[anti]

don't be intimated to build your own pc. i'll help you out (a call is no big deal) along with everyone else here. i was kinda worried at first when i built mine, but it's really a matter of plug and play as long as you buy the right components. to me it sounds like a good buy, but then again i've been out of the loop for awhile so i'm not too sure. ninty, gerv, or miscguy can offer better advice. i've heard some mixed opinions with dell, some good or bad. sucks to hear your laptop is having problems. whatever you do, do not buy alienware.