Slow With Technology

[PBid412]

Hey,

First post and I'm being a pest already. I been using laptops for past 4 years and haven't even kept up with the current desktop technologies. Everything after reading some articles is blowing my mind and I don't even know where to start. I see there is an intel I7 but I'm not sure if I want to go that route yet. The crossfire and the new windows coming out, I don't know where to begin. Essentialy, to answer the questions in the sticky, I hope you guys can get me in the right direction with minal questions.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

I'll be playing MMORPG which I want to run at high resolutions. I also play the Sims3, and I'll probably be playing the new CitiesXL. I also listen to music in the background and some webpages.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread.

Price range maxed will be $1200 dollars (US).

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

US.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Whatever works best and fits in my budget. Seems intel is the way to go right now but I'm keeping open minded.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Starting fresh. Hope that I can do that within budget.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

I have searched a little bit the pass couple days. A lot of information to handle right now. Trying to organize it in my head!

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

I'd be willing to overclock. I saw the gigabyte mobo was good. Just one thing I noticed from anandtech review.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

1920X1200 would be nice. Willing to go a little lower.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Within the next month. The money is coming once I get paid for rent lol!

Hope you guys can help me out. Sorry if this is noobish and I should be reading more. Just asking for some help.

Thanks!

 

[alyarb]

so i guess you'll be needing a monitor to fit into that $1200? that's not going to be a problem, i'm just curious if you have your monitor yet or not. how much hard disk space do you need? how much music do you have/plan to have? are there any large files such as databases or movies you would ever want to store on the machine? try and think of all the storage needs you could have. what else will you be doing besides games?

 

[PBid412]

I currently do not have the monitor yet. That I will need also. As for storage, I don't plan on keeping any movie files on the computer. Just going to watch them on there. As for the music, I normally don't have more than 100 songs on the computer. I'll probably be starting fresh with music anyways on the new machine. As for databases, what do you mean? I am thinking the answer will be no to the databases!

Basically, I'll need storage for a few games and music. I'll be using the internet as well. Basically, thats the three things I want to build this computer for.

 

[Firsttime]

With your budget I would go AMD over Intel I don't think with your needs you will see any improvement between and AMD and Intel quad. You might as well get a 5850 for your video, you can probably skimp on the HDD, it doesn't sound like you need much space, I would just get a 500 gig or 640 gig and save more budget. So yeah I would look for something along these lines:

AMD 955 Quad Core BE:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103674

Gigabyte Board I would probably snag this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128387

4 Gigs of OCZ DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227495

Asus 5850:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814121349

Cosair 650 Watt PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139005

HDD, WD Caviar Black 750 GB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136283

Optical Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827106333

Total is about $845 with $50 odd in mail in rebates so about $800.

That leaves you with $400 to pick out a decent monitor, case and OS, I know nothing about monitors so I wont recommend haha. I'm happy with my Acer X233 23" but there are better out there. I'm sure someone knows a better one to grab. For an OS Windows 7 is where it's at. And more a case whatever you want. Just make sure it takes an ATX motherboard, but other then that it's pretty much up to you and your budget.

 

[PBid412]

Sorry took awhile to get a response but I've been without a computer the past few days. Thanks for the help though.

Been looking at cases. Here is one I like but doubt I'd buy!

Cooler Master Stacker 830

Another one I like but don't about how it would handle?

Sunbeam Transformer

Thats just a couple I looked at. I want a case thats different looking yet functional.

As for monitors I do like Samsung but they are expensive. I looked at couple Acers also. I can't remember what the 5ms means. The lower the better correct?

I plan on going with the above build unless someone suggest otherwise. I wouldn't mind going the I7 route but if its not neccessary then I won't. Thanks for the help again!

 

[ScrapSilicon]

for what you are doing I'll suggest a dell vostro 420 going the vista (business or ultimate) w/ or w/out xp downgrade (you'll be able to qualify for windows 7 for free or nearly free).. looksee at dell 420 possibly upgrade the monitor to the ultrasharp for $50 or sell off the default monitor if it's not what you want later on to a better monitor..

 

[PBid412]

Technically it'd be easier just to order a dell with the same specs?

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: PBid412
Technically it'd be easier just to order a dell with the same specs?

not exactly ..you'd order the dell and then use it as a base(highly suggest the vista ultimate installed then call in to dell support or the chat popup to get x64 version installed rather than x32 ) then if needed upgrade things like video,ram, and harddrive ..monitor if the 18.5" not cutting it for you as you go along

 

[PBid412]

Is the link you provided what you suggest getting for now and then just upgrading the screen for 50 bucks? I'm sure the 20 inch will suffice (50 more dollars) since I'm use to 17inch screen.

Not sure if I went the dell route if I should get the extra memory and higher video card or get the one for around 700 bucks and get better video card and memory elsewhere.

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: PBid412
get the one for around 700 bucks and get better video card and memory elsewhere.

This.

 

[PBid412]

My System Details
PROCESSOR Intel® Core? 2 Quad Q8300 (2.5) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate 32 bit edit
WARRANTY & SERVICE 1 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 1 Year NBD On-Site Service edit
Dell Recommends
Upgrade to 1 Year ProSupport for End Users and 1 Year NBD On-site Service.
Upgrade to 1 Year ProSupport for End Users and 1 Year NBD On-site Service [add $59]


HARD DRIVE 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache? edit
OFFICE SOFTWARE No Pre-installed Productivity Software edit
Dell Recommends
Upgrade to Microsoft® Office 2007 Basic Edition
Upgrade to Microsoft® Office Basic 2007 (Word, Excel, Outlook) [add $149]


SECURITY SOFTWARE Norton Internet Security? 2009 15 Month edit
MONITOR Dell 20 inch Widescreen 2009WFP UltraSharp? Digital Flat Panel Display edit
MEMORY 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz - 2DIMMs edit
OPTICAL DRIVE Single Drive: 16X (DVD+/-RW) Burner Drive edit
VIDEO CARD 512MB ATI Radeon? HD 4350 edit
MEDIA READER No Media Reader edit
MODEM & WIRELESS No Modem Option edit
SOUND Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio edit
Service
ADOBE SOFTWARE Adobe Acrobat Reader edit
SPEAKERS No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system) edit
KEYBOARD & MOUSE Dell USB Keyboard and Dell USB Optical Mouse edit
RESOURCE CD Resource CD and DVD edit
My Services & Warranties
ON-SITE SYSTEM SETUP No Onsite System Setup edit
SETUP GUIDE Vostro System Quick Reference Guide edit
ALSO INCLUDED WITH YOUR SYSTEM
PROCESSOR Vostro 420 Tower
Documentation and Power Management Vostro 420 Documents and 110 Volt Power Setting
Labels Vista Premium Downgrade Transactional Desktop
Windows 7 Upgrade Program Info Windows 7 Upgrade Web Site
HOT DEALS Major Brand 500GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive - Black
MOUSE Mouse included in Bluetooth selection
Network Interface Integrated PCIe Gb NIC Ethernet

Ok this is what I have right now if I'm going the dell route. I upgrade to the 20 inch ultra sharp and they are now offering windows 7. I chose ultimate but not sure if its neccessary. This would be good base for me to start for now and total is $851.

 

[PBid412]

Bumping.

Just making sure I understood what you guys meant and if I should order this soon.

Thanks.

 

[Athadeus]

I think that this system is worth the price difference of +$107 ($958 total).

The difference is in the processor, memory, hard drive, and monitor.
You'd definitely want to upgrade the video card to play at the 2048x1152 native resolution, but the upgrade options Dell offers with the system are not a good value.

PROCESSORS Studio XPS 8000, Intel® Core? i5-750 processor(8MB Cache, 2.66GHz) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64Bit, English edit
OFFICE SOFTWARE Microsoft Works 9.0 edit
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 1Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis edit
SECURITY SOFTWARE Norton Internet Security? 2009 Edition 15-months edit
MEMORY 3GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 3 DIMMs edit
HARD DRIVE 500GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 16X DVD+/-RW Drive edit
MONITOR 23" Dell SP2309W Full HD Monitor with Webcam edit
VIDEO CARD ATI Radeon HD 4350 512MB edit
SOUND CARD Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio edit
SPEAKERS No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system) edit
KEYBOARD Dell Studio Consumer Multimedia Keyboard edit
MOUSE Dell Studio Optical Mouse

 

[latch]

That 4350 is going to leave you hurting. I'm also surprised that they are doing 3x1gb instead of 2x2gb. I don't mind the dell, or the dell-route, but for comparison sake, this is what I was building up for you.

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115215

GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD3L LGA 1156
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128406

Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820134792

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139005

XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150436

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136284

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136144

That puts you at around $800, without a case, a monitor or an operating system. I also didn't look for best prices or specials...you can probably find a 4870 for less for example.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: latch
That 4350 is going to leave you hurting. I'm also surprised that they are doing 3x1gb instead of 2x2gb. I don't mind the dell, or the dell-route, but for comparison sake, this is what I was building up for you.

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115215

GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD3L LGA 1156
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128406

Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820134792

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139005

XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150436

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136284

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136144

That puts you at around $800, without a case, a monitor or an operating system. I also didn't look for best prices or specials...you can probably find a 4870 for less for example.

you assembling/installing for him and providing support ? Changing a vid card/psu/burner is one thing assembling/installing software for the whole rig is another(even better setting up the bios for optimum performance while still being stable for everyday day in and out use ). It is why a few will suggest a dell ..

 

[latch]

Originally posted by: ScrapSilicon
you assembling/installing for him and providing support ? Changing a vid card/psu/burner is one thing assembling/installing software for the whole rig is another(even better setting up the bios for optimum performance while still being stable for everyday day in and out use ). It is why a few will suggest a dell ..

That's a good point. I'm not suggesting that Dell doesn't add value, or even that it isn't a good value to start off with. I'm just giving him options. Maybe he has a friend or son or someone that can help out with all those things. NCIX will put a computer together and install the OS for $50.

 

[PBid412]

Ok, I do like the 2nd option as well. Is it really hard to setup the bios and set everything up?