Processors?

[crimson_sunset2]

Whats the difference between processors? There are so many, Im lost!

 

[nickb64]

Architecture, clock speed, what they're good at.

Super broad question by the way.

 

[crimson_sunset2]

Shows what a Rookie I am eh? Okay so whats the difference between a dell and gateway? Is one better? Im considering Dell 620 or Gateway DX

 

[BoomerD]

Not a lot of difference between the two brands.

I've owned both over the years. I still have two dells in the house. One is my wife's computer, the other is my wife's OLD computer...handed down to the grandkids.

BOTH companies tend to use the cheapest components they can get. Motherboards and other things are specially made for them, often by Foxconn, and are cheaper in price and quality than the retail products that we have to choose from when building our computers.
Video cards are a mix of OEM builds and the same models as we buy at retail...but are usually custom-made for Dell/Gateway to their specifications.
Processors are usually the same as we can buy, just the OEM packaging.

I've seen your other threads, but don't remember the specifics. (hey, I'm old)

What is the primary purpose of your computer?

Dell and Gateway are both fine for someone who doesn't want to tinker with their computer, wants a general-purpose computer rather than a high-end dedicated gaming rig.
If your main use will be things like web surfing, office-type applications, and light gaming, you'll be fine with either one. (I prefer Dell, but Gateway isn't bad either)

If you want a machine that will run the latest games with all the eye-candy settings maxed out, you're either going to have to spend big bucks on one of their "custom gaming machines," find a different brand, such as IBuyPower or Cyberpower, (Alienware is now a Dell brand) or one of the other high-end gaming rigs, OR, take the plunge and build your own.

 

[crimson_sunset2]

I play a few games such as warcraft, SCII, SW. Im looking to buy a desktop though. Not to sure what to get. My budgets about 500. What do you recommend?

 

[ther00kie16]

Most recommended processor for gaming is usually an i5. i7 gives you hyperthreading but shows negligible gaming performance increase.

Best option is a refurb XPS 8300 from Dell Outlet.
http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnline...x?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&brandid=2202&fid=3628
XPS line generally has better components, probably on the level of solid consumer products nowadays. Cheapest I've seen is an i5, 6gb ram, 1tb hd for $440 and i7, 6gb ram, 1tb hd 6450, blu ray for $540. Cheapest current one is $550 but they restock every 40min after the hour so those are the times to check, not a minute past because the best ones are bought up immediately.

There's also a $50 free promo gift card (deal expires 26th) with each $300+ gift card purchase so you can knock $50 off the price. So you could buy one for approximately $450 - $50 + tax ~ $430ish. Add a video card when you feel the need to as Intel integrated gpu is probably capable of all those games at low to medium settings.

 

[BoomerD]

Most recommended processor for gaming is usually an i5. i7 gives you hyperthreading but shows negligible gaming performance increase.

Best option is a refurb XPS 8300 from Dell Outlet.
http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnline...x?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&brandid=2202&fid=3628
XPS line generally has better components, probably on the level of solid consumer products nowadays. Cheapest I've seen is an i5, 6gb ram, 1tb hd for $440 and i7, 6gb ram, 1tb hd 6450, blu ray for $540. Cheapest current one is $550 but they restock every 40min after the hour so those are the times to check, not a minute past because the best ones are bought up immediately.

There's also a $50 free promo gift card (deal expires 26th) with each $300+ gift card purchase so you can knock $50 off the price. So you could buy one for approximately $450 - $50 + tax ~ $430ish. Add a video card when you feel the need to as Intel integrated gpu is probably capable of all those games at low to medium settings.

Unfortunately, all too often, Dell PC's that don't come with a dedicated graphics card don't have enough power supply to run one...and in the past, they didn't even come with an expansion slot (Pci-E, AGP) for the card if you wanted to add one.

All that needs to be carefully researched when buying a low-cost Dell/Gateway

 

[mfenn]

Unfortunately, all too often, Dell PC's that don't come with a dedicated graphics card don't have enough power supply to run one...and in the past, they didn't even come with an expansion slot (Pci-E, AGP) for the card if you wanted to add one.

All that needs to be carefully researched when buying a low-cost Dell/Gateway

In this case, the XPS 8300 has a ~400W PSU that can handle up to the 6870 level.

 

[mfenn]

I play a few games such as warcraft, SCII, SW. Im looking to buy a desktop though. Not to sure what to get. My budgets about 500. What do you recommend?

Unfortunately, you're not going to be able to play games very well on an unmodified $500 OEM machine. You will need to at least drop in a new graphics card.

 

[ther00kie16]

Unfortunately, you're not going to be able to play games very well on an unmodified $500 OEM machine. You will need to at least drop in a new graphics card.

Apparently, they just added a 15% off coupon to Dell outlet desktops: 3HXQ1CZXWMZT9P
Combine with $50 free promo card with $300+ card, and you are darn near $500 for a pretty beastly oem machine. Of course, great deals means everyone's buying them (maybe even bots, in which case, you are out of luck) causing it to show out of stock so you have to shop at exactly 40min after (my previous link should help).

As an example, someone was getting i7 2600, 8gb ram, 6770, wifi for $560 + tax after coupon and before $50 promo card.

 

[Ken g6]

As an example, someone was getting i7 2600, 8gb ram, 6770, wifi

Which is overkill on the processor (you want an i5 2500, 2400, or i3-2120), and underkill on the GPU. (Radeon HD 6850 or GTX 460 should be the minimum you get.)

P.S. Say, were you trying to include a monitor in this $500 budget?

 

[ther00kie16]

Which is overkill on the processor (you want an i5 2500, 2400, or i3-2120), and underkill on the GPU. (Radeon HD 6850 or GTX 460 should be the minimum you get.)

P.S. Say, were you trying to include a monitor in this $500 budget?

Haha, yea try building a pc with i5 & 6850 for <$550. You can't beat Dell outlet deals on XPS 8300 but you can't be too picky now that everyone's caught a wind of the deal. His gpu demand isn't very high either as a 6770 should be able to max out SC2 on 1080p.

 

[mfenn]

Haha, yea try building a pc with i5 & 6850 for <$550. You can't beat Dell outlet deals on XPS 8300 but you can't be too picky now that everyone's caught a wind of the deal. His gpu demand isn't very high either as a 6770 should be able to max out SC2 on 1080p.

Dunno about max out, but yeah it should definitely be very playable.