08-23-2008, 02:13 AM
Basically, I've decided to get a new computer - though it would be easier just to upgrade the parts on this computer, and also money well spent, but I'm passing this down to my mother. ;D First off, I'm going to need help choosing out my computer as I'm not totally savvy with computer parts. My requirements are basically pre-built computers or I can custom build them.
I just want to know what you guys would suggest here. I'm also wondering if you guys know any stores that seem to have sites that allow me to look for pre-built computers [or one that allows me to configure them].
So far, I've found Costco, Bestbuy and Circuit City to name a few here where I live. I've been searching around the Costco site and ended up with a HP page that allows me to configure some of the parts on the computer -
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
Processor: Intel® Core 2 Quad processor Q9450 (2.66GHz)
Memory: 3GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024,2x512)
Hard Drive: 750GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
Video Card: 1GB NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT, 2 DVI, HDMI adapter
Sound Card: None (Integrated 7.1 channel sound w/ front audio ports)
Front Productivity Ports: 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, 1394, audio
Primary CD/DVD Drive: LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
This lands an amazing amount of - $1,462.99. Tax not included.
Thoughts: As for the operating system, I wouldn't buy a 64-bit as my current system is a 64-bit and I have a few problems here and there. As for the memory, why it's not 4GB is because I must upgrade to 64-bit for 4GB, and it doesn't really matter that much, now does it? If I even bought 4GB of memory, I'd probably be wasting 1GB of memory I cannot use. As for the sound card, I don't really need anything; it's not like I want to use maybe 60+ more dollars to buy an amazing sound card. The mother board, I don't really know for that system, Costco doesn't say. As for the cooling and heat sink, Costco doesn't say anything about that either. Anything else I'm missing, Costco doesn't say. =P Though, you could ask me for more information and I'll search for it.
To be honest, I'm not even sure if I should even consider the system above.
I've searched Bestbuy and Circuit city a bit, but I don't really want anything there. Unless anyone wants to suggest a system.
I'm also open to custom-built computers. I've been searching around part sites such as Newegg, and I'm thinking of bundling parts here and there; I just want to know other sites I can order / skim through computer parts to build it. Basically, I'm going to go through two sites and choose parts I might want; I also would appreciate suggestions on everything as well, picking off the issues with each things. Suggesting sites I can go through is good as well, I'll update it when I have it through. ;o
Operating System:
Case:
Ultra M923 Full Tower ATX Case; $149.98 [ http://www.compusa.com/applications/Sear...u=ULT40125 ]
Thermaltake Armor+MX VH8000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case; $134.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811133062 ]
Motherboard: I'm really going to need help here.
GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard; $58.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813128078 ]
DFI LANPARTY DK X48-T2RS LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard; $219.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813136047 ]
EVGA nForce 750i SLI FTW Motherboard; $149.99 [ http://www.compusa.com/applications/Sear...=E145-2038 ]
Processor:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor; $329.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819115041 ]
EVGA nForce 780i SLI Motherboard CPU Bundle - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Processor 2.66GHz OEM; $469.99 / $20 rebate [ http://www.compusa.com/applications/Sear...780I-Q6700 ]
Memory: Dependant on operating system, suggestions please.
Power Supply:
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC; $119 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817139006 ]
PC Power & Cooling / Silencer / 750-Watt / Quad PCI-Express / SATA-Ready / Red Power Supply; $159.99 [ http://www.compusa.com/applications/Sear...=P227-1003 ]
Video Card:
EVGA 01G-P3-N809-AR GeForce 8800GT AKIMBO 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card; $209.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814130336 ]
MSI NX8800GT 512M OC GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card; $172.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814127329 ]
Fans / Heatsinks: You tell me. =[
Hard Drive:
Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive; $99.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6822148294 ]
Basically everything else I'm missing: You tell me! No seriously, I'm too lazy to look through what I'm missing. <__<
Now, there are a few minor problems with custom built computers for me. One reason being; I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE COMPATIBLE WITH EACH OTHER. Second being; Jesus Christ it's costly. Third being; Still don't know what parts I want. Fourth; Hell, some of these I'm blatantly guessing on. This is why I'm somewhat leaning towards pre-built computers.
So, what'cha guys think? [I know I should go to a tech forum, which I probably will]
I just want to know what you guys would suggest here. I'm also wondering if you guys know any stores that seem to have sites that allow me to look for pre-built computers [or one that allows me to configure them].
So far, I've found Costco, Bestbuy and Circuit City to name a few here where I live. I've been searching around the Costco site and ended up with a HP page that allows me to configure some of the parts on the computer -
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
Processor: Intel® Core 2 Quad processor Q9450 (2.66GHz)
Memory: 3GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024,2x512)
Hard Drive: 750GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
Video Card: 1GB NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT, 2 DVI, HDMI adapter
Sound Card: None (Integrated 7.1 channel sound w/ front audio ports)
Front Productivity Ports: 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, 1394, audio
Primary CD/DVD Drive: LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
This lands an amazing amount of - $1,462.99. Tax not included.
Thoughts: As for the operating system, I wouldn't buy a 64-bit as my current system is a 64-bit and I have a few problems here and there. As for the memory, why it's not 4GB is because I must upgrade to 64-bit for 4GB, and it doesn't really matter that much, now does it? If I even bought 4GB of memory, I'd probably be wasting 1GB of memory I cannot use. As for the sound card, I don't really need anything; it's not like I want to use maybe 60+ more dollars to buy an amazing sound card. The mother board, I don't really know for that system, Costco doesn't say. As for the cooling and heat sink, Costco doesn't say anything about that either. Anything else I'm missing, Costco doesn't say. =P Though, you could ask me for more information and I'll search for it.
To be honest, I'm not even sure if I should even consider the system above.
I've searched Bestbuy and Circuit city a bit, but I don't really want anything there. Unless anyone wants to suggest a system.
I'm also open to custom-built computers. I've been searching around part sites such as Newegg, and I'm thinking of bundling parts here and there; I just want to know other sites I can order / skim through computer parts to build it. Basically, I'm going to go through two sites and choose parts I might want; I also would appreciate suggestions on everything as well, picking off the issues with each things. Suggesting sites I can go through is good as well, I'll update it when I have it through. ;o
Operating System:
Case:
Ultra M923 Full Tower ATX Case; $149.98 [ http://www.compusa.com/applications/Sear...u=ULT40125 ]
Thermaltake Armor+MX VH8000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case; $134.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811133062 ]
Motherboard: I'm really going to need help here.
GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard; $58.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813128078 ]
DFI LANPARTY DK X48-T2RS LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard; $219.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813136047 ]
EVGA nForce 750i SLI FTW Motherboard; $149.99 [ http://www.compusa.com/applications/Sear...=E145-2038 ]
Processor:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor; $329.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819115041 ]
EVGA nForce 780i SLI Motherboard CPU Bundle - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Processor 2.66GHz OEM; $469.99 / $20 rebate [ http://www.compusa.com/applications/Sear...780I-Q6700 ]
Memory: Dependant on operating system, suggestions please.
Power Supply:
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC; $119 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817139006 ]
PC Power & Cooling / Silencer / 750-Watt / Quad PCI-Express / SATA-Ready / Red Power Supply; $159.99 [ http://www.compusa.com/applications/Sear...=P227-1003 ]
Video Card:
EVGA 01G-P3-N809-AR GeForce 8800GT AKIMBO 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card; $209.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814130336 ]
MSI NX8800GT 512M OC GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card; $172.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814127329 ]
Fans / Heatsinks: You tell me. =[
Hard Drive:
Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive; $99.99 [ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6822148294 ]
Basically everything else I'm missing: You tell me! No seriously, I'm too lazy to look through what I'm missing. <__<
Now, there are a few minor problems with custom built computers for me. One reason being; I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE COMPATIBLE WITH EACH OTHER. Second being; Jesus Christ it's costly. Third being; Still don't know what parts I want. Fourth; Hell, some of these I'm blatantly guessing on. This is why I'm somewhat leaning towards pre-built computers.
So, what'cha guys think? [I know I should go to a tech forum, which I probably will]
. ... I just hope I remember to ask >.>...