Custom Intel i7 computer system to replace Dell

Hey all, I have been waiting to upgrade my computer for awhile and decided now is finally a good time. (and now I finally have the money)

I play a bunch of different games in addition to MMORPGs including shooters, and action games. I have been trying to find a good deal on a custom PC, because right now I am running a crappy old Dell.

I was looking at this i7 940 Custom Built Performance PC because my friends keep telling me an Intel i7 cpu is the best for gaming, and the reviews and benchmarks look great. I was going to change the video card options to the Bfg Tech Geforce Gtx 275.and the hard drive to the WD Cavier Black.

I’m having it prebuilt and tested because I had numerous issues with trying to upgrade any of the hardware on my Dell. Is there anything else I should look at changing on the configuration? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks guys.

Implying you tried to upgrade a Dell.

Seriously. I'm not even trying to be an ass. That was your problem.
Unless you have an XPS, and even then it can be questionable, Dells offer very poor customization.

I run an i7 920 with 9GB DDR3 and the game runs fine. For games or applications that have poor multi-thread or multi-core support (and the i7 is a quad core with multi-threading, so as a physically quad-core CPU, it has eight logical cores) you're obviously going to have to set certain processes to run affinity on only one or two the listed CPUs. So far I've only had this problem with Prince of Persia (but who cares anyways, that was a trashy game).

Guild Wars runs perfectly fine.

If you have money to burn go ahead and get that - however just remember that you could build an identical system yourself and save $600-700 easy......

*** also I should mention that I put together a system for myself recently that would offer better gaming performance and includes a 22" Monitor for under $800 total..... so in other words shop around abit or build your own.

elder is right in that point but if you dont have it in you to build your own which you state thats a fine pc. id definately shop around you might find one with similar specs maybe a bit cheaper and i think its a great setup needing not any more changes then you already stated. i build my own but i understand thats not for everyone

Build your own!!
I just built my i7 computer and it was pretty easy. Like Elder said you will save atleast $500(I threw the parts in a shopping cart on newegg ) if you build you own.
If you have the money to burn then do it i guess.

BUT! i7's are not the best for gaming and really offer no more performance over other quad cores.
Save some money and just get a Phenom II X3/X4 or a Core 2 Quad. Spend the money that you spent on a better graphics card and some peripherals (mouse, keyboard, and monitor).

Go ahead and go i7 if you really want to. If you do just get the 920 and overclock it. you can hit 4.0Ghz easily with the D0 stepping.

Most games still don't benefit from 4 cores, and use 2 cores maximum.

Surely, the i7 is a beast, but the actual performance gain in gaming isn't that stellar.
That being said, i'd go with the 920. It can easely be overclocked well above the 940 on decent aftermarket air cooling, and save yourself a lot of cash.

Home-build PCs save you a lot of money, and aren't realy that hard to do these days.
Spend some time reading up on stuff and you'll be able to do it yourself easely.

Also, never ever even attempt to upgrade a Dell PC ...