall. I'd love to see what kind of set-ups your son has, Theresa, as my oldest son at home is fixing to start in the programming programs as well, and I want him to have a good, solid system to work with.
Randall, your second post was actually close to being in english. I appreciate the help. When I go to build the system and order it, I'll post the specs, prior to ordering it. Of course, it will be a month before I seriously build one, since, as Theresa said, they are quite pricey.
I think I may start on a simpler desktop, then buy the dream system.

[Randall Garrett]

Ben,

Glad to try and help. My aim is to help you get the BB4TB (Best Bang for the Buck)... That is, to put your money toward the things that make the most difference to the real world performance (vs. theoretical) and thus leave you with a lower cost system or more money to spend on the things you don't NEED, but that you just WANT anyway... :-) You know, something like "I'd drop the CPU speed and take the $300 and put it toward more RAM or a faster hard disk." or "If you get THIS card, you can run dual monitors more easily."

Feel free to send me the info at rgarrett [at] apexwin [dot] com and I'll take a look at it.
...

[BenLuby]

I appreciate it Randall. E-mail will be saved. Mine in Ben.Luby @ gmail . com Remove the spaces, obvously. And I happen to trust your answers. Been reading your posts for quite a while, and you sound like you have a microchip in your bottom. No insult, you just talk geek speak like it is your natural first language.

[Michael Chu]

IMO, computers (hardware) are just like the cars we drive.
Any teen can really mess up a brand new Ferrari or Lamborgini.

OTH, I've seen grandmothers accomplish everything they need in a 70's Oldsmobile.

It's the software that counts-
MS VISTA is not your friend, yet.