Advice on search for new PC

ThinkOfTheChildren

ThinkOfTheChildren

Joined
Jul 7, 2000
Messages
1,556
I am interested in getting a new PC. I built my last one, but for various reasons am not interested in building a new one right now.

I will not be gaming with this PC, but I want it tailored to a multimedia, multi-tasking environment (lots of photo editing and occasional video editing). I am looking to spend as little over $1,000 as possible. To slightly help me with that price point, I will be re-using the DVD drives out of my current tower. I can use my current monitor (an Acer AL1714) but frankly would like to purchase a second one so that I can run dual monitors. But I won't count the monitor cost towards the PC cost...

I know that I want a Intel Core 2 Duo (perhaps the Intel E6600).
I know that I want 2GB of RAM
And I know that I want at least 300 gigs worth of HDD space

Besides that it is up in the air.

I would like a system that is easily upgradeable, I.E. no proprietary components. I don't know where most of the name brands currently stand on that, but a Dell I purchased around 6 years ago used a number of proprietary parts that prevented easy upgrading (had to buy a whole new case and transplant parts when I wanted to change the mobo). Also, it seems like most of the name brands like to skimp in one area (I.E. give a fast processor but horribly low RAM).

So that has pointed me towards IBuyPower.com but I've read mixed reviews on them. Anyone know where they currently stand?
Any other reputable outfits that currently build spec machines that are upgradeable?

Any other pointers?

Thanks in advance!
 
As I mentioned in the last PC thread, if you plan on using this system for DVD playback in the next few years, you could suddenly be demoted to low-res playback because of HDCP. Every component in the playback chain needs to be HDCP compliant. DVD drive, video card and monitor. If any one of these is ever hacked, all future content will blacklist your device and playback is again downgraded.

Phil
 
Buy a new mac, beats anything labeled PC hands down. I have to use both, and i tell you nothing PC works like Macs.
 
So do I and I have the opposite opinion. People are often surprised at how often macs crash when I use them. Besides, Macs are now PCs in all but software.
 
I have six macs in the house and at work, kids use the ones at home as well as i do, but WinDOH's machines fail many times more frequently than macs. The last time I had a mac crash or freeze was using 10.1 about 3 years ago. Futhermore, I have not had a virus, trojan horse, or any
other type of software invasions. I have to PCs in the office as i can not run my industry's standard software on the mac. If you are crashing macs, I really want to know what you are doing.
 
That's what surprises people.

I like multiple applications open, none full screen. Adobe FrameMaker, a file browser, a plain text editor, a web browser and email are the usual apps.

Something about the way I work all that crashes Macs but not PCs. I can crash a PC too, but not so much in my general work.

I suspect it still comes down to memory management, the bane of Macs until OS X. Probably still some older memory calls in the Adobe software.
 
I built my PC two years ago and it crashed once. Other than that, it works like a charm. I do digital video and photo editing (Adobe PhotoShop CS and PremierePro). I have 4 gigs of RAM and over a terabyte of HD space on internal and external drives and a 3.2 ghz cpu all powered by a 510 watt PSU (no overclocking for me). Macs are nice BUT there would have to be more than what has been quoted here in this thread for me to switch.

BTW, I'm waiting to see what issues the new Window Vista OS will have before jumping in. I will be upgrading my system with a new mobo/cpu/ram that will be compatible with the new OS but I'm not in a rush. My system will do for now.
 
ThinkOfTheChildren said:
I will not be gaming with this PC, but I want it tailored to a multimedia, multi-tasking environment (lots of photo editing and occasional video editing). I am looking to spend as little over $1,000 as possible.
I know that I want a Intel Core 2 Duo (perhaps the Intel E6600).
I know that I want 2GB of RAM
And I know that I want at least 300 gigs worth of HDD space
Click to expand...

UnknownVT said:
Intel Duo-Core used to be tops - but -

For a great overview of the current processors all the way from budget to some of the top of the line - please take a look at --

The Mother of All CPU Charts 2005/2006 at Tom's Hardware
Click to expand...

This is out of date as kindly pointed out by PerformanceFirst in Post #12 below.

There is a current comparison page of the top CPUs at Tom's Hardware -

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html




--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
 
I had the same frustrations you mentioned with my previous computers. If you can find a good reasonable local shop, you can have them build what you want, and always be able to get help when you need it. I thought it would be more expensive than it was. The money you save on the stuff you don't want helps pay for the better quality stuff that you do. Since they built my machine they have always given me good prices when I go back to upgrade or buy something else for them. Just check them out good first- hang around and see how their existing customers act and get treated, maybe test their patience a little with dumb questions. Good luck!
 
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