College System (Please Read)

Hey, how is everyone doing today? Anyhow, my name is Erik and I am looking for help with making a decision between purchasing either a desktop system or a notebook for college. Lately, I have been doing plenty of comparing between both desktop and notebook prices. In which, it has lead me to lean toward purchasing a new desktop system for college rather than a new notebook. However, since I have not attended college before and have received mixed opinions on the subject; I thought it best to ask the T.G. community. Moving on, I will just go through my situation and identifying some pros and cons.

First off, I have already selected the proper hardware I wish to purchase for a possible desktop system from Tiger Direct and looked at multiple notebooks somewhat similar to the hardware I selected for the desktop. However, being a hardcore gamer and having a limit supply of cash to purchase a system; the desktop is looking more desirable (mentioned before). The notebooks, in my opinion, are way too expensive and not as well-equipped as the desktops I can purchase for around the same price. Also, please take into account that the only notebook companies I have looked at are Alienware, Dell and IBuyPower. If anyone has any other companies with somewhat reasonable prices for their notebooks; please make a reply in this thread.

Also, let me introduce the hardware I have selected for the desktop I wish to purchase. Like mentioned prior in this thread, I have selected Tiger Direct as my main supplier. With that, the following specifications are of the new desktop I may or not build:

The Essentials

Enclosing: Ultra Black Aluminum Mid-Tower
Power Unit: Ultra 600 Watt Dual 80-mm Fans
Motherboard: Intel D975XBXLKR Socket 775
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40 GHz OEM
Memory: Corsair TWINX 1024mb (2 x 512mb) PC5400 667MHZ (2)
Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
Video Card: PNY Verto Geforce 7900 GTX PCI-E
Storage: 160 GB Western Digital 7200RPM

The Extras

CD Writer: Lite-On DVD-RW/ 8x DVD+R/ 4x DVD-R DL/ 48x CD-RW
Speakers: Logitech X-530 5.1 70 Watts
Monitor: 17inch Samsung Sync master
Keyboard & Mouse: Logitech Media Clavier Keyboard & Wireless Mouse
Internal Drive: Standard Floppy with 6 in 1 Card Reader
Cooling: Aspire 120mm Red UV Fans (2)

All items come to about a total estimated cost of about $2100.00 USD. However, please keep in mind that my situation may change and adjustments to the video card and motherboard may occur (cheaper of each). That concludes the desktop aspect; now onto the specifications and price of the notebook I was looking at. The notebook I was looking at was configured by Alienware around $2300 dollars. The specifications are almost similar; expect of course the processor and motherboard. However, I feel that I am paying more for the name than the quality and performance of the notebook’s hardware.

Finally, like mentioned earlier, any feedback on where I can purchase an amazing notebook for around the same price would be great. Also, if you could review the desktop I have in mind would be great also. Any people with a college education and a computer to go with it; please respond! Also, there have been talks about the release of the first Core 2 Duo notebooks. With that, would it be worth the wait of say two weeks to purchase one of those or will the prices be too outrageous? Anyhow, thank you for reading my thread and for a possible response.


Sincerely, Erik Lazzaro

A loyal reader of Tom’s Hardware

I'm not based in the US, but in the UK (more expensive) you can get a better system than that based around the E6600 core for less than £1,000.

Something is wrong.

Also, why are you splashing out big cash a a hardcore gamer, and then cramming all of that power into a crappy 17" monitor? That doesn't make sense, nor make effective use of your hardware.

I dont think cooling is an Extra, just becuase ther are red uv lights, it should be in your Essentials list, or atleast start to think that way. I've had some hardship with heat in my dorm days.

HP has some very well equipped laptops, for 1500 I got one with 2gb of ram and an ml-40 proc.

An alternative for the laptop is a tablet PC. They are more portable than laptops and are easier to take notes with (flowcharts! ). However, they tend to be a little bit more expensive.