Okay so let me start of by saying i'm a complete newbie when it comes to personal computers. The last computer i bought was when Oblivion was released. It was a very decent computer as it was able to run any game at that time including oblivion at the highest possible graphics with absolutely no computer lag. I think that was about 5 years ago though and it's become quite crappy ever since my brother managed to virus it to hell.

Anyway, now i'm pretty much in need of some help of you computer nerds . Me and my brother were looking around on the internet to find us a good computer that would be able to run the games that are coming otu soon like Skyrim, Battlefield Bad Company 3, Crysis 2 and more. I really need it to be able to run it on the highest possible graphics with absolutely no lag or overheating. The best thing i was able to find was this Alienware computer. Their newest and best Pc costs about 4000€, that's the one i'm currently interested in. However a friend of mine told me they're great computers, but you could easily get it for half that price if you go to a store where they build computers.

So if anyone could give me some advice on this it'd be appreciated. Thanks.

EDIT: oh yea... i'm not sure if this is the right forum, but the Pc will mainly be used to play Skyrim hehe .

Thanks for putting me on this forum i knew i was in the wrong one.

Well, I build PCs instead of spending exhorbitant amounts like that, and taking out the "middle-man build-it shop" you're still under target price. If you both plan to pitch in on the computer, you can easily get 2 of the same, if not then similar specs for that price. Now, this means you have to do your own troubleshooting, but I personaly believe it's worth it, as opposed to overspending on an Alienware. Great computers, really, just high priced. So, build it yourselves, and then you each have one. This will also solve your virus problem with your brother...

Build your own, and stay away from Alienware. That price for a computer is absolutely ridiculous. $2000 will be more than enough for something incredibly overpowered.

Do you buy those pc's via internet? or stores or something?

Which PCs? When you build your own? Mostly online, unless you live near a microcenter or Fry's or similar store that actually sells parts for good prices, though they are few and far between.

4000€?! Agh! Aaaaaagh! That's highway robbery!

I recently went on Newegg and picked out a "everything I could ever want forget the price" list of parts, and it couldn't even cap over $1700.

Here, use http://chanarchive.org/content/2_v/87702857/1298515337228.png. It's a useful starting point guide.

'build your own' there's really no way i'll be able to do that lol. I'm looking for a store to build it for me.

It's not hard. You order the parts off the internet, and when they come you take the motherboard manual and go through it step by step plugging everything in. It's like legos. If you can assemble legos, you can assemble a computer.

Do you possess a middle school education? If so, you can do it without a problem. It sounds hard, it's not, there are really no valid excuses for not doing it. And, as an added bonus, you learn something, and it makes it easier to troubelshoot and upgrade in the future.

Or you could take the parts to a computer store and tell them to place it together (for a fee). Don't you dare buy a 4000EUR computer.

Well, i study university physics so i guess i should be able to master it . But i'm just so lazy, i barely have any spare time as it is.

When I ordered my PC components from a Dutch hardware store, I paid a little extra to have them assemble it all for me (40 euros or so). It was still way cheaper than any pre-built PC with comparable components. So if you can't physically put the thing together yourself, see if it can be done for you.

Your computers actual hardware shouldn't act more slowly because of viruses. It's time to format the hard drive and reinstall an OS before putting down money on a new computer.

Random note: Battlefield: Bad Company 3 isn't coming out soon, Battlefield 3 is.

Thanks for the heads up

Do some research before ordering a bunch of parts. Learn what the parts do, how they interact, compatibility, how to properly build the PC without screwing it up, protential problems, BIOS, etc.
Check out youtube vidoes, and read user reviews on sites like Newegg, TigerDirect, youtube, Tom's Hardware website, and Overclockers.net

The PC in my signature costs $1,200. Including windows 7, and peripherals like a disc drive, mouse, etc.

A benefit of building is the knowledge gained and relative ease of troubleshooting.

This is my game PC only.
I use a cheap laptop for school, work, and internet.

Besides gaming, will you be using this computer for any other intensive tasks (i.e., photoshop, vmware, graphic design, disc authoring, video editing, etc.),?

If you don't want to build your own computer, IBUYPOWER.com is a great option. I bought a computer from them 4 months ago and Ive had no problems with it.

4000 Euro is far too much to spend on a PC. Don't ever consider Alienware for a gaming PC ever again.

What country do you live in? The Euro currency is widely used in many European countries.

Also, what is needed other than the PC tower? Monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard, Windows OS disc?

Considering the huge budget, building a PC yourself will end up being a lot cheaper than buying a pre-built one.




Euro currency people. IBuypower is likely not going to ship overseas.....

4000? Is there a link to this incredibly overpriced PC? I really want to know what they built it with to justify that price.

Probably Alienware. They have one that's $4000 on their site. I managed to get that up to $8350.00 through "customization" options.

^

Alienware has good computers but they are WAY over priced. From what i'm seeing you are paying anywhere from $500 up to $3000 just for a name tag. Was lucky enough my friend was in a LAN party network and the people there built my rig for me. Started freaking out cause it wouldn't boot properly, but thankfully it turned out to just be a wrong pin somewhere. That said I paid about $2300 for my stuff *Like $2050 and $250 for shipping* and this computer pre-built somewhere else would have cost me around $1200 give or take.

Only con about building your own rig is that you are responsible for isolating and fixing whatever technical glitch occurs. With one bought from a store they are responsible for a period of time then the Manufacturer is responsible. I would say if you feel comfortable building your own rig OP then go for it otherwise look at a place online that will do it cheaply. I think IbuyPower.com might be a good place however I have heard some good/bad rumors about them.

What's NICE about that is that individual parts generally have much better warranties than entire computers. Often 3-5 years, or lifetime. And rather than having to send a whole computer in to get serviced, you can just find which part is defective, and send that in by itself and get it replaced. Isolating the problem is usually quite easy, and doesn't really require much technical skill, just basic troubleshooting skills and logic.

And it is quite common for people to have a computer they just built for the first time not boot, and a little panic. But in my experience it's something very simple. Usually forgetting motherboard standoffs, not turning on the PSU switch, getting the + and - on the power button connector mixed up, and not pushing the 24 or 6/8 pin mobo connector all the way.

What, umm, is a motherboard standoff? I plan on building my own soon but it seems every day I hear something new I need to consider.

They are little things that screw into the case that keep the motherboard elevated off of the motherboard plate. If you don't put them in, you're screwing the motherboard in so that the back of it is in full contact with the case, and it shorts out instantly on turning the computer on.