NationStates Jolt Archive

I decided that this summer I'm going to buy a computer, but seeing as how I'm full of static electricity with an itchy hammer hand, I figure it would be better to get a custom set up from some online place. I've looked at cyberpower and ibuypower with results in the $2500 to $2600 range. Maybe some one here can think of another totally custom place that can get me a decent price with slightly above average parts

And while we are at it let's debate the merits of what I want.

Core 2 Duo E6600
640MB GeForce 8800 GTS
4GB RAM
600-700W power supply
320-400GB harddrive
20" LCD display

I can get an OS for free (XP Pro or Vista Business) and already have a decent mouse and keyboard. I have no need for a sound card but I might as well get a half decent speaker system just in case. And at cyberpower I can get a 700W UPS in the $2500 price included.

So any opinions, suggestions, or etc.

Ibuypower and cyberpower are good, but it will still be cheaper to buy parts from newegg and simply build it yourself. I have an Alienware, but next computer I plan to build myself. You'll also want to get that 700W power supply. 4 gigs of RAM is a lot, you may want to wait until DDR3 comes out, and get two gigs of DDR3 memory.

Ibuypower and cyberpower are good, but it will still be cheaper to buy parts from newegg and simply build it yourself. I have an Alienware, but next computer I plan to build myself.
I thought about it then realized I would prefer a parts and manufacturing warranty. And it won't cost me significantly any more money.

Dell can build you a nice rig for that money too. Not too sure about the speakers and no ups, but you get a good 20 inch widescreen monitor and one of the better warranties in the business... But it might not be the best bang for your buck. Build a similar system to yours and I wound up around 2600 usd with screen and vista home pro.

EDIT: Oh, and I went for the 768MB nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX and removed everything I could and I wound up with $2,478

I thought about it then realized I would prefer a parts and manufacturing warranty. And it won't cost me significantly any more money.

Sure thing. Go with Ibuypower, I think they give you a free warranty. Alienware charged a lot of money for theirs.

My rig:
AMD 4800+
2GB of RAM
8800 GTX
320gb Hard Drive
20.1" monitor
Windows XP [ I upgrade to Vista when first dx10 games come]
650 Watt power supply [This is being upgraded, I am ordering a 750 in the next few days.]

Dell can build you a nice rig for that money too. Not too sure about the speakers and no ups, but you get a good 20 inch widescreen monitor and one of the better warranties in the business... But it might not be the best bang for your buck. Build a similar system to yours and I wound up around 2600 usd with screen and vista home pro.

EDIT: Oh, and I went for the 768MB nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX and removed everything I could and I wound up with $2,478

Never ever buy from Dell.

Do NOT get a Dell. I repeat. Do not get a DELL. They stick so much shit on your computer when they ship it out, half the systems come pre-compromised. I once ran a virusscan on someone's dell computer and came up with 1500 pieces of spyware and over 3000 viruses. Do not get a dell.

Do NOT get a Dell. I repeat. Do not get a DELL. They stick so much shit on your computer when they ship it out, half the systems come pre-compromised. I once ran a virusscan on someone's dell computer and came up with 1500 pieces of spyware and over 3000 viruses. Do not get a dell.

True, they put a load of crap on the system. Do a format, reinstall the OS which you get with the computer(Its standard OEM OS, not bundled with shit) and install your favourite antivirus and firewall. Done. It takes less than two hours.
And while they stuff their computers full of shit and trialware and such, I think the 3000 viruses has more to do with 'someone' than the brand of hardware.

Just for the record, I ain't no fanboy of Dell's, I've had plenty of different computers, mostly no-name homebuilt systems and I've only recently been involved with Dells as I got one from work. It's not the meanest, not the cheapest, not the best looking and it comes with crap on it. If you know how to put a cd in the tray and format from there, you won't have to worry about spyware unless you install them yourself.

Never ever buy from Dell.

And why is that?

Core 2 Duo E6600
640MB GeForce 8800 GTS
4GB RAM
600-700W power supply
320-400GB harddrive
20" LCD display

That's a powerful computer.

640MB GeForce 8800 GTS
Might want to go with XP for a bit then. Unless nVidia has fix their Vista drivers.
4GB RAM
2x2GB or 4x1GB
600-700W power supply
Brand?


This thing gonna have a motherboard or anything like that?

And why is that?

Dude, you're getting a Dell!

Need I say any more?

Pfft, that doesn't beat the one I heard about: 484 GB Ram

:p

All the ram was recently stolen too :(

Couple suggestions:

for your PSU: check the ampere output you get on 12V rail...it should be over 30A for an 8800. I've seen several people recommend pc power and cooling, though I've never had enough cash to get a new psu.

hard drive: dude, get more! at newegg.com, you can get two 500gb hard drives for a combined price of 260 dollars.

case: again, the "top of the line" one people have suggested to me has been the antec 900 -- lots of ventilation, big ass fans, etc.

ram: dual channel. *nod*

2x2GB or 4x1GB
I think 4x1

Brand?
Depends which site I use. Thermaltek or some other fancy one that is "SLI ready."


This thing gonna have a motherboard or anything like that?
I think I picked the EVGA nForce 680i in the test setups.

And I was just going to get a cool case. I think the one on ibuypower was a new Dragon case and the one on cyberpower was a xeon III

Depends which site I use. Thermaltek or some other fancy one that is "SLI ready."
And we all know how much that means.

I bought an Alienware Area-51 ALX (3.2 Ghz).

I still have my car.

And we all know how much that means.
Run up a custom computer site and look at the 2 or 3 600-700 watt power supplies. Pick a median one. That is what I was looking at.

I bought an Alienware Area-51 ALX (3.2 Ghz).

I still have my car.
Even with an Alienware? You're lucky.
I have no intention of buying Alienware. They have always been overpriced and ever since they were bought out, by DELL I believe, their "customization" is practically a joke.

Anyone else?

Even with an Alienware? You're lucky.
I have no intention of buying Alienware. They have always been overpriced and ever since they were bought out, by DELL I believe, their "customization" is practically a joke.

It's fast, reliable, and I have no doubt that it's faster than just about anything else for the money - for the next week or so...

Couple suggestions:

for your PSU: check the ampere output you get on 12V rail...it should be over 30A for an 8800. I've seen several people recommend pc power and cooling, though I've never had enough cash to get a new psu.

hard drive: dude, get more! at newegg.com, you can get two 500gb hard drives for a combined price of 260 dollars.

case: again, the "top of the line" one people have suggested to me has been the antec 900 -- lots of ventilation, big ass fans, etc.

ram: dual channel. *nod*


I picked up a PC Power & Cooling Turbo Cool 510, used on eBay for $85 + shipping. Needless to say, I got lucky with that auction. :D

As far as a case, you could go with an Antec 900, but I personally prefer the looks of Lian Li (I've got my system in a PC-60 and I've got a PC-70 I'm modding to fit water-cooling and 120mm fans).

Once, I spent more on a rifle than I spent on any car I've ever owned, or any computer I've ever owned...

I heard Alienware have the customer support in Costa Rica (unless you're the US government, then you get local support).

Pfft, I've never spent as much on a car as I spent on either of the graphics cards I've got in this thing.

To the OP: There's not much point in getting getting 4GB RAM if you're not planning on using a 64-bit OS, because hardware limitations of the x86 architecture mean that a big chunk won't be usable. Also, processes can probably only use 2GB each, and at most can only use 3GB (under Windows on 32-bit x86).

The downside: I don't know if you could get 3GB RAM working in dual-channel; you'd have to check with the mainboard manual or manufacturer.

If you are planning on using a 64-bit OS; Win XP x64 works fine (for me), but I've heard unfavourable things about Vista 64-bit, especially for gaming, so you might want to check that out first.

You're a genius.

and I have no doubt that it's faster than just about anything else for the money
If you don't bother looking at real custom sites. Alienware is faux custom for alot pricier than anyone else, even more since they were bought by DELL.

To the OP: There's not much point in getting getting 4GB RAM if you're not planning on using a 64-bit OS, because hardware limitations of the x86 architecture mean that a big chunk won't be usable. Also, processes can probably only use 2GB each, and at most can only use 3GB (under Windows on 32-bit x86).
I have a habit of leaving stuff running while playing games, and OS plus usual programs running uses 400-500MB of RAM (according to my RAM manager) so with 2GB that leaves 1.2-1.3GB for the game and let the computer run decently.

My computer sucks...a lot

Mobile AMD Athlon XP 2800+....1.6 GHz
768 MB RAM
250 GB Hard Drive
No Sound Card

AND....

NO VIDEO CARD! I have 32 MB for video which I get from my motherboard

*sigh*

It's like you guys are all in pimped-out low riders and i've got...
...this *sigh*

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mmckinst/fox/craig1.jpg

It's fast, reliable, and I have no doubt that it's faster than just about anything else for the money - for the next week or so...

Thats $5600 (all prices in CAD) stock. You could build the same system for about $3900.

EDIT: You just have to overclock the thing yourself. It'd void your warranty, but you could replace the processor and still be cheaper.

I bought an Alienware Area-51 ALX (3.2 Ghz).

I still have my car.
I ran almost the exact same thing (maybe some brand differences, unknown since everything is "Alienware" brand) that you get with the standard Area-51 ALX package (5,600 and some odd dollars) through cyberpower. I came out with below $3500 (That uses the Xion III gaming tower I was looking at that I liked)

You might want to get a 22" monitor, they're getting pretty cheap. Although, that stuff looks great, better than my January upgrade.

I decided that this summer I'm going to buy a computer, but seeing as how I'm full of static electricity with an itchy hammer hand, I figure it would be better to get a custom set up from some online place. I've looked at cyberpower and ibuypower with results in the $2500 to $2600 range. Maybe some one here can think of another totally custom place that can get me a decent price with slightly above average parts

And while we are at it let's debate the merits of what I want.

Core 2 Duo E6600
640MB GeForce 8800 GTS
4GB RAM
600-700W power supply
320-400GB harddrive
20" LCD display

I can get an OS for free (XP Pro or Vista Business) and already have a decent mouse and keyboard. I have no need for a sound card but I might as well get a half decent speaker system just in case. And at cyberpower I can get a 700W UPS in the $2500 price included.

So any opinions, suggestions, or etc.
Not bad ... Same computer would be closer to 1800 building ... depending on part quality

But not that bad for a pre-built one with any decent warranty

Dude, you're getting a Dell!

Need I say any more?

I have three dells at home. Two desktop and a laptop. All three are less then a year old. Had a problem with the laptop. They fixed the thing right away. My daughter actually stood on it and broke it. I didn't tell them that but they replaced it for nothing. All three systems are used a lot. Have two kids at home that use them. I also use two of them extensively plus the wife is on two of them frequently. Not a problem at all with any of the three less the daughter breaking the laptop.

I have three dells at home. Two desktop and a laptop. All three are less then a year old. Had a problem with the laptop. They fixed the thing right away. My daughter actually stood on it and broke it. I didn't tell them that but they replaced it for nothing. All three systems are used a lot. Have two kids at home that use them. I also use two of them extensively plus the wife is on two of them frequently. Not a problem at all with any of the three less the daughter breaking the laptop.

I bought one back in the day before I started building, Still in use by my girlfriend, needed some upgrades but the normal stuff

another one I got for free from a friend, dead power supply but a new one with some case modding works like a charm

I decided that this summer I'm going to buy a computer, but seeing as how I'm full of static electricity with an itchy hammer hand, I figure it would be better to get a custom set up from some online place. I've looked at cyberpower and ibuypower with results in the $2500 to $2600 range. Maybe some one here can think of another totally custom place that can get me a decent price with slightly above average parts

And while we are at it let's debate the merits of what I want.

Core 2 Duo E6600
640MB GeForce 8800 GTS
4GB RAM
600-700W power supply
320-400GB harddrive
20" LCD display

I can get an OS for free (XP Pro or Vista Business) and already have a decent mouse and keyboard. I have no need for a sound card but I might as well get a half decent speaker system just in case. And at cyberpower I can get a 700W UPS in the $2500 price included.

So any opinions, suggestions, or etc.

You would actually be better off buying neither a car or computer. Put the money in land that won't depreciate. There's an old saying, "Get a lot while you're young."

You would actually be better off buying neither a car or computer. Put the money in land that won't depreciate. There's an old saying, "Get a lot while you're young."
My computer has earned me well more then both its cost and the amount of land I could have afforded would have appreciated

When you earn your living though your computer it is rather valuable to you

My computer has earned me well more then both its cost and the amount of land I could have afforded would have appreciated

When you earn your living though your computer it is rather valuable to you

Seconded! :p

Speaking of Dells, one turned up at work today ...

Seconded! :p

Speaking of Dells, one turned up at work today ...

Yeah ... sure we saw 5 or 10 today

I was hiring my new staff for fall semester all day so was not around to see how many

Yeah ... sure we saw 5 or 10 today

I was hiring my new staff for fall semester all day so was not around to see how many

At my workplace, one Dell laptop - the rest as Toshiba or ASUS or NEC. No Dell desktops.

At my workplace, one Dell laptop - the rest as Toshiba or ASUS or NEC. No Dell desktops.

We support some 20 -30 thousand peoples computers, personal and work

We use HP/Compaq for office but their home computers

(13 thousand students, 2000 staff/faculty and then emeriti)

I have three dells at home. Two desktop and a laptop. All three are less then a year old. Had a problem with the laptop. They fixed the thing right away. My daughter actually stood on it and broke it. I didn't tell them that but they replaced it for nothing. All three systems are used a lot. Have two kids at home that use them. I also use two of them extensively plus the wife is on two of them frequently. Not a problem at all with any of the three less the daughter breaking the laptop.

Sure, less than a year old, but most of us have been dealing with computer manufacturers before the business wide decision that they are going to stop treating customers like idiots. Back in the day the level of crap from companies was Gateway > DELL > HP/Compaq (from lamest to not lamest but still hates you). They have all gradually figured out that people want computers that are modifiable and upgradeable and reasonably competent people will be buying their computers. They still stick in the cheapest crap they can get away with and fill it to the brim with proprietary and other shit programs, but least they are fairly decent now.

My computer has earned me well more then both its cost and the amount of land I could have afforded would have appreciated

When you earn your living though your computer it is rather valuable to you

I've found that a quad processor high end gaming machine is far more useful for writing multiprocess server code than it is for gaming.

I've found that a quad processor high end gaming machine is far more useful for writing multiprocess server code than it is for gaming.

I would agree ... the percent of my code that is multi processor/core supported, about 40 percent (the rest are scripts and sorts and working with data that do not need the support)

Percent of the games I own that are multy core supported 0

Far more useful personally


I also do a tone of virtual machining for development, multi cores and hard drives are key to performance

Back to opinions on the computer and where I should buy it from.
(DELL and all subsidiaries are out)

Back to opinions on the computer and where I should buy it from.
(DELL and all subsidiaries are out)

I do not care for off brand retailers personally I have had too many issues with them and not enough return for value.

Personally for that sort of money Dell Gateway and At times HP's have not been bad ...

I do not care for off brand retailers personally I have had too many issues with them and not enough return for value.

Personally for that sort of money Dell Gateway and At times HP's have not been bad ...
They get their prices through using the cheapest parts they can get away with then packing their computers full of internet software that they are probably paid to put on.

I have an HP computer, all our computers are HP (except my laptop which is Gateway), but I want a working gaming computer built with good parts, not the half-assed shit the "name brand" manufacturers use. They use better stuff, I assume, on their "gaming machines" but you don't have any real choices as to what parts you want to use.

They get their prices through using the cheapest parts they can get away with then packing their computers full of internet software that they are probably paid to put on.

I have an HP computer, all our computers are HP (except my laptop which is Gateway), but I want a working gaming computer built with good parts, not the half-assed shit the "name brand" manufacturers use. They use better stuff, I assume, on their "gaming machines" but you don't have any real choices as to what parts you want to use.

I agree thats why I build ...

Cyberpower computers are built with win. Not a peep out of my laptop here, and got it a lot cheaper (and more powerful ;) ) than anywhere else (and no bloatware, either). Only thing I can say is that you should probably go for XP right now. Copies are near dirt cheap, and it's far more stable than Vista right now. Maybe if you can get a good deal on a copy of Vista from wherever you decide to buy it from, you could give it a try. Otherwise, I'd say wait.

Cyberpower computers are built with win. Not a peep out of my laptop here, and got it a lot cheaper (and more powerful ;) ) than anywhere else (and no bloatware, either). Only thing I can say is that you should probably go for XP right now. Copies are near dirt cheap, and it's far more stable than Vista right now. Maybe if you can get a good deal on a copy of Vista from wherever you decide to buy it from, you could give it a try. Otherwise, I'd say wait.

I have been using vista solid for 6 months no issues even with all the hand wrote apps that we use around here