NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm buying a new comp this week and wondered if the one I'm looking at getting is a good deal or not. It'll mainly be used for gaming and downloads.
The one I have my eye on has the following specs:
Intel Pentium D 820 on a intel P945 board
1 gig DDR2-533 ram
WD 200gig HDD
Geforce PCX 6600 with 256M ram
7.1 sound card (built-in)
Intel 10/100 LAN card
Lite-On 16x DVD R/RW
ATX tower case w/400watt power supply
19" LCD monitor.
Keyboard + mouse

It's going to cost nearly $1000US (which is my budget). Is this a good price or not? I haven't bought a comp for years, so don't know. Is it a good gaming machine?
advice, suggestions, abuse welcome.

Two things:

One, Athlon processors = teh win.
Two, Buy parts individually and pay the computer shop to assemble it for you. Never ever buy prepackaged ones.

I managed to build a machine fairly equivalent to that for a little more than $1000 in Australian dollars - several months ago. That'd be something under $800 in your money.

One thing do not get a Dell

One thing do not get a Dell
*roar*

Why do you say that? :(
My 3 computers, since 1995, are Dell... Never had a single problem!

*roar*

Why do you say that? :(
My 3 computers, since 1995, are Dell... Never had a single problem!
because they are crap frankly

because they are crap frankly
Awwww.... :( :( :(
I don't think so...

*roar*

Why do you say that? :(
My 3 computers, since 1995, are Dell... Never had a single problem!

They cost far too much.

Awwww.... :( :( :(
I don't think so...
Fair enough not gonna argue with ya

They cost far too much.
Ah, indeed, they aren't cheap...

Dell makes great, dummy friendly machines. The problem is that they have become overpriced.

Dell makes great, dummy friendly machines. The problem is that they have become overpriced.
How unfortunate...

Dell makes great, dummy friendly machines. The problem is that they have become overpriced.
I like custom built you get what you want and need that way

Ah, indeed, they aren't cheap...

It's just my opinion that you get far more value for money if you pay a store to build one up for you. Prebuilt PC's, especially big name ones like Dell and Hewlett-Packard are always ridiculously overpriced. That couple of hundred dollars you save could be put to something useful. It's a lot of money to most people.

I like custom built you get what you want and need that way

That's true only if what you need isnt dummy-friendly support.

I recommend Dell to all non-geeks.

Huh, I thought prebuild was often cheaper, they definitely could be in theory since they're mass produced.
Maybe it's just that when I try to put together one myself I pick to many expensive parts.. ?!

Huh, I thought prebuild was often cheaper, they definitely could be in theory since they're mass produced.
Maybe it's just that when I try to put together one myself I pick to many expensive parts.. ?!

Probably, or maybe you buy the parts from the wrong places? :p

i put together my PC and so far to build it now with what it has it would be £300 pounds or roughly 550$ and it can play all the latest games on near to always full settings. (battlefield 2, half life 2, doom 3 + expansions. etc..)

I'm buying a new comp this week and wondered if the one I'm looking at getting is a good deal or not. It'll mainly be used for gaming and downloads.
The one I have my eye on has the following specs:
Intel Pentium D 820 on a intel P945 board
1 gig DDR2-533 ram
WD 200gig HDD
Geforce PCX 6600 with 256M ram
7.1 sound card (built-in)
Intel 10/100 LAN card
Lite-On 16x DVD R/RW
ATX tower case w/400watt power supply
19" LCD monitor.
Keyboard + mouse

It's going to cost nearly $1000US (which is my budget). Is this a good price or not? I haven't bought a comp for years, so don't know. Is it a good gaming machine?
advice, suggestions, abuse welcome.


While I am an AMD fan 1000 for that AND you get a 19 inch LCD ... that IS a good price

Huh, I thought prebuild was often cheaper, they definitely could be in theory since they're mass produced.
Maybe it's just that when I try to put together one myself I pick to many expensive parts.. ?!
On che cheep end (for desktops under the 700 mark) often what you can build vs buy is very simmilar in price ... (though you got to remember when building you tend to have beter specs on the back end)

The more expensive you get though generaly the more you save building instead of buying

While I am an AMD fan 1000 for that AND you get a 19 inch LCD ... that IS a good price
I'm dubious of that as well. It would depend what brand it is. I've had bad experiences with cheap monitors.

I'm dubious of that as well. It would depend what brand it is. I've had bad experiences with cheap monitors.
Agreed but even the cheep brands of 19 inch monitors adds a few hundred to the cost

I would not buy them but, keeping it under 1k with even a cheep 19 inch LCD is intresting

Prebuilt PC's, especially big name ones like Dell and Hewlett-Packard are always ridiculously overpriced.

True, but in return you get a good warranty and support from the vendor. That's also a big deal to some, especially to people who aren't very familiar with computer.

But still, I wouldn't get a prebuilt one if the computer's main purpose were to play games.

True, but in return you get a good warranty and support from the vendor. That's also a big deal to some, especially to people who aren't very familiar with computer.

But still, I wouldn't get a prebuilt one if the computer's main purpose were to play games.
Depends on what your definition of “good” is lol

Agreed but even the cheep brands of 19 inch monitors adds a few hundred to the cost

I would not buy them but, keeping it under 1k with even a cheep 19 inch LCD is intresting

Yeah. It does look pretty good value for money. Aside from the monitor, it's about equivalent to mine...though as I said...mine was cheaper than that, even with a new monitor (CRT, though)...several months ago. It'd be worth checking to see what brand the monitor is, first. If it's a Sony or something, i'd say it's a winner.

True, but in return you get a good warranty and support from the vendor. That's also a big deal to some, especially to people who aren't very familiar with computer.

But still, I wouldn't get a prebuilt one if the computer's main purpose were to play games.

Meh, that's why you befriend nerds. They need friends, you need someone to fix your computer. It's a win-win! :D

LCD VDUs are great

Yeah. It does look pretty good value for money. Aside from the monitor, it's about equivalent to mine...though as I said...mine was cheaper than that, even with a new monitor (CRT, though)...several months ago. It'd be worth checking to see what brand the monitor is, first. If it's a Sony or something, i'd say it's a winner.



Meh, that's why you befriend nerds. They need friends, you need someone to fix your computer. It's a win-win! :D
Yeah but remember he is running dual core ... his proc is 245 by itself

Here is what I got roughly newegging it
Proc $245.00
mobo 120
ram 60
Monitor 300
HDD 85
Vid Card 100




$910.00

I picked the cheepist version of all the hardware though ... if I were to build it the setup would be about 50 bucks more
and as you can see this is WITHOUT shipping ... or case or powersupply figured in (or keyboard and mouse)

His price is not bad at all

You should check out 'Alienware' if its gaming and power you need.Not the cheapest but they are sh*t-hot for speed, graphics and all around coolness.

You should check out 'Alienware' if its gaming and power you need.Not the cheapest but they are sh*t-hot for speed, graphics and all around coolness.
And they are also scorned by real geeks for charging twice the cost necessary as you get into their top end systems

His price is not bad at all

Agreed, then. If it's not a big-label store, and it's actually a small computer store building their own bundles, it might pay to see if they'll switch for an AMD processor. Smaller places are usually happy to work out a deal.

I dont see why everyone hits on dells so much, They got number 2 PC maker in PC magazine last year.

THey're PCs may be expensive, but they're very well built, and can take alot of shit.

Considering that they throw in over 300 dollars worth of software with even the cheapest PCs, I'd say dell is a good deal.

/rant off

Imo, you should stick with the Pentium D, I've always had better experiances with Intels products.

And they are also scorned by real geeks for charging twice the cost necessary as you get into their top end systems
Thats why I said check them out.Get some ideas of the type of system and then build the bloody thing yourself.:D

I dont see why everyone hits on dells so much, They got number 2 PC maker in PC magazine last year.

THey're PCs may be expensive, but they're very well built, and can take alot of shit.

Considering that they throw in over 300 dollars worth of software with even the cheapest PCs, I'd say dell is a good deal.

/rant off

Imo, you should stick with the Pentium D, I've always had better experiances with Intels products.
I used to like dell ... but their hardware has been tanking lately

And personally I am getting tired of dealing with their BS proprietary hardware

Thats why I said check them out.Get some ideas of the type of system and then build the bloody thing yourself.:D
;) lol yup to me that is a much more viable option

I used to like dell ... but their hardware has been tanking lately

And personally I am getting tired of dealing with their BS proprietary hardware
Well with helpdesk in India you are screwed

Well with helpdesk in India you are screwed
I dont own any currently supported machines anyway

But I have managed to make my own adapters or just do casemoding to get the hardware in anyways

It still is anoying when you have to ship in or make special adapters just becase a 30 dollar power supply went bad

I dont own any currently supported machines anyway

But I have managed to make my own adapters or just do casemoding to get the hardware in anyways

It still is anoying when you have to ship in or make special adapters just becase a 30 dollar power supply went bad
true

Sense it is on topic ... never miss a chace to show off my baby
http://geek.upwardthrust.us/picturethree.jpg

Sense it is on topic ... never miss a chace to show off my baby
http://geek.upwardthrust.us/picturethree.jpg

Hey how's it going. Say I am ready to buy that new 'puter if you are still willing to put it together for me. Somewhere around 1k to 1300 should do it for me. Is the offer still good?

Hey how's it going. Say I am ready to buy that new 'puter if you are still willing to put it together for me. Somewhere around 1k to 1300 should do it for me. Is the offer still good?
Yup :) ... feel free to TG or AIM me ... let me know your email (aim link on left)
will work it out with ya :)

Yup :) ... feel free to TG or AIM me ... let me know your email (aim link on left)
will work it out with ya :)

I'm at work now, so i will do that later today or Friday. Thanks much.

I'm at work now, so i will do that later today or Friday. Thanks much.
Yup any time

Huh, I thought prebuild was often cheaper, they definitely could be in theory since they're mass produced.
Maybe it's just that when I try to put together one myself I pick to many expensive parts.. ?!
You probably did put in more expensive parts. HP and Dell motherboards are cheap. Also a Dell video card won't be as good as a eVGA or BFG card with the same name.

Sense it is on topic ... never miss a chace to show off my baby
http://geek.upwardthrust.us/picturethree.jpg
That pic is much too big. Tis sexy though.

Also with pre-built PCs, they dont tend to be top PSUs, which can risk you damage to the components and possibily fatal surges.

19" LCD is not worth it. It has the same native resolution as a 17" LCD, so you are basically having a 17" screen stretched to fit the 19" screen, thus reducing the quality.

Also with pre-built PCs, they dont tend to be top PSUs, which can risk you damage to the components and possibily fatal surges.
True. The PSU that came with my HP craps out on me all the time, and I haven't upgraded any of my hardware.

You probably did put in more expensive parts. HP and Dell motherboards are cheap. Also a Dell video card won't be as good as a eVGA or BFG card with the same name.


That pic is much too big. Tis sexy though.
I refuse to degrade my beautifull machines picture!

Also with pre-built PCs, they dont tend to be top PSUs, which can risk you damage to the components and possibily fatal surges.

19" LCD is not worth it. It has the same native resolution as a 17" LCD, so you are basically having a 17" screen stretched to fit the 19" screen, thus reducing the quality.
Which is still better for me... the view is more comfortable

I refuse to degrade my beautifull machines picture!
But it takes at least 80 seconds to load.

One thing do not get a Dell
Agreed. Dell is *huge* crap! :mad:

Also, also several others already said, An Amd is much better! Get a Athlon 64 3500+ or above with a decent mainboard (Asus is fine.)

Also, get a good PSU, it's normally big crap in pre-built ones.

Agreed. Dell is *huge* crap! :mad:

Also, also several others already said, An Amd is much better! Get a Athlon 64 3500+ or above with a decent mainboard (Asus is fine.)

Also, get a good PSU, it's normally big crap in pre-built ones.


agreed

Two things:

One, Athlon processors = teh win.
Two, Buy parts individually and pay the computer shop to assemble it for you. Never ever buy prepackaged ones.

I managed to build a machine fairly equivalent to that for a little more than $1000 in Australian dollars - several months ago. That'd be something under $800 in your money.
First off, apologies for not replying earlier, but I don't have a computer at home, (hence the need to buy one! duh) and am on hols so only get on the internet in cafes or at the free terminals in the subway stations.

Thanx for all the replies too, btw.

I did think about buying all the parts and building it myself, but I coldn't be bothered with the hassle of hours of fiddling with the settings, and rebooting etc etc that goes along with it. Also from what I saw of the individual component prices it didn't look like it was going to that much cheaper.

I would have prefered an AMD chip - I like AMD over Pentium just as a personal choice, but I thought AMD Athlon didn't support DD2R ram, which slows it down a bit. Also the shop I went to only stocked Pentium. The shop next door that had AMD was selling a similar model as the one I mentioned, but with only a 128meg Geforce 6600 card and 512meg RAM. So any difference in processor speed between the AMD and Pentium is more than compensated by the extra 768meg Ram I'd be getting (128 from the vid card, 512 extra memory).

The montior's a NEC btw, which is a fairly decent reliable brand as far as I'm aware.

It also comes with a 3 yr warranty. The shop was established in 1989, so I don't think it's going to fold any time soon. That's important here, as many places close every couple of years just before Chinese New Year and reopened just after with a slightly different name (so they might go from 'A1 computer products' to 'A1 home computer products') and will then refuse to honour any warranty signed under the old company, unless you pay extra. Gotta love the Chinese for coming up with ideas like that.

Also, Kanabia, I'm not in the states. I live a lot closer to you than you think (which may or may not disturb you). I just use US$ cause I figure everyone here has a good idea of what that's worth in their own money. I doubt anyone would have a clue of I'd said it was going to cost me $7200HK.

Again, cheers for the advice, I think I'll go buy it now and set it up for some good gaming New years day while I'm recovering.

First off, apologies for not replying earlier, but I don't have a computer at home, (hence the need to buy one! duh) and am on hols so only get on the internet in cafes or at the free terminals in the subway stations.

Thanx for all the replies too, btw.

I did think about buying all the parts and building it myself, but I coldn't be bothered with the hassle of hours of fiddling with the settings, and rebooting etc etc that goes along with it. Also from what I saw of the individual component prices it didn't look like it was going to that much cheaper.

I would have prefered an AMD chip - I like AMD over Pentium just as a personal choice, but I thought AMD Athlon didn't support DD2R ram, which slows it down a bit. Also the shop I went to only stocked Pentium. The shop next door that had AMD was selling a similar model as the one I mentioned, but with only a 128meg Geforce 6600 card and 512meg RAM. So any difference in processor speed between the AMD and Pentium is more than compensated by the extra 768meg Ram I'd be getting (128 from the vid card, 512 extra memory).

The montior's a NEC btw, which is a fairly decent reliable brand as far as I'm aware.

It also comes with a 3 yr warranty. The shop was established in 1989, so I don't think it's going to fold any time soon. That's important here, as many places close every couple of years just before Chinese New Year and reopened just after with a slightly different name (so they might go from 'A1 computer products' to 'A1 home computer products') and will then refuse to honour any warranty signed under the old company, unless you pay extra. Gotta love the Chinese for coming up with ideas like that.

Also, Kanabia, I'm not in the states. I live a lot closer to you than you think (which may or may not disturb you). I just use US$ cause I figure everyone here has a good idea of what that's worth in their own money. I doubt anyone would have a clue of I'd said it was going to cost me $7200HK.

Again, cheers for the advice, I think I'll go buy it now and set it up for some good gaming New years day while I'm recovering.

Nec ... good choice they make a real solid monitor
Personaly for that price and your situation you have my stamp of aproval

Nonono WRONG video card. If you want a top-notch computer, and if you want to play top-of-the-line games at all, get the ATI Radeon X850 Pro, AGP bus, 256 MB. Radeon > GeForce, XPro series > numbered series (6600, 7200, etc.), AGP > PCI (4x faster).

Nonono WRONG video card. If you want a top-notch computer, and if you want to play top-of-the-line games at all, get the ATI Radeon X850 Pro, AGP bus, 256 MB. Radeon > GeForce, XPro series > numbered series (6600, 7200, etc.), AGP > PCI (4x faster).
Please read and understand he is going with a package deal
He does not have that option right now to swap it out (he can choose to later)

And for the price with a 19 inch NEC ... it is a good price

Nonono WRONG video card. If you want a top-notch computer, and if you want to play top-of-the-line games at all, get the ATI Radeon X850 Pro, AGP bus, 256 MB. Radeon > GeForce, XPro series > numbered series (6600, 7200, etc.), AGP > PCI (4x faster).
First:
PCI-E>AGP>PCI
So a PCI-E card would be the fastest.
Second:
Radeon=Geforce.
Although I prefer ATI, nVIDIA does run some games faster, while ATI will run others faster.
Also:
xNNN(N)XT>xNNN(N) Pro>NNNN, N=numbers.