Is this PC a good deal?

[Blue Apricot]

I want to buy a desktop that will be fast and reliable. I thought I
would show the price and specs here to garner comments/advice. (If
this is a poor newsgroup to post this, please direct me to the correct
one/s and I will post there. )

Background: I will use my computer for browsing the internet,
programming, playing online poker, downloading P2P, watching videos and
listening to MP3s. I want it to be reliable, and do not wantr to build
it myself.

This is the system I am leaning towards from Dell. for $999 Canadian
(before tax).

Base: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+
Operating System: Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition***
Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 2DIMMs
Keyboard: Dell USB Enhanced Multimedia Keyboard
Monitor: FREE UPGRADE TO 19 inch E197FP Analog Flat Panel
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE Integrated Graphics GPU
Hard Drive: 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Network Interface: Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
CD ROM/DVD ROM Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+/-RW
Sound Cards:Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio

In a nutshell, my plan is to get a good dual CPU and lots of RAM, and a
DUAL DVD/RW to brun DVDs easily. This setup does not come with a
graphics card or audio card, it uses the integrated ones. It does come
witha monitor, and I alrwady have one, so I may buy a graphics card
with dual monitor support at a later date.

I have a legal version of WinXP Professional (I will instal and dual
boot), I have a huge external Hard Drive for P2P, I have speakers, an
existing monitor, printer, everything really. I just want to replace
the core system from a reliable builder like Dell.

I appreciate any feedback comments, especially regarding the CPUs and
RAM. And how can I tell what the motherboard is? In the info from
Dell it doesn't say. Can I glean this from the "AMD Athlon™ 64 X2
Dual-Core 3800+" bit, or assume it must be good enough if it supports
this Dual Core spec?

Thanks,
blueapricot

 

[Bob Day]

I want to buy a desktop that will be fast and reliable. I thought I
would show the price and specs here to garner comments/advice. (If
this is a poor newsgroup to post this, please direct me to the correct
one/s and I will post there. )

Background: I will use my computer for browsing the internet,
programming, playing online poker, downloading P2P, watching videos and
listening to MP3s. I want it to be reliable

[ snip ]

In that case, be sure to get a PC that supports ECC memory
and, of course, the ECC memory itself !

-- Bob Day
http://bobday.vze.com

 

[CBFalconer]

....snip ...

Background: I will use my computer for browsing the internet,
programming, playing online poker, downloading P2P, watching
videos and listening to MP3s. I want it to be reliable

[ snip ]

In that case, be sure to get a PC that supports ECC memory
and, of course, the ECC memory itself !

Second the motion. In fact, nobody should ever buy a system
lacking ECC memory.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxx]

This is the system I am leaning towards from Dell. for $999 Canadian
(before tax).

Base: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+
Operating System: Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition***
Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 2DIMMs
Keyboard: Dell USB Enhanced Multimedia Keyboard
Monitor: FREE UPGRADE TO 19 inch E197FP Analog Flat Panel
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE Integrated Graphics GPU
Hard Drive: 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Network Interface: Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
CD ROM/DVD ROM Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+/-RW
Sound Cards:Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio

I appreciate any feedback comments, especially regarding the CPUs and
RAM. And how can I tell what the motherboard is? In the info from
Dell it doesn't say. Can I glean this from the "AMD Athlon™ 64 X2
Dual-Core 3800+" bit, or assume it must be good enough if it supports
this Dual Core spec?

Ive got the X2 3800 thats a fine system but DELL was finally
giving deals on a Conroe system. I think Id go for that if its still
going on . Ill check.

Its this one. DELL USA

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...s=bsd&ACD=qIrKRQlDD10BAkm8tZ9-&AID=0038386869

Came out to $849 after adding the 160 gig HD and e6300 dual core
conroe and theres a rebate for US buyers - $149. Dont know if there is
one for Canadian buyers. Both are fine but if its around the same
price Id get the conroe.