Dell should have spun off a separate brand for these machines (ala Lexus). I still associate Dell with cheap mail order PCs, and their badge on extremely high-end rigs doesn't sit well with me.

$4000...for a Dull, er, Dell... I'll build my own, thankyouverymuch :-/

That's a trend I'd like to see: all current computer specs should include Crysis FPS data.

I just like distilling all my superfluous data down into one easily identifiable metric.

YAY!!! now no one can make that "can in run crysis" comment!!!

Shouldnt they be selling these as Alienware?

It seems a bit redundant to have two, high-end gaming platforms.

I thought Crysis sucked?

yeah but that gaming spec they show on their website is definately hot! but for $4000 you can come out a lot cheaper on NewEgg.

@liveinvt: sucks video card power!

Besides Alienware, there's a couple of other custom-high-end-gaming makers. Personally for $4999, i would make my own computer, then spend the other $2999 and buy 445 chipotle burritos.

How many consoles are there out there? and they're far from high end

maybe maximum RESOLUTION, but NOT maximum graphics QUALITY settings.

with the specs i see there, i would expect it to play crysis at max resolution but only if the qualit settings are set to LOW.

i have a Core 2 Extreme QX9650 overclocked to 3.8ghz, (2) 9800GX2's in quad-sli, and 4gb corsair dominator - i can't even play crysis at the max resolution AND max quality settings.

dell = liars

Did Dell actually begin using standard (non-proprietary) parts like they said they were goign to? 'Cause that used to be (still is?) the biggest reason not to buy a Dell (motherboards with funky heatsink clips, cases that only allowed their wacky power supplies with the plug in a weird location, etc.).

I wonder how long it will take for someone to post that a mac pro can be configured with similar specs as the base model, minus the video cards, for about a thousand dollars cheaper, thereby dooming the thread to yet another pointless mac/pc bash fest?

Oh wait, that's what's happening. Right. Now. (sorry)

@Babysealclubber: Space...time...continuum...crashing around me...must...get...flux...capacitor to work. DAMN YOU BIFF TANNEN!!!

Babysealclubber-
I could configure a Mac Pro that would blow this thing out of the water.....

If we are discussing Crysis, why put Tabula Rasa on the screen? What a disappointing game THAT was... =-/

@OG512: Agreed. I'd even have a lot more fun putting it together myself.

Dell makes some of the best gaming machines and they have for years. You can get a nice rig for cheap from Dell. Don't forget Dell also owns Alienware.

I make my own computers but Dell is the only company I will buy them from. My $500 laptop from Dell plays TF2 and COD4 with no problems.. Beat that EEE PC.

Now with Dell laying off 1100 XPS tech support in Ottawa Canada, you will be paying for Off-shored tech assistance. Waste of money if you ask me, who wants to talk to a scripted person that gets paid $13 a day?

@Zlevee: That's the exact reason I run screaming from Dells, although I am typing on one at work right now (corporate)I'f rather build my own, or go hog wild crasy and get a tricked out Alienware.

@BigDanInTX: I was thinking that too. what a let down.

Shit, I need some coffee...

It's nice but, like others, I could build a good machine for half that amount.

Yeah, but can it run Crys... oh. ;)
Yes, we can finally stop asking!

Yea, i'm really not so sure I buy them getting 30fps on max res. and max quality. I'd like to see them go into detail more on this claim.

@wolfenstein3d:
mmmm...that's a lot of burritos

Oh, and Frucci, I think you mean 45nm. That would be a frakken large chip.

Well yes it can run crysis BUT can it blend

@guitarmunkey05: @comp_wiz101:

Yeah, but can it play doom? Will it blend? Can it run Crysis? ;)

This is the ultimate poser machine.

Straight from the PC Mag review:

"Things went south a bit when the system was cranked up to a higher 1,920-by-1,200 resolution with anti-aliasing (AA) and anisotropic filtering (AF) turned on for both games: 5 fps for Crysis and 22 fps for WiC."

[www.pcmag.com]

Where the hell is Giz getting it's info?

Is Crysis actually a good game? I never hear any reference to it actually being a good game, but rather to how powerful of a machine you need to run it.

Can it run tetris at full spec? hah, gotcha

Either way, I got me a 17 inch XPS laptop and I fell in love the second I pulled it out of the box, I built my PC but that's mainly for work and this laptop is my play toy

@Joseph: I've played it on low end and high end machines. The high and machine is CERTAINLY a better experience. The game itself has been called great but not up to the hype. The AI are morons but the open ended gameplay lets you complete a level in DOZENS of different ways. The ending is WAY too open ended and they introduce the best weapon of the game at the very end of the game, which is dumb. There are some terrific levels and some flat out boring and frustrating levels (alien spaceship). I'd buy GTA IV over Crysis, but if you like FPS games and have a good enough machine to run specs at medium its worth the purchase.

wait.. that "CRYSIS" thing is real???

@N@tedog: Ah I don't play any games anymore... I got hooked on Starcraft back in the late 90's and almost failed out of College. I just checked out a few youtube videos and it seems like Crysis is more about the physics engine than the actual game. When GTA IV comes out for computer, I'm definitely gonna pick it up. Thanks for your review :).

is GTA IV ever coming out on PC

Am I the only one who read that as, "Weighs nearly 50 pounds, stuffed as it is with poodles"?

Funny, I am building a similar speced computer, but with name brand parts. Prob gonna be just shy of 3,000. No water cooling though.

@wolfenstein3d: Remind me to bring a gas mask to any LAN party you attend.

I can see it now...

"Ability to run crysis: CHECK"

At the bottom of every specs list.

where are its graphics specs?
i see cpu chipset ram sound but no gpus, id say its packing at least some 9800gtx in sli on 2 or 3 way config...

Every time there is a post like this you are going to get the same gamut of comments (not that I don't agree with most of them):

- Why pay this much for a computer you can build with better specs for an equal or lesser price?

- Games like Crysis only further the debate on the advantage of console gaming since you are not having to constantly upgrade your system to get new games to play

- But will it run Crysis? (Damn, I am sick of hearing this one, although I think scarbrtj has a point in saying this game is increasingly becoming the metric by which all gaming PC's performance is gauged on)

- Will it blend (Banhammer please?)

As a game, Crysis is just...good...its gameplay is solid, but nothing revolutionary. It has its high and low moments, like any decent FPS.

On the other hand, as an experience, Crysis is amazing. If your machine can handle even medium settings and run comfortably, it's a lot like living in a Michael Bay movie. You won't find deep philosophy, but gosh, those explosions are so pretty!

@Babysealclubber:

Uh.. you know the video cards would equal that 1000 dollar cost easily.

Vista is the only OS offered for this rig, so what's the point?

I'd like to see electrical power consumption as a universal mandated spec. I for one would not contribute to the destruction of the planet just to notch up the frame rate in some poorly executed game.

@Vindicoth: Nope, but I do now. The post was just for shits and giggles, what serious gamer plays on a mac anyways?

For gaming purposes you can't compare a system that offers unlimited expansion with one that puts you in a walled garden, no matter how pretty the garden is.

@liveinvt: As a game, sure. But as a benchmark tool it seems to be pretty popular.

but can it play PONG?

@TheAdAgency: It doesn't say Dell anywhere on the case, as far as I can see.

@