Retroanon3

My girlfriend has been saving her money for quite some time and decided she would like to buy herself a desktop. She wants me to help her pick out a computer. She's saved up $1200 for this so I'm going to make sure this computer is really nice. I have never built a computer before and I have no interest in doing so. I don't know anyone who can build a computer, so my question is this. What would be the best route to take?

I am thinking going to Best Buy or purchasing a PC off Dell.com (she told me she would like a Dell, but it doesn't have to be one). She also wants a flatscreen moniter which I know cost a pretty penny. I am thinking she should buy a PC with a flatscreen monitor and really nice components. She should get at least a P4 3.2 gHz, 512 RAM, 128 MB video card, CD-RW/DVD-ROM, and at least 80 GB of hard drive space.

Should I purchase a computer with some of these part included already and buy say, a higher end video card to replace a 64 MB card that might come with it. I don't know how hard it is to replace hard-drives, or video cards, etc. I have also heard that with certain components, when you first attach it inside the computer and you start up the PC, things need to be calibrated a certain way. If anyone could clarify all this for me, I'd be deeply grateful. =D

bal8664

I wouldn't recommend buying a Manufactured computer such as a dell and then opening it up and putting your own components in. This will void your warrenty which is alot of what you're paying for, Also most manufacturers let you customize it with whatever specs you'd like. This would be easier to do online since you can pick and choose what peicesas opposed to a store like best buy where they are already pre-made. You should be able to get what you're looking for for that ammount of money, especially in the post-holiday sale season. Good luck!

sailor

Agreed that upgrading most OEM machines is no good. Many have proprietary slots (or things like small cases that prevent most cards from fitting) and/or just plain dont like working with anything other than their default components.

If she doesnt play any games, dont worry about the video card. Make sure it has a reasonably fast processor (anything over 2 GHz is fine), at least 512MB of RAM, and as big of a hard drive as you can afford. Spend the rest on the monitor or other modular upgrades like a DVD-R drive. If you dont need a fast video card, you should be able to get an awesome machine for less than $800, leaving you $400 for a nice 19" LCD.

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sashime76

Whenever I'm approached on the subject, my first quesiton is always the same: What do you plan on using the PC for?
A family friend spent over $2500 three years back on an almost top of the line PC just to send email to friends, worth it? NO! Should you get a name brand, again no. Sure, Dell has good customer service but almost all store built systems are backed up by a warranty anyway.
Personally I wouldn't go lower than these specs:
Intel or AMD (probably not AMD64 due to hardware compatibilities) 2.8GHz
120GB HD, I prefer Seagate
Motherboard - Asus, Shuttle, Soya all have good MB, get one that best matches your needs
512 DDR RAM - system
DVD ROM
DVD+-RW
Radeon 256MB - video
Soundcard/LAN/Modem - you can get by with whatever is built in on the MB unless she wants to use the PC as a mini theater then a nice soundcard and speakers should be in order. Soundblaster is always good, Turtle Beach makes mean soundcards, too.

Although I don't game as much as I used to, I do work a lot on multimedia stuff, turning digital photos, Hi-8 tapes into DVDs.

You can find a nice system if you know what you want and shop around. Dell PCs start at around $500. If you look closely, they only come up 40GB hard drive, SHARED video RAM, CD-RW/DVD (not DVD burner). I wouldn't even consider it a decent spec for a beginner's PC. Building a PC isn't all that difficult but you do need to know what you are doing. Besides, you are always the HERO when you come to her rescue should anything go south.

I guess you can also look at eMachines and other none big name brands. When you strip any systems down to components, they are likely all made in China. So why pay extra getting a Dell, Compaq/HP? Use that money for system upgrade or get that 19" LCD. If she likes music, a nice 5.1 sound card and good speakers.

Lasereth

Don't build it yourself unless you want your relationship to end in a catastrophic end-game post screaming terrorfest nightmare event while trying to get it working.

Get it from Dell. Get at least an Athlon XP 2500+ or a Pentium 4 2.0 GHz. Higher is better, but if she's not gonna be a Grrrl Gamer then she won't notice a difference anyway. Get 512 MB of RAM at least. With these two in place upgrading further is basically useless unless she's gonna play hardcore videogames on it.

When you say flatscreen I assume you mean LCD. Flatscreen is a regular monitor with a literally flat screen. The monitor is still big and bulky. An LCD is the type of monitors that are slim and compact and like 3-4 inches deep. If you do buy her an LCD, make sure the refresh rate is 20ms or lower or the picture quality is gonna look like a rerun of Sesame Street from the 80's on a 1989 RCA TV. Remember that a 19" CRT flatscreen (big, bulky but with a flat screen) is the same as a 17" LCD (slim, compact).

The hard drive should be at least 40 GB. Most PCs come with 80 GB hard drives which is more than enough.

Videocard? Doesn't matter. Unless she wants to kick your ass in FarCry or Doom 3 or Half-Life 2 then there's no reason to upgrade the videocard or anything else for that matter. If a store-bought PC that has been purchased in the last 3 years is slow then it simply needs formatting. It's hard to tell the difference when browsing through Windows from a 500 MHz PC with 256 MB of RAM and a 3.0 GHz PC with 256 MB of RAM.

Make sure it has a CD-RW or DVD-RW (CD Burner, DVD Burner).

There's really no reason to spend a lot of money on this computer unless she wants to game. It really bugs me when people spend $1000-$2500 on a desktop computer from Dell that is only gonna be used for Internet, Word Processing, E-Mail, AIM, etc. What a freakin waste! I wouldn't spend more than $1000 (with printer, monitor, speakers, the whole She-Bang) if I didn't plan on becoming #1 in the world at Battlefield Vietnam.

-Lasereth

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merlin

if you want amd, don't go to dell (i don't think they make any comps with amds). otherwise, dell often has nice coupons and/or percentage discounts off of their computers. just check out some deals sites. here's one: http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/deals/
but you can also go with other companies (emachines are nice and cheap). but, as stated above, it isn't a good idea to buy one then upgrade it yourself. the tradeoff with buying pre-built comps is that they usually have crappy video cards. if you think you will upgrade, make sure it has an agp slot (i think you can find those specs online).
as for specs:
2.8ghz - 3.2ghz p4 OR 2800+ to 3200+ Athlon XP OR some kind of AMD 64-bit proc
512mb ram (no lower)
at least 80gb harddrive (because i've never seen a hdd under 80gb with 8mb of cache)
cd-rw and dvd-burner
video card...just not onboard/shared...please! for $1200, you can do better than that...a 9600pro to 9800pro (ATi)
perhaps a soundblaster audigy 2 sound card and a nice set of 2.1 or 5.1 speakers

oh, 19" lcd would be nice. dunno much more on lcd monitors tho
good luck finding a nice comp. for $1200, you can definately find one

Retroanon3

Does anyone think she should buy this system I found?

http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_s...cfkjdgoodflg.0

Willravel

Hmm.
-512MB SDRAM
-80GB Ultra ATA drive
-1.25GHz PowerPC G4 Processer (easily one of the better processors available in the mid range market)
-DVD-R/CD-RW (CD-R 24x, CD-RW 10x, DVD-R 8x)
-Latest (also highest rated, and most stable) OS
-All-in-one design (no tower/monitor)
-17-inch flat CRT display
-Built in 16 watt stereo sound
-ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32MB of DDR memory (able to handle UT 2004 with no problems, for example)
-2 Firewire 400 ports, 5 USB ports (3 USB 2.0, 2 USB 1.1)
- Software package that includes (free), Quicken, World Book Encyclopedia, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 just to name a few

How much?
$1,074 (buy her flowers with the rest)

www.apple.com/store (or more specifically http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...2.0.11.1.0.6.3)

Go with what you like. You might ask your gf what she wants to use it for before buying though. Good luck.

shakran

First, you guys are approaching this wrong. You're saying "I want a computer" without figuring out what you're going to use it for.

1) Why does she want a flat panel monitor? Because they look cool? They certainly don't have as good a picture as a good CRT, and they cost a lot more. Unless space is a super premium (I doubt it) there is absolutely no reason to go with a flat panel at this point.

2) You say you don't want to build a computer, but you then say you want to get one and then install parts. That's pretty much all building a computer is, is installing parts. Why not take the extra step and get quality the only way you can without paying through the nose.


I would certainly not recommend anything from Best Buy. They run minimum specs at maximum dollars there, and any other retail outlet.

If you MUST buy prebuilt, Dell is as good as anyone else, which is to say not very. You need to accept from the get go that your computer will not be as powerful or reliable as you could have for the same money if you built.

At any rate, stick with a CRT. It's still the superior technology. Just because something is new doesn't mean it's better

Lasereth

I gotta disagree on the reliability aspect. Store-bought computers are typically more reliable than custom-built. Store-bought PCs have warranties that cover most hardware fuck-ups. Building a PC is hard enough if you've never did it before and having a small problem that can't be fixed can escalate into a huge time and money waster if you're not careful. Custom-built PCs are way more powerful but I gotta give the reliability factor (hardware-wise, not software...storebought PCs are about as stable as a tower of Oreos® concerning the shit software they come with preinstalled) to the storeboughts. All it takes is one faulty component or 1 wrong setting on a custom build and it's all gone to shit. To a new builder this is a complete nightmare.

-Lasereth

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"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

shakran

but as you mentioned, the software is what kills the storebought.

I'm not sure where you're coming from on the warranty issue. All the stuff in a homebrew PC has warranties. If the vidcard is DOA, it's under warranty and will get replaced. Plus you can buy the good brands rather than using the whatever's-cheapest approach the prebuilt companies use.

Now, where you might have a point is in the poorly built homebrew - a case with a bad (or no) cooling scheme, etc or in the improperly overclocked homebrew, but if it's built right, I'll stack it up against a prebuilt any day of the week.

littlebighead

If you're going to buy a Dell, I'd suggest you wait for one of those deals that comes along occasionally where the desktop is bundled with the monitor. I've bought three Dells, all from deals on slickdeals.net and fatwallet.com. Just a suggestion. Not trying to plug.

Evil_Timmy

Personally, I'd lean towards finding a local mom-and-pop-style computer store, ideally one with a location near your home or office. Their prices are generally reasonable, and you can talk to one of the sales reps (who will, shock! horror!, actually know what they're talking about) and have them give you a good system setup for your needs. They'll help you with any future hardware issues you may have, and you'll get a system preinstalled without loads of extra crap on it, and one that's easily upgradeable. They'll also generally take care of any non-working components, or even help you if you've really screwed things up, and all you have to do is put the case in your car and drive over there. When you're ready to upgrade, you can talk to those same people and they'll be happy to give you advice. It's a nice step in between buying an OEM PC which is cheap but which you have little control over (if you want to keep the warranty) and building it entirely yourself, which is a bit daunting and can be hazardous to your health, free time or wallet if you don't know what you're doing.

jaypc2

you could always go with a mac...might i suggest the new imac G5...? but the cheapest they come is 1300... ebay..

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