Help me configure my new PC

Self Made · #1 09-12-2007, 11:51 PM

I'm looking for an excellent, state-of-the-art machine, but not an extravagant (e.g. gaming) one. I don't do anything extremely resource intensive like gaming or video editing. When doing my regular work (I spend a lot of time on the computer) I keep a few applications open at the same time, e.g. Word, Firefox, and Outlook. For poker, I'm currently playing two tables and running PT, Pahud, and a handgrabber. I could see myself playing four tables over two rooms eventually. I'm considering a Dell XPS 410, which is their high-end consumer model (their XPS 720 gaming machine is more expensive). What options, below, should I choose?

Processor:
- Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6320 (4MB L2 cache,1.86GHz,1066FSB) [subtract $50]
- Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6600 (4MB L2 Cache,2.4GHz,1066 FSB) [Included in Price]
- Intel® Core™ 2 Q6600 Quad-Core (8MB L2 cache,2.4GHz,1066FSB) [add $100]
- Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6700 (4MB L2 Cache,2.66GHz,1066 FSB) [add $250]

Memory:
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs [Included in Price]
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 2 DIMMs [add $50]
3GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 4 DIMMs [add $150]
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 4 DIMMs [add $270]
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMs [add $320]
 I've always heard that memory is the most important thing, but also heard that Vista can't access a full 4 GB.

Hard Drive:
- 320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ [Included in Price]
- 500GB Performance RAID 0 (2 x 250GB SATA 3Gb/s 7200 RPM HDDs) [add $70]
- DataSafe 250GB (Includes main hard drive plus a hidden reserve hard drive) [add $70]
- 500GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ [add $80]
- DataSafe 320GB (Includes main hard drive plus a hidden reserve hard drive) [add $170]
- 640GB Performance RAID 0 (2 x 320GB SATA 3Gb/s 7200 RPM HDDs) [add $170]
- 750GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ [add $190]
- DataSafe 500GB (Includes main hard drive plus a hidden reserve hard drive) [add $330]
- 1TB Performance RAID 0 (2 x 500GB SATA 3Gb/s 7200 RPM HDDs) [add $330]
- DataSafe 750GB (Includes main hard drive plus a hidden reserve hard drive) [add $540]
- 1.5TB Performance RAID 0 (2 x 750GB SATA 3Gb/s 7200 RPM HDDs) [add $540]
 Is RAID 0 a good idea? Is it much faster than a single drive? I guess it would fail at twice the rate of a single drive, but I've never had a hard drive die. The XPS 720's offer a 10,000 RPM WD Raptor drive or RAID 0 array, 160/320 GB respectively, as an option. 

Video Card:
- 128MB nVidia GeForce 8300 GS [Included in Price]
- 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT-DDR3 [add $100]
- 256MB nVidia GeForce 8600 GTS [add $200]
- 768MB nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX [add $600]
 The 8300 isn't listed on nVidia's web site. All are DirectX 10. They say the 8800 offers about twice the performance as the 8600, but isn't as good for DVD/Blu-ray playback (not something I expect to do anyway).
I just got a 1600x1200 monitor, which is great for poker, but for other work I wish I had something wider to do two things at once. I'm thinking of getting a cheap second monitor with the Dell and running them both. It looks like model 8600 or higher offers two outputs for dual monitors.

Vista version:
- Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium [Included in Price]
- Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate [add $149]
- Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate + Belkin Easy Transfer Cable [add $188]
 Remote access looks like the only Ultimate feature I'd be interested in, but I can get that free from LogMeIn, so I'll probably get Home Premium. 

Optical Drive:
- Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability [Included in Price]
- Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable [add $30]
- Dual Drives: 48x Combo + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable [add $40]
- 2X Blu-ray Drive [available in most expensive configuration]
- Dual Drives: 2X Blu-ray and 16x DVD-ROM Drive [available in a more expensive configuration, add $30]
- Dual Drives: 2X Blu-ray and 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable [available in a more expensive configuration, add $50]
 Should I get a Blu-ray drive? It looks to me like they'll win the standards war, but it could take a few more years. 

Keyboard and mouse:
 Do you think there is any advantage to a cordless keyboard and/or pointing device?
None of their keyboard options are ergonomic, so I may continue to use my old keyboard. 

Optional Ports:
- Serial & PS-2 PCI Adapter [add $10]
- IEEE 1394 Adapter [add $30]
 Would I need the Serial & PS-2 PCI Adapter to run my old, non-USB, keyboard?

They have a UPS for $56. Is that worth it?

Bluetooth:
- Dell Bluetooth Wireless Media Hub (13-1 Media Reader w/Bluetooth 2.0 EDR) [add $40]
- Dell Bluetooth Wireless Media Hub + VOIP Stereo Headset [add $90]
- Dell Bluetooth Wireless Media Hub + Keyboard/Mouse [add $100]
- Dell Bluetooth Wireless Media Hub + Keyboard/Mouse + VOIP Stereo Headset [add $150]
 Media reader, bluetooth, and headset aren't things I use right now, but I think I'll get them just because I might use them.

Any need for a floppy drive or modem?

I'll probably skip: physics accelerator, extra-cost sound cards, TV tuner and remote, and keep my current speakers.

Dell offers the usual security software options, but I hate overly-intrusive, resource intensive security software. Do you think the free stuff is good enough? E.g. ZoneAlarm, Spybot/AdAware, Alwil Avast (a recent test showed the latter to be significantly less resource-intensive than other antivirus software).