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Non Gaming Discussions => Off-Topic => Topic started by: on April 06, 2001, 07:58:38 PM

Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: on April 06, 2001, 07:58:38 PM
Im going to buy a computer soon and I need some suggestions.  I just need an average personal computer, nothing too fancy. Also, what do you guys think about used (rebuilt?) computers?

I\'d appreciate any opinions or recommendations that you guys can give.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: Dolbytone on April 06, 2001, 08:07:14 PM
I just bought a new Dell and am very happy with it.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: EmperorRob on April 06, 2001, 10:17:52 PM
Dell, definitely.  I have a Dell and it\'s lasted me 4-5 years.  My roommate in college had a Gateway.  He payed more than me.  Dell in INTEL only, though, so if you\'re looking for an Athlon go Gateway.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: Metal_Gear_Ray on April 07, 2001, 01:25:08 AM
dell sux IMO, my dads p4 1.3ghz, gf2gts, 128rd ram got a 3dmark2k1 score of 450, while my p3 667 , gfpro, 128rdram got a score of 1500.

Make you own pc, buy the parts and put it together youself :)
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: Living-In-Clip on April 07, 2001, 04:21:16 AM
I\'m buying two this weekend, provided I get my lazy ass out of bed.
But, personally, I\'m a \'Apple freak\', so I recommend an Apple computer. If you can\'t get that, and don\'t want to build your own, just get a DELL. They have excellent customer service (for the most part).
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: nO-One on April 07, 2001, 07:20:52 AM
Well building it yourself is always the best,and alot of fun to boot.
But since you just wanted an average computer Dell is very good (although for some stupid reason don\'t offer AMD based products :rpissed: )
Gateway\'s nice machinces as well,and HP makes good products.(I think Fong-Kai designes some of their cases :eek: which is cool)
Or a Mac,like Living-in-Clip I like Macs so if you can afford one you\'ll probly like it :)
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: on April 07, 2001, 01:46:03 PM
thanks for the advice, I am probably going to get a Dell. Do you guys think that rebuilt computers are worth it, or should I just stick with to getting a new one? I am kinda on a tight buget here.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: SuperSaiyanMasters on April 07, 2001, 07:09:27 PM
i\'d suggest a Compaq..i \'ve got 2 of them but gave one to my sister..and they are pretty good computers ..i\'ve had the old one for 6 yrs..and no promblem with it yet..rebuilt puter are so so..
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: EmperorRob on April 07, 2001, 07:46:30 PM
Go with new.  Prices have dropped so low, you could probably get a Pentium 3 800 or so for less than $1200
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: Living-In-Clip on April 07, 2001, 11:50:30 PM
Advice: If they are intergrated to hell, avoid them. I hate that sound/ modem intergration and other combo\'s that the manufactor comes up with. Makes it near impossible to upgrade the damn things sometimes. Compaq is really bad about that.

Ugh!

Though, I believe Packard Hell was the first ones to intergrade sound with the modem.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: Seraphim Pride on April 08, 2001, 08:36:14 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Metal_Gear_Ray
dell sux IMO, my dads p4 1.3ghz, gf2gts, 128rd ram got a 3dmark2k1 score of 450, while my p3 667 , gfpro, 128rdram got a score of 1500.

Make you own pc, buy the parts and put it together youself :)


Just wondering exactly how do you get that score anyway.  I\'m always seeing a couple of you guys bragging about but how do you do it? I wanna see how my Dell fares against the rest:(
Title: What do you guys think of this.....
Post by: on April 08, 2001, 02:44:58 PM
H.P. Pavilion Intel Celeron processor 700MHz
128K L2 cache
64MB SDRAM, expandable to 512MB
30GB Ultra DMA hard drive
H.P. CD-writer plus (4x4x2x24x)
ITU V.90 K56 flex modem data/fax
Intergrated Intel Direct AGP 3D graphics
11MB of Dynamic video memory
Polk audio stereo speakers
front access serial ports
M.S.  Windows Millennium Edition

Do you guys think that this computer is decent enough for an average home computer??? Remember, I\'m on a tight budget right now.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: on April 08, 2001, 03:56:11 PM
Any repiles are welcome, I really need some advice on this.:bounce::bounce::bounce:
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: nO-One on April 08, 2001, 04:42:39 PM
I don\'t like the intigrated vid card.
The rest is good, :)
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: FatalXception on April 08, 2001, 04:45:02 PM
Don\'t get a celeron.  Gawd they suck.   My friend\'s comp (was comprable to mine) with a 700 mhz celeron was ALWAYS outperformed by my PIII 450.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: nO-One on April 08, 2001, 05:19:59 PM
The celeron is basically the P.2 core with less cache and on a 66Mhz fsb.And it doesn\'t have the Katmai instructions.It\'s good for a budget PC.
You might want to consider an AMD Duron system,the Duron is AMD\'s budget CPU and it perfoms much better than the Celery,and AMD procs are cheaper than Intel\'s :)
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: EmperorRob on April 08, 2001, 05:29:47 PM
Actually I think the Celery has more cache than the P2 but anyway.

It\'s ok except for
Now that integrated video card is not really a good one, but you can put your own card in and disable the integrated one, however that\'s more money you don\'t need to spend and no AGP :(

The Duron really is a superior chip to the Celeron.  The good thing about HP\'s is they throw in a burner.  Bad thing is their integration.

What I would if I were you is design my own system.  They will do that for you here at http://www.directron.com

You don\'t have to know it all and there are people who will help you.  But you WILL find a better deal online than in any store.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: Silverskies on April 08, 2001, 05:33:47 PM
Hp\'s are good!  I like mine.  Its a Celley 466.  It\'s a little over a year old I believe and it is still going pretty good.  Of course the cpu isnt blistering fast and I would never play a game like quake3 without buying a really good video card, but for average computing needs which you said was all you wised for, Celerons are fine.  Of course they dont have as much L2 cache as the P3\'s, and subsequently do not perform as well, but that\'s what you are paying for.  

There is nothing wrong w/ the integrated video cards either as far as upgrading.  Mine has one and if you decided to buy a new video card like a Nvidia GeForce or something you can disable it by switching a jumper.  I put a Voodoo 3 in mine once without switching the onboard video jumper and there were no conflicts.  So it really shouldnt be a problem.  

I would definetly not get a Compaq.  My friend has a newer computer than mine and it blows chunks.  Get that HP if thats what you can afford.  Still if you can afford it build your own,  that is the best way you can go and you might get away a little cheaper, and if it isnt cheaper you will end up with better products in your computer than you would get with any name-brand computer company.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: EmperorRob on April 08, 2001, 05:43:51 PM
OK here\'s the bottom line:

MT25, How much are you willing to spend?
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: on April 08, 2001, 06:02:32 PM
thanks for the advice, and keep it coming. I really want to keep the price under $1,000(I know its not much to work with).
 This computer is going to be used strictly for the basics, I\'m not going to use it for gaming at all. The computer that I listed above is only going to cost me about $450.00 or so since its refurbished. I\'m mostly going to use it for school. I can always get more memory if I need it right??

Again thanks for the help.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: THX on April 08, 2001, 06:25:34 PM
I\'d recommend (product/brand):

1) at least an 800 mhz processor (AMD T-bird, Duron, Celeron)
2) at least 128mb of ram (Crucial, Corsair, Kingmax)
3) at least 20gig 7200rpm ata/66+ HD (IBM, Maxtor)
4) ata/66+ compatible mobo (Asus, Abit)
5) GeForce MX graphics card (Elsa, Hercules)
6) Win98, ME for quicker boot ups and higher benchmarks.  Win2k Pro if you want great stability.
7) at least a 17" monitor, .24dp & 1600x1200 @ 85hz if possible (Samsung, Sony)
8) 8/4/32 CDRW (Plextor, Sony, HP)
9) at least 6x DVD (Pioneer, Creative)
10) OR getting it custom built at a local PC shop

Things to watch out for:

1) Integrated vid cards
2) Integrated system ram
3) Anything less than 96mb of ram (still assuming you won\'t be gaming)
4) Compaq & e-machines
5) Any pre-built, overpriced system for that matter.  Dell and HP are my personal exceptions.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: EmperorRob on April 08, 2001, 07:15:13 PM
I have a personal hatred for used PCs.  You never know what some numbnuts has done to it.

For the amount you have to spend you should be able to find a good Pentium III 800 or a Duron 800-900 PC.  

What would really help you is if you just check out some PC magazines.  There are ads on every other page for dirt-cheap PCs by good companies.  Some of them are local and some are not.  But always consider warranty and who you\'ll be talking to or taking your PC to if you have problems.  Dell has on-site warranty and I believe Gateway does, too.  You won\'t get that from HP or Compaq.

Just remember INTEGRATION = BAD :(
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: on April 09, 2001, 09:44:35 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Metal_Gear_Ray
dell sux IMO, my dads p4 1.3ghz, gf2gts, 128rd ram got a 3dmark2k1 score of 450, while my p3 667 , gfpro, 128rdram got a score of 1500.

Make you own pc, buy the parts and put it together youself :)


That\'s exactly what i am doing at the moment. you can build your own pc for about 2/3 of the price it would cost you from a shop.
only thing is i am getting all my money from a paperround.
man this is gonna take a while :)
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: nO-One on April 09, 2001, 09:53:49 AM
Heh heh THX recomended about the same things as I would recomend :D
except for the Maxtor HD (I have a dislike for that brand,bad quality control)
and you left out the Mushkin ram.

Anyhoo a good cheap system could be.

I\'m tired so you people can fill in the blanks

:)
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: EmperorRob on April 09, 2001, 10:02:41 AM
If you\'re hunting RAM like me, then go to http://www.crucial.com where I\'m buying a 256 DDR chip for $100 with Free UPS Air!
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: FackinKubuss on April 10, 2001, 06:34:15 AM
Emperor Rob are you serious?! Thats the best price I\'ve seen... When I get my new comp, hopefully soon, I know to go to that website.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: EmperorRob on April 10, 2001, 06:42:47 AM
Serious as a heart attack.  But I really would like a Prophet 4500 but I can\'t seem to find one.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: on April 10, 2001, 04:34:55 PM
Thanks for all of your help
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: FackinKubuss on April 10, 2001, 05:01:16 PM
Emperor Rob that site is really consusing, how would just buy 256 DDr ram i cant find the rite spot its makin me pic all this **** i dont get it.
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: EmperorRob on April 10, 2001, 05:32:37 PM
FackinKubuss, look here (http://www.crucial.com/store/ListModule.asp?module=184-pin+DIMM) and you\'ll see prices for 2100 and 1600 DDR RAM.  And if you scroll to the bottom of the page you\'ll notice that UPS 2nd Day shipping is FREE!!
Title: TC=MT25
Post by: TC on May 02, 2001, 09:29:24 AM
Thanks for all of your advice, I found and bought  a computer.

HP pavilion
PIII 850 MHz
256 sdram
30GB Ultra DMA hard drive
48x max speed CD-ROM
and CD writer plus 4x4x32
integrated Intel Direct AGP 3D graphics
56k modem
10/100 Base-T network card
internet keyboard
polk speakers
Windows millennium edition
plus a ton of software and other stuff
Title: Buying a computer????
Post by: Coredweller on May 02, 2001, 10:15:13 AM
TC, how much did you pay?

It all looks good except the CDR drive is a little inferior, and the integrated video card is an unknown.  What 3D chip is that based on?
Title: price=$799.00 plus shipping
Post by: TC on May 02, 2001, 11:13:51 AM
correction,
the CD-writer is 8x4x32
I guess the 3D chip is made by Intel.(basic 3D card I guess)
The computer is refurbished, thats why it was only $799.00.

   Its a big jump from my old computer,
  AMD 350MHz
4GB hard drive
32MB SDRAM
32 max CD-ROM

 I really like the windows millennium O.S.
Its really fast and start-up takes about 33 seconds.