So discouraging

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Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
22,491
6,579
136
I need to build a new computer, so where better to get information than right here? So off I went to look through the motherboard and cpu forums. What a depressing mess the hardware industry is. There are far to many choices, a vast and bewildering array of motherboards and cpu's. I discovered that I'm not interested anymore, I have no desire to spend hours wading through page after page of information that I really don't want to know.
How the hell is a reasonably normal person supposed to figure all this crap out? Is there a place that has a listing of hardware that works, a good, better, best sort of thing? Or should I just go find a used socket 939 board on ebay and be happy?
 
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Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
time = money. If you want to save money invest the time. Go to sites with benchmarks etc. Never buy the best.

If that is too much get something from Dell.
 
brianmanahan

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,697
6,054
136
if you dont think it's fun, you're not hardcore enough to do build your own. it's not a mess, there are just a ton of options which is awesome. you need to do your research.

my suggestion for you? emachines.
 
Doppel

Doppel

Lifer
Feb 5, 2011
13,306
3
0
I'm sure some website somewhere has a "recommended configuration" thus saving you a bunch of effort. Perhaps even AT has one. In prior times I was into PC hardware, but have completely grown out of it as most people appear to do. Now it's line-built, I just don't care anymore. Literally everybody I know owns either an apple, some other laptop, or a dell, HP, etc.; I cannot for the life of me even figure out how mom & pop computer stores are still in existence.
 
Leros

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Computers have gotten cheap and powerful enough that my next desktop will probably be a Dell or some other big box computer. I don't see the need to build my own anymore.
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,935
11,265
126
It's not that hard if you narrow your choices before you start. I use Intel, Asus, and Gigabyte. I don't consider anything else. Then it's just a matter of picking features you like, and reading some reviews to make sure there's no problems. It's not something that happens in 15 minutes, but it's not hard either.
 
GuitarDaddy

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
0
If your a gamer, a video encoder, an overclocker, or you just like having the fastest available sytem at a reasonable price <$1000 get an Intel 2500K and a P67 chipset skt 1155 board.

If you just need a capable surfer and office machine and don't care about the stuff above, buy a dell for <$500.

It really is that simple
 
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ponyo

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,811
126
Just wait for Dell outlet or scratch and dent sale. It's hard to beat refurbished Dell sale prices. It's no longer cost effective to build your own and even budget computers today are ridiculously powerful for general use.
 
SandEagle

SandEagle

Lifer
Aug 4, 2007
16,809
13
0
i hear you can build PCs with dual hex cores now, but i cant seem to find what i need. dell doesnt offer this yet
 
Gibson486

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
yeah....

companies found out that if you just flood the market with products, consumers will just buy it. It just has to look good on paper. Oh, it's has an ATI chip in it...that is why it cost more. I will buy that.

Also, lots of chip companies do the high end low end trick. They design a chip for the high end, but when they manufacture the chips, not all of them pass. So what do you do with the failed chips? You lower the limits of some of the parameters, test them again and then sell those passed ones as a lower end chip.
 
A

Aluvus

Platinum Member
Apr 27, 2006
2,913
1
0
Doppel said:
I'm sure some website somewhere has a "recommended configuration" thus saving you a bunch of effort. Perhaps even AT has one.
Click to expand...

Anandtech, Tech Report, Ars Technica and IIRC Tom's Hardware all publish "system guides" every so many months. I'm sure many others do as well.
 
mcurphy

mcurphy

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2003
4,150
8
81
I've been building my own PC's for almost 10 years, and each time I spend hours and hours catching up on technology to find the best bang for my buck.

I'm not ready for another new PC yet, but when I do need a new PC, I will be buying a Dell or HP or whatever I feel is a good deal at the time. I no longer have the interest, time, or desire to spend on re-learning wtf is going on in the tech industry.
 
coldmeat

coldmeat

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2007
9,234
142
106
mcurphy said:
I've been building my own PC's for almost 10 years, and each time I spend hours and hours catching up on technology to find the best bang for my buck.

I'm not ready for another new PC yet, but when I do need a new PC, I will be buying a Dell or HP or whatever I feel is a good deal at the time. I no longer have the interest, time, or desire to spend on re-learning wtf is going on in the tech industry.
Click to expand...

All you really have to do is search General Hardware for someone with a budget close to yours, and check out the suggestions. Everyone else does all the research for you.

Or even create your own thread. Takes a couple of minutes.
 
Kadarin

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
81
KeithP said:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4456/sandy-bridge-buyers-guide

-KeithP
Click to expand...

Good read. I'm considering building a gaming pc in the fairly near future (for Skyrim and maybe running multiple accounts on EVE Online), and I have access to both Intel and Nvidia employee discounts (yay!). Given that I can reuse my old case (a Coolermaster something-or-other) and dvd burner, and maybe a PSU, I can probably do this for a very reasonable price. Hmmm.
 
GuitarDaddy

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
0
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ponyo

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,811
126
Today I bought Dell mini-tower with i5-2500 and 21.5 inch IPS LCD monitor for $500. There no way I could've built a computer as quiet for cheap as the Dell I bought. Paying more to build is foolish.
 
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coldmeat

coldmeat

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2007
9,234
142
106
Naustica said:
Today I bought Dell mini-tower with i5-2500 and 21.5 inch IPS LCD monitor for $500. There no way I could've built a computer as quiet for cheap as the Dell I bought. Paying more to build is foolish.
Click to expand...

link plz
 
Ruptga

Ruptga

Lifer
Aug 3, 2006
10,246
207
106
Naustica said:
Just wait for Dell outlet or scratch and dent sale. It's hard to beat refurbished Dell sale prices. It's no longer cost effective to build your own and even budget computers today are ridiculously powerful for general use.
Click to expand...

This. I got an i5-2300 system for $500 (after 100 off july 4th sale). I put an ATI 3850 in it, and it works great.
 
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