Help me choose Alienware

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[Grundwaffe]

So im looking here http://store.steampowered.com/hardware/alienware
I'd want a desktop computer by alienware, honestly, i dont know which is the old or new models here.. any alienware people around for advice..

[RoyalHants]

buy a pc and GET in the campiagn we need you at le harve 

[Grundwaffe]

I am, scored one for the brits today! (:

[AmPM]

I find the brand horribly overpriced, and now its owned by Dell which is ewwww.

[Grundwaffe]

I find the brand horribly overpriced, and now its owned by Dell which is ewwww.

Ouch, i always hated Dell.
Bah, if i'd wanted a pc thats a killer, what should i go for?
Im currently planning my future PC as im making my own money soon (:

[puddin]

Falcon makes a good brand PC thats still liek alienware used to be... And not to shitty.  And there are some good ompanies liek when alienware first started... But building ur own is always cheaper just more hassle of course.

[Killer344]

wow... that stuff is just so overpriced.

[TheWindCriesMary]

 Grund let me give you some advice from a guy who bought a $5000 Alienware PC 4 years ago.

 DO NOT BUY ALIENWARE

Repeat after me:

DO NOT BUY ALIENWARE


 I bought a top of the line computer from them back when I was starting university. Everything as good as could be, no expense was spared.

 It arrived a week late, and was dead out of the box. And I only found out what the problem was after I called them and spent 4 hours of confusing Indian Outsourced Tech Support (where they had no idea what the problem was and bounced me between 10 different people.) The $1100 Dual graphics cards AND the motherboard were dead. They didn't turn on, they had no signs of power even when the rest of the computer was running (and they were properly hooked up). THey were just inactive pieces of metal. Then they told me the only way to get it fixed was to send it back to them so they could fix it and then send it back to me. They assured me I'd have it back in 8 weeks.

 So I said "No fucking way! I spent 5 grand on this computer and I need it for school. Can't you just send me the parts (the GFX cards and the motherboard) so it doesnt have to go both ways and take twice as long?" They said no because they couldnt trust that they were actually broken. I asked "so how about I send them to you and you can verify it before sending me new ones?". They said opening the case would "void the warranty" and mean I could no longer recieve tech support. It would also be forfeited if I took it to a shop to get it fixed.

 Basically they just kept reciting infuriating policies at me and I got no where with them. They were completely unhelpful and it was really obvious they just wanted me to get so frustrated that I would give up and stop bothering them.

 OH, and when I got pissed at them for screwing me over I told them I was just going to send the whole thing back and that I wanted a refund since it didn't work. AND their website SPECIFICALLY advertised "your gaming rig would be rigorously tested by a team of technicians to ensure it is ready to go right out of the box".

 You know what they told me? I could return it but I would have to pay for shipping, AND they would charge me a 15% restocking fee on every item. EVEN THE ONES THAT WERE FUCKING BROKEN.

 I ended up going to a local computer store and buying a new GFX card and motherboard that were of lesser quality than the ones I paid for originally, but because I was already out over a grand on the faulty parts I didn't have the stomach to pay even more for their equivelents.

 Since that day I vowed never to do business with Alienware again, and to make sure everyone who was thinking of making my mistake knew the story.

 And just think, I wasn't some random cheap customer who wasn't worth treating well. I spent $5000 grand! Those are the customers you expect them to atleast be worried about pissing off.

 The fact of the matter is though, Alienware got bought out by Dell years ago (before this incident) and they just switched their customer support over to their existing outsourced one. So what was a small high-end company that made it's name off of top-of-the-line equipment and unbelievable customer support (because they were a small, but elite company) got swallowed up by a huge company that dealt in bulk and thus couldn't care less about individual customers.


 So stay away from the light dude!

-Wind

[TheWindCriesMary]

 Oh and also, there is a happy ending to this story:

 The next time I needed a new computer, I spent a few days reading and researching on the web and taught myself how to build them.

 Go to alienware and pick whatever you want and build your dream computer. Now buy the parts from local retailers and build it yourself... the result? The total cost will be 50% less.

 Their mark-up is over 100% on some items. It's nuts. Your paying for the name of the "assembler" really.

 -Wind

[Malgoroth]

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com

[Malevolence]

If you can figure out how (believe me it's not too hard) building it yourself from parts is not only the most rewarding, but also the least expensive (sometimes by up to 50% or so).

When you buy a computer assembled you are paying for the professionalism of the assembly (wires tied back, everything where it's supposed to be) as well as the warranty of it working (they have to deal with dead parts, not you). It costs a lot more money but if you're worried about reliability buying a prebuilt PC can be a reasonable decision. That being said, they get a lot more marked up as you get more and more "power" in them, so do be careful to not be too silly.

[Grundwaffe]

Thank for the heads up wind i've heard that the quality sucks but this really confirms it.
Even thou, their PCs look like a killer and how they describe it would surely fool anyone (like me) haha..

I'll try getting into building then in the future.

[puddin]

Look this is what it comes down to...

Can you provide your self with tech support?  IF you answer No then buy a computer pre built, if you can do tech support yourself....  Build your own. 

We all can help you build it, Ask us questions this kind of community has a wealth of info availible to you that will be a great help... Its what you feel comfortable doing... 

[FailHammer]

My dad just built his own. for like 1500 he put top of the line shit all over it. Some new usb hard drive thing. everything. it took him under a week after work. saved money, runs like a dream. and consider this. most of us here are smarter than the outsourced tech support anyway. I hate calling and having some idiot ask me if i plugged it in. it is a little of a challage, especially the software, but like puddin said, there are alot of smart ppl in this community. good luck

[Masacree]

Build your own.

Will save you lots of money.

[AmPM]

In the past, custom building your own was the only way to go.

Now things are a bit different. Most any off the shelf PC only really needs a dedicated video card to do anything you want it too.

The price difference is non existent as well with the low price of computers these days.

Find a good brand, usually this comes down to Customer Support, whether they will help or not (all the parts are pretty much the same for a desktop), then add in whatever video card you like and rock out.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006736%20600030537&IsNodeId=1&name=Gaming

Thats some off newegg that are "gaming" machines. Basically, my advice, read reviews on the brand, buy a machine with an Intel i5 or i7, at least 4gb of RAM (more than enough unless you love CAD or 3DS Max) and plop last years top end video card into it.

[puddin]

If you build your own I trust EVGA...  I have had 3 coimputer issues i knew for a fact were not related to their motherboard or video card, However i asked them for help.... I did not say i knew that And they helped me troubleshoot after the fact that they ruled out their products being defective and helped me work through it.  They have good tech support, slightly more expensivebut i think if something goes wrong their tech support is well worth it, and the 6 or so ppl i talked to 3 were from NJ and the other 3 from the west coast i think CA and such so all American spekign easy to understand and most all of them have Rigs too.

[Killer344]

IF they could bear puddin's gibberish and then fix his shit they gotta be DAMN good tbfh.

[Mysthalin]

The best part about playing with Puddin on your side is the huge psychological effect of his terrible grammar.

The enemy consistently fears Puddin writing something to them, and thus they begin making mistakes - eventually quitting in rage and exhasperation, as well as fear for more abuse towards the English language.

[Grundwaffe]

The best part about playing with Puddin on your side is the huge psychological effect of his terrible grammar.

The enemy consistently fears Puddin writing something to them, and thus they begin making mistakes - eventually quitting in rage and exhasperation, as well as fear for more abuse towards the English language.

lol?