BB wants a new computer - PC this time

[Barrister]

So it looks like everything was delivered to my house.

Everything except my CPU cooler.

[Monoriu]

http://www.dell.com/ca/p/alienware-x51-r3/pd?oc=dax51r3_bt_b003e&model_id=alienware-x51-r3

This seems like a really good deal.  Is there something I am missing?

I used to buy Dell until a few years ago.  I have experience with 4 Dell desktops.  They all have one thing in common - the CD drive breaks down within 18 months.  The CD drive isn't an expensive component, but somehow they always have to skimp on it.

Another drawback of Dells is that they are really noisy. 

[Barrister]

So it looks like everything was delivered to my house.

Everything except my CPU cooler.

Yup - surrounded by colourful PC parts boxes, but can't do anything without a cooler.

[viper37]

So it looks like everything was delivered to my house.

Everything except my CPU cooler.

Yup - surrounded by colourful PC parts boxes, but can't do anything without a cooler.

You could start mounting everything and wait for the cooler to arrive to install the CPU.  You'll be ready to go by monday night

I don't recommend using ice to cool your CPU though

[viper37]

http://www.dell.com/ca/p/alienware-x51-r3/pd?oc=dax51r3_bt_b003e&model_id=alienware-x51-r3

This seems like a really good deal.  Is there something I am missing?

like BB said, the video card ain't that good for the price you pay.

The power supply is intriguing... are they running these kits with 2 power supply, one 240w and one 330w?
If so, it seems allright.  If I misread, and it's an option to upgrade from 240w to 330w, than it's way too low.

[Barrister]

Just hit me like a thunderbolt - I'm not only missing a CPU cooler.

For some reason my power supply was shipped separately from Newegg, and hasn't arrived yet either.

That makes me feel better somehow.

[viper37]

The case is pretty cool though

But it seems a tad overpriced to me.

I've changed a few things in your previous build:
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/user/Viper371/saved/#view=MdYCmG

2186$, you get a killer video card and a monitor.

A few things noteworthy with my custom build:
-The power supply is too low for SLI / Crossfire.  If you ever intend to put a 2nd or a 3rd video card in there, we need to increase the size of the power supply.  Same deal with Alienware, might even be too low for the higher end cards.
-Windows license is optional, if you already have a Windows 7/8.1 license you can install this and upgrade your computer to Win10.

I saw on Alienware's site some 34" curved 4k monitor...  now, that's something to dream of

However, as BB pointed, you do have on-site service for 1 year in case there's a problem.  That might be worth considering, given you live in a city where it's possible

[crazy canuck]

Viper that looks great.  Two things though.  You need to add a motherboard.  Second ncix still doesn't have any skylake chips in stock.  How hard would it be for me to build this myself?

[Barrister]

Viper that looks great.  Two things though.  You need to add a motherboard.  Second ncix still doesn't have any skylake chips in stock.  How hard would it be for me to build this myself?

I have 100% confirmed that NCIX has Skylake chips.  My Skylake i5 is sitting on my desk after arriving from NCIX.

[viper37]

duh!
I changed the CPU and had to delete the mb, forgot to add another one.  Fixed now.  There aren't a ton of choices on pcpartpicker and most of them don't have a price.

For NCIX stock, if you are not in a rush, just wait a couple more months, they will have some in stock.  Or buy a last gen CPU, the differences aren't that big.

How hard would it be for me to build this myself?

If you need to ask, don't do it

Well, see, it's all with the hands.  If you have big hands like mine, most cases will be too tights for you, and I'm naturally clumsy for everything manual, so I usually have a computer store mount it for me.  I change the minor parts, like a video card or a hard drive, but rely on them for the rest.

The hardest part is the motherboard and the CPU, imho.  You will need cooling past, to apply on the CPU, if it does not come with stock cooler (Skylake CPUs don't, apparently) or if you want something quieter. Arctic Silver thermal past is what I recommend.  Check Youtube, there are guides for this.  A non stock cooler can be tricky to install too, depending on wich cooler, which CPU, which case, etc.  Mine is really big and the computer shop had problems making it fit inside my case.

For the motherboard, it can be sometimes tricky.  I remember mounting one myself and having lots of intermittent problems.  It turns out I had slightly misplaced a screw on the motherboard and it wasp preventing it too boot, but just sometimes.  Of course, thrashing the case and destroying the hard drive did not help, but ah, I still got a replacement hard drive on warranty anyway

Once that is done, it's fairly easy.  There are labels on the board for where every cable goes and the manuals are usually pretty good, even in Chinese you can understand where it goes
The hard drives are simply a matter of screws (if you're lucky, you will have some racks to mount your hard drives in, and then you only need to slide them into the case).
The video card is a simple matter, the power supply may require some work, but more time than difficulty.

[viper37]

I have 100% confirmed that NCIX has Skylake chips.  My Skylake i5 is sitting on my desk after arriving from NCIX.

it might simply be the site, pcpartpicker that doesn't list it yet.  I'm guessing these price comparison sites do require some manual work on top of the automatic updating.

[Barrister]

I have 100% confirmed that NCIX has Skylake chips.  My Skylake i5 is sitting on my desk after arriving from NCIX.

it might simply be the site, pcpartpicker that doesn't list it yet.  I'm guessing these price comparison sites do require some manual work on top of the automatic updating.

Wait. Wrong. My i5 came from Newegg.

[crazy canuck]

Thanks Viper I am in no rush so I will wait for their stock to come in.

[Barrister]

Viper that looks great.  Two things though.  You need to add a motherboard.  Second ncix still doesn't have any skylake chips in stock.  How hard would it be for me to build this myself?

By the way CC, if you wait a week or two I'll give you a good idea what it's like for someone who is moderately computer literate, but who has never built they own machine, to try it.

[crazy canuck]

I look forward to your AAR