Deciding between two desktops

[fairfrozen25]

Sorry if this doesn't belong here. So yeah, I'm planning on getting a desktop on the coming Black Friday, since there are huge sales normally. I'm most likely going to be using the desktop mainly for gaming. I've customized two desktops on DELL, and I'm wondering which is better for gaming. These are the two desktops (I'm taking info off of the product comparison thing, and please keep in mind, I have barely any knowledge of computers whatsoever) :

Alienware Aurora $1,668 :
Operating Systems : Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (64 bit) + Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Coupon - English
Processor : Intel® Core™ i7 920 2.66GHz (8MB Cache) Quad Core Processor
Memory : 6GB Triple Channel 1067MHz DDR3
Keyboard : Alienware Multi-Media Keyboard
Video Card : Single 1.8GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260 192 Core
Mouse : Alienware Optical Mouse, MG100
Hard Drive : 500GB - SATA-II, 3Gb/s, 7,200RPM, 16MB Cache HDD
Sound Card : Creative Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ Xtreme Audio
Cooling Option : Alienware™ High-Performance Liquid Cooling
Gaming : Killer Xeno™ Pro
Security Software : Norton Anti-Virus Scan Gamer Edition - 30 day

Studio XPS 9000 $1,767.00 $1,458.00 (You Save $309.00) :
Operating System : Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-Bit
Processor : Intel® Core™ i7-920 processor(8MB L3 Cache, 2.66GHz)
Memory : 6GB Tri-Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 6 DIMMs
Keyboard : Dell USB Consumer Multimedia Keyboard
Monitor : 20.0" Dell ST2010 HD Widescreen Monitor
Video Card : nVidia GeForce GTS 240 1024MB
Hard Drive : 750GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Mouse : Dell Laser Mouse
Sound Card : Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Security Software : Norton Internet Security™ 2009 Edition 24-months
Speaker : Bose Companion 2 Series II Multimedia Speaker System

I'm really just planning on using these for hardcore gaming (Crysis, CoD, etc) and maybe for some school work on the side (Essays, labs, etc).

[computeruler]

The alienware.  But seriously, you can save a lot of money building.

Newegg has some good black friday deals.  I saved $80 on a 1kw psu and saved a ton of money on my 24" monitor

[fairfrozen25]

Yeah, but I don't know squat about all of that. The only thing I know about computers are basic things like ram, processors, video cards and stuff. But thanks.

[computeruler]

We can guide you on the parts to get.  If you want to learn how to put it all together you can find some good tutorials on youtube.
My favorite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9O0FoXQFmI

[Geek-9pm]

I'm really just planning on using these for hardcore gaming ..

The most important difference between the two may be the Video Card.
It looks like the first has the best video card.

[fairfrozen25]

Kay, but I heard from somewhere that you'd need a decent monitor also, to handle stuff. My monitor right now is I think 3years old, so I was a bit worried. And I'm just wondering, how long would the Alienware last me? I'm planning on using the computer for around 4-ish years or so. And about building the computer, my dad's buying the stuff, and he HATES all that complicated stuff with ordering parts and yeah.

[computeruler]

Well a brand new operating system supporting dx11 is coming out.  And there are dx 11 cards out now, and pretty soon dx11 games  So if you want it to last you 4 years I suggest you get yourself a 5870.  Its real easy to order the stuff all from newegg.  The alienware has a dx 10 card.

[Cityscape]

The Alienware Aurora is by far better (mainly due to the graphics card and sound card). The only thing that the Studio XPS has better is hard drive size which is not too important. The Alienware also has Windows 7 upgrade which is really nice.

[fairfrozen25]

I'll be sure to purchase the Alienware then. Yeah, I would LOVE to make my own but my dad's buying the stuff, and as I said, he HATES all that complicated ordering parts online sort of stuff. If I can't handle the new dx11, I'll buy a 5870 and put it in the Alienware.