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The ultimate "which one" thread

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GeNome

Senior member
I'm 15, have a low budget (around $600 max as of now), and need a computer. I recently sold of some of my PC parts so I could get a Mac, but am having some second thoughts. I still have: HD, PSU, GPU, case, monitor and a disk drive. Should I get:

A: Mac Mini Core Solo refurbished with 1GB RAM - $600
B: Save up for a while longer and get an iMac Core Duo 17" - $1100 (refurb)
C: Save up even longer and get a 20" iMac - $1400 (refurb)
D: Keep the parts I have from my PC now and get a new mobo, CPU and RAM.
E: Get a prebuilt system from HP, Gateway, etc. for ~$600
It will be used for:
Multimedia (music, movies, games)
Photography (editing)
Some graphics (PS)

Option D is appealing, because I could afford some pretty decent stuff (X2 3800, nice mobo, 1-2 GB RAM). So which would be better for what I plan on doing? I am really in desparate need of some advice, so it's really appreciated! Thanks!

 
I have little experience with Macs, mostly negative experience. So I'd choose option D.

What GPU do you currently have? Is it AGP or PCIe?
If option D is your choice you could save up and get a new GPU as well...
 
You can get 2 GB of RAM pretty cheap right now with mail-in rebates. OCZ and Corsair have some here.

Personally, I recently bought this with the $40 MIR. Great deal.
 
Update your PC. I work with PCs and Macs for 20yrs and right now I see no point in Mac period. Used to be that macs were better for graphic editing but that was way back in the day. Recently mac die-hards say video editing is the mac thing but that too has been squashed by the PC. Mac die-hards claim macs crash less than PCs, but since OSX 10.3.X I seem to have more mac force-quits than PCs locking up. We have been playing with Intel macs and running winxp and found a way (dont ask me how, its confidential) to run OSX of a PC and Winxp on a mac just sucks, while OSX on a pc is very cool. Games? LOL. Mac may be getting newer games when more Intel macs come in but by then what is the point of a mac? Its a PC now with a dif OS. Get a PC or upgrade the one you have.
 
Ok, that's what I've been figuring. I do know how to build a computer, the one I sold had been built by me as well as several before it. However, I do like the fact that I wouldn't have to fiddle with all the little techinicalities of putting one together myself. Especially installing Windows. >.< So would something like the HP a1410n work well? This one. Also, would it be able to support an X800XL?
 
Originally posted by: GeNome
Ok, that's what I've been figuring. I do know how to build a computer, the one I sold had been built by me as well as several before it. However, I do like the fact that I wouldn't have to fiddle with all the little techinicalities of putting one together myself. Especially installing Windows. >.< So would something like the HP a1410n work well? This one. Also, would it be able to support an X800XL?
Click to expand...

From what I read from that link only 2 PCI slots are available. No mention of AGP or PCIE. Nice price tho.
 
Originally posted by: Oyeve
We have been playing with Intel macs and running winxp and found a way (dont ask me how, its confidential) to run OSX of a PC and Winxp on a mac just sucks, while OSX on a pc is very cool.
Click to expand...

well, half of that statement isn't confidential.. boot camp anyone? A friend of mine was actually looking at getting a macbook pro and the benches he saw for what he plays (WoW) were pretty damn good. He actually has a need for OSX so that's why he was looking into it.



 
I'd suggest to go with option D.

600 bucks for CPU, Mobo, and RAM:

CPU: AMD Athlon X2 3800+
Mobo: Asus A8N-E or Asus A8R-MVP
RAM: Corsair XMS 2GB (2x1GB)
 
Originally posted by: randomlinh
Originally posted by: Oyeve
We have been playing with Intel macs and running winxp and found a way (dont ask me how, its confidential) to run OSX of a PC and Winxp on a mac just sucks, while OSX on a pc is very cool.
Click to expand...

well, half of that statement isn't confidential.. boot camp anyone? A friend of mine was actually looking at getting a macbook pro and the benches he saw for what he plays (WoW) were pretty damn good. He actually has a need for OSX so that's why he was looking into it.
Click to expand...

I think he clearly mentioned that the confidential part was for the OSX running on a PC. minor point though.

Get a Pentium D 940 instead. Will save u some monies. What GPU do u have btw?
 
Go with option D. If you already have everything but the mobo, CPU and RAM then you can build a nice system for $600.
 
Originally posted by: Oyeve
Update your PC. I work with PCs and Macs for 20yrs and right now I see no point in Mac period. Used to be that macs were better for graphic editing but that was way back in the day. Recently mac die-hards say video editing is the mac thing but that too has been squashed by the PC. Mac die-hards claim macs crash less than PCs, but since OSX 10.3.X I seem to have more mac force-quits than PCs locking up. We have been playing with Intel macs and running winxp and found a way (dont ask me how, its confidential) to run OSX of a PC and Winxp on a mac just sucks, while OSX on a pc is very cool. Games? LOL. Mac may be getting newer games when more Intel macs come in but by then what is the point of a mac? Its a PC now with a dif OS. Get a PC or upgrade the one you have.
Click to expand...

😕
 
Thanks all! I have an X800XL PCIe for anybody who's wondering. If I do go PC (which it's looking like right now), would a Pentium D 930/940 be good for the money, or would an X2 be better?
 
The 930/940s are very cheap, but they still don't beat even a budget X2 for gaming in most cases. Also if you're overclocking then it'd stick with the X2.
 
Or you could get mobo with the 940 upgrade option. My mobo has a slot that allows an upgrade card for the new 940 cpus. I will probably never use it as the mobo wont support DDR2.
 
Originally posted by: Bobthelost
The 930/940s are very cheap, but they still don't beat even a budget X2 for gaming in most cases. Also if you're overclocking then it'd stick with the X2.
Click to expand...

X2 vs 940

beats X2 in some and loses in some. IMO the price advantage and DDR2 option tilt it in the Pentiums favour.
 
Originally posted by: aniruddha23
Originally posted by: Bobthelost
The 930/940s are very cheap, but they still don't beat even a budget X2 for gaming in most cases. Also if you're overclocking then it'd stick with the X2.
Click to expand...

X2 vs 940

beats X2 in some and loses in some. IMO the price advantage and DDR2 option tilt it in the Pentiums favour.
Click to expand...

I saw that on THW in the CPU comparison charts. That's the reason I decided to go Intel; it's ~$80 cheaper with the same performance. So what do you guys think of a setup like this:

Intel 930 - $212
Abit AW8 - $110
2GB Corsair VS PC5300 - $146
XP Home - $90
New PSU, preferably modular (Smartpower, Liberty)
Total (w/o PSU) - $557
 
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