Your thoughts on a pre-built

[rogor]

A friend was asking advice on buying a pre-built system somewhere. I don't ususally shop for pre-built and it's been awhile since I've shopped for any pc parts so would appreciate any advice. He needs at lest a 2.2ghz to run music composition software, wants to spend about $500.

He does occassional gaming, not too much. He already has a kb/mouse/monitor/firewire card. Would like to have as many expansion slots as possible. Good tech support after the sale is a plus.

I have tried to steer him away from integrated video. I just think it's good to have real cards that can be pulled for troubleshooting/upgrade. He keeps his systems for a long time. I was looking on egghead but so many of their desktops seem to have the onboard vid. Here is an HP I found for starters:

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopp...&catLevel=3&product_code=EL448AA%23ABA

Would appreciate input on:

What's the best price to performance setup these days with regards to cpu, same question for speed and quantity of RAM.

Any thoughts on HP desktops in general? I know they have merged with Compaq. I didn't know if they had any quality problems.

I know Dell might be a possibility, but I suggested AMD as I like what I've read and bought of their processors.

Thanks for any help.

 

[GamerExpress]

Well personally I would never go with a pre-built. I do think that's a decent machine though for the money, if you really want to get the best bang for the buck I would build your own.

Something like this would be perfect.

Opteron 140=$180
Abit KN8 NF4=$85
512 Corsair Value Select=$40
ATI x1300pro=$100
Cooler Master Centurion w/380w psu=$60

The total is like $560, you probably could find this stuff even cheaper really. So basically this comes in cheaper then that HP does....and simply put, it will rock that HP's world!!!!

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: GamerExpress
Well personally I would never go with a pre-built. I do think that's a decent machine though for the money, if you really want to get the best bang for the buck I would build your own.

Something like this would be perfect.

Opteron 140=$180
Abit KN8 NF4=$85
512 Corsair Value Select=$40
ATI x1300pro=$100
Cooler Master Centurion w/380w psu=$60

The total is like $560, you probably could find this stuff even cheaper really. So basically this comes in cheaper then that HP does....and simply put, it will rock that HP's world!!!!

Except where is the OS, lightscribe 16x DVD RW, other 512mb stick of ram, 9-in-1 CR, and 200GB SATA hdd? I also would go for a 6600GT over 1300pro in that price range if not doing IGP, but considering it is primarily for music composition software IGP should be fine?

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: GamerExpress
Well personally I would never go with a pre-built. I do think that's a decent machine though for the money, if you really want to get the best bang for the buck I would build your own.

Something like this would be perfect.

Opteron 140=$180
Abit KN8 NF4=$85
512 Corsair Value Select=$40
ATI x1300pro=$100
Cooler Master Centurion w/380w psu=$60

The total is like $560, you probably could find this stuff even cheaper really. So basically this comes in cheaper then that HP does....and simply put, it will rock that HP's world!!!!

Except where is the OS, lightscribe 16x DVD RW, other 512mb stick of ram, 9-in-1 CR, and 200GB SATA hdd? I also would go for a 6600GT over 1300pro in that price range if not doing IGP, but considering it is primarily for music composition software IGP should be fine?

Someone always has to spoil the party, after I threw that post up I did realize that it didn't make too much sense. Sorry.

 

[Yreka]

I useuallyreccomend dell, but they are pissing me off lately with all that "Trial Software" they are pre-loading. Re-imaging the drive isnt always possible as sometimes the people are several thousand miles away. I like to reccomend pre-builts to people I don't want to become tech-support for, so add that to the features missing from BYO as well.

I still reccomend Dell, but I would love another option. I just haven't looked around much, as it dosn't come up very often

 

[Lasthitlarry]

Go with eMachines, HP, or, god forbid, Dell, for systems less than 600 and for non gamers.

You could also go with Mac Mini, those are cool.

 

[Chosonman]

Pre built systems are great if you're the type that doesn't like to mess around with configuration, troubleshooting, and putting the thingy together.

I really don't see too much of a price difference between a Dell or HP on sale vs building one yourself. The only advantages I can see to building a system yourself is:

1) You can choose your own parts and don't have to rely and hope that Dell or HP don't put cheap parts in your system.
2) Adding to the first advantage, you can also customize the look of you system to whatever your heart desires.
3) If you like working with your hands building your own computer is a fun hobby.
4) You can learn a lot about computers as you put yours together. (Or you can claim to have learned alot just the guys here do)

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Get a nice HP/eMachines with an Athlon 64. Self built means that you'll be his tech support, and that can probably get really annoying. And for $500, you'll get a better bang for your buck by going pre-built.

 

[mwmorph]

hp is better than dell becasue dell integrated usualyl forgo a agp or pci-e slot. hp always has 1. the mntherboards for all of them are mATX though which means 2 memory slots and 3 pci slots and 1 graphics slot. not as good as a full atx motherboard but servicable. you should look for at least a 3200+ single core or any non intel 820 dualcore(3800+ abd 830 and better are fine) and around 1 gb or ram.

 

[Chosonman]

I'm pretty sure HP uses ATX form for their mother board now a days while Dell uses a proprietary form for theirs. I would double check if the PSU's on the HP are ATX or HP proprietary though. The last time I took an HP apart the PSU and MOBO were non conforming.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: Chosonman
I'm pretty sure HP uses ATX form for their mother board now a days while Dell uses a proprietary form for theirs. I would double check if the PSU's on the HP are ATX or HP proprietary though. The last time I took an HP apart the PSU and MOBO were non conforming.

i have many hps from 1998 to 2005. My most recent one, bought in feburary, a a810n has a asus matx motherboard with a sis 764 nb and a sis 9 something southbridge. 1 agp slot, 3 pci slots and a socket 754 cpu. it has 2 ddr sockets and a 240watt atx power supply, which in my opinion is VERY high quality. It powered the amd64 3300+(2.4ghz 256k chache, 2 sticks of ram, 2 opticals, 1hdd, 1 cpu fan, 1 92mm case fan, 1 80mm fan, and a 9800pro bios flashed and overclocked for a couple months until black friday rolled around and I upgraded)

my oldest hp is a original celery with a FCPGA socket instead of a PPGA socket which has been upgraded to a 466mhz celeron and 2 128mb pc100 sticks of ram.It ahs 1 52x cd upgraded optical, 1 zip, 1 floppy, a rage pro 8mb onboard, a agp 2x slot, 2pci slots and a ISA slot. It uses the customary mATX motherboard from asus. The power supply is odd though. Though as wide and tall as a ATX power supply, it's about 2/3 as deep so a normal atx power supply wont fit withoit removing the optical drive. very odd case design.

My newer hps dont have tihs problem though since i have upgraded the newest hp to a new 500w(overkill i know) power supply(it was $20 on black friday).

The problem I have with the new case is that the hdds are oddly mounted. I have a card reader in the first 3.5" bay, a hdd in my 2nd 3.5" bay, and then I bought a bay extender and I have 2 more hdds in the extended bays. Stock, the hdd is mounted vertically on the front on top of the intake. odd position, but it sure kept the hdd cool.

My friend's dell XPS uses a full atx motherboard from asus also, but my other friend's 9100 has a odd motherboard I cant figure out how to upgrade. no agp/pci-e slots either.

My earliest hp had a 110w power supply while my newest came with a 240w(35A 3.3V, 25A 5V, and 14A 12V and 2A 5VSB). it's adequate and of good quality but still sorta low.

 

[Chosonman]

So Dell is using ATX now?

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: Chosonman
So Dell is using ATX now?

only on the top xps models.

 

[imported_OrSin]

I recommond the HP a1200e or a1330e.
They both come with ATI express motherboard with the 939 slot.
Thye are highly upgradable so you cna always get a fast CPU later.
I would still with on board video for your friend. Unless he needs faster and then he can get on int he PCI-E slot. I know you was against it but I have build over 100 PC with the on board video and the video has never failed.
the A1200e starts at $250 and the a1330e starts at $350.
So you plenty of room to upgrade.
One thing is if you order from HP site shipping is $100.
So try to look from them and get them develeried to a locla store for free.
I know bestbuy and CompUSA had some in my area.

Really any HP PC with a A64 is pretty good deal.
All thier Sempron are 939 so you can get a really CPU at a lated date if you don't want to speed the cash upfront.

PS
Just found a nice systems at circuitcity
nice system

 

[pkme2]

My friends were buying x64 Athlon eMachines from Costco for Christmas at great prices for $619 w/LCD.

I was very impressed how far eMachines have come ever since. For a newbie, this is the recommended way to go and later upgrade when experience kicks in.

I don't recommend the building of a new computer now because if something goes wrong, you will be settled with all the problems. Point your friend towards the best buys and step back.

 

[Chosonman]

Originally posted by: OrSin
I recommond the HP a1200e or a1330e.
They both come with ATI express motherboard with the 939 slot.
Thye are highly upgradable so you cna always get a fast CPU later.
I would still with on board video for your friend. Unless he needs faster and then he can get on int he PCI-E slot. I know you was against it but I have build over 100 PC with the on board video and the video has never failed.
the A1200e starts at $250 and the a1330e starts at $350.
So you plenty of room to upgrade.
One thing is if you order from HP site shipping is $100.
So try to look from them and get them develeried to a locla store for free.
I know bestbuy and CompUSA had some in my area.

Really any HP PC with a A64 is pretty good deal.
All thier Sempron are 939 so you can get a really CPU at a lated date if you don't want to speed the cash upfront.

PS
Just found a nice systems at circuitcity
nice system

Sorry to be such a grammar nazi, but if you made over 100 pc's you should know it's a socket 939 and not a slot 939. And I've never heard of an ATI express motherboard. Perhaps you're talking about a PCI-e with onboard ATI graphics?
And how can an onboard video card fail with out it going bad first?

Again I appologize for being so critical, but you claimed to know so much I had a few questions of my own.

ps. your suggestion on shipping is a good idea.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

I think he meant ATI XPress 200 chipset.

 

[rogor]

I do build my own but it wouldn't really be practical for me to build for him and be tech support right now. Maybe I will reconsider the integrated graphics if the MB has pci-e for later upgrade. Thanks to all for the input.

 

[imported_OrSin]

My write skills suck and my type is even worste, and I never proof anything before I hit reply. But that deoan't mean I can't build a good system it just means I have someone else write up the contracts.

I have been suggestiing pre-build mean to all my friends now too. I don't fell like being anyone tech support any more. If your friend doesn't game heavily then onboard video is good enough and most (not all) have PCI-E slots to upgrade at any time. I game 20 hours a week but since I don't play FPS, I have lived with a 9600 for long time now. Just got a great deal on a 6800GT so built a new computer to use PCI-E but really I don't even need it.