While Audrey doesn't like my idea of video cards I'll give you my 2 cends worth if it means anything on this system.

The name "Alienware" screams "gamer" will get some added resale value (although someone really into this would say Alienware is over hyped along with OCZ products) but they are not the majority who would buy from you. You can sell the system to a less informed buyer. ASAP (yes I'm bad..but you probably paid a premium on it too so nothing lost here) The buyer will feel good about having the Alienware stuff. I'd estimate $400-500. You can increase the amount from your buyer by $100 by replacing the 250 GB with a 1 TB drive. Do that and I think you'll get between $450 to $600. The alienware name, right or wrong (mostly worng) will give that prestige that allows Apple products to sell at the rediculous mark ups they do in spite of significantly declining hardware quality. (I tell people just build a LInux box if you want Mac)

For your next system case I suggest the Lian-Li PC-7NW case (w= window) which is only $110- $120 and has much better airflow plus holds more hardware. I got one a year ago. Pure alunimum so weighs almost nothing yet its very solid. try leaning on one. I promise if you get one you won't want to let it go. Ironically, they are in the same price range as the upper end Antec cases which use steel/plastic...heavy and bulky. Avoid sub $100 Antec cases; they have some sharp edges that can give deep cuts without care. I've written to them on this numerous times to no avail. (I got a free internal goose neck cooling fan...?!?) My 2nd choice is Chembro but they aren't designed to be game cases, primarly servers/office workstation but built extremely well and no sharp edges.

Power supply the Seasonic 850W x-series with modular cables increases airflow further with reduced cables. With big video cards we can always use more airflow ;-).

You may want to invest in nice input devices too. Microsoft makes some of the best overall keyboard/mice in the industry (much better quality than their OS...). Razer mice are fantasic for gaming according to my colleauges. (don't do their keyboards though, not so hot...) I suggest the Razer Mouse Deathadder 3500. At $30-$40 its a good deal for the improved performance over even high res MS optical mice. I may get the Razer Lachesis 5600dpi as I have large hands.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll do better than most at reselling your system given the name Alienware. I would definitely sell it rather than upgrade, especially with the case, as its your primary means of increase the preceived value along with the power supply. Ironically, they are the two components I would be in the greatest hurry to let go of because of the lacklustre performance in airflow (case) and power efficiency (PSU)

Oh, Monitors. Samsung I've found makes the best monitors overall. (Used to be best LCD tv's, may still be but sharp/sony have upped the ante) This monitor stands out: Samsung PX2370. I like either Samsung for gamin/movies or Viewsonic for office work. In Canada Samsung has supply issue for warranty purposes (had only 1 incident but it took 30 days to replace from USA) so in Canada I mostly stick to Viewsonic but for USA Samsung is fine. Asus Monitors I'm reading may have reduced longevity (probably they they are so cheap...so I'd avoid them) LG is mostly cheap so I avoid them too.

I have it set to somewhere low and medium, with an E8400 3ghz and 3gb RAM. It's not always above 30 FPS, it dips into the mid 20s in crowded areas, but in the areas I get the most stuttering it doesn't go that low.

Well dang jlibster, I typed a big ol long reply to your post but it didn't appear for some reason..and I am too lazy to type the whole thing again! Lol.

Gist was that yeah, alieware is way overpriced. I paid like 3000-3500 at the time when I could have built the same system for 1500. Thing was it came at a time when I was in bad shape financially due to a divorce..and me and my then girlfriend needed a computer so I used an existing Alienware account to get one.

I usually build my own..just couldn't afford it and didn't have any credit aside from that.

But yeah I figured I could sell it to someone for around 750 maybe...it just comes to the right person seeing the add. My listing has a good honest breakdown of all the parts and what they cost when I got it, and what they would cost now. Then a comparison of what you could buy now and shows how much it would cost..etc.

As for the computer I want to build, I already pretty much chose all my parts on Newegg

Coolmaster HAF X Case
Asus P8P67 R3 Motherboard
i5 2500K CPU
HD6970 (not completely decided on this one..but leaning toward this card)
HD/DVD drive..standard stuff....don't need much here.
Montior, I was looking at a couple, Asus at first, but then I moved to a better built, I have a Samsung and Acer on the list. Both 24" Probably go with the Acer..tons of good reviews on it. Cheaper than all the others (139)..not a single bad review..only lacking thing is adjustable stand.
G.Skill 8Gb DDR3 1600 Ram
Coolmaster Hyper 212 +
Standard Mouse/Keyboard stuff..I dont need fancy stuff here

That's about the gist...but I have to sell mine first or come into some money some how...that build is about 1500 even finding combo deals and such

Yeah, wow. Long story. Started with what smelled like a blown ELKO in February. Since I'd had the same problem not a year before and had the PSU replaced, I tested all other components by systematically changing them one by one. Takes a LOT of time. In the end I didn't find another cause and sent in the PSU (beQuiet! DarkPower modular 550W), got in return a StraightPower 580W- overhauled. Probably that one had the same problem before repairing, as it had the same stink. Sent that back again with question to give me a new one, I'd even pay for the price difference. I got another one in original packaging, but threw that out again after two weeks. Bought a Xigmatek go green 700W, which promised I could build a forest in my pc. Well, I had a bit of a nice Witcher forest there for a while.;)

That went okay for a while, until a couple days ago, when I thought I'd notice that specific smell again and yesterday it suddenly smelled like burning/melting plastic. That's the point where I shut it down and put it as far away from me as possible. Gonna have to take it to pieces today and see if I find anything. If not, that's that for me and gaming, because there's absolutely no money left for a new computer. And it IS almost new with a quad@3.2GHz and GTX460, I can't think what I'd NEED to upgrade right now. Except building a completely watercooled system, that would be rad. :) If I had the money.

^ That was the very abbreviated version of the long story, btw.

Thanks for the sheet :)
I have to say, Alienware is not a big thing over here, not that I'm aware of. So not a name I would pay for. ;) But yeah, I cannot afford anything right now, so I need to figure out what is wrong with mine. Again. I feel like I'm stuck in a nightmare loop the whole year. Huh?

Daaang you have had some bad luck!

I have built myself many systems...wait I take that back..I have built myself a few systems (only about 3, because each lasted so many years) and I never had any issues like that.

In fact the only issue I ever had was on the very first one I built..it wouldn't post..turns out the MOBO was DOA. Once I returned it and replaced it, worked fine..computer worked for years before I built another..and then again same thing..then came the Alienware...that's where I stand today.

Was your computer overheating? Bad air flow, or lots of dust? That's the only thing I can thing of. What about the temps where they good or did you ever check them?


As for the Dirk comment, you wouldn't get that if you don't know anything about basketball (NBA). I live in Dallas, TX and our star player is "Dirk Nowitzki" and he is from Germany. We are in the Finals next week, thanks to Dirk (and other players)

Temps were always good, because I have a kick ass case with lots of space. I check regularly. I also wait out normal temps after playing before shutting down. I filter the ingoing air, because dust is such a killer. You can see that on my fans, they are clean.
Maybe it's my computer karma; in the past I'd sometimes put together components that shouldn't even have worked together, yet they did. Beginner's luck, I guess. And now my luck has turned.
Ah, okay. :)
I'm not a sporty type. I love my tech and I love nature, but sports... nah, waste of time for me. ;)

Dang, nerd Gods are against you. Maybe you need a new hobby :)

Well thanks anyways, Dirk is awesome. Haha. I love my Computers, Games, Sports, and Nature as well (except bugs)

weirdness: turning on vsync in the launcher options stopped the crashing. played three hours yesterday, give or take, with zero crashes.

(8800 gts 512 here)

Well, it's not a hobby... if you wanna take my computer away, you should at least give me a bottle of poison instead. I don't even have a tv, other than the pc.

Anyway, you're welcome to any German athlete you like to play for you, I won't miss them. ;)

Ah, I used ot be that way with my PC, but my wife doesn't allow that anymore. She won't even let me build a new one. She just told me "use what you have til you save up the CASH for a new one"

Ugggh. She doesn't like credit (which is good I guess)


Nah..there aren't any other good German athletes. Lol..I have no idea actually ;)

Wow are we off topic!

At least the topic stayes bumped on top, lol.

If you're inclined to share your wife, we'd both get something positive out of it: MORE computer time for you and LESS for me. :D
Okay, shutting up now.

Lol, I don't think she would go for that....sounds appealing to me though!

This topic has been fun, if a little off topic (patch 1.1). One last note and I'll shut up. I would avoid any product by Acer except their netbooks. I've built a fair number of machines for people and used Acer monitors when I started. I got SOOO burned with their monitors. Worst Example: Monitor stopped working after 2 weeks, did an RMA, distibutor said Acer's policy was to repair rather than replace. Said okay. Returned Monitor died after a few days. Rinse and repeat. 3rd round I told them to replace the #$%# monitor or the buyer was going to sue them, not me as he was a litigator. That finally got a fresh monitor. I was the "store" having to deal with Acer's BS with distributors on warranty and poor workmanship. This was the worst case but I've had a string of Acer's stuff go bad. So I only get them for clients if they specifically request it, and warn them in writing about my "reservations" before I get the part.

MSI is nearly as bad with DOA's or RMA's with netbooks too. So I now avoid them as well now.(although when thier stuff works it works well) I don't do Samsung in Canada for business customers although I get their stuff for home use due to always needing to import warranty replacement from the USA which I've written to Samsung reps on several times. Businesses can't afford to wait 30 days for replacement units so I get them Viewsonic. Never had an RMA with Viewsonic. (Although Samsung image quality is slightly crisper in my experience). Anyway, that is my rant on hardware vendors. Shutting up now.. :D

Well I was baseing my thoughts on the reviews on newegg. There are hundreds of reviews for the Acer monitor..hardly any negatives..nothing of them breaking or whatnot..

Asus there are some good reviews but there are several DOA or dead pixel reviews as well.

Samsung is the clear choice but they cost quite a bit more.

I'll have time to debate since my wife said I have to save up and pay cash..wouldn't be a big deal had we not just spent 5k of our savings and bought a new house with all new furniture etc etc.. :)

By the time I get the money the new Bulldozer will probably be out..prices will probably be a lot different. Who knows.

Sucks, I am not patient.

I've never seen these brands of PSU here in Canada but I'll avoid them if I ever see them. Thanks a mil for the info.

To return the favor, my forumla for PSUs are in order from highest quality to lowest:

Seasonic (X-series for high end, Seasonic SII series for basic workstations)

Antec TruePower (made by Seasonic LOL, avoid the Antec Earthwatts series though, tend to die quickly)

Enermax
Corsair
Sparkle (used by Dell in their early years).

That about covers it for me. There are others but none of them have the performance/longevity of Seasonic in my experience or in the reviews. Hope this list serves you well for your next build.
Just so you know where my list comes from, I build computers for clients as a sideline to my business. Returns/repairs can be costly in time lost so I take all possible precautions to minimize chances of that happening.