Help Buying a PC

2008-07-03 17:02:38

#1

DesertFox-: The very model of a modern major general; +796|6954|United States of America

So, I'm going to need a new PC for college and I've just now started looking. The budget is about $1,400.00 that I have to work with and I'd be a fool if I didn't get input from BF2s before purchasing.

I'm fairly certain I will be getting a Dell XPS 420 (I can get some discount through my dad's business associates), which means to customize, I start here on the Dell site. I don't plan on doing much gaming, but still would a pretty decent system nonetheless in terms of processor, graphics, and sound. There also just so happens to be a sale on this very model at a local retailer. I'd much appreciate it to see what the techies here think about what I should do within my budget.

2008-07-03 17:07:55

#2

Volatile: Member; +252|6973|Sextupling in Empire

inb4 buildur own

Something along the lines of this

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/Volatile_Squirrel/pcbuild-1.jpg

SAMSUNG Black DVD burner

Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870

ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface Sound Card

C Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i FTW SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

ntel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

The total came out to $1303.42 before shipping.

Does not include OS. Didn't include case either. You need to personally decide how important individual components are, and how much you're willing to spend on them.
For example, you may not see the need for the ATi 4870 video card, and may want to go with an 8800gt at half the price.

Last edited by Volatile (2008-07-03 18:02:04)

2008-07-03 17:12:25

#3

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6837|NYC / Hamburg

build your own. srsly

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2008-07-03 17:16:58

#4

SealXo: Member; +309|6805

uhm its college, do you already have a laptop?

2008-07-03 18:41:03

#5

Wallpaper: ☺; +303|6263|The pool

max wrote:
build your own. srsly

You can get sooo much more for your money, and theres plenty of geeks around here that can help if you get stuck

My flickr

2008-07-03 18:48:11

#6

The#1Spot: Member; +105|6809|byah

Wallpaper wrote:
max wrote:
build your own. srsly
You can get sooo much more for your money, and theres plenty of geeks amature computer technicians around here that can help if you get stuck

*fixed

2008-07-03 20:48:08

#7

DesertFox-: The very model of a modern major general; +796|6954|United States of America

SealXo wrote:
uhm its college, do you already have a laptop?

Why does everyone think a laptop is such a good idea? For me, I can't do chemistry or calculus on it and my major doesn't involve a lot of writing papers, but moreso lab reports. I've been told it's easier to just get a desktop. I don't need to be another college kid who writes their screenplay on a MacBook Air at the local Starbucks.

2008-07-03 20:57:05

#8

Freezer7Pro: I don't come here a lot anymore.; +1,447|6466|Winland

Volatile wrote:
inb4 buildur own

Something along the lines of this

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/ … uild-1.jpg

SAMSUNG Black DVD burner

Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870

ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface Sound Card

C Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i FTW SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

ntel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

The total came out to $1303.42 before shipping.

Does not include OS. Didn't include case either. You need to personally decide how important individual components are, and how much you're willing to spend on them.
For example, you may not see the need for the ATi 4870 video card, and may want to go with an 8800gt at half the price.

Exactly. Although, I don't agree on the choice of parts.

That remains to choose

If you're a tech noob, I'm more than happy to guide you through the assembly over cam.

The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP

2008-07-03 21:18:09

#9

Volatile: Member; +252|6973|Sextupling in Empire

Freezer7Pro wrote:
Volatile wrote:
inb4 buildur own

Something along the lines of this

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/ … uild-1.jpg

SAMSUNG Black DVD burner

Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870

ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface Sound Card

C Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i FTW SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

ntel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

The total came out to $1303.42 before shipping.

Does not include OS. Didn't include case either. You need to personally decide how important individual components are, and how much you're willing to spend on them.
For example, you may not see the need for the ATi 4870 video card, and may want to go with an 8800gt at half the price.
Exactly. Although, I don't agree on the choice of parts.

That remains to choose

What wrong with my thrown together components?

Other than mixing an ATi card with an SLI board.

From looking at the links he provided it looks like he wants the monitor included in the price, so everything I posted is a little too high for his budget.

2008-07-03 21:25:36

#10

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6807|Long Island, New York

Volatile wrote:
Freezer7Pro wrote:
Volatile wrote:
inb4 buildur own

Something along the lines of this

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/ … uild-1.jpg

SAMSUNG Black DVD burner

Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870

ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface Sound Card

C Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i FTW SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

ntel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

The total came out to $1303.42 before shipping.

Does not include OS. Didn't include case either. You need to personally decide how important individual components are, and how much you're willing to spend on them.
For example, you may not see the need for the ATi 4870 video card, and may want to go with an 8800gt at half the price.
Exactly. Although, I don't agree on the choice of parts.

That remains to choose
What wrong with my thrown together components?

Other than mixing an ATi card with an SLI board.

From looking at the links he provided it looks like he wants the monitor included in the price, so everything I posted is a little too high for his budget.

Well for one, you picked a Q6700 for god knows what reason...the Q9300 is newer, faster, and all around better and it's cheaper than the Q6700!

2008-07-03 21:33:38

#11

Volatile: Member; +252|6973|Sextupling in Empire

Poseidon wrote:
Volatile wrote:
Freezer7Pro wrote:
Exactly. Although, I don't agree on the choice of parts.

That remains to choose
What wrong with my thrown together components?

Other than mixing an ATi card with an SLI board.

From looking at the links he provided it looks like he wants the monitor included in the price, so everything I posted is a little too high for his budget.
Well for one, you picked a Q6700 for god knows what reason...the Q9300 is newer, faster, and all around better and it's cheaper than the Q6700!

I quickly threw these components together. Hence the reason why I prefaced it with..

Volatile wrote:
Something along the lines of this

To give a hint at what a new build could look like, not a for sure "BUILD THIS NAO!!!" selection.

2008-07-04 10:48:08

#12

DesertFox-: The very model of a modern major general; +796|6954|United States of America

To be honest, computers, gigabytes, and processors are of no interest to me. This purchase is forcing me into my first real experience with computer shopping and I don't really know or care what a lot of the things do, so I have little interest in building my own. I was just looking for input on a manufacturer purchased model.

You guys are like the street racers who customize their rides with online custom parts and understand the complexities of it. I'm looking at a dealership

2008-07-04 11:22:51

#13

Bell: Frosties > Cornflakes; +362|6818|UK

Volatile wrote:
Other than mixing an ATi card with an SLI board.

BLASPHEMY!

DesertFox- wrote:
You guys are like the street racers who customize their rides with online custom parts and understand the complexities of it. I'm looking at a dealership

Good analogy. Dells are fine, and there not as anti upgradable as many would have you believe. All the parts are fairly generic, if you can get close to the specs that has been suggested at the price from an OEM (Dell, HP etc) then thats a good deal.

Martyn

Last edited by Bell (2008-07-04 11:38:05)

2008-07-04 11:37:16

#14

Volatile: Member; +252|6973|Sextupling in Empire

What about ibuypower? I was just looking at their PC configurator and it seems much more reasonable than Dells overinflated pricing.

I've read some people bashing ibuypower, but I'm not sure if that's just because they sell pre-builts.

2008-07-04 11:57:14

#15

Volatile: Member; +252|6973|Sextupling in Empire

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/Volatile_Squirrel/ibuypowerpc.jpg

This PC kicks ass(spec wise) all over those dell POS boxes.

You can buy a 22" monitor for like $200-250 to add to this system.

The thing is, I don't know what their reputation is regarding customer service.

2008-07-04 12:13:40

#16

CaptainSpaulding71: Member; +119|6626|CA, USA

DesertFox- wrote:
SealXo wrote:
uhm its college, do you already have a laptop?
Why does everyone think a laptop is such a good idea? For me, I can't do chemistry or calculus on it and my major doesn't involve a lot of writing papers, but moreso lab reports. I've been told it's easier to just get a desktop. I don't need to be another college kid who writes their screenplay on a MacBook Air at the local Starbucks.

additionally, laptops grow legs in dorms. desktops are easier to secure

i was an electrical engineer in college. if i had a laptop back then, i doubt it would have made my life easier while taking notes in class and this is because you draw so many graphs and so on. if you are doing physics or chem, imagine doing all those pictures in paint or some other program. yuck! i know there are touch screen stuff you can use, but to me this would be a pain in the azz to use. i'd rather just use a paper notebook.

also with a desktop, you have bones to upgrade in future. how does one actually rip out the mobo and processor of a laptop? can you get a better display? it's non-trivial. with desktop, you can keep ugrading the platform incrementally as you get money and need.

i say go for desktop. if you aren't into customization or custom builds, go for a gateway or dell.

Last edited by CaptainSpaulding71 (2008-07-04 12:14:52)

2008-07-04 12:50:56

#17

.Sup: be nice; +2,646|6722|The Twilight Zone

Poseidon wrote:
Volatile wrote:
Freezer7Pro wrote:

Exactly. Although, I don't agree on the choice of parts.

That remains to choose
What wrong with my thrown together components?

Other than mixing an ATi card with an SLI board.

From looking at the links he provided it looks like he wants the monitor included in the price, so everything I posted is a little too high for his budget.
Well for one, you picked a Q6700 for god knows what reason...the Q9300 is newer, faster, and all around better and it's cheaper than the Q6700!

Yes that Q6700 is the only component that I disagree getting. Its Q9xxx time.

https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png

2008-07-04 13:54:03

#18

DUnlimited: got any popo lolo intersting?; +1,160|6732|cuntshitlake

Volatile wrote:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/ … owerpc.jpg

This PC kicks ass(spec wise) all over those dell POS boxes.

You can buy a 22" monitor for like $200-250 to add to this system.

The thing is, I don't know what their reputation is regarding customer service.

Woah, that doesn't look bad at all.

main battle tank karthus medikopter 117 megamegapowershot gg

2008-07-04 14:07:56

#19

Scorpion0x17: can detect anyone's visible post count...; +691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

Volatile wrote:
Freezer7Pro wrote:
Volatile wrote:
inb4 buildur own

Something along the lines of this

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/ … uild-1.jpg

SAMSUNG Black DVD burner

Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870

ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface Sound Card

C Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i FTW SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

ntel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

The total came out to $1303.42 before shipping.

Does not include OS. Didn't include case either. You need to personally decide how important individual components are, and how much you're willing to spend on them.
For example, you may not see the need for the ATi 4870 video card, and may want to go with an 8800gt at half the price.
Exactly. Although, I don't agree on the choice of parts.

That remains to choose
What wrong with my thrown together components?

The ram is mismatched for that cpu - ideally you'd want PC2-8500.

Poseidon wrote:
the Q9300 is newer, faster, and all around better and it's cheaper than the Q6700!

Or, if you want to opt for a Q9300, you'd ideally want PC2-5300.

2008-07-04 14:12:24

#20

.Sup: be nice; +2,646|6722|The Twilight Zone

Scorpion0x17 wrote:
Poseidon wrote:
the Q9300 is newer, faster, and all around better and it's cheaper than the Q6700!
Or, if you want to opt for a Q9300, you'd ideally want PC2-5300.

Can you explain why DDR2 5300 is ideal for that CPU?

2008-07-04 14:26:03

#21

Freezer7Pro: I don't come here a lot anymore.; +1,447|6466|Winland

.Sup wrote:
Scorpion0x17 wrote:
Poseidon wrote:
the Q9300 is newer, faster, and all around better and it's cheaper than the Q6700!
Or, if you want to opt for a Q9300, you'd ideally want PC2-5300.
Can you explain why DDR2 5300 is ideal for that CPU?

In theory. DDR667 = 333MHz = Q9300 bus speed. In theory, it works, but in real world apps, it could cause a bottleneck.

The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP

2008-07-04 14:27:43

#22

.Sup: be nice; +2,646|6722|The Twilight Zone

Freezer7Pro wrote:
.Sup wrote:
Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Or, if you want to opt for a Q9300, you'd ideally want PC2-5300.
Can you explain why DDR2 5300 is ideal for that CPU?
In theory. DDR667 = 333MHz = Q9300 bus speed. In theory, it works, but in real world apps, it could cause a bottleneck.

If the quad can't handle more speed it won't use it right? So its pointless buying slower rams since the price is the same and its a bit more future proof.

2008-07-04 14:28:01

#23

DUnlimited: got any popo lolo intersting?; +1,160|6732|cuntshitlake

.Sup wrote:
Scorpion0x17 wrote:
Poseidon wrote:
the Q9300 is newer, faster, and all around better and it's cheaper than the Q6700!
Or, if you want to opt for a Q9300, you'd ideally want PC2-5300.
Can you explain why DDR2 5300 is ideal for that CPU?

Yeah, we are past the times RAM speed is strictly locked with FSB....

main battle tank karthus medikopter 117 megamegapowershot gg

2008-07-04 14:29:41

#24

kylef: Gone; +1,352|6762|N. Ireland

What are you studying?

2008-07-04 14:30:19

#25

Scorpion0x17: can detect anyone's visible post count...; +691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

.Sup wrote:
Scorpion0x17 wrote:
Poseidon wrote:
the Q9300 is newer, faster, and all around better and it's cheaper than the Q6700!
Or, if you want to opt for a Q9300, you'd ideally want PC2-5300.
Can you explain why DDR2 5300 is ideal for that CPU?

Synchronisation.

For the best performance, the ram speed should be synchronised to the cpu FSB - that is the ram speed should be an exact divisor of the FSB.

So, if CPU has a 1333 FSB (which the Q9300 does), and the mobo is DDR2, the ram needs to be PC2-5300 - which has a speed of 667.

DeathUnlimited wrote:
.Sup wrote:
Scorpion0x17 wrote:
Or, if you want to opt for a Q9300, you'd ideally want PC2-5300.
Can you explain why DDR2 5300 is ideal for that CPU?
Yeah, we are past the times RAM speed is strictly locked with FSB....

This is true, however, it's my understanding that Core2's benefit from ram synchronisation more than P4/D's did.

See here for more info.

Last edited by Scorpion0x17 (2008-07-04 14:50:01)

BF2S Forums Help Buying a PC

max wrote:

Wallpaper wrote:

max wrote:

SealXo wrote:

Volatile wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Volatile wrote:

Volatile wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Volatile wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Volatile wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Volatile wrote:

Volatile wrote:

DesertFox- wrote:

DesertFox- wrote:

SealXo wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Volatile wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Volatile wrote:

Volatile wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Volatile wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

DeathUnlimited wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

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