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Buying a computer soon please help!?

which one is a better deal? which one would you buy and why?: 1)HP – Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit) – Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q9400 [2.66GHz, 6MB L2, 1333MHz FSB] – 6GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM [4 DIMMs] from 4GB – 640GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from 500GB – 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4650 [DVI, VGA, HDMI] – LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive – Integrated 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) Ethernet, No wireless LAN – 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, 1394, audio – No TV Tuner w/remote control – Integrated 7.1 channel sound with front audio ports – HP USB 2.0 stereo speakers – HP keyboard and HP optical mouse – Microsoft(R) Works 9.0 – Norton Internet Security(TM) 2009 - 15 month – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope --HP w2338h 23-inch Diagonal 16:9 Full HD Widescreen Monitor $1,063.98 2)Dell -Intel® Core™ 2 Quad processor Q9400 (6MB L2, 2.66GHz, 1333FSB) -Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-Bit -Microsoft® Works 9 (Does not include Microsoft Word) -1Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis -4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 2 DIMMs -640GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache -23" Dell S2309W Full HD Widescreen Monitor -16X DVD+/-RW Drive -ATI Radeon HD 4350 512MB -Dell AX210 1.2 Watt 2.0 Stereo Speakers $944 I don't know if I should get a better graphics card. I'm not going for super amazing quality but i don't want it to just look aweful, and it's a 23 inch screen. The games i'll be playing are ones like the sims 3, age of empires, roller coaster tycoon, etc. not crysis or fallout or any first person shooters like that. i could get a 768MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600GS [DVI, VGA, HDMI] for the HP for $70 more but the dell only has that one to choose from. I think the only other real difference is the memory.

Public Comments

1. I would definitely say the hp is better. It is slightly more expensive, but has more RAM which boosts general speed and gameplay. Neither of them have the best graphics card though...
2. well thats a hard one because they are close :P but if it was me i would proberbly go for the dell :) because: its cheeper its a good make (that rarley malfunctions) and its almost the same as the HP but tbh im not a fan of vista hehe i prefur the good old classic style :D but i still like the dell more :)
3. Just go for the Dell something is better with that configuration and price
4. Personally, I'd stick with just the HP as it is. I might spend a little extra on surround sound speakers, but thats up to you. Having 7.1 sound integrated to the motherboard is a bonus. The HP also has the better graphics card to start with. Make sure that it has a pci-express x16 graphics slot so that you can upgrade your graphics later (by far the weak link in this set up). The 9600 is not worth $70 as a combo, you could find the card online by itself for close to that price. For sims 3... you should be fine with the ATI card. But if you upgrade later I'd suggest getting more than a 9600. The extra RAM won't be noticed with what your planning to do that much, but applications will change. This computer will be a good investment, assuming it doesn't break down right after the warranty. Hope this helped. Remember, it's ALWAYS less expensive to build your own system, that is if you know what your doing.
5. they are both nice. With the dell you have 4gb of ram in 2 dimms, where in the hp you have 6gb in 4 dimms. If you devide the ram by the dimms, there is probably more room for ram expansion in the dell.
6. Neither For Pre-Built: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229092 You really should build your own though....
7. As computer tech and repair many computers over the years, you could not get me to purchase a Dell, too many in the shop. The HP is better computer but graphic card needs to be up graded. If you purchase any computer ask for upgrade to Windows 7, it's release date is Oct. 22. Leave the Dell alone. Look a Ebay, see number of Dells for sell compare to other brands. Why?