ZT Affinity Desktops

[tjaisv]

I'm looking at getting the ZT Affinity 7438Ti. Sells at Walmart for $799 and similar models can be found at Costco for around the same price. Here are the specs on it:

Processor Intel® Core™ i7-920 Processor
Operating System Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Memory 6GB DDR3 Memory, 24GB MAX
Hard Drive(s) 2.0TB (2x1.0TB) SATA Hard Drive
Optical Drive 22X DVD±R/RW
Graphics GeForce EN8400GS Graphic card with 512MB VRAM
Audio Flexible 8-channel audio with jack sensing
Card Reader 19 in 1 Multiformat Media Reader
Networking 10/100/1000 Mb/s
Input ZT Keyboard & Optical mouse
Preloaded Antivirus Software Symantec® Norton Internet Security 2009 90-Day Trial Version (90 days of complimentary live updates)
Ports (8) USB 2.0 ports, (2) PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse ports, (1) IEEE 1394a port, (1) eSATA port, (1) RJ45 LAN connector, (6) Audio ports
Expansion Slots (Total) (2) PCI-E X16, (1) PCI-E X4 slots, (1) PCI slot
Expansion Bays (Total) (4) 5.25" Exposed, (2) 3.5" Exposed, (3) 3.5" Hidden
Dimensions (HxWxD) 16.1" x 7.5" x 17.5"
Weight 40lbs
Warranty 2 Year Limited Parts & Labor Warranty
Support Lifetime Toll Free 24/7 Technical Support!
Power Supply 430W Power Supply

Just wondering if anybody has any experience with ZT computers. Online reviews seem pretty good aside from some people receiving DOA units.

It's going to be my primary desktop for heavy everyday use, nothing really demanding as far as programs go, just the usual web, movies, p2p, light gaming, occasional photo editing. I am definitely a huge multitasker though and will have many of these programs running at the same time.

 

[mfenn]

You could probably build something better (look up DominionSeraph's builds in other threads) for less.

EDIT: Especially in the gaming arena. The 8400GS is just pathetic.

 

[Dankk]

It looks like a fine machine. But like mfenn said, don't expect to do much gaming on it.

I'd never heard of ZT computers until I found a few on Newegg. There was a ZT prebuilt for ~$700 that was a very nice mid-high range setup, but apparently it disappeared and I can't find it. They appear to get good reviews on Newegg though, better than the mediocre Acer/Gateway stuff you see a lot of.

 

[DominionSeraph]

You're looking at $100 to put yourself into a basic gaming video card. (5770)
So we're looking at $900.

To go any higher you'd first need to spend at least $50 on a better PSU.
So $50 (PSU) + $150 (mid-grade graphics)
$1000

$1000 for light workload (having multiple windows open is just RAM, not processor) and light gaming is overpriced.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Damn, I forgot OS + 4GB more RAM adds $150 to the price.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...namitedata.com
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136216
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371035
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231314
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.570318
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...483.11-129-042

Promo Code: DECAN10

$908 with $55 in MIR.

i5 760/GA-P55A-UD3, 8GB DDR3 1600, 1GB GTX 460, 1TB Spinpoint F3, Earthwatts 500W, Antec 300, Win 7.

It's only $147 less than the ZT plus 1GB GTX 460 and PSU would be.
Of course it does have 2 more GB of RAM and it's DDR3 1600 allowing for easier overclocks. Plus SATA 6GB/s and USB 3.0.
Still closer than I first though it would be.

 

[tjaisv]

I'm more of a legacy gamer anyway, so i'm not too concerned about the video card. I'm sure it would be fine for me.

As far as custom built goes, that actually used to be the only way i'd buy. But my last build (a core i3 machine) i only enjoyed for a few months before something went haywire with one of the components and i couldn't get it to boot anymore. I spent days trying to figure out what was wrong and after an RMA of the RAM (which turned out not to be the problem) i said forget it and just sold off the components. I've been building my own PCs (and for family) for the last 10 years and while this was nowhere near the first time i'd had problems with builds it was the first time i said my next desktop would be bought ready-to-go. I'm just no longer thrilled with taking the time to figure out all the best-bang-for-your-buck components out there and then tracking down the cheapest places to buy everything and then after putting it all together hoping everything will work great for years to come. Plus what's funny is i have actually never even had quite the same performance and reliability that professional pre-built machines offer. And i've always used quality mid-high-range components, not cheap stuff. But none of my builds have ever been as quiet or as fast or as reliable (over years of use) as those like from say Dell or Gateway. That's not saying i couldn't have built something just as good if i'd tried, i just never got there and now computers just aren't the priority in life they once were.

 

[theevilsharpie]

My experience with the reliability of ZT machines has not been positive.

 

[mfenn]

Well, tjaisv I must say that that I've had the opposite experience with my custom builds. Maybe I just know how to put them together a bit better than most?

Anyway, if you don't care about gaming and don't want to put together your own (understandable) that machine looks fine. Just be aware that you are paying a bit of a premium (and getting somewhat of a dumb config). If you could find something in the same price range with an i5 7xx or i7 8xx and 8GB of RAM, that would be better.

 

[pr0xy89]

ZT affinity is not reliable at all.. basically blanked 3 months after the warranty.. lost 580 just like that.

 

[tjaisv]

Could it have been just your machine? Or does this happen with a lot of ZT's? I don't see many reviews on this brand, but the ones i do see are fairly positive for the most part.

 

[BoomerD]

Could it have been just your machine? Or does this happen with a lot of ZT's? I don't see many reviews on this brand, but the ones i do see are fairly positive for the most part.

Dude...if you're trying to talk yourself into a purchase, then by all means, just continue to discount what folks say about their experiences.
You'll find that most of us here prefer to build our own, and IF you'd have come to us with your last "custom built" rig, we might have been able to help you save it.

I gather that you're not "techy" enough to build your own...no crime in that...and lots of people SHOULDN'T even try...but they do...and call on us to help clean up the mess.

Looking at Newegg, at the most expensive zt systems desktop they offer, I see this:

"Pros: None so far.

Cons: Wow. On the second day of owning this I get the blue screen of death twice in a row. The technical support guy (with thick Indian accent) has the brilliant solution of re-installing the operating system. Now, one day later, I am typing this in safe mode after another BSOD while on hold with "24/7" tech support. I already called once and sat on hold for five minutes, listening to infuriating computer generated hold "music", until finally the call ended. Here I am on hold again, and I don't expect anyone to answer. The thing is, if I return it I will only be able to get another version of the same computer. It looks like I'm stuck with ZT.

Other Thoughts: I'll come back and modify this review (if that's possible) depending on what happens with this situation. For now, I would highly recommend against purchasing a ZT product. I should have heeded the warnings I found around the internet. Don't make the same mistake I did."

Yes, you'll also find "OMG! I love this PC!" types of reviews...but generally, NOT from computer-savvy people.

IF you have to buy a pre-built, take a look at Cyberpower. They're fairly well built with (usually) quality components. You'll pay more...but you'll get more.

Just my