Question by felinephire: Alienwear Laptops: Help with Building!!?
Okay I’ve posted a few questions about the Alienwear Laptops, and I’ve finally decided on getting one. Now I just need some expert help and advice on what components should choose. I really have no experience with this stuff, and don’t necessarily know what each thing is for or what i need. I never had a really good computer and that’s what I want now, a great computer, that does not lag, has great graphics, and can have all of my games installed at once (plus works well for browsing the internet and just a few other things like i tunes. Basically I play, the sims, zoo tycoon, spore, and world of warcraft (plus maybe a few others if i come across ones that i want to try). I’m not a hardcore gamer or anything but i want the games i like and play to run without problems (especially lag, and i want great graphics), but i don want to buy more that what i need (for memory, etc). ANyway I was “building” my laptop and it came to a few parts where I just have no idea which part to pick, i don’t want to but extra ram, or memory or whatever if i don’t need it, but i don’t want to cheap out and have it be mediocre. So i’m going to list the parts and hopefully somebody knows enough about this stuff to help me pick which part i need. Any help at all would be so wonderful!!! <3

- – - 1 – Processor

Intel® Core™ i5 520M 2.4GHz (2.93GHz Turbo Mode, 3MB Cache)

Intel® Core™ i5 540M 2.53GHz (3.06GHz Turbo Mode, 3MB Cache)
+ $ 50

Intel® Core™ i7 620M 2.66 GHz (3.33GHz Turbo Mode, 4MB Cache)
+ $ 150

Intel® Core™ i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache)
+ $ 150

Intel® Core™ i7 820QM 1.73GHz (3.06GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
+ $ 500

Intel® Core™ i7 920XM 2.0GHz (3.2GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
+ $ 1,200

- – - 2 – LCD Panel (What difference does it make?)

17-inch WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 (900p)

17-inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 RGB LED (1200p)
+ $ 300

- – - 3 – Memory

4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz

6GB Memory (1x 2GB, 1x 4GB DDR3)
+ $ 200

8GB Dual Channel Memory (2x 4GB DDR3)
+ $ 400

- – - 4 – Hard Drive (This part I REALLY don’t understand. Raid 0, Raid 1??)

250GB 7,200RPM SATA-II HDD

320GB 7,200RPM SATA-II HDD
+ $ 50

500GB 7,200RPM SATA-II HDD
+ $ 100

640GB 5,400RPM SATA-II HDD
+ $ 150

128GB Solid State Drive
+ $ 250

256GB Solid State Drive
+ $ 600

640GB Raid 0 (2x 320GB 7,200RPM HDDs)
+ $ 150

1TB Raid 0 (2x 500GB 7,200RPM HDDs)
+ $ 200

256GB Raid 0 (2x 128GB Solid State HDDs)
+ $ 600

512GB Raid 0 (2x 256GB Solid State HDDs)
+ $ 1,200

500GB Raid 1 (2x 500GB 7,200RPM HDDs)
+ $ 200

1.2TB Raid 0 (2x 640GB 5,400RPM)
+ $ 300

640GB Raid 1 (2x 640GB 5,400RPM)
+ $ 300

- – - 5 – Video Card

1GB ATI Radeon™ Mobility HD 5870

Dual 1GB ATI Radeon™ Mobility HD 4870 in CrossfireX™
+ $ 300

CrossfireX™ 1GB ATI Radeon™ Mobility HD 5870
+ $ 350

- – - 6 – Wireless Card (Does this make much of a difference??)

Wireless 1520 802.11n Half Mini-Card

Intel® Ultimate N WiFi Link 6300 a/g/n 3×3 MIMO Technology
+ $ 50

- – - EXTRA – OS Customization ( I know what this basically is, I’m just wondering if anybody know what AlienGUIse Theme Manager with Breed Theme is, and if i Should get it?)

So i tried to make that list as un-obnoxious and easy to read as possible, i hope i don’t seem like a total moron… And again, any help, suggestions, advice, explanations, would be so appreciated! I need your knowledge!
Also, I really appreceate your advice on other laptops, and not needing Alienwear, but I think i’m set on it. This is just because games and their requirements often change faster than i want to upgrade my computer, so it will be ready and well geared to handle the next versions of the games, and any i may want in the future. At least that’s what i’m thinking XD

Best answer:

Answer by Nick Huntington
I know you seem convinced to buy an alienware computer, but before you do just hear me out, just looking at these prices for components i can tell youre getting ripped off! if you have a micro-center near you or another computer hardware store near you just go there, i recently built a really nice gaming rig and it only cost me $ 1200. from what it sounds like to me you could build your own that will run your games for $ 1000 or less, alienware computers are overpriced, but i will still help you out with choosing components…

processor: i7 620

LCD panel: the first one (the games you play arent going to look much better on the LED display)

RAM: 4GB

Hardrive: 500gb raid aray (I have this same set up and it gives me piece of mind because if one hardrive crashes you dont lose your data. but at micro center i got two 500gb hdd for $ 120)

graphics card: 1GB ATI Radeon™ Mobility HD 5870 (your games arent too demanding this should be PLENTY of power)

Wireless card: sorry i dont know enough about them to give you an answer

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