[Uber10]

Alienware maybe?

[TheStranger]

From what I know, Alienware is over-priced (along with Dell), it's been awhile since I've shopped around for a new computer, though.

[nacht]

	Originally Posted by Uber10 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Alienware maybe?

"So, I hear you want to cross the pacific as fast as possible, have you considered a NC Kayak? I hear they are fast!"

[froyo]

I wouldn't say alienware is overpriced or slow. They make high quality gaming machines. Note the word "gaming".

[TheStranger]

I think the fact that Alienware makes high quality gaming machines is irrelevant. I have an Alienware laptop, and I'm relatively certain I could've gotten the components for far cheaper. Many others I've talked to have said the same. I'd have to compare current prices though, as my current machine is several years old.

[Latro]

Alienware puts together nice components for way more than they actually cost. With desktops you can get the same machine minus the case for half the price of an Alienware machine or less.

[nacht]

	Originally Posted by Latro To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Alienware puts together nice components for way more than they actually cost. With desktops you can get the same machine minus the case for half the price of an Alienware machine or less.

Very roughly:

i7-3930K: $600
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit: ~$100+
1GB nVidia GTX 560 Ti: ~$260
256 GB SSD: $300—$400
Blu-Ray Drive: ~$60
16 GB DDR3 1600MHz: ~$90
875W Power Supply: ~$300 (very rough)
X79 Motherboard: ~$290
Cost: $2000+Case+Other items
Alienware: $2499

Now, it's possible you could shave a little off of a component here or there, or get by with downgrading something in a way not allowed by Alienware. There are certainly both less and more expensive power supplies (I didn't do a hugely precise search), depending on what you are looking for and how confident you are about power.

But seems a bit of an exaggeration to say "same machine for half the price."

[TheStranger]

There was an article published awhile back that claimed Alienware was one of the more (if not the most, if memory serves) computer brands. I'll see if I can dig it up, if nothing else but for my own curiousity. I'm not saying "same machine for half price" just cheaper alternatives.

[nacht]

	Originally Posted by TheStranger To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	There was an article published awhile back that claimed Alienware was one of the more (if not the most, if memory serves) computer brands. I'll see if I can dig it up, if nothing else but for my own curiousity. I'm not saying "same machine for half price" just cheaper alternatives.

Oh, I don't doubt that they are one of the more expensive brands. There is just a pervasive habit among geeks to declare "I could build that for half the price" when 1) They couldn't, 2) They undervalue the benefit of certain features (e.g., size for laptops) and/or 3) They undervalue the benefit of a single service contract and having the system arrive as a single unit.

Doesn't mean that Alienware is not a fairly expensive brand even all of that considered, but it also doesn't mean you can arbitrarily cut half the price off and make the "same machine."

[TheStranger]

Yeah, the "for half the price" mantra is a bit tired, definitely an exaggeration. And, as you said, they undervalue certain features in fully assembled machines, or aren't aware of their existence when comparing prices. I've owned two Alienware computers, and from what I remember there were plenty of luxuries that were optional, such as liquid cooling, or AlienRespawn (perhaps the latter was included with all of them, not sure, but lots of "Alien" trademarked optional luxuries), etc. There's also the lighting system on the inside that shines through the keyboard, as well as the outward design of the cases. I'm not sure if Alienware offers basic cases to reduce costs.

I'm sure there are plenty of other things I'm forgetting.

[Latro]

Originally Posted by nacht To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Very roughly: i7-3930K: $600 Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit: ~$100+ 1GB nVidia GTX 560 Ti: ~$260 256 GB SSD: $300—$400 Blu-Ray Drive: ~$60 16 GB DDR3 1600MHz: ~$90 875W Power Supply: ~$300 (very rough) X79 Motherboard: ~$290 Cost: $2000+Case+Other items Alienware: $2499 Now, it's possible you could shave a little off of a component here or there, or get by with downgrading something in a way not allowed by Alienware. There are certainly both less and more expensive power supplies (I didn't do a hugely precise search), depending on what you are looking for and how confident you are about power. But seems a bit of an exaggeration to say "same machine for half the price."

Maybe it was worse last time I checked, which was a number of years ago. I think I remember seeing a comparison along the lines of $1200 components being sold for $2000 or something. Still a bit of an exaggeration, but it's not as small as $2000 vs. $2500.

Also, even in a really nice machine a $300 PSU is definitely pushing it.

	Originally Posted by nacht To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	1) They couldn't, 2) They undervalue the benefit of certain features (e.g., size for laptops)

It probably wasn't obvious from context, but I was actually talking about desktops. I wouldn't buy a super-high-powered laptop if I could avoid it.

	3) They undervalue the benefit of a single service contract and having the system arrive as a single unit.

This is true, but it really isn't that much work to put together a desktop, even if you've never done it before. Having a convenient warranty is a bit of a plus but not worth the price difference by any stretch of the imagination.