Hi,I've always built my systems with ASUS mb's when i upgraded. Have a PIII right now and will be upgrading very soon to an P4 with 800mhz FSB. Well, Just got an offer from Dell and with the mail in and the % off a 2.6 800mhz with ATI 9800 (windows XP, 30G hard drive, onboard 5.1 sound (which I would replace with my sound blaster 5.1 anyway)) etc... would come out to about $580. The components that I looked at come out more than that. So Iwould save a few hundred with the Dell, but like I said...in the past I always built my own and never bought a pre-fab one... Any advice?? Thanks!!! (Have to decide by Wed nite)Rob

read this thread:http://forums.avsim.com/dcboard.php?az=sho...ing_type=searchMichael J.

Michael,I read the thread. Where do you shop ? I'm in the market for a high quality gaming system with 'full flexibility'. I'd apprecite the benifit of your experience.ThanksJack

Jack,My experience has been limited. But I like to deal with small places that give me good prices and good product. My local vendor that I valued highly decided to stop building PCs and instead sells parts only. I also have special requests - like for example I only like desktop cases - I contacted a few "big" places and no one is interested in building me a PC in a desktop case. So, based on my search and input from others I decided my next PC will be from the Progress Systems Inc. - and the link is in the "Alienware" thread that you read. They have a forum - you can go there and start talking nuts/bolts/prices about your next PC - this is my kind of a place - quaint and very personal. Anyhow, good luck with your future hardware purchase.Michael J.

Thanks Michael. I'll check out that site.Jack

Hi Rob,I'm on my second Dell and I can't say enough positive things about Dell computers I've owned. Mine have been as reliable as you can get. The only mechanical problem with the first one was a faulty cd-rom drive (after 2 years) replaced under warrenty. No hardware problems with newest Dell after 2 yers use. I'm using the monitor (Dell Trinitron) from the first Dell with my newest Dell. The monitor is about 5 years old and is used constantly with many hours of intense FS2002 graphics. Hope this helps,Howard

http://forums.avsim.com/dcboard.php?az=sho...id=3453&mesg_id=4489&page=Please above post...I think Dell's are great.