Need a new PC...

338375

338375

Joined
Nov 4, 2006
Messages
19,374
My sons computer needs some work, but its getting older and the wife and I decided we would give him ours and we would get a new one...

Neither one of us keep up with the computer technology, so I'm looking for some suggestions ..

The wife plays a lot of games, about the only thing I use it for is cruising the Forums :D

Thanks Mike
 
As a minimum you should be looking for a dual core processor and 2GB RAM. More info on what you want to use it for and how much money you want to spend would help.
 
First off, I would recommend an Apple. If you've never tried it, pick one up. It's a little pricey, but totally worth it. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

If you do decide to go Windows, I would look for Windows XP (NOT Vista!) and 2GB ram.
 
jacktrades_nbk said:
price range ? and what games ?
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Very important questions.

If your wife plays 3D games... anything that requires DirectX, that limits your choices because it requires you to purchase a Windows machine.

For internet flash games, the operating system doesn't really matter.

I'd recommend a Mac laptop for all casual computer use, IF you're willing to spend the money.

For a CHEAP laptop, or an inexpensive desktop, it's really hard to beat Dell. At the very lowest range of prices, you can have an Ubuntu-Linux loaded laptop for little more than $500-600... or even <$400 for a netbook. However, that's not going to work if you need to play Windows games.

If your wife plays modern 3D games, just throw out the concept of a laptop, and get a desktop instead... get a dual-core Intel @3Ghz(preferably core i7), 4GB (8GB preferable) of RAM, and one of the top Nvidia cards (aim for $250-300 for the video card alone). Make sure to get Vista64 not Vista32... aside from being able to address more than 3GB of RAM, the differences in speed and reliability are significant. Don't listen to Vista naysayers - they either overheard that there were problems and are just repeating it, or they had experiences with pre-SP1 Vista32... which indeed was a pretty atrocious OS. Vista64 SP1 is actually a very usable system, as long as it's well managed.

P.S. If anyone wants to call me a fanboy, know this - I'm typing this post on my work laptop that runs Ubuntu 8.10
 
gnius said:
Don't listen to Vista naysayers - they either overheard that there were problems and are just repeating it, or they had experiences with pre-SP1 Vista32... which indeed was a pretty atrocious OS. Vista64 SP1 is actually a very usable system, as long as it's well managed.
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This is exactly correct, more than 2/3 of the people I sell computers to cringe as I mention Vista. When I ask them why they are feel so negatively about it, the response is almost universal: "Oh, well you know what they say", or "Well, a buddy of mine had it and TOLD me things"... It's all talk.

As far as a gaming Laptop, the only one I have seen that impresses me slightly, especially for the price, is this ASUS model.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...Q?skuId=9173262&type=product&id=1218044029168

This computer will handle most games easily, but some of the latest generation games may have some lag.

A benefit of Mac's is they seem to remain 'in' longer. The models have a longer shelf life, vs. PC's that are moved in and out monthly.

I still prefer PC over MAC, although when I do my Media Editing I prefer CS4 on the MAC.
 
However...Vista may be dead on the vine. The tech news is full of reviews and cheerleading for "Seven" , which may be released before Xmas.....

The main problem with Vista were related to a common chip/motherboard combo that didn't play nicely. I don't think any rig currently for sale would be likely to be so equipped.
Also, it's a resource hog, and gamers complain that they needs must double their RAM to at least 4 gigs.

I bought a bare-bones rig from NewEgg for under 900 bucks. Just the tower; I already had all the peripherals.
Good video card, 2 gigs of RAM, a 250 gig hard drive. No expensive "suite" of useless software, just the operating system (XP)

The card failed in a couple of months, and EVGA sent me an upgraded card free of charge. (register, register!) Thing runs all my games fine, and has been essentially trouble-free.
 
Thanks for the suggestions... Man, I can do a lot of things,work on guns, build race cars, but computer lingo just leaves me in the dark..

The wife doesn't play any 3d games, mostly because our system isn't set up for it.
We currently have an HP pavilion a700n with windows xp.

BobW, thanks for the link. Those look like some great prices for the Dells..

We already have a nice new flat screen monitor, but if we can get a good price on a package that has one with it, we can give my son our monitor too.

I like the sub 600 price range. I'm cheap
 
338375 said:
I like the sub 600 price range. I'm cheap
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For casual home users and office workers, $600 can buy/build a solid quality machine that does everything they need and that will last for years.

But for high-end 3D gaming with good sound and graphics, you can build a nice rig for $1200 and up.

I spent $2000 on my current system, but I really went overboard with bells-and-whistles, I expect it to have a lifespan of six years, and many of the components can/will be carried over to the next build.

It may not be an option since you're wishing to pass down the old computer, but a lot of components can be re-used, either saving money or allowing for better components in areas that matter more. Keyboard, mouse, hard drive, DVD drive, speakers, sound card, etc.

I'm pressed for time now, but later on I'll post a list of parts/prices for a hypothetical $600 machine. Then you can compare the specs and quality to a store-bought machine for the same price.

The biggest advantage for building over buying is being able to apply the budget to the components of the computer that matter the most to you and your computing needs.
 
MAC and don't look back!
Look for a lightly used Mac on ebay. I don't see any reason why anyone would use a PC at home or prefer one. I have both at home, and also use both at work. If you want trouble free operation without having to worry about viruses and related security software and asinine operating systems get a MAC. Microsoft has been trying to copy the MAC OS for years and still hasn't come close. The current Mac OS is solid as a rock.
Also, Microsoft is evil :D
 
racegunner said:
I don't see any reason why anyone would use a PC at home or prefer one.
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Some of us like to have some sort of control over our computer... some of us like to customize our interface... and some of us, play games occasionally... you know - little things.

Apple is not the end-all-be-all computer. They generally have very good hardware (except when they totally cheat their fans and use the worst, cheapest TN panels in their high end laptops... in addition to the 8-bit IPS ones... without specifying which one you're getting). Apple also is somewhat easy to use (although I've never found OSX to be THAT intuitive), and their laptop power management is second to none. That being said, Apple computers are the epitome of giving up control.

Don't get me wrong, I like my fiance's macbook - it's perfect for her... and it works whenever I pick it up. I also LOVE my iPhone. But for laptops, I prefer Ubuntu, which gives me nearly limitless control... and I'm not the only person I know who finds that it has the most intuitive GUI of all the modern OSs. But for desktops, Windows still rules... if only because of DirectX.
 
roughedges said:
The only reason people think that Apple is any better is the quality of their marketing department. :cool:
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Haven't used one recently I take it?

:)

I would check out a refurb Mac with the full warranty if I was currently in the market....
 
ADD said:
Haven't used one recently I take it?

:)

I would check out a refurb Mac with the full warranty if I was currently in the market....
Click to expand...

Actually, I have and stand by my statement. Although I probably should have qualified it a bit more specifically. :) However, I do admit that their designs are far beyond most every pc manufacturer out there.

I prefer to build my own anyways and that is (nearly :p) impossible with a Mac.
 
Heard on the radio that Apple rolled out new pricing for two desktop models today. Prices on them are supposed to put them in direct competition with the PC market. I'd recommend at least a glance at those. Cheers.
 
They generally have very good hardware...
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I'd rephrase that slightly: Macs generally have hardware that's just as good as any other computer.

Apple doesn't make any hardware, and Macs are snapped together with the same components that anyone could buy at NewEgg or elsewhere. Same processor, same graphic cards, same hard drive...
 
Bob W said:
I'd rephrase that slightly: Macs generally have hardware that's just as good as any other computer.

Apple doesn't make any hardware, and Macs are snapped together with the same components that anyone could buy at NewEgg or elsewhere. Same processor, same graphic cards, same hard drive...
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Let me rephrase it - they tend to use the BETTER off-the-shelf hardware compared to many other computer makers. It's off-the-shelf... but there's frequently a difference between Biostar and Asus.

Apple also write fantastic drivers for their hardware (they have the luxury of having a very limited set of hardware to deal with) and integrate these drivers really well into their OS... which obviously contributes to stability.
 
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