Recommendations for buying a new computer

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2006-02-08 10:21pm

I'm replacing my old comp with a new one for Oblivion and some of the other games coming out. I was wondering if anyone had recommendations for companies to buy from.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2006-02-08 10:24pm

Price range?

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2006-02-08 10:31pm

About $1000

EDIT: I should note that I don't really need a new monitor, since the one I have works fine.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2006-02-08 10:51pm

Not interested in building one yourself?

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2006-02-08 11:00pm

Beowulf wrote:Not interested in building one yourself?

Not really. I could, but I'd like to see if people have any recommendations before I do that. Depending on the price, I'd be open to paying a little extra for someone else to deal with that.

Darth Quorthon · Post by **Darth Quorthon** » 2006-02-08 11:05pm

Velocity Micro has a pretty good reputation, AFAIK. I've heard good things about them.

I took out a profit sharing loan from my work for $1000 recently, and that barely got me a new monitor, motherboard, and video card. This is getting out of hand, man.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-02-09 06:40pm

Velocity Micro's $1000 gaming rig doesn't impress me at all. You could do better ordering the parts online yourself.

Athlon 64 3200+ - $169 (link)
Geforce 7800GT + SLI-capable motherboard - $359 (link)
Corsair ValueSelect RAM, 1GB (2x512) - $78 (link)
Seagate 250GB SATA hard drive - $100 (link)
NEC 3550A DVD burner - $39 (link)
Antec midtower case + 450W PSU - $99 (link)

Current total of $844. I believe Darth Wong has advocated local computer shops in the past for those that really need someone else to assemble the computer, and I can't imagine that costing more than $150. You could easily shave off up to $240 by going with a cheaper vid card and just transplanting the drives from the old system to the new system.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2006-02-09 08:25pm

You could get a similar system from Cyberpower for about 75 more, however that includes Windows XP Professional, of course Uranium's suggestion offers a better case, otherwise same pieces.

Mwave has a barebones machine which includes a case, motherboard, CPU, RAM, and cd/dvd, those being the harder parts, from there it's just install a HD you find, plus a graphics card and the software.

However, still; gota say 7800gt + motherboard for $359 is a pretty nice deal, considering 7800gt's are around 300 as is.

Davis 51 · Post by **Davis 51** » 2006-02-09 08:35pm

I recommend IBuyPower. I have 2 machines from them

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2006-02-10 12:31am

Ibuypower is good. I bought my last machine from them, over five years ago. Definately on the list so far of ones I'm looking at. However, I am hoping to shop around a little bit and compare.

Nub · Post by **Nub** » 2006-02-10 01:18am

Uraniun235 wrote:Current total of $844.

That's just about how much it cost my friend to build a computer of approximately the same quality a couple weeks ago.

We had never even really researched about building a computer, and faced very little difficulties (although there was one scary incident with the processor). I'd encourage going for it.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-02-10 01:34am

InnocentBystander wrote:You could get a similar system from Cyberpower for about 75 more, however that includes Windows XP Professional, of course Uranium's suggestion offers a better case, otherwise same pieces.

I just clicked on one of the first Antec cases I saw and went with it.

I'm a big advocate of name-brand power supplies, but other than that, I have to admit that that Cyberpower system seems really competitively priced.

Dorsk 81 · Post by **Dorsk 81** » 2006-02-10 02:54am

Uraniun235 wrote:Velocity Micro's $1000 gaming rig doesn't impress me at all. You could do better ordering the parts online yourself.

Athlon 64 3200+ - $169 (link)
Geforce 7800GT + SLI-capable motherboard - $359 (link)
Corsair ValueSelect RAM, 1GB (2x512) - $78 (link)
Seagate 250GB SATA hard drive - $100 (link)
NEC 3550A DVD burner - $39 (link)
Antec midtower case + 450W PSU - $99 (link)

Current total of $844. I believe Darth Wong has advocated local computer shops in the past for those that really need someone else to assemble the computer, and I can't imagine that costing more than $150. You could easily shave off up to $240 by going with a cheaper vid card and just transplanting the drives from the old system to the new system.

If your budget is about $1000, you might want to get a better CPU. The Athlon 64 3800+ Venice is under $300 (link) and so is the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (link).

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2006-02-10 03:02am

Uraniun235 wrote:
InnocentBystander wrote:You could get a similar system from Cyberpower for about 75 more, however that includes Windows XP Professional, of course Uranium's suggestion offers a better case, otherwise same pieces.
I just clicked on one of the first Antec cases I saw and went with it.

I'm a big advocate of name-brand power supplies, but other than that, I have to admit that that Cyberpower system seems really competitively priced.

Mind you that if you want the computer up and running when oblivion comes out, you'll need to purchase it soon, because it's not beyond reason for them to take 3-4 weeks to get the machine to you.
Build it yourself, or Mwave build it yourself can take less than a week, you also have the option of bargain hunting. If you poke around www.slickdeals.org for a couple weeks you'll likely find a 160gig sata HD for like 40 bucks, and various other peripherals (hopefully). Gota check it a couple times a day, but it can really save you some cash.

Personally, I enjoyed my purchase through mwave, I didn't have to worry about mounting the motherboard or installing the CPU (plus the HSF), but I still got to use (mostly) my own components.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-02-10 12:12pm

Dorsk 81 wrote:
Uraniun235 wrote:Velocity Micro's $1000 gaming rig doesn't impress me at all. You could do better ordering the parts online yourself.

Athlon 64 3200+ - $169 (link)
Geforce 7800GT + SLI-capable motherboard - $359 (link)
Corsair ValueSelect RAM, 1GB (2x512) - $78 (link)
Seagate 250GB SATA hard drive - $100 (link)
NEC 3550A DVD burner - $39 (link)
Antec midtower case + 450W PSU - $99 (link)

Current total of $844. I believe Darth Wong has advocated local computer shops in the past for those that really need someone else to assemble the computer, and I can't imagine that costing more than $150. You could easily shave off up to $240 by going with a cheaper vid card and just transplanting the drives from the old system to the new system.
If your budget is about $1000, you might want to get a better CPU. The Athlon 64 3800+ Venice is under $300 (link) and so is the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (link).

You're not taking any other expenses into consideration, like the possible cost of hiring someone else to assemble the system, or purchasing a Windows XP license, or shipping costs.

I really don't think the 3800+ Venice is worth that kind of money, based on what I see at the SH/SC Parts Picking Guide. If, on the other hand, Alex wanted to go dual-core, the 3800+ X2 would probably be pretty decent.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-02-10 12:19pm

Dual core, esspecially since Oblivion is multi-threaded, is practicly a must for new computers.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2006-02-10 12:20pm

Many here hates Dell with a passion, and I do not know why.

I would go to the dell page and make a system that fit your budget, the big plus here is that there is no damn IO conflits and stuff.

I still have nightmares abot a old computer with SB Live! and a adaptec SCSI card that tried to use to same DMA.

I will never again build my own system and I can garantee that I know more than many of the computer users that loves the "Build yourself road"

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2006-02-10 12:52pm

Faram wrote:Many here hates Dell with a passion, and I do not know why.

I would go to the dell page and make a system that fit your budget, the big plus here is that there is no damn IO conflits and stuff.

I still have nightmares abot a old computer with SB Live! and a adaptec SCSI card that tried to use to same DMA.

I will never again build my own system and I can garantee that I know more than many of the computer users that loves the "Build yourself road"

That's the big reason why I don't like building myself. I'd rather have someone else deal with those headaches instead of me.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2006-02-10 01:08pm

We hate Dell because they're cheap pieces of crap. There's also the fact that they used to(not sure if they still do) have oddly wired powersupplies, such that you'd have to replace both MB and PSU if one failed, otherwise you'd end up blowing up your new component because you stuck 12V on a 5V rail.

Count Dooku · Post by **Count Dooku** » 2006-02-10 01:22pm

Beowulf wrote:We hate Dell because they're cheap pieces of crap. There's also the fact that they used to(not sure if they still do) have oddly wired powersupplies, such that you'd have to replace both MB and PSU if one failed, otherwise you'd end up blowing up your new component because you stuck 12V on a 5V rail.

That's why I always buy a new PSU (power supply unit) no matter what computer I get.

You can get an AMD x2 3800+ for less than 900 bucks at Best Buy - that's what I did. It's more than fast enough for what I want to do. My computer is used for gaming, surfing the net, homework (bloody college), and for some C++ programming and small game creation (just for future reference, I'm not Brittish. I just like to say bloody hell).

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-02-10 01:26pm

Count Dooku wrote:
Beowulf wrote:We hate Dell because they're cheap pieces of crap. There's also the fact that they used to(not sure if they still do) have oddly wired powersupplies, such that you'd have to replace both MB and PSU if one failed, otherwise you'd end up blowing up your new component because you stuck 12V on a 5V rail.
That's why I always buy a new PSU (power supply unit) no matter what computer I get.

You can get an AMD x2 3800+ for less than 900 bucks at Best Buy - that's what I did. It's more than fast enough for what I want to do. My computer is used for gaming, surfing the net, homework (bloody college), and for some C++ programming and small game creation (just for future reference, I'm not Brittish. I just like to say bloody hell).

I hope to hell you meant 300 and not 900, otherwise I'm going to quietly fall off my chair and laugh.

Count Dooku · Post by **Count Dooku** » 2006-02-10 01:46pm

Ace Pace wrote:
Count Dooku wrote:
Beowulf wrote:We hate Dell because they're cheap pieces of crap. There's also the fact that they used to(not sure if they still do) have oddly wired powersupplies, such that you'd have to replace both MB and PSU if one failed, otherwise you'd end up blowing up your new component because you stuck 12V on a 5V rail.
That's why I always buy a new PSU (power supply unit) no matter what computer I get.

You can get an AMD x2 3800+ for less than 900 bucks at Best Buy - that's what I did. It's more than fast enough for what I want to do. My computer is used for gaming, surfing the net, homework (bloody college), and for some C++ programming and small game creation (just for future reference, I'm not Brittish. I just like to say bloody hell).
I hope to hell you meant 300 and not 900, otherwise I'm going to quietly fall off my chair and laugh.

You can buy the processor for just under 300 bucks (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103562), but you'll need a motherboard, a hard drive, some RAM, at least a DVD read only drive, and XP. Here's what I got for $950 from Best Buy: The computer: x2 3800+, motherboard, 250GB hard drive, 1GB RAM, 9 USB ports, DVD read and write drive, CD drive, keyboard, mouse, and a 1280x1024 flatscreen monitor, a 300W power supply (I have since bought a 500W unit) and a FULL 3 year warrenty that covers and and all problems with my computer - with the exception(s) of things like thowing it out of a window, kicking it, etc. When you add in the fact that I got XP Pro, it's a pretty decent deal.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-02-10 01:58pm

Ah.... Welll, when you said 3800+ for 900$ without detailing anything, you can't expect me to understand.

Count Dooku · Post by **Count Dooku** » 2006-02-10 02:43pm

Ace Pace wrote:Ah.... Welll, when you said 3800+ for 900$ without detailing anything, you can't expect me to understand.

This is true. My mistake.

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2006-02-10 02:45pm

Beowulf wrote:We hate Dell because they're cheap pieces of crap. There's also the fact that they used to(not sure if they still do) have oddly wired powersupplies, such that you'd have to replace both MB and PSU if one failed, otherwise you'd end up blowing up your new component because you stuck 12V on a 5V rail.

They now use standard PSU's.
Last year, a buddy of mine priced out building a new 3.4Ghz P4 system (complete with 6800 PCIe card), and found that he couldn't come within $100 to Dell's price even if he ran a warezed copy of XP Pro and already had the hard and optical drives.

He wound up buying a new case, PSU, and mobo though because he hated the clamshell style case and lack of temperature sensors on the Dell mobo.

He did manage to recoup $150 by ebaying the Dell case, mobo, and copy of XP Home that came with it.

For an intel system on a budget, Dell's damn hard to beat.
However it helps if you speak Hindi when calling their tech support.