AlienWare Gaming Comp

TheCrusader

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2005

Kent,Washington

Dei Victorae [dV]

R/

27 May 2005 at 23:51 - 1
CPU Im getting :

Processor
AMD Athlon™ 64
3200+ Processor

Operating System
Microsoft® Windows®
XP Home Edition

Memory
1GB Dual Channel DDR
SDRAM PC-3200 400MHz

Hard Drive
160GB 7200 RPM
SATA w/8MB Cache

Graphics Processor
ATI RADEON™
9500 SE 128MB DDR

Sound Card
Integrated 5.1 Audio

QUESTION: Will this run GW on MAX settings?

pully2183

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

27 May 2005 at 23:52 - 2
which one are you getting?

Redfang

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2005

Hope And Glory

W/Me

27 May 2005 at 23:57 - 3
Yes, it will.

Shadowz

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

27 May 2005 at 23:58 - 4
Buddy, this will OWN!
I run at max on my 2.4, 512mb, GEforce4, with fair lag, but hardly noticable.

TheCrusader

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2005

Kent,Washington

Dei Victorae [dV]

R/

27 May 2005 at 23:59 - 5
Thanks guys.... Now gotta get the dreaded A in Math..... *Hits the books...litterally*

pully2183

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

28 May 2005 at 00:25 - 6
I wouldn't get any radeon card with se in the name. I got a radeon 9800 se with my pc only to find that SE means that the card is crippled so it can be sold cheaply.

But that said if it's an alienware pc I assume that they will probably unlock the crippled features as standard. It's pretty easy to do.

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

28 May 2005 at 00:30 - 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by pully2183
I wouldn't get any radeon card with se in the name. I got a radeon 9800 se with my pc only to find that SE means that the card is crippled so it can be sold cheaply.

But that said if it's an alienware pc I assume that they will probably unlock the crippled features as standard. It's pretty easy to do.
I DONT THINK SO

as far as i know that 64 bit crippled feature is locked in

if you can spring for that machine spend a little bit more for the next video card step up

get rid of the se part of it or you will kick yourself later

Spartan2

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

The Intarweb

Wrath of Nature [WoN]

E/Mo

28 May 2005 at 01:23 - 8
What kind of Power Supply comes with the machine? This is something you are going to need to know because of all the power draw issues that have been rising up. Hehe I know my computer won't have issues because I sprang for the 500 watt supply when I built from the ground up

Brett Kuntz

Brett Kuntz

Core Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

28 May 2005 at 01:26 - 9
I hope you're not paying more then $600 for that pos lol.

Be nice, kunt0r. This post could be considered trolling/flaming.
~ Principa Discordia.

termite

termite

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

28 May 2005 at 01:35 - 10
If you know how to build computers, I suggest you stay away from Alienware. Some of their cases might look nice (in a sense that they are unique), but their prices are too high.

If on the other hand you don't have much experience building computers and want technical support (hopefully they don't charge you and arm and a leg for it), then go for Alienware or Dell. Just make sure you're not getting an over the top system with a bargain bin type of video card (such as the 9500SE that you've mentioned).

pully2183

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

28 May 2005 at 09:50 - 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loviatar
I DONT THINK SO

as far as i know that 64 bit crippled feature is locked in

if you can spring for that machine spend a little bit more for the next video card step up

get rid of the se part of it or you will kick yourself later

The crippled feature I was referring to is the pixel pipelines in the 9800 se. If you are lucky you can reactivate the 4 locked pixel pipelines to take the card up to 8.

That said a quick look on google shows that this isn't possible to do with the 9550 se (not 9500) since it uses a different chip set.

I agree with Loviatar get another graphics card in your pc.

Morat

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Octavian Vanguard

R/E

28 May 2005 at 10:03 - 12
Alienware look nice but I'd not bother personally.
You'd be far better off getting a decent current generation grahics card - they make such a massive difference. I have two machines (both Dell).
Laptop P4m 2.2Ghz 533 FSB 1Gb RAM 6800GO graphics (256Mb, 12 Pipelines). 80Gb 7200RPM disk
Desktop P4 3.4Ghz 800 FSB 2 Gb RAM. 9800XT graphics, 500Gb SATA RAID0 Disk.

Which one pwns the other for 3D? Yep - the laptop. I couldn't believe it either but the difference between the current and previous gen grpahics cards is MASSIVE.

I get ~40% improvement in FPS on the laptop

wonderworm

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

28 May 2005 at 10:39 - 13
That graphics card is seriously underpowered compared to the rest of the system. GF 6600 GT, ATI X600 pro (even a 9800 pro) would be more suited.
And as some people here already posted : Alienware is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. Find a nice online seller where you can select all components for yourself and let them build the rig for you. I'm sure people here will have some suggestions

Druadan Winterblade

Druadan Winterblade

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

Manchester, England

Brotherhood of Avalanche

R/N

28 May 2005 at 12:03 - 14
AlienWare are way too overpriced. If I were you I'd build one yourself (either learn how to or find a mate who is capable) - it's much cheaper than buying a readymade PC, and thus MUCH cheaper than buying an AlienWare.

AlienWare should be shot for their prices. And then billed for the bullets.


[Note: If someone shoots the AlienWare people and bills them for the bullets, it really wasn't me.]

termite

termite

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

28 May 2005 at 12:08 - 15
Everyone that's telling him to avoid AlienWare is missing the point that I posted a few posts up. If he has never built a computer he's better off with someone like AlienWare because of their warranty. If he was to go down the custom built road (it looks like he's not building a low budget system here), and was to run into a problem, who would he go for help to? How would he determine which part of the system is at fault? Get the idea?

Druadan Winterblade

Druadan Winterblade

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

Manchester, England

Brotherhood of Avalanche

R/N

28 May 2005 at 12:26 - 16
I get my computers built by a local computer store. If something goes wrong and I can't determine what it is, then they'll find out for me and usually strike the labour cost. I would go with a local store to custom-build it, on the understanding that they'll help with any problems, rather than AlienWare.

If there are no local computer stores like this nearby, then yeh I'd go with AlienWare... but only after checking house prices in areas that DO have a local computer store.

Calnaion Blackhawk

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

England , Wiltshire

[mB] Mental Block

E/

28 May 2005 at 13:21 - 17
how much?
anything over 1200 and i think ull be wasting ur money, my pc is pretty much the same specs expect i bought mine myself from diff places/diff parts, i can run GW on max fine

TheCrusader

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2005

Kent,Washington

Dei Victorae [dV]

R/

28 May 2005 at 19:03 - 18
I have NO CLUE on how to build my own comp. Money isn't an issure here. This would be my newest comp in 5 years. I just want to know if this game will run GW with minor issues. WIll it?

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

28 May 2005 at 19:10 - 19
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheCrusader
I have NO CLUE on how to build my own comp. Money isn't an issure here. This would be my newest comp in 5 years. I just want to know if this game will run GW with minor issues. WIll it?
with minor issues yes it will run

if money is not a problem going up the small price to the same model number without the se feature will give a big improvement

TheCrusader

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2005

Kent,Washington

Dei Victorae [dV]

R/

28 May 2005 at 19:13 - 20
Ok, I will get the step up. I was just seeing if people thought it would run great on a lower price. Thanks for the help!

TheCrusader

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2005

Kent,Washington

Dei Victorae [dV]

R/

28 May 2005 at 19:15 - 21
IntelTM PentiumTM 4 processor 640 with HT® Technology (3.20GHz, 800 FSB, 2MB L2 cache)

Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
512MB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz

Bullet 17" (16.0"vis) Monitor

80GB2 Ultra/ATA 100 Hard Drive

256MB PCI ExpressTM x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) nVidia GeForce 6800

90-Day Limited Warranty3 and At-Home Service4

This is the one im getting. (Decided to go Dell) This will run MAX right with minor lag?

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

28 May 2005 at 19:16 - 22
nice

a lot better than mine and i run max quality without a hitch

Principa Discordia

Principa Discordia

Site Contributor

Join Date: Apr 2005

England.

28 May 2005 at 20:20 - 23
Most of the stuff I was going to say has been covered already, mainly stuff about how SE graphics cards are cut-down versions and how AlienWare are overpriced.

If cost is an issue, I'd reccommend you run those exact specs by a couple of local computer stores who build custom machines (and help if anything goes wrong). They're bound to be cheaper than AlienWare.

Edit: The last specs you posted (the Dell machine) will be more than enough to run Guild Wars in maximum detail with no lag.

Svenn

Svenn

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

near Atlanta, GA - USA

Dark Entities (DE)

R/Mo

28 May 2005 at 21:02 - 24
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheCrusader
This will run MAX right with minor lag?
IF the video card and CPU stay cool, you should be able to run smooth as butter.

Paradox

Paradox

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

Hamilton, ON

Brotherhood of the Golden Bong

W/Mo

28 May 2005 at 21:03 - 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheCrusader
IntelTM PentiumTM 4 processor 640 with HT® Technology (3.20GHz, 800 FSB, 2MB L2 cache)

Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
512MB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz

Bullet 17" (16.0"vis) Monitor

80GB2 Ultra/ATA 100 Hard Drive

256MB PCI ExpressTM x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) nVidia GeForce 6800

90-Day Limited Warranty3 and At-Home Service4

This is the one im getting. (Decided to go Dell) This will run MAX right with minor lag?
Here's the thing buddy.. (and this is up for debate) you jumped from a 64bit capable system to a 32bit, lost your ram, 1/2 the hard drive.. and went with Dell. I'd suggest spending a week or two (building my own system right now 1st time in a few years so I'm in your boat..) flipping through articles on websites .. benchmark tests etc.. to find out what you want.. cuz to be honest, if you are interested in gaming, I've seen nothing but good things from the Athlon 64 line. Now, of course building it yourself isn't the point, get the local comp store with good ppl working there (good ppl is worth a 5% price increase) to order your parts, and put it together for you. But don't go in their with too too many questions, spend the time researching for the basic stuff, and then ask their opinions for the rest. Of course everything should be taken with a grain of salt.. everyone has their own opinions and their own needs/wants. In any event, I found a place called Sonaggi Computers to be the absolute cheapest place online (it's also local for me) with great service.
www.sonaggi.com is where I'd go for a reference point. Good luck, and best wishes.. building/buying a computer is a tricky field.. gotta watch for sharks :P

-Paradox

Svenn

Svenn

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

near Atlanta, GA - USA

Dark Entities (DE)

R/Mo

28 May 2005 at 21:15 - 26
Oh, yeah, didn't notice that RAM at 512mb. I'd take the upgrade option to 1gb on that, if I were you.

Dell is a known quantity, and I'd stick with them, were I in your position. The prices at most local shops are horrendous, and the quality of service varies widely.

Awol Duteq

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

28 May 2005 at 22:31 - 27
I wouldn't buy alienware if my life depended on it...they charge an arm and a leg for that little alien logo to be on your machine and anyone I know thats gotten one has had issues with support etc. They used to be pretty cool when they first started but they appear to have gotten bigheaded. The worst horror story I have about alienware is my friend eric. He order a comp, and had to wait 3 months for a part to come in. When it finally got shipped, it had the wrong hardware. After two more months of fighting with their support lines, he had to pay to send it back, and pay for the shipping again for them to send the correct pc. 8 months later after the inital order he got it in. -Wont go alienware-