Need Help Buying A Pre-Build Computer

[Mike029]

Hello all, Looking to purchase a new computer to replace my old P-3 800. I need it as a basic home computer but am looking to have it cruch as well. I'm not very up on the latest tech. so will be buying a pre-built computer. (Dell, Gateway, HP, Etc) Looking to spend about $1000.00 to $1200.00. Was wondering which of the major brands you guys would recommend? Pros cons? Thanks, Mike

 

[BlackMountainCow]

For that ammount of money, I'd go with a quad core from Intel, so you get a really nice cruncher. 🙂

 

[Mike029]

Quad Core? Hmm, Which company would you recommend? Dell, HP, Sony, etc?
CAn I get a Quad core in my price range?

 

[OhioDude]

Hi, Mike029

I don't think you'll be able to find a pre-built quad-core in that price range right now, but you can get yourself a nice Core 2 Duo. Go here:

http://www.dell.com/content/pr...?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Start with an Inspiron 530 Hi-Def Multimedia system (last one on the right). Upgrade to the E6550 2.33GHz processor, the 500GB hard drive, and the 8600GT graphics card and you'll have yourself a pretty nice little box with 2 GB RAM and a 22" wide screen LCD for around $1229.00.

All of our production servers at work are Dells and periodically we'll buy a few Inspiron desktops when the need arises. We've had good luck with them. (Personally, I prefer to build my own systems. More fun that way. 🙂)

 

[Ken g6]

Hey, Mike, a news item yesterday reminded me of another option: Apple. The low-end new iMac is $1200.

OD's configuration gets you more, though.

 

[rhk0327]

overkill for your needs. Go to the hot deals forums (fatwallet of slickdeals.net). Wait for a hot deal from dell (I got a 24" ultrasharp lcd and inspiron 530N for $550 together). The 530 can be found on my craigslist or ebay for like $250 Buy another gig of memory and get one of the hot deal $100 dollar video cards. Depending on your vid card read the forums and it's overclockability. This will play new games well let alone really old games like wc3. You might have to upgrade the powersupply (PSU) (use hot deals again). Rinse and repeat in 2.5 years. In 2.5 years you'll have a faster computer than the top of the line today. Monitors, Powersupplys, and Case last a lot longer if you want to spend more in those components. PSU should be enough to cover your needs but not overkill, eg., you're not going to run a dual monster video card power hungry setup with 4 harddrives so you don't need top-of-the-line.

These days you can't beat the Dell deals even if you build yourself. Best to just get one, pump more memory, videocard, possibly psu. Save the rest of the money on an upgrade 2.5+ years later. You get way more value for your buck this way since you're not paying the bleeding edge premium.

 

[ElFenix]

you can get a dell vostro with 19" LCD for $399 from dell small business. comes with a dual core pentium e2140 (core 2 based). just search for vostro on chubby-billfold.

 

[NicColt]

Originally posted by: Mike029
Hello all, Looking to purchase a new computer...... am looking to have it cruch as well. Looking to spend about $1000.00 to $1200.00.

Originally posted by: rhk0327
overkill for your needs.

If you want to crunch you need OVERKILL 🙂

BestBuy.CAhas a Q6600 with 22" monitor for $999 Cdn. How can you not beat that. I'm even thinking of getting this for my wife. If you play bejewel, browse the web and Crunch it's perfect and she's gona love me for it :evil: