Okay, forget dell, what about this.

[Xodus]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3501278&body=REVIEWS#productresources

I know Pent.D, so I'll upgrade to a C2D or a QuadCore after a few weeks when I get enough money. And I'll still need to buy a HDD and CPU Block and a DVD drive with this kit, but really, for only around 500 it's an AWESOME deal I think.

Specs:

XFX nForce 680i LT SLI Motherboard - Qty: 1 $149.99
Intel PD 925 3.0GHz OEM - Qty: 1 $79.99
Corsair 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz - Qty: 1 $72.99
Ultra Aluminum Mid-Tower Case - Qty: 1 $69.99
Ultra 500-Watt XVS PSU - Qty: 1 $59.99
XFX GeForce 8500 GT 512MB Ultra Silent Cooling PCI - Qty: 2 $189.99


I can't upgrade any of those components By the way. But it looks like a good deal as long as it can run Crysis at 1024x768 on medium range at a decent FPS ~20

[Sir. SashDaMan]

That is uber cheap man. why can't you upgrade these parts further? The only thing I see is CPU and GPU are week and probably may only just be able to run on medium.

[Xodus]

That is uber cheap man. why can't you upgrade these parts further? The only thing I see is CPU and GPU are week and probably may only just be able to run on medium.

I can't upgrade because it's a bare-bone-kit system.

But the 8500's are both DX10 and SLI. And I am going to upgrade the CPU to a core 2 duo, or quad when I get money again. Which will probably be before christmas SO I can upgrade them further, it's a matter of really NEEDING to upgrade. Our family really isn't rich. (Only about 90k annualy for a family of 4) And currently we're making payments on 2 cars. And my mom's paying of student loans for a masters, and now she has to clear her credentials :/ So yeah, I'm trying to not go past what the basic is, so I can get the money to do the upgrades and not cost my parents as much.

[looqas]

Sure you can upgrade. The mobo seems ok.

[Sir. SashDaMan]

Mobo owns. There is every possibility to what ever system anyone buys to upgrade.

[Xodus]

Sure you can upgrade. The mobo seems ok.

I know I can upgrade, but as this setup is + a Core2Duo, Could I do Crysis at Medium?

[theminx]

the cooling on the north bridge (or is it the south bridge? i cant tell this bord is weird..)there would be better with a heat sink and not fan ...
unlike fans, heat sinks don't break unless there fuct with :)

and yes SCREW DELL HP AND ALL THE CORPORATE RETARDED KID MANUFACTURING LAMER COMPUTERS
build ur own from scratch like this, best way to do it ..

if it was me ..id change the ram, processor, and video card...at least a 8600gt which plays crysis nicely mite i add..
probably the q66 with some kingston or mushkin ram ..
good luck..

[Stormy{CAN}]

XFX nForce 680i LT SLI Motherboard - Qty: 1 $149.99
Intel PD 925 3.0GHz OEM - Qty: 1 $79.99
Corsair 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz - Qty: 1 $72.99
Ultra Aluminum Mid-Tower Case - Qty: 1 $69.99
Ultra 500-Watt XVS PSU - Qty: 1 $59.99
XFX GeForce 8500 GT 512MB Ultra Silent Cooling PCI - Qty: 2 $189.99

The 8500GT isn't that great to begin with, and adding a second for SLI won't make much difference. You would be far better off getting something like this,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3493356&CatId=1560

instead. Side-by-side comparison of the two cards,

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=546&card2=514

Basically the 3850 will hand the 8500GT its ***, even when you have two of them in SLI.

[Trevortt]

Agreed, the 8500GT cards are not for gaming, if you can't afford a DX10 card get a decent DX9 one like a 7900GT

[megawhompertoo]

agree with ^ on a 7900gt/gs, or an hd3850 ($180), or x1950pro ($120).

BTW, DX10 doesn't matter with an 8500 because you aren't going to be able to enable it with acceptable frame rates, and folks on a budget shouldn't be looking for dual gpu's, imho. :)

Pentium D 925's aren't the terrible, horrible processors folks make them out to be, they just suck compared to same processors from AMD at the time and the current C2D's. They work as advertised, and give you a nice boost in windows, alt-tabbing, running multiple programs in the background, etc. In fact, the 925 are 65-nm chips, so they are better/cooler than the previous generation PD chips (they are still hotter/less energy efficient than the AMD/C2D alternatives).

If you play mostly FPS, RPG, or MMO, then think about getting a decent graphics card, overclock the cpu, and see how that works out. I had a $90 PD 915 which ran stable at 3.8ghz, and 925's are basically the same chip. For the price, it was a great little cpu while I saved money waiting for the "early adopters" to jettison 1st gen C2D's on ebay. RTS games are a slightly different story, depending on what you're willing to accept as far as eyecandy v. framerate tradeoff.

Point is: dollar-for-dollar, a better gpu will usually make you a more happy gamer than a better cpu.

[Xodus]

You guys are missing the point. It comes as a package deal...

[megawhompertoo]

You guys are missing the point. It comes as a package deal...

For some reason, I think some of us got the impression...

I know Pent.D, so I'll upgrade to a C2D or a QuadCore after a few weeks when I get enough money.

...that you were interested in where your money might be best spent for upgrades.

It's not a badly priced package. Good luck.

edit: some potentially useful information re: 8500gt

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/11/22/8500gt-ripe-overclocking