Looking for a computer...

[Triton]

Hey everyone,

My old home p.c. was purchased in 1998 or so and I guess it's time to finally get a new machine. At the time I purchased the computer it ran about 1600 dollars and was reasonably high end for a desktop p.c.

Basically I'm looking for the same thing again. It will be used mostly for internet access, email, website updates, word processing and some light gaming (mostly just me playing age of empires I don't do that internet gaming stuff )

I've been looking at Dell, mostly because they seem to be very common and I've heard good things about their customer support etc. Their prices also seem to be pretty decent. However I'm open to suggestions of what other computer outfits to look at... so if you all have any suggestions?

Please don't tell me to get a Mac, I don't want one...

 

[phatch]

I've bought a number of ABS computers in the past. www.abscomputers.com. Inexpensive and quick. Never had a problem with them so i don't know about service. Probably bought about 5 of them for family and extended family.

I'll be buying a new one myself in a few months. I'll be buying through www.monarchcomputer.com. They have a line of fully configurable PCs (Furia). High end parts and you get to spec each and every one from the case down to the mouse if you want one. Price is pretty good with build, burn-in and testing, but not as cheap as ABS. Just more high-end choices.

Dell is good. Tough to upgrade in the future as they use lots of proprietary parts. They also use a custom powersupply that is only available through Dell. I've bought a few Dell notebooks.

Alienware is a good high end brand. My wife is currently running one of those.

Plenty of choices out there.

Phil

 

[Bob W]

If buying a brand-name computer today, I'd buy Alienware or the high-end Dell. But I can snap a few parts together myself and save enough money to buy a pile of knives. Wife promised when I finished the work in the library that I could buy a new computer as a reward. Well, now wife is pregnant and I blew my cash on a convertible. So no computer for me this year...

My current machine is a Dell that was one step below top-of-the-line in 2000. It cost about $2200 as I recall, but Las Alamos National Lab paid for half. Over the years I've upgraded the memory, bought a larger monitor, added a second hard drive, and upgraded the graphics card. It's still a solid machine, but I can no longer keep up with the minimum requirements for high-end gaming.

To me, buying one or two steps below top-end seems like the best budget-wise decision. You'll get a computer that will last the longerst, while avoiding the huge premiums that companies charge for the "cutting edge" products.

Happy shopping!
-Bob

 

[Triton]

I've bought a number of ABS computers in the past. www.abscomputers.com. Inexpensive and quick. Never had a problem with them so i don't know about service. Probably bought about 5 of them for family and extended family.

I'll be buying a new one myself in a few months. I'll be buying through www.monarchcomputer.com. They have a line of fully configurable PCs (Furia). High end parts and you get to spec each and every one from the case down to the mouse if you want one. Price is pretty good with build, burn-in and testing, but not as cheap as ABS. Just more high-end choices.

Dell is good. Tough to upgrade in the future as they use lots of proprietary parts. They also use a custom powersupply that is only available through Dell. I've bought a few Dell notebooks.

Alienware is a good high end brand. My wife is currently running one of those.

Plenty of choices out there.

Phil

Thanks for the ideas Phatch I'll go check them out!

 

[Triton]

If buying a brand-name computer today, I'd buy Alienware or the high-end Dell. But I can snap a few parts together myself and save enough money to buy a pile of knives. Wife promised when I finished the work in the library that I could buy a new computer as a reward. Well, now wife is pregnant and I blew my cash on a convertible. So no computer for me this year...

My current machine is a Dell that was one step below top-of-the-line in 2000. It cost about $2200 as I recall, but Las Alamos National Lab paid for half. Over the years I've upgraded the memory, bought a larger monitor, added a second hard drive, and upgraded the graphics card. It's still a solid machine, but I can no longer keep up with the minimum requirements for high-end gaming.

To me, buying one or two steps below top-end seems like the best budget-wise decision. You'll get a computer that will last the longerst, while avoiding the huge premiums that companies charge for the "cutting edge" products.

Happy shopping!
-Bob

Thanks Bob. I completely agree about buying one or two steps below top end (heck buy top end if you can afford it). These things are obsolete before they get them shipped to you so in my opinion the best that you can hope for is buying a machine that meets your needs both now and hopefully for as long as possible in the future assuming software will continue to have increasingly high demands on your overhead. I did okay last time the machine has lasted quite a while, but it's definitely time to upgrade.

 

[Bob W]

Often, the performance difference between a "cutting edge" machine and one that was cutting edge two months ago isn't noticeable, especially not to an average user. For instance, my computer is 800mhz. The top of the line at the time was 833mhz and the absolute most expensive cutting edge product was 866mhz. Other than the $500-$800 markup, I doubt there's even a full smidgenfull of performance difference between them.

I suspect the new release components are sold at premium prices to recover the R&D expenses before the next model is released.

One thing that absolutely doesn't pay off, buying a budget off-the-shelf model. Most are crammed with crap software that sucks and can be an ass-pain to remove. By the time you add a real sound card, graphics card, memory, speakers, monitor, etc. you'll have spent as much as you would have on a really nice machine, only you'll still be stuck with a POS motherboard and processor.

Best Wishes,
Bob

 

[Triton]

Often, the performance difference between a "cutting edge" machine and one that was cutting edge two months ago isn't noticeable, especially not to an average user. For instance, my computer is 800mhz. The top of the line at the time was 833mhz and the absolute most expensive cutting edge product was 866mhz. Other than the $500-$800 markup, I doubt there's even a full smidgenfull of performance difference between them.

I suspect the new release components are sold at premium prices to recover the R&D expenses before the next model is released.

One thing that absolutely doesn't pay off, buying a budget off-the-shelf model. Most are crammed with crap software that sucks and can be an ass-pain to remove. By the time you add a real sound card, graphics card, memory, speakers, monitor, etc. you'll have spent as much as you would have on a really nice machine, only you'll still be stuck with a POS motherboard and processor.

Best Wishes,
Bob

Good point there. Especially for what I'm going to be using it for I don't suppose I'll see that much difference between that 3.2 GHz processor and that 3.0 GHz processor...

 

[Horned Toad]

If buying a brand-name computer today, I'd buy Alienware or the high-end Dell.
-Bob

I would look at building you own; I can tell you from personal experience that Alienware does not honor their warranty.

For around 2200 bucks you can build a system that would cost twice that from a company.

 

[Ken C.]

Moving to Gadgets & Gear.

 

[harrymole]

I have built many a system. I currently work in the IT field and do a side business of repairing and building computers. It is not hard to do. I suggest going to NEWEGG.com they are the best for parts and prices. If you need any help let me know.

 

[Bob W]

For around 2200 bucks you can build a system that would cost twice that from a company.

I agree.

But I can snap a few parts together myself and save enough money to buy a pile of knives.

Two years ago I built a basic backup machine for upstairs, using a new motherboard, memory, and processor along with salvaged CD drives, graphics card, and sound card. It really is as simple as snapping some parts together, although I can see why many people are uncomfortable with the idea.

Good point there. Especially for what I'm going to be using it for I don't suppose I'll see that much difference between that 3.2 GHz processor and that 3.0 GHz processor...

I doubt there'd be any real difference at all, especially if you spent the extra $$ on upgrading the other components such as graphics card, sound card, speakers, or memory.

Best Wishes,
Bob

 

[Crushenator 500]

I would look at building you own; I can tell you from personal experience that Alienware does not honor their warranty.

For around 2200 bucks you can build a system that would cost twice that from a company.

I'de agree with this, and, if you don't feel you can assemble it yourself, you can always find someone that can easily enough. even if they charge a small fee, it still shouldnt be as much as it would to buy a top spec brand name pc off the shelf

 

[lizardman_u]

I would suggest this, go to Alienware and look up there biggest baddest machine, then make a list of the parts; do this with a couple of their machines, then go to newegg.com and price each system. I did this a couple years ago and built a clone of the big alienware for $1500.00 for the tower only (already had the monitor, keyboard and other accesories) the Alienware machine I copied was $6000.00 or more at the time. you will need to order an operating system when you buy your parts, but you will qualify for an OEM version for under 150.00. All in all my machine is still capable for running some of the higher end gaming.

 

[Triton]

I have built many a system. I currently work in the IT field and do a side business of repairing and building computers. It is not hard to do. I suggest going to NEWEGG.com they are the best for parts and prices. If you need any help let me know.

I thought about it, I don't have a ton of hardware experience but I've installed modems and RAM etc. in the past. The thing that sort of worries me about doing that is the "gotchas." Something like... oh too bad that powersupply doesn't work with that motherboard GOTCHA!! Or sorry that modem isn't compatible with they system GOTCHA!!! or the like. Those are just examples I don't KNOW that those things would be issues but I'm reasonably confident that mixing and matching components would lead to those sorts of gotchas. It's avoidable of course, all I have to do is do the research to make sure that the various and sundries will play together nicely. The thing is I'd rather be making scabbards then screwing with computer hardware. Am I just being really lazy? Of course the suggestion above about figuriing out what components some other companies system comes with and then just buying them all myself does sound like a fairly easy way around this hassle... hmmmm.

 

[Point44]

I'm a strong supporter of Dell since i've had good experience with everything i've bought from them. In my family we've bought loads of Dell stuff. 3 notebooks, 2 PC's and a PDA. No problems whatsoever.

Currently i'm looking for a photoediting PC (not MAC) and today i specced a similar system to a Dell and it came to almost the same price (but slightly cheaper). Slightly better overall components but i doubt they'll make much difference compared to the Dell. With the Dell i get the warranty and windows xp. With the clone it's nicer overall components but i'm thinking if something goes wrong i have to lug it to the shop and they'll have to apply for the individual warranties on the component that is spoilt. So that'll take like a month.

What to do what to do. It's bloody frustrating having to make these choices.

 

[PerformanceFirst]

I would look on sites like www.slickdeals.net and www.gotapex.com for a good deal on a Dell. Every now and then they have a smoking deal where you can get a 24" widescreen LCD with a 2.8 Ghz dual core processor for around $1100. I think the monitor alone retails for close to this much. If I was in the market for a computer, I think I would get one of these and throw in my own ram, drives, and video card. It's cheaper to buy them yourself than from Dell and you have more control over what you get. I have a now approaching 2 year old Dell desktop and it's been great. I think you could build a computer if you wanted to without too much trouble. I think the only place you really need to watch for compability is between processors and motherboards, as well as the power supply. Also SATA or IDE hard drives.

 

[flava]

For the usage you describe, I would suggest:
1. Establish yourself a $2500 budget
2. Find a discounted Athlon64 based computer with a relatively decent 17" LCD screen and the usual components (1G RAM, a not too small HDD,DVD writer, etc ...). It shouldn't go over $1000 or so
3. Take the remaining $1500 and buy a nice knife

 

[Triton]

For the usage you describe, I would suggest:
1. Establish yourself a $2500 budget
2. Find a discounted Athlon64 based computer with a relatively decent 17" LCD screen and the usual components (1G RAM, a not too small HDD,DVD writer, etc ...). It shouldn't go over $1000 or so
3. Take the remaining $1500 and buy a nice knife

LOL good one.

 

[Triton]

I would look on sites like www.slickdeals.net and www.gotapex.com for a good deal on a Dell. Every now and then they have a smoking deal where you can get a 24" widescreen LCD with a 2.8 Ghz dual core processor for around $1100. I think the monitor alone retails for close to this much. If I was in the market for a computer, I think I would get one of these and throw in my own ram, drives, and video card. It's cheaper to buy them yourself than from Dell and you have more control over what you get. I have a now approaching 2 year old Dell desktop and it's been great. I think you could build a computer if you wanted to without too much trouble. I think the only place you really need to watch for compability is between processors and motherboards, as well as the power supply. Also SATA or IDE hard drives.

Thanks PF! I'll go check them out too!

 

[Bob W]

The thing that sort of worries me about doing that is the "gotchas." Something like... oh too bad that powersupply doesn't work with that motherboard GOTCHA!!

Once you pick the motherboard and a compatible processor, the rest is cake. Check the motherboard specs to see what type of RAM, what graphics card setup (probably PCI Express or AGP) is compatible, and what hard drive system you plan on using (ATA, RAID, SATA). Then buy a case that's the same "form" as the motherboard (ATX is most common). Other components such as disk drives, modems, sound cards, and peripherals are mostly all going to be compatible.

Power supplies are all going to be compatible, but here's an online calculator that you can use to ensure the power supply is large enough: http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/

Modern computers are relatively easy because everything is compatible. I mess around some with vintage computers and early PCs. Trying to find parts that fit, searching the internet for software to make obscure components work, and finding instructions for anything is a real PITA for those old machines.

Newegg, as suggested above, is great. So is TigerDirect. Their prices are competitive with each other, but sometimes you can find items in stock at one store that is sold out in the other, specials on "open box" or refurbished equipment, and different rebates.

Just a note on cases. Buy one that's ventilated well, maybe even buy an extra fan if it doesn't come with one. And larger is better, IMO. Easier to work in, easier to keep cool, and more room for future expansion. Here's the one that I bought for my backup computer: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=11-164-004&depa=0
It's great, but if building a monster machine, you may need more than 400 watts of power (check that online calculator to find out).

IMO, if you can upgrade RAM or install a modem, building a computer will not be a huge challenge for you. Researching and selecting components will be the most difficult part. Snapping the pieces together is cake.

Best Wishes,
Bob