Alienware or Scan

[Ross_Innes]

Hi all,

I've read a few posts regarding this topic and they've only confused me more!

Everyone seems to prefer Scan and as I am a first time buyer I will be easily persuaded to purchase my system from them but I've been trying to match the spec of the Alienware Area-51 7500 PC I configured to Scan's 3XS system for the same price.

From what I understand Scan is better because you know what brand of mobo and ram etc you are buying into, not to mention the excelent customer service but when buying a system for £3300 most hardware will output the same regardless of the brand?

This is the Alienware PC i've configured and have tried to match it to Scan for the same price but am still not happy with what Scan have to offer.

1] Area-51™ 7500

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Q6700 2.66GHz 8MB Cache 1066MHz FSB
Operating System: Genuine Windows® Vista Ultimate - English
Chassis: Alienware® P2 Chassis - Space Black
Chassis Customisation: Alienware® AlienIce™ 3.0 Video Cooling + AlienFX™ System Lighting + Alienware® High-Performance Liquid Cooling
Motherboard: Alienware® Approved NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI Motherboard
Graphics Processor : 768MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800 GTX
Memory: Extreme Performance 800MHz Low-Latency DDR2 SDRAM - 4GB - 4 x 1024MB
Power Supply: Alienware® 1000 Watt Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply - UK Powercord
System Drive: Extreme Performance (RAID 0) - 1.0 TB Serial ATA 3 Gbit/s 7,200 RPM with 2 x 16MB Cache (2 x 500GB)
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM : 2x Blu-ray Disc (BD-ROM) Reader / Writer
Secondary CD ROM/DVD ROM : 20X Dual Layer DVD±RW/CD-RW Writer
Enthusiast Essentials: Killer K1 Gaming Network Interface Card - Smoother Online Gaming!
Physics Processor : AGEIA PhysX™ Physics Processing Unit PCI-E
Sound Hardware: High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio - Standard
Monitor: 24" Dell UltraSharp Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor - Supports Blu-Ray
Speakers: Creative® 7.1 Inspire™ T7900 - UK power supply
Keyboard: Logitech® Deluxe Keyboard UK - Space Black
Mouse: Microsoft® Basic Optical Mouse Black
Removable Storage: Alienware® 28-in-1 Digital Media Reader / Writer
Warranty: AlienCare 1-Year Free Phone 24/7 and Collect & Return
Security Software: Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal Professional - 12 month subscription Included!
Alienware Extras: AlienWiring - Exclusive Internal Wire Management - £50 Value - FREE!
Alienware Extras: AlienInspection - Exclusive Integration and Inspection - £50 Value - FREE!
Alienware Extras: Alienware® T-Shirt - FREE!
Alienware Extras: Custom Alienware® fUnc Mousepad - FREE!
Alienware Extras: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager - FREE!

Total: £3,313.63

Would someone say that this is value for money or is there a better PC to be built over at Scan?

Thank you in advance,

Ross.

[DR]

Why not call SCAN up and see what they can do for you for 3,300?

[Ross_Innes]

I will definitely, would just like to know what other people think that have bought a similar spec pc and from who.

Would I be wrong in assuming that Scan can change items not listed in their online form to match these. Like for instance the Samsung Optical drive to the blu ray?

[DR]

SCAN is offer a totally bespoke solution - anything you want in there they will put in there, well providing it will work - i.e Intel CPU with AMD mainboards don't tend to make much sense

[staffsMike]

That is a nice spec on the alienware. 1 year warranty though..you're brave!

[Ross_Innes]

"You can extend your warranty for a longer period, up to a maximum of 4 years for desktops and 3 years for notebooks. This extension can be availed of only while your system is still covered by the original warranty." - Alienware.com

I'll email scan and see what they can do for me!

[staffsMike]

ahhhh

[Mossy]

I will be more than happy to get a system custom built for you I will also look after you from start to finish, if you would like me to go through this with you I will let you know my details of contact.

Regards

[Ross_Innes]

Thank you Paulm. Would it be possible for you to quote me on the above spec?

[Mossy]

Thank you Paulm. Would it be possible for you to quote me on the above spec?

as you do not have enough to PM me can you mail the request to removed so I have your details.

Regards

Thanks Ross

[Mossy]

Thank you I have got your email and I have replied

[Rosaline]

I second DR, give scan a call, or select your own components from the online shop, but set £300 or so from your budget aside and then phone them to arrange for them to pre-build, test and warranty it.

Alienware is known to charge extra for their branding (which is worth it for some), and a few of the components (most notably the Killer K1 NIC and the AGEIA PhysX Physics card) may not actually be of much use.

Edit: post written long after loading the thread up in a tab, so didn't notice scan's assistance. Oops!

[Thorsson]

The AGEIA PhysX Physics card is only of use in Ghost Recon at the moment. Only time will tell if the idea will take off. I note that in tests the card slowed frame rates, although the additional physics effects are nice. AGEIA claim that this is being fixed in a driver update.

As for the Killer NIC, Legit Reviews had this to say, "After spending an evening of gaming with and without the Killer NIC and Killer K1 on both our Windows XP Pro and Windows Vista Ultimate test systems it was the unanimously agreed by all that the Killer NIC and Killer K1 is not worth the added $180-$250 cost. The Killer NIC and Killer K1 did reduce our pings and improved frame rates, but by less than 5%. The difference was so small that no one could correctly tell when the Killer NIC was or wasn't installed in our 'blind' taste test, which was rather alarming. If someone is going to spend $180-$250 on something they better be able to see and notice the difference when they game."

The downside to the Alienware is that they don't say who makes the PSU, motherboard, liquid cooling or RAM. I'd want to know. You may be able to find out from a review somewhere what they are using ATM.

Scan also have a couple of downsides. One is that they may not have a piece of kit that you want. There are a number of manufacturers whose products they will not stock. The other downside is that there are recent posts on these boards about systems that arrived in a poor state or very late. I admit to being surprised by this, but it seems that the man from Scan has taken his eye off the ball.

[benwoodcock]

get a Q6600 and overlcock it yourself. or better build your own!

[Merlin4458]

Being the nosey bugger i am, it would be nice to hear wot solution Scan up with for you, and ur final decision.

Keep us updated

[Phillikon]

The AGEIA PhysX Physics card is only of use in Ghost Recon at the moment. Only time will tell if the idea will take off. I note that in tests the card slowed frame rates, although the additional physics effects are nice. AGEIA claim that this is being fixed in a driver update.

There are all sorts of games using AGEIA including the new Medal of Honor so it is being adopted. I have found it has made games that much better as long as you have the graphics card to handle it.
Remember a PhysX card relieves the CPU but feeds extra information in to the GPU, it is not as some people think an accelerator in the mould he aging 3DFX solution.
I have one of these and I am quite happy with what it offers even though not many games support it yet.