Computer Dudes: Edumacate Me ...

[HemiRam]

So I think it's about time to think about replacing my home computer. It's at least 4 years old (can't remember exactly when I bought it) and it's not getting the job done anymore. It's giving me some problems as well. Last night it almost got a .40 S&W slug thru it.

Anyway, I am completely out of the loop on computers nowadays. As a 38 year old father of two with very little free time I just want the damned thing to work and not give me hassles. Or it gets the gun. Hemiram = grumpy old man.

I'd like to have something that will run current games effectively (assuming I get time to play something). Also, the wife is a real estate agent so she is constantly online viewing lots of pics. I need something with decent graphics performance.

I need recommendations on processors, RAM, graphics cards, hard drive size/speed, etc. I don't want to break the bank here. I'm on a budget. Cutting edge performance isn't my thing. I just need a decent performer that will carry me thru the next few years with maybe an upgrade or two along the way. Any recommendations on vendors as well.

Fire away!

[b18nacho]

My buddy just built a top of the line PC with SLI and such, for $1100.

Honestly, if you are on a budget, a Dell is typically cheaper than an equal system that you build yourself, and it usually comes with goodies like a monitor and printer and stuff.

If you just want to salvage your current PC and add some upgraded components, then I'd suggest the Western Digital Raptor hard drives, as far as graphics go, you'll probably want to get PCI-express, since most AGP's aren't really even sold anymore. I'd go with NVIDIA right now, maybe a 7800 or 8600, something along those lines, no less than a gig of memory, I typically stick to Corsair, OCZ, or Crucial memory, altho Kingston and Mushkin are respectable. Definitely get an intel dual core processor, those things kick azz :P And don't get a crappy brand motherboard, cuz when those go bad, it is a pain to diagnose and replace, so ASUS is who I typically recommend.

But like I said, I'd say getting a Dell is not a bad idea honestly.

[majikTib]

Dell is getting hard to beat on price.

What type of games would you be running? (trying to estimate level of actual graphic needs )

[HemiRam]

Dell is getting hard to beat on price.

What type of games would you be running? (trying to estimate level of actual graphic needs )

First person shooters are my game of choice.

[Rainman]

step 1 - call dell and tell them what you are needing/wanting.
step 2 - call computer Renaisance and do the same thing.
step 3 - buy the one you like best.
step 4 - repeat steps 1-3 in four years.

[dark]

keep in mind that the higher you get on the performance side, the "good deal" ratio from OEM's (dell, hp, etc) disappears extremely quickly. it's all good if you want a $500-600 web and email machine, but when you start tacking on gaming and multimedia, it's time to step away from OEM markup and build, or have someone build you a computer

for example, a decently equiped Alienware desktop will run you between $2800 and $4000... I could build a superior computer for $2000 or less

so, lower end email getter = OEM; mid to high end gaming or multimedia = civilian builder

and, as it happens, i am a civilian builder. i just ordered about $800 worth of parts last friday, gonna spend about $400 more next week and then put it all together and have a PC that will run all the newest games

if you want to try to build one yourself, here's a list of components that i'd use:

motherboard: evga 650i (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=246715) or evga 680i (tr) (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=246710)
processor: new intel core 2's released on monday, figure about $175
memory: 2 gigs corsair ddr2@800mhz (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85025-6) or 2 gigs corsair ddr2@1066mhz (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85026-3)
power supply: corsair hx620 watt (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=373110)
graphics card: evga nvidia 7900 gs (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=322824) or evga nvidia 8800 gts (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=322837)
hard drive: 2x seagate barracuda 500 gig (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=101452)
case: thermaltake soprano vx (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=370512)
operating system: windows xp pro (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=604631)

with the first options in line, all this will run you just under $1200. consider that OEM's only put 667mhz ram into their computers, most sys builders put in 800-1200mhz ram, depending on what the user wants to do. you have the option to put in the 8800 graphics card, but it's more expensive. windows xp is still better for gaming than vista (about 15% faster) but xp doesn't support the 8800 GFX DX10 standard, only vista does

sorry about the novel, it's a bit of a balancing game, it requires a bit of homework.. i'm sure someone around here (me, even) would be willing to put a PC together for you, if you didn't feel comfortable doing it yourself

cheers

[dark]

ah, forgot monitor. i'd recommend an lcd flatscreen from either samsung, acer, dell, viewsonic or benq

19-24 inches, dvi video only

[formulanerd]

a little late on this one, but hang around the slickdeals forum.

i just built a e6750, 2gb, 7950GTOC, 2X320Sata/II, 600w machine for like $650 shipped after rebates.


i already had a monitor, so it's not figured in the costs, but on a budget i'd go for acer or westinghouse, they're pretty damn good.... if i could get what i want without looking at cost, i'd go for the samsung. staying at a resonable size anyway :)


edit: everyone is saying to go for the 8XXX cards for DX10, thats nice and all, but even though they support DX10, they wont run any new DX10 games very well anyway, so i wouldnt worry about it. DX9 isnt going anywhere that quickly, and i'd wait out the DX10 wave for a little while.

[HemiRam]

Thanks all. Still debating what route to go. Got a backup computer hooked up at the moment so at least I'm semi functional.