Tax refund yields definte computer hope...

[Gaulron]

Hello everyone,

I actually had a good year this year on taxes. I'll get about $1400 back between federal and state tax refunds. I am looking at a dell. I think for the price and everything it would be a good buy. Would this computer be able to handle EQ II/ WOW?





Processor/Display
http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/help.gif (http://javascript<b></b>:winopen('/content/learnmore/learnmore.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~id=cpu&~line=desktops&~mode=popup&~series=dimen','Main','WIDTH=595,HEIGHT=400,RESIZA BLE=YES,SCROLLBARS=YES,TOOLBAR=YES,LEFT=0,TOP=20') ;)Pentium® 4 Processor 520 with HT Technology (2.80GHz, 800 FSB)

Operating System
http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/help.gif (http://javascript<b></b>:winopen('/content/learnmore/learnmore.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~id=os_nonserver&~line=desktops&~mode=popup&~series=dimen','Main','WIDTH=595,HEIGHT=400,RESIZA BLE=YES,SCROLLBARS=YES,TOOLBAR=YES,LEFT=0,TOP=20') ;)Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

Microsoft® Windows® XP Home EditionMicrosoft® Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition [add $39.00 ]Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional [add $79.00 ]
http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/expand.gif
http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/collapse.gif
Video Cards
http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/help.gif
(http://javascript<b></b>:winopen('/content/learnmore/learnmore.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&ref=CFG&s=dhs&~id=gfx_cards_trans&~line=desktops&~lt=popup&~mode=popup&~model=8400&~series=dimen','Main','WIDTH=595,HEIGHT=400,RESIZA BLE=YES,SCROLLBARS=YES,TOOLBAR=YES,LEFT=0,TOP=20') ;)128MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeon™ X300 SE
70
Memory
http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/help.gif1
1GB3 (http://javascript<b></b>:winopen('/content/learnmore/learnmore.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~id=memory&~line=desktops&~mode=popup&~series=dimen','Main','WIDTH=595,HEIGHT=400,RESIZA BLE=YES,SCROLLBARS=YES,TOOLBAR=YES,LEFT=0,TOP=20') ;) Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 400MHz (2x512)
110

http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/help.gif
(http://javascript<b></b>:winopen('/content/learnmore/learnmore.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~id=harddrives&~line=desktops&~mode=popup&~series=dimen','Main','WIDTH=595,HEIGHT=400,RESIZA BLE=YES,SCROLLBARS=YES,TOOLBAR=YES,LEFT=0,TOP=20') ;)40GB3 (http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_dp_desktop2_2?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs#tn3) Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)

Monitor
http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/help.gif (http://javascript<b></b>:winopen('/content/learnmore/learnmore.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~id=monitors&~line=desktops&~mode=popup&~series=dimen','Main','WIDTH=595,HEIGHT=400,RESIZA BLE=YES,SCROLLBARS=YES,TOOLBAR=YES,LEFT=0,TOP=20') ;)FREE UPGRADE! 15 in (15.0 in viewable) E153FP Analog Flat Panel

CD or DVD Drive
http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/help.gif (http://javascript<b></b>:winopen('/content/learnmore/learnmore.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~id=optical&~line=desktops&~mode=popup&~series=dimen','Main','WIDTH=595,HEIGHT=400,RESIZA BLE=YES,SCROLLBARS=YES,TOOLBAR=YES,LEFT=0,TOP=20') ;)
Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + FREE UPGRADE! 48x CD-RW Drive

Productivity Software
http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/help.gif
(http://javascript<b></b>:winopen('/content/learnmore/learnmore.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~id=ms_bundlesoftware&~line=desktops&~mode=popup&~series=dimen','Main','WIDTH=595,HEIGHT=400,RESIZA BLE=YES,SCROLLBARS=YES,TOOLBAR=YES,LEFT=0,TOP=20') ;)WordPerfect®, Powerful Word Processing

http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/help.gif (http://javascript<b></b>:winopen('/content/learnmore/learnmore.aspx?/series=dimen&c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~id=serv_dimen&~line=desktops&~mode=popup','Main','WIDTH=595,HEIGHT=400,RESIZABL E=YES,SCROLLBARS=YES,TOOLBAR=YES,LEFT=0,TOP=20');)
2Yr Ltd Warranty4 (http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_dp_desktop2_2?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs#tn4), 2Yr At-Home Service5 (http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_dp_desktop2_2?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs#tn5), and 2Yr Technical Support


CompleteCare Accidental Damage (except NY and FL)
http://img.dell.com/images/global/brand/icons/help.gif (http://javascript<b></b>:winopen('/content/learnmore/learnmore.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~id=complete_care_dimen&~line=desktops&~mode=popup&~series=dimen','Main','WIDTH=595,HEIGHT=400,RESIZA BLE=YES,SCROLLBARS=YES,TOOLBAR=YES,LEFT=0,TOP=20') ;)
]
http://img.dell.com/images/global/general/spacer.gifhttp://img.dell.com/images/global/general/spacer.gif $1,119
$969
939
0
150
0.037
0

[Tulenyre]

WoW is less demanding then EQ2, so make it for EQ2 and your covered... probably for the next few years....

Alienware is having a promotion (instant rebates).

http://www.alienware.com/standalone_pages/promo_031105.aspx

[Shiz]

The vid card is a bit weak for EQ2, but you could definitely play and have the game look fine.

[Sir Rubi]

The vid card is a bit weak for EQ2, but you could definitely play and have the game look fine.

Aye, the only thing there that you'll want to consider taking up a step is the video card. 256 RAM is head and shoulders better than 128 for EQ2.

Everything else makes me green :mrgreen:

[Greebo]

Everything else makes me green :mrgreen:
Thats probably a monitor problem. ;)

[Sagar]

15" monitor is a bit small. I would suggest 17" if you can get it.

[Yuglooc]

I agree with Sagar. You'll definitely want at least a 17" (the 15" is limited to 1024x768, whereas the 17" can handle 1280x1024). If you have the room, a 19" CRT is also an option.

You might want a bigger HDD. 40 GB probably won't be enough if you're planning to have EQ1, EQ2, and WoW on it (not to mention OS overhead and other software such as WordPerfect/MS Works, anti-virus, and spyware).

128 MB video memory is probably enough for EQ2 if you're willing to dispense with a lot of the eye candy. 256 MB is nice though.

[Sagar]

I would suggest this one - bigger HD, faster processor, better graphics and bigger monitor for just a bit more money (and easily within your budget).

$1189 after $200 instant rebate.

Dimension 8400
Dimension 8400:
Pentium® 4 Processor 630 with HT Technology (3GHz, 800 FSB) S630H Operating System:
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Warranty, Services and Support Options:
1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr At-Home Service, and 1Yr Technical Support 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 400MHz (2x512M)
Drive:
80GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) 80S [341-1055]
ROM/DVD ROM:
Dual Drives: 16x DVD + FREE UPGRADE! 16x DVD+/-RW w/dbl layer write DV16DVP [463-4682][420-5079]
Drive and Additional Storage Devices:
No Floppy Drive Included NFD [340-8442]
FREE UPGRADE! New 17 in E173FP Analog Flat Panel E173FPP [463-4017]
Card:
256MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) nVidia GeForce 6800 NV6800 Card:
Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio IS
No Speaker Option
Dell Quietkey® Keyboard QK [310-1582]
Dell 2-button scroll mouse SM [310-1871]
Management:
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0 AAREAD [412-0705]
Interface:
Integrated Gigabit Ethernet IN [430-0742]
Software:
WordPerfect®, Powerful Word Processing CORELM [412-0701]
Software:
No Security Subscription NS2 [412-0754]
Photography:
Photo Album™ SE Basic DPS [412-0744]
Music:
Dell Jukebox - easy-to-use music player and CD burning software MMBASE [412-0741]
Software:
No QuickBooks package selected- Includes limited use trial QBSSP
Internet Access:
6 Months of America Online Membership Included AOLDHS
56K PCI Data/Fax Modem DFAX [313-2279] 14

[Sagar]

The one I posted only has 1 year of at home warrantee coverage. Saves LOTS of money not getting the extra warrantee coverage. Besides, much after a year, if something dies, you'd probably want to seriously consider upgrading that component and the warrantee coverage only replaces in like kind.