Alienware or Dell - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

propaganda · 08-21-2003, 05:41 PM

I have the choice of getting either of these computers but I can't decide which to get so I'm asking for some help. They are both just about exactly the same 2.8 ghz, 128 mb graphics card, same sound card, and both 80 gb hdd but the Alienware is $1600 and the Dell is about $1200 and I can't decide which to get. Anyone have any feedback?

Kyp · 08-21-2003, 05:44 PM

Why are you even asking this? If they're the exact same computer then why pay $400 extra for a different name?

HeAtHeN · 08-21-2003, 05:52 PM

I agree... get the Dell and save the money or spend it on an upgrade.

propaganda · 08-21-2003, 05:55 PM

Thats one of the main problems Dell jack up upgrades and since you have to buy from them to keep your warrenty it starts to accumulate.

Scorpion23 · 08-21-2003, 05:55 PM

There was a post awhile back on the companies that make laptops. I seem to remember that the same one made both Dell and Alienware. Go with the cheaper one.

mrquackers · 08-21-2003, 05:58 PM

I don't know if it's worth the extra $400... but Alienware makes a truly kickass machine - and has been catering to the gaming market for many, many years. Dell's just getting into gamer-centric machines, so may still have a few bugs to work out.

PC Gamer has reviewed the Dell machine and given it pretty good marks. But Alienware always gets an Editor's Choice award.

Still, $400 is a lot of cash.

propaganda · 08-21-2003, 06:01 PM

I'm not paying for it

sixate · 08-21-2003, 06:01 PM

Alienware is overpriced, and their cases are ugly as hell. Get the Dell and use extra to upgrade. If you know what your doing I'd suggest build your own PC. It's more fun that way.

propaganda · 08-21-2003, 06:09 PM

I think I will go with the Dell just because I get an extra $550 off because my father works there and he gets a discount. Thanks for the feedback though anyway guys

Lasereth · 08-21-2003, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sixate
Alienware is overpriced, and their cases are ugly as hell. Get the Dell and use extra to upgrade. If you know what your doing I'd suggest build your own PC. It's more fun that way.

It can be fun, but custom-built PCs can also ruin your plans big time. One or two damaged items in a shipment can fuck up a PC building scheme very badly. I guess you trade in good prices for a chance that you'll get raw crap and have to send it back. I've always built custom PCs, but I've never, NEVER built one when I didn't have to RMA at least three items. I order from NewEgg.

Some people get lucky, and some don't. A few friends of mine have always had problems with bad parts, and a few other friends have never received a bad part. A custom PC can be a money-saving powerhouse dream-come-true, but it can also quickly turn into a RMA nightmare.

-Lasereth

HeAtHeN · 08-21-2003, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by propaganda
I think I will go with the Dell just because I get an extra $550 off because my father works there and he gets a discount. Thanks for the feedback though anyway guys

Good.... then get more RAM, bigger hard drive... go for it.

Ryan · 08-21-2003, 08:09 PM

get the dell and save money or build your own if you really want top of the line, Screw alienwarre nothign but overpriced boxes, that cater to the my geek who cant build his own PC.. (No offense to you off course lol..)

irieemon · 08-21-2003, 08:14 PM

Just Build your own, and pocket the extra cash. You can get just as good a case (better even) and not have to deal with some vanilla bs that passes for cutting edge at Dell

juanvaldes · 08-21-2003, 08:14 PM

Build your own.

Splice · 08-21-2003, 08:48 PM

propaganda: i guess it depends on you. Some people don't like the "wow factor" or the "oohhhh" and "ahhhhss", but I do. From what I have heard and read, AlienWare is TOP-Notch! Just check out all the positive reviews. http://www.alienware.com/review_pages/reviews.aspx But that's just me. If I had the choice, I would pick the AlienWare anyday, especially if someone else is paying for it!

propaganda · 08-21-2003, 09:44 PM

I can't really build my own I was planning to buy my last factory built pc which was going to be an Alienware and use the case since its pretty damn big

sixate · 08-22-2003, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lasereth
It can be fun, but custom-built PCs can also ruin your plans big time. One or two damaged items in a shipment can fuck up a PC building scheme very badly. I guess you trade in good prices for a chance that you'll get raw crap and have to send it back. I've always built custom PCs, but I've never, NEVER built one when I didn't have to RMA at least three items. I order from NewEgg.

Some people get lucky, and some don't. A few friends of mine have always had problems with bad parts, and a few other friends have never received a bad part. A custom PC can be a money-saving powerhouse dream-come-true, but it can also quickly turn into a RMA nightmare.

-Lasereth

I know the feeling. When I built the PC I'm using together I had to RMA my motherboard twice. It sucked, but I'll keep building my own stuff. Fuck Dell, Alienware, Gateway, and everyone else.

irieemon · 08-22-2003, 04:33 AM

Beware of positive reviews posted on the vendors site! Of course they are all going to be glowing.

I know people with Alienware systems that cost upwards of $3000 new, and in 2 months, everyone has the same case as theirs which is the only reason to buy one of those machines in the first place.

I dont know where you live but in most good size towns there is at least one Korean or Chinese computer supply shop that would be happy to assemble a custom computer for you in whatever case you want.

The lifespan of these Alienwares is not that good either, and when it did go down it took almost a week and a half for the "on-site" support to show up. In that regard, Dell has them beat hands down.

merkerguitars · 08-23-2003, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sixate
I know the feeling. When I built the PC I'm using together I had to RMA my motherboard twice. It sucked, but I'll keep building my own stuff. Fuck Dell, Alienware, Gateway, and everyone else.

I hear yah sixate...nothing is really as proud as a machine you assembled with your own two and hands and you know whats in and you don't have to worry about any dumbass warranty with cracking the case open...plus you can make it as custom as you want it to be.

juanvaldes · 08-23-2003, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lasereth
It can be fun, but custom-built PCs can also ruin your plans big time. One or two damaged items in a shipment can fuck up a PC building scheme very badly. I guess you trade in good prices for a chance that you'll get raw crap and have to send it back. I've always built custom PCs, but I've never, NEVER built one when I didn't have to RMA at least three items. I order from NewEgg.

Some people get lucky, and some don't. A few friends of mine have always had problems with bad parts, and a few other friends have never received a bad part. A custom PC can be a money-saving powerhouse dream-come-true, but it can also quickly turn into a RMA nightmare.

-Lasereth

Since the OEM's are just mass production assemblers the odds of getting a bum piece of hardware is just as likely as getting a bad system from the OEM. Same parts same odds of failure. Sure they catch a few going out the door but they also do more with the hardare and can fuck that up (but so can the builder)

Jaseca · 08-23-2003, 06:18 AM

Alienware is such a ripoff... Dell anyday, and if you get the 550 discount plus were allowed to spend 1600 on the alienware why not 1600 on a dell that you get for 1050?

Wyodiver33 · 08-23-2003, 06:36 PM

I haven't bought a name brand system since my Sony P2 266 in 1997. I've built several systems since then and have been very lucky so far with parts. But I usually buy my parts at a local computer show they have every couple of months. Just about as cheap as mail order and I buy and test on Saturday so that if I need to I can take it back on Sunday. I like Alienware, but I don't think I'll ever buy a pre-built computer again.

propaganda · 08-23-2003, 07:29 PM

I was actually hoping that this would be my last name brand system.

08-21-2003, 05:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
propaganda Psycho	Alienware or Dell I have the choice of getting either of these computers but I can't decide which to get so I'm asking for some help. They are both just about exactly the same 2.8 ghz, 128 mb graphics card, same sound card, and both 80 gb hdd but the Alienware is $1600 and the Dell is about $1200 and I can't decide which to get. Anyone have any feedback?

08-21-2003, 05:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kyp Insane Location: Oregon	Why are you even asking this? If they're the exact same computer then why pay $400 extra for a different name? __________________ When life gives you lemons, sqeeze the juice into a squirt gun and shoot people in the eyes

08-21-2003, 05:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Scorpion23 Psycho	There was a post awhile back on the companies that make laptops. I seem to remember that the same one made both Dell and Alienware. Go with the cheaper one. __________________ "Empirically observed covariation is a necessary but not sufficient condition for causality" - Edward Tufte

08-21-2003, 05:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
mrquackers Exhausted Location: Northeastern US - please send help!	I don't know if it's worth the extra $400... but Alienware makes a truly kickass machine - and has been catering to the gaming market for many, many years. Dell's just getting into gamer-centric machines, so may still have a few bugs to work out. PC Gamer has reviewed the Dell machine and given it pretty good marks. But Alienware always gets an Editor's Choice award. Still, $400 is a lot of cash. __________________ "If you're walking on thin ice, you may as well go ahead and dance."

08-23-2003, 06:36 PM	#22 (permalink)
Wyodiver33 Just here for the beer. Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Floriduh	I haven't bought a name brand system since my Sony P2 266 in 1997. I've built several systems since then and have been very lucky so far with parts. But I usually buy my parts at a local computer show they have every couple of months. Just about as cheap as mail order and I buy and test on Saturday so that if I need to I can take it back on Sunday. I like Alienware, but I don't think I'll ever buy a pre-built computer again. __________________ I like stuff.

08-21-2003, 05:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
propaganda Psycho	Thats one of the main problems Dell jack up upgrades and since you have to buy from them to keep your warrenty it starts to accumulate.

08-21-2003, 06:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
propaganda Psycho	I'm not paying for it

08-21-2003, 06:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
sixate Registered User Location: Somewhere in Ohio	Alienware is overpriced, and their cases are ugly as hell. Get the Dell and use extra to upgrade. If you know what your doing I'd suggest build your own PC. It's more fun that way.

08-21-2003, 06:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
propaganda Psycho	I think I will go with the Dell just because I get an extra $550 off because my father works there and he gets a discount. Thanks for the feedback though anyway guys

08-21-2003, 08:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ryan Crazy	get the dell and save money or build your own if you really want top of the line, Screw alienwarre nothign but overpriced boxes, that cater to the my geek who cant build his own PC.. (No offense to you off course lol..)

08-21-2003, 08:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
irieemon Crazy Location: Right where I want to be.	Just Build your own, and pocket the extra cash. You can get just as good a case (better even) and not have to deal with some vanilla bs that passes for cutting edge at Dell

08-21-2003, 08:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
juanvaldes Banned Location: shittown, CA	Build your own.

08-21-2003, 08:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
Splice Crazy	propaganda: i guess it depends on you. Some people don't like the "wow factor" or the "oohhhh" and "ahhhhss", but I do. From what I have heard and read, AlienWare is TOP-Notch! Just check out all the positive reviews. http://www.alienware.com/review_pages/reviews.aspx But that's just me. If I had the choice, I would pick the AlienWare anyday, especially if someone else is paying for it!

08-21-2003, 09:44 PM	#16 (permalink)
propaganda Psycho	I can't really build my own I was planning to buy my last factory built pc which was going to be an Alienware and use the case since its pretty damn big

08-22-2003, 04:33 AM	#18 (permalink)
irieemon Crazy Location: Right where I want to be.	Beware of positive reviews posted on the vendors site! Of course they are all going to be glowing. I know people with Alienware systems that cost upwards of $3000 new, and in 2 months, everyone has the same case as theirs which is the only reason to buy one of those machines in the first place. I dont know where you live but in most good size towns there is at least one Korean or Chinese computer supply shop that would be happy to assemble a custom computer for you in whatever case you want. The lifespan of these Alienwares is not that good either, and when it did go down it took almost a week and a half for the "on-site" support to show up. In that regard, Dell has them beat hands down.

08-23-2003, 06:18 AM	#21 (permalink)
Jaseca Tilted	Alienware is such a ripoff... Dell anyday, and if you get the 550 discount plus were allowed to spend 1600 on the alienware why not 1600 on a dell that you get for 1050?

08-23-2003, 07:29 PM	#23 (permalink)
propaganda Psycho	I was actually hoping that this would be my last name brand system.