Calling all techies!***NEED HELP

I need help! I've had PC's in the past but I couldn't tell you what is the best and what isn't and it's all gibberish to me. Well, long story short, I will be going to college soon, and I need money and a good computer. I put my iPad 2 on craigslist and this guy emailed me asking if I would trade fir his gaming computer. Is it a good computer? How much is it worth? He says it is:

Alienware Area-51 7500-R5

250GB - Standard Serial ATA-300 - 7200
Rpm
4GB ram
intel core 2 Duo E4500/2.2GHz
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
DVD/CD burner
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS
WIFI
700 watt power supply
Microsoft Office Suite

http://img710.imageshack.us/i/imagersr.jpg/
http://img89.imageshack.us/i/imagewsp.jpg/

 

HHD: not the best capacity, but 7200 is a good thing.
RAM is likewise average. Depends now on which brand they are.
Processor is below average.
W7 is good
Burner is good
Graphics card is fine
Wifi is good
Power supply is average
Microsoft is irrelevant since it's easy to pirate.

All in all, it's an ok computer. Probably top notch when it was first purchased but it's not great by today's standards. Good deal for an iPad if it works perfectly and has never been fucked over with a virus.

 

Thanks, I appreciate it. How old would you say it is? And do you think I could play runescape or WoW on it with no problems? And still manage to type an essay for class...

 

Not a good trade at all... lol. Computer is worth ~$150 (in my opinion). That is a VERY old alienware - and the CPU is not powerful at all. You could build a better one @ $300 (Base value of your iPad). It also depends on what you are doing with this computer. Are you planning on doing any rigorous gaming on it (Call of Duty, Battlefield, etc), graphic design or CAD (Computer-Aided-Design/Architecture or Engineering)?

If this is for main-line work - typing up notes, printing, powerpoints, etc. just get a laptop. The reason? 1. It is portable - you can carry it with you anywhere and to any class. 2. Battery lives on computers are pretty solid now-a-days... No need to worry about that. 3. I found that majority of the work I would do was done on the laptop and my desktop was a big distraction.

I personally prefer HP's over all other companies, but that is just me.

Also, if you really aren't interested in spending that much money and are just using for main-line work, look into a netbook! They are small, relatively powerful now (some can run SCII!!), and are rather affordable (~$300USD).

 

I'd say about 5-8 years old. A company as quality as alienware generally has the best of the day, and dual core processors haven't been cutting edge since early 2000s. Rs and WoW will have no problem running on it at all. You might even get away with WoW at high graphics with absolutely no lag I think while using both Internet and Microsoft.

EDIT: I'll revise my opinion. iPad 2 for this, probably not worth it since the iPad 2 is 500-600 dollars. This machine is old, no doubt, and probably well used... I wouldn't make the trade.

 

Runescape, WoW, and an essay should all be able to run fine (even at the same time).

I'd say this computer for an iPad is a great deal. Mostly cuz iPads are pretty pointless, but this computer is decent too.

 

Thanks for all the help guys. I would mainly use it to play WoW and Runescape, I do have a laptop, an Acer, and I use it just for notes and typing essays because the graphics are not that good and Runescape lags and I wouldn't even think of playing WoW on it. I agree iPads are pointless! My mom bought me one for graduation and so did my aunt so I have two of them lol.

 

So I would basically keep the desktop alienware in my dorm/apt and take my laptop to class, but if the alienware isn't even worth an iPad I won't do it. Thanks!!

 

Not to confuse you with changing opinions, but the reason I say an iPad 2 for this machine isn't a good deal is because you may be able to sell the iPad for money and buy a better machine with your profit. You would have to search around and compare though

Good luck and choose wisely

 

If i was you i wouldn't trade it, that computer is really old and the specs are below average, sell your iPad 2 and add some cash and build one your self.

www.Tigerdirect.com or http://www.newegg.com/


CPU: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5752143&Sku=A79-1955
MotherBoard: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7282715&CatId=5541
RAM: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5688415&CatId=4534
CD/DVD: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6246700&Sku=O451-1017 OEM
SSD: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7010582&Sku=K24-1013
Cooler: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4434989&Sku=C283-1202
Power Supply: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=581010&Sku=C13-2826
Video Card: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=41125&CatId=3669

Total: 784$, you still need a case, they are cheap try finding one that you like and can afford.

This computer will do anything you want, boot time will be amazingly fast and applications will open at the speed of light because of the Solid State Drive (SSD). If you want more memory to store music/movies whatever you want to store, you can add an HDD for that and still use your SSD.

 

I'm not a big fan of Alienware, but it seems that the processor is pretty outdated IMO.

 

Yeah, either way get rid of the iPad haha

If you need help deciding on which parts to put together yourself I'd gladly help you figure out what you need. Just shoot me a pm

 

Thanks for all the help guys!! I really appreciate it this is why Sythe is the best lol

 

Re-read my post above and let me know what you think.

 

It's only like 184 bucks extra. A guy emailed me and wants to buy it for 600, so it's not thar much of a difference.

 

You can still add better stuff if you can spend more $ but i think this one should be good enough for you.